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FILED PURSUANT TO RULE 424(b)(1)
REG. STATEMENT NO. 333-44124
50,000 SHARES
[LOGO]
COMMON STOCK
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This prospectus relates to the proposed sale of 50,000 shares of our
common stock by one of our stockholders. This stockholder received his shares
in connection with the exercise of warrants issued to him for services that
he provided.
The prices at which the selling stockholder may sell his shares will
be determined by the prevailing market price for our common stock or in
negotiated transactions. We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of
such shares.
Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq National Market and trades
under the symbol "TROY." On September 12, 2000, the closing price of a share of
our common stock on the Nasdaq National Market was $ 8.375.
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INVESTING IN OUR COMMON STOCK INVOLVES RISKS.
SEE "RISK FACTORS" BEGINNING ON PAGE 5.
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Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities
commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the
adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a
criminal offense.
THE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS IS September 13, 2000.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page No.
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Where You Can Find More Information ....................................................................2
Forward Looking Statements..............................................................................3
About Troy Group........................................................................................3
Risk Factors............................................................................................4
Plan of Distribution....................................................................................10
Selling Stockholder.....................................................................................12
Legal Matters...........................................................................................13
Experts.................................................................................................13
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You may rely only on the information contained in this prospectus. We
have not authorized anyone to provide information different from that contained
in this prospectus. Neither the delivery of this prospectus nor the sale of
common stock means that the information contained in this prospectus is correct
after the date of this prospectus. This prospectus is not an offer to sell or a
solicitation of an offer to buy shares of our common stock in any circumstances
under which the offer or solicitation is unlawful.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We file annual, quarterly and special reports, proxy statements and
other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any document we file at
the SEC's Public Reference Room at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C.
20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the
operation of the Public Reference Room. Our SEC filings are also available to
the public at the SEC's web site at http://www.sec.gov.
The SEC allows us to "incorporate by reference" into this prospectus
the information contained in the documents we file with them, which means that
we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those
documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of
this prospectus, and later information that we file with the SEC will update and
supersede this information. We are incorporating the following documents by
reference:
(a) our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended November 30,
1999, as amended,
(b) our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended
February 29, 2000 and May 31, 2000, and
(c) the description of our common stock contained in our
registration statement on Form 8-A, including any subsequent
amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating such
description.
We are also incorporating by reference any future filings we make with
the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934 until the distribution is completed. Our SEC file number is 000-24413.
You may request a copy of these filings, at no cost, by writing to Del
L. Conrad, our Chief Financial Officer, at 2331 South Pullman Street, Santa Ana,
California 92705 or by telephone at (949) 250-3280.
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FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus contains "forward looking statements" within the
meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking
statements can be identified by the use of words such as "expect," "anticipate,"
"plan," "may," "estimate" or other similar expressions. These statements involve
known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the
actual results to differ materially from any future results, performance or
achievements expressed in or implied by forward looking statements. Factors that
may impact forward looking statements include, among other things:
- the continued growth in acceptance of our eCheck Secure-TM- product by
e-merchants and e-consumers;
- our ability to integrate and offer ACH solutions with our eCheck
Secure-TM- software;
- the timely and successful development and integration of the Bluetooth
standard with the JetSend protocol;
- market acceptance of products incorporating wireless printing
technologies;
- our ability to continue to develop and market other e-commerce payment,
networked payment and wireless and other connectivity technologies;
- our ability to refocus our management and resources on the emerging
eCheck Secure-TM- and wireless printing technologies;
- the ability to hire and retain qualified management, technology and
other personnel;
- the impact of competition from existing and new technologies and
companies;
- the ability to identify and assimilate acquired companies and
technologies,
- the continued demand for printed financial documents; and
- the other factors discussed in the "Risk Factors" section below in this
prospectus and from time to time in our filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.
ABOUT TROY GROUP
With new products in the rapidly growing e-commerce market and a solid
base of Fortune 1000 customers in our networked "brick-and mortar" markets, we
are a leading worldwide provider of financial payment solutions. Our software,
firmware and hardware solutions enable businesses to electronically transmit and
output financial payment information across computer networks and the Internet.
Our financial payment solutions consist of e-commerce payment solutions
and networked computer payment solutions. Our e-commerce payment solutions
enable Internet merchants to accept payments from their customers' checking
accounts as an alternative to credit cards. Our networked computer payment
solutions enable standard laser printers to print MICR lines, graphics, barcodes
and forms and to perform additional functions such as auditing, status checking
and security. Our connectivity products enhance the connectivity of devices that
transmit information over computer networks and the Internet.
Our products serve a wide variety of industries including e-commerce
retailers, online brokerages, telecommunications, financial services, insurance,
computer hardware, automotive, personnel
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and others. We distribute our solutions in 55 countries around the world and
market our products through a direct sales force and a network of distributors
and value-added resellers. More than 5,000 active customers purchase our
products and services.
Our mission is to leverage our expertise as a provider of financial
payment solutions to become a leading worldwide provider of e-commerce payment
solutions.
We were originally incorporated in California in 1996 and
reincorporated in Delaware in May 1998. We are the result of various mergers and
acquisitions involving a company originally founded in 1982. Our principal
executive offices are located at 2331 South Pullman Street, Santa Ana,
California 92705, and our telephone number at that location is (949) 250-3280.
RISK FACTORS
An investment in the shares involves a high degree of risk and should
be made only by persons who can afford to lose their entire investment.
Investors should carefully consider the following risk factors as well as all of
the other matters set forth elsewhere in this prospectus.
OUR FOCUS ON OUR E-COMMERCE PAYMENT SOLUTIONS AND WIRELESS CONNECTIVITY
OPPORTUNITIES WILL IMPACT OUR FINANCIAL RESULTS IN THE NEAR TERM.
In early May 2000, we announced details of our strategy to capitalize
on our e-commerce payment solutions and wireless connectivity opportunities,
currently represented by our eCheck Secure-TM- solution and Bluetooth
connectivity products initiative, and shift focus away from our established
financial payment solutions with short-term profit potential. Our decision to
focus resources and future investments on these opportunities creates
significant changes to our short- and long-term business plans. To pursue these
opportunities, we intend to invest in national advertising and other marketing
expenditures, substantially increase the size of our sales force, and add
technical resources as required. As a result of these expenditures and hiring
initiatives, we expect selling, general and administrative and research and
development expenses to continue to exceed historical levels. We also expect
minimal profitability for fiscal 2000 as we pursue these objectives.
IN THE LONG TERM, WE MAY NOT BE SUCCESSFUL IN PURSUING OUR E-COMMERCE
PAYMENT SOLUTIONS AND WIRELESS CONNECTIVITY OPPORTUNITIES AND OUR BUSINESS COULD
SUFFER.
Our focus on our e-commerce payment solutions and wireless connectivity
opportunities will divert attention and resources from our historical business.
Because of our new focus, our business, financial condition and prospects must
be evaluated in light of many of the risks, expenses and difficulties that face
any emerging technology venture. To address these risks, we must, among other
things, attract, retain and motivate qualified personnel to support our new
focus, and continue to develop our technologies, commercialize products and
services and successfully execute our sales and marketing strategy for the
e-commerce payment solutions and wireless connectivity markets. In particular,
the success of our e-commerce payment solutions and wireless connectivity
efforts depend upon our ability to successfully integrate and offer ACH
solutions with our eCheck Secure-TM- software and develop and integrate the
Bluetooth standard with the JetSend protocol. We cannot assure you that our
business objectives and product development and marketing plans for these
markets will be successfully or timely achieved. Any failure to timely and
successfully achieve our objectives related to our e-commerce payment solutions
and wireless connectivity opportunities will materially and adversely affect our
business, financial condition and results of operations.
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WE FACE CERTAIN RISKS RELATED TO OUR E-COMMERCE PAYMENT SOLUTIONS,
INCLUDING RISKS RELATED TO CONTINUED GROWTH IN MARKET ACCEPTANCE.
Until recently, we focused mainly on developing and selling financial
payment solutions that enabled businesses to distribute and print financial
documents. With the development of our eCheck Secure-TM- product and our new
focus on our e-commerce payment solutions and wireless connectivity products
initiatives, we have begun marketing and selling e-commerce payment solutions
that enable e-commerce merchants and online brokerages to accept payments from
their customers' checking accounts as an alternative to credit cards. Although
our eCheck Secure-TM- product is currently in use by a number of online
brokerages, our e-commerce payment solutions compete with well-established
payment methods and we cannot assure you that our current solutions or those
under development will be widely accepted by the marketplace. If we are not
successful in marketing our e-commerce payment solutions our business will be
materially and adversely affected.
In connection with our e-commerce payment solutions, it is also
possible that we could be held responsible for claims that payments presented
using our products are not authorized by the holder of the account on which they
are drawn. If we were found responsible, we could be liable for the amount of
the unauthorized payment as well as other indirect or consequential damages,
such as overdraft charges or damage to the account holders' credit rating. Any
findings of such liability could also significantly impact our ability to market
and sell these products and could cause our business to suffer.
WE FACE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH OUR STRATEGY OF GROWING THROUGH
ACQUISITIONS.
We intend to acquire technologies, product lines and businesses that
will complement our business and enable us to achieve our objective of becoming
the leading worldwide provider of e-commerce solutions.
Acquisitions involve risks, including that:
- we may not be able to identify and assimilate products, technologies or
businesses into our ongoing business,
- an acquired company may take a disproportionate amount of management
time and energy, causing our existing business to suffer,
- we may find it difficult to retain key employees of the acquired
businesses,
- an acquisition may dilute our stockholders' equity if additional equity
securities are issued, and
- we may be required to amortize acquisition expenses and acquired assets
over a relatively short period, causing our earnings to be below
analysts' expectations.
WE FACE SIGNIFICANT COMPETITION WHICH MAY IMPACT OUR REVENUES, GROSS
MARGINS AND MARKET SHARE.
Our e-commerce payment solutions compete directly with well established
payment methods such as credit cards. Credit card companies, financial
institutions and others offering direct debit, wire transfer and ACH services
generally have greater current market share and resources than we have. There
can be no assurance that we will be able to compete successfully against these
other payment methods and their providers, and our failure to do so will
adversely affect our business and prospects.
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In addition, we face significant competition in developing and selling
our wireless connectivity products and financial payment solutions. Many of our
competitors in this market also have substantially greater financial,
development, marketing and personnel resources than we have. We cannot assure
you that we will be able to compete successfully against our current or future
competitors. Increased competition may result in price reductions, lower gross
margins and loss of market share. Any of these results could reduce our
earnings.
OUR BUSINESS DEPENDS ON THE CONTINUED DEMAND FOR PRINTED DOCUMENTS,
INCLUDING FINANCIAL DOCUMENTS.
Because we provide solutions that allow enterprises to distribute and
print information, our business depends on the continued demand for printed
documents. Demand for these solutions could decline if businesses and
organizations move toward "paperless" environments and reduce their dependence
on printed documents. In addition, our financial payment solutions are dependent
on the demand for printed financial documents. Demand for printed financial
documents may be reduced as a result of competition from alternate financial
document delivery or payment methods, such as electronic banking, electronic
commerce, on-line services and other electronic media. We cannot assure you that
changes in the business environment or competition from alternate financial
document delivery or payment methods will not significantly erode the demand for
our products and cause our business to suffer.
TECHNOLOGY IN OUR INDUSTRY EVOLVES RAPIDLY, AND WE MUST CONTINUE TO
ENHANCE EXISTING PRODUCTS AND DEVELOP NEW PRODUCTS OR OUR BUSINESS WILL SUFFER.
Rapid technological advances, obsolescence and large fluctuations in
demand characterize the market for our current products and our products under
development. Our existing and development-stage products may easily become
obsolete if our competitors introduce newer or better technologies. To be
successful, we must continually enhance our existing products and develop and
introduce new products. If we fail to adequately anticipate or respond to
technological developments or customer requirements, or if we are significantly
delayed in developing and introducing products, our business will suffer.
A LARGE CUSTOMER ACCOUNTS FOR A MATERIAL PORTION OF OUR SALES AND OUR
EARNINGS WILL SUFFER IF WE LOSE THIS CUSTOMER.
For the year ended November 30, 1999 and our most recent six months
ended May 31, 2000, Cannon IV, Inc., one of our imaging supplies resellers,
accounted for 11.4% and 8.2%, respectively, of our net sales. This reseller also
accounted for 17.1% of our net sales for the fiscal year ended November 30,
1998, and 16.6% of our net sales for the fiscal year ended November 30, 1997. We
believe that a significant portion of this reseller's sales are to a single
customer. We also sell products directly to the reseller's customer. Direct
sales to Cannon IV's significant customer were 2.6% and .7%, respectively of our
net sales for the year ended November 30, 1999 and our most recent six months
ended May 31, 2000, 6.8% of net sales for the fiscal year ended November 30,
1998, and 5.7% of net sales for the fiscal year ended November 30, 1997. We
cannot assure you that this reseller will continue to buy products from us, or
that we or this reseller will continue to be able to sell our products to its
significant customer. There would be a material adverse effect on our business
if sales to this reseller or direct or indirect sales to its significant
customer decline or cease for any reason.
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WE MAINTAIN STRATEGIC SUPPLY, OEM AND MARKETING ARRANGEMENTS, AND
TERMINATION OF THESE RELATIONSHIPS COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR REVENUES AND
EARNINGS.
We maintain and depend on strategic relationships with a number of
companies, including ADP, Equifax, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Standard Register and
Wind River. These relationships include supply, OEM, marketing and service
arrangements which are important to our business. Certain of these relationships
are not covered by written agreements and could be terminated at any time. If
our relationship with any of these companies were to end, our revenues and
earnings could fall. We cannot assure you that we will be able to maintain our
strategic relationships with these companies.
WE SELL A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF OUR PRODUCTS INTERNATIONALLY, WHICH
EXPOSES US TO CURRENCY FLUCTUATIONS AND OTHER RISKS.
We sell a significant amount of our products to customers outside the
United States. International sales accounted for 13.3% of our net sales in the
year ended November 30, 1999 and 11.5% of our net sales for our most recent six
months ended May 31, 2000. International sales represented 16.2% of sales in the
year ended November 30, 1998 and 13.7% of sales in the year ended November 30,
1997. We expect that shipments to international customers will continue to
account for a material portion of our net sales. Sales outside the United States
involve the following risks, among others:
- foreign governments may impose tariffs, quotas and taxes,
- political and economic instability may reduce demand for our products,
- restrictions on the export or import of technology may reduce or
eliminate our ability to sell in certain markets, and
- potentially limited intellectual property protection may cause us to
refrain from selling in certain markets.
Because we denominate our international sales in U.S. dollars, currency
fluctuations could also cause our products to become less affordable or less
price competitive than those of foreign manufacturers. We cannot assure you that
these factors will not have a material adverse effect on our international
sales. Any adverse impact on our international sales would affect our results of
operations and would cause our business to suffer.
OUR QUARTERLY OPERATING RESULTS FLUCTUATE AS A RESULT OF MANY FACTORS.
Our quarterly operating results fluctuate due to various factors. Some
of the factors that influence our quarterly operating results include:
- the mix of products and services sold in the quarter,
- life cycle stages of the products sold in the quarter,
- the availability and cost of components and materials,
- costs and benefits of new product and service introductions, and
- customer order and shipment timing.
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Because of these factors, our quarterly operating results are difficult
to predict and are likely to vary in the future. If our earnings are below
financial analysts' expectations in any quarter, our stock price is likely to
drop.
WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO ADEQUATELY PROTECT OR ENFORCE OUR INTELLECTUAL
PROPERTY RIGHTS OR TO PROTECT OURSELVES AGAINST INFRINGEMENT CLAIMS OF OTHERS.
We cannot be certain that the steps we have taken to protect our
intellectual property rights will be adequate or that third parties will not
infringe or misappropriate our proprietary rights. Any such infringement or
misappropriation could have a material adverse effect on our future financial
results. We also cannot be certain that we have not infringed or will not
infringe the proprietary rights of others. Any such infringement could cause
third parties to bring claims against us, resulting in significant costs,
possible damages and substantial uncertainty.
WE DEPEND ON OUR EXECUTIVE OFFICERS FOR OUR SUCCESS.
We are significantly dependent upon Patrick J. Dirk, our Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer, and our other executive officers. There could be a
material adverse effect on our business if we lose the services of Mr. Dirk or
any other executive officer. We do not have employment or noncompete agreements
with any of our executive officers, other than with Robert S. Messina, our
President and Chief Operating Officer.
COMPLIANCE WITH GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS MAY CAUSE US TO INCUR UNFORESEEN
EXPENSES.
Our MICR printer and imaging supplies manufacturing operations are
subject to a number of federal, state and local laws and regulations. These
regulations include laws and regulations promulgated by the Environmental
Protection Agency and similar state agencies regarding storing, shipping,
disposing, discharging and manufacturing hazardous materials and hazardous and
non-hazardous waste. Although we believe that our operations materially comply
with all current laws and regulations, we cannot assure you that these
regulations will not change. We also cannot assure that unforeseen environmental
incidents will not occur, or that past contamination or non-compliance with
environmental laws will not be discovered on our current or former properties.
Any of these events could result in significant expense or require changes in
our operations, which could materially and adversely affect our business.
OUR FORMER STATUS AS AN S CORPORATION COULD EXPOSE US TO LIABILITY.
From December 1989 to October 30, 1998, Troy and Troy Systems elected S
corporation status under the Internal Revenue Code. Although we believe that
Troy and Troy Systems met the S corporation requirements under the Code during
this period, the IRS has not challenged or made a determination as to our
status. If the IRS determines that Troy or Troy Systems did not meet the Code
requirements for S corporations, we could be liable for unpaid federal and state
income taxes for all or a part of the time that we elected S corporation status,
plus interest and possible penalties.
POSSIBLE ISSUANCES OF PREFERRED STOCK AND ANTI-TAKEOVER PROVISIONS
COULD AFFECT THE PRICE OF OUR COMMON STOCK.
Our Certificate of Incorporation authorizes our board of directors to
issue up to 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock. The board can fix the rights,
preferences, privileges and restrictions (including voting rights) of shares of
preferred stock without stockholder approval. We do not presently intend to
issue shares of preferred stock. However, your rights as a holder of common
stock will be subject to, and may
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be adversely affected by, the rights of any future preferred stockholders.
Preferred stock issuances may also cause significant dilution in your interests
as a stockholder. By issuing preferred stock, we could also make it more
difficult for a third party to acquire us.
Our stockholders do not have the right to cumulate their votes to elect
directors. In addition, we are subject to the anti-takeover provisions of
Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law. These provisions, along
with Mr. Dirk's significant voting control and the ability of our board of
directors to issue shares of preferred stock, could prevent or delay any change
in our control. In turn, this could adversely affect common stock market prices.
TRADING PRICES OF OUR COMMON STOCK MAY BE VOLATILE.
The stock market from time to time experiences significant price and
volume fluctuations that are unrelated to the operating performance of
particular companies. These broad market fluctuations may adversely affect the
market price of our common stock. In addition, market prices for shares of our
common stock have been, and are likely to continue to be, highly volatile. Some
specific factors which may have a significant effect on common stock market
prices include:
- fluctuations in our operating results,
- our announcements or our competitors' announcements of technological
innovations or new products,
- regulatory actions,
- developments regarding patents or proprietary rights, and
- changes in stock market analyst recommendations regarding our common
stock, other comparable companies or the technology industry generally.
WE DO NOT INTEND TO PAY DIVIDENDS.
We intend to use any future earnings to grow our business and do not
intend to pay dividends in the foreseeable future.
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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
We are registering the resale of 50,000 shares of our common stock
on behalf of a selling stockholder. All of the shares were issued by us in
connection with the exercise of warrants issued to the selling stockholder
for services that he provided. We will not receive any proceeds from this
offering.
The selling stockholder named in the table below or pledgees, donees,
transferees or other successors-in-interest selling shares received from the
selling stockholder as a gift, partnership distribution or other
non-sale-related transfer after the date of this prospectus may sell the shares
from time to time. All of such persons are a "selling stockholder" as that term
is used in this prospectus. The selling stockholder will act independently of
Troy in making decisions with respect to the timing, manner and size of each
sale.
Sales by the selling stockholder may be made on one or more exchanges
or in the over-the-counter market or otherwise, at prices and at terms then
prevailing or at prices related to the then current market price, or in
negotiated transactions. The selling stockholder may effect such transactions by
selling the shares to or through broker-dealers. The shares may be sold by one
or more of, or a combination of, the following:
- a block trade in which the broker-dealer so engaged will attempt to
sell the shares as agent but may position and resell a portion of the
block as principal to facilitate the transaction,
- purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by such
broker-dealer for its account pursuant to this prospectus,
- an exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of such exchange,
- ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker
solicits purchasers, and
- in privately negotiated transactions.
In addition, any securities covered by this prospectus which qualify
for sale pursuant to Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act may be sold
under Rule 144 rather than pursuant to this prospectus. To the extent required,
this prospectus may be amended or supplemented from time to time in the manner
discussed below to describe a specific plan of distribution. In effecting sales,
broker-dealers engaged by the selling stockholder may arrange for other
broker-dealers to participate in the resales.
The selling stockholder may enter into hedging transactions with
broker-dealers in connection with distributions of the shares or otherwise. In
such transactions, broker-dealers may engage in short sales of the shares in the
course of hedging the positions they assume with the selling stockholder. The
selling stockholder also may sell shares short and redeliver the shares to close
out such short positions. The selling stockholder may enter into option or other
transactions with broker-dealers which require the delivery to the broker-dealer
of the shares. The broker-dealer may then resell or otherwise transfer such
shares pursuant to this prospectus. The selling stockholder also may loan or
pledge the shares to a broker-dealer. The broker-dealer may sell the shares so
loaned, or upon a default the broker-dealer may sell the pledged shares pursuant
to this prospectus.
Broker-dealers or agents may receive compensation in the form of
commissions, discounts or concessions from the selling stockholder.
Broker-dealers or agents may also receive compensation from the purchasers of
the shares for whom they act as agents or to whom they sell as principals, or
both.
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Compensation as to a particular broker-dealer might be in excess of customary
commissions and will be in amounts to be negotiated in connection with the
sale. Broker-dealers or agents and any other participating broker-dealers or
the selling stockholder may be deemed to be "underwriters" within the meaning
of Section 2(11) of the Securities Act in connection with sales of the
shares. Accordingly, any such commission, discount or concession received by
them and any profit on the resale of the shares purchased by them may be
deemed to be underwriting discounts or commissions under the Securities Act.
The selling stockholder has advised us that he has not entered into any
agreements, understandings or arrangements with any underwriters or
broker-dealers regarding the sale of his securities. There is no underwriter
or coordinating broker acting in connection with the proposed sale of shares
by the selling stockholder.
The shares will be sold only through registered or licensed brokers or
dealers if required under applicable state securities laws. In addition, in
certain states the shares may not be sold unless they have been registered or
qualified for sale in the applicable state or an exemption from the registration
or qualification requirement is available and is complied with.
Under applicable rules and regulations under the Exchange Act, any
person engaged in the distribution of the shares may not simultaneously engage
in market making activities with respect to our common stock for a period of two
business days prior to the commencement of such distribution. In addition, the
selling stockholder will be subject to applicable provisions of the Exchange Act
and the associated rules and regulations under the Exchange Act, including
Regulation M, which provisions may limit the timing of purchases and sales of
shares of our common stock by the selling stockholder. Because selling
stockholders may be deemed to be "underwriters" within the meaning of Section
2(11) of the Securities Act, the selling stockholder will be subject to the
prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act. We will make copies of
this prospectus available to the selling stockholder and have informed them of
the need for delivery of copies of this prospectus to purchasers at or prior to
the time of any sale of the shares. Such delivery may include delivery through
the facilities of the New York Stock Exchange pursuant to Rule 153 under the
Securities Act.
We will file a supplement to this prospectus, if required, pursuant to
Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act upon being notified by the selling
stockholder that any material arrangement has been entered into with a
broker-dealer for the sale of shares through a block trade, special offering,
exchange distribution or secondary distribution or a purchase by a broker or
dealer. Such supplement will disclose:
- the name of the selling stockholder and of the participating
broker-dealer(s),
- the number of shares involved,
- the price at which such shares were sold,
- the commissions paid or discounts or concessions allowed to such
broker-dealer(s), where applicable,
- that such broker-dealer(s) did not conduct any investigation to verify
the information set out or incorporated by reference in this
prospectus, and
- other facts material to the transaction.
In addition, upon being notified by the selling stockholder that a
donee, pledgee, transferee or other successor-in-interest intends to sell more
than 500 shares, we will file a supplement to this prospectus.
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We will bear all costs, expenses and fees in connection with the
registration of the shares. The selling stockholder will bear all commissions
and discounts, if any, attributable to the sales of the shares. The selling
stockholder may agree to indemnify any broker-dealer or agent that participates
in transactions involving sales of the shares against certain liabilities,
including liabilities arising under the Securities Act.
SELLING STOCKHOLDER
The following table sets forth the number of shares owned by the
selling stockholder, as well as information regarding any material relationship
that the selling stockholder has had with us within the past three years other
than as a result of the ownership of the shares of our common stock or other
securities. The selling stockholder currently owns less than one percent of our
outstanding common stock. No estimate can be given as to the amount of shares
that will be held by the selling stockholder after completion of this offering
because the selling stockholder may offer all or some of the shares and because
there currently are no agreements, arrangements or understandings with respect
to the sale of any of the shares.
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Shares Beneficially Owned Number of Shares
Name of Selling Stockholder Prior to the Offering(1) Being Offered
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Raymond F. Schuler(2) 128,900(3) 50,000
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(1) Based upon a questionnaire received from the selling stockholder in
connection with the preparation of our registration statement for the
shares offered.
(2) Mr. Schuler provides legal services to us in connection with certain
general corporate and acquisition matters.
(3) Amount includes 78,900 shares that Mr. Raymond F. Schuler holds as a
trustee under The Dirk 1997 Education Trust and 50,000 shares
issuable upon the exercise of outstanding warrants.
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LEGAL MATTERS
Certain legal matters regarding the validity of the shares of common
stock offered hereby will be passed upon by Oppenheimer Wolff & Donnelly LLP.
EXPERTS
Our financial statements, which are included in our Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the year ended November 30, 1999, as amended, and incorporated
by reference in this prospectus and the related registration statement, have
been audited by McGladrey & Pullen, LLP, independent accountants, for the
periods indicated in such firm's reports thereon. The consolidated financial
statements and financial statement schedule audited by McGladrey & Pullen,
LLP have been incorporated herein by reference in reliance on such firm's
reports given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing. To
the extent that McGladrey & Pullen, LLP examines and reports on financial
statements and financial statement schedules that we issue at future dates
and consents to the use of their reports thereon, such financial statements
and financial statement schedules will also be incorporated by reference in
this prospectus and the related registration statement in reliance upon their
reports and said authority.
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