DANIELSON HOLDING CORP
S-3, 2000-06-13
FIRE, MARINE & CASUALTY INSURANCE
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<PAGE>


AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON JUNE 13, 2000
                                              REGISTRATION NO. 333-
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                                   -----------

                                    FORM S-3

                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                           --------------------------


                          DANIELSON HOLDING CORPORATION
              -----------------------------------------------------
               (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)


                                    DELAWARE
         --------------------------------------------------------------
         (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)


                                   95-6021257
                  --------------------------------------------
                    (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)
       767 THIRD AVENUE, 5TH FLOOR,NEW YORK, NY 10017-2023, (212) 888-0347
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    (Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code,
                  of Registrant's Principal Executive Offices)



                                 David M. Barse
                      President and Chief Operating Officer
                          Danielson Holding Corporation
                           767 Third Avenue, 5th Floor
                             New York, NY 10017-2023
                                 (212) 888-0347

       (Name, Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including
                        Area Code, of Agent For Service)

                                    COPY TO:

                             Vincent J. Pisano, Esq.
                    Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
                                Four Times Square
                             New York, NY 10036-6522
                                 (212) 735-3000

                                   -----------
     Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public:  From time
to time  after the  effective  date of this  Registration  Statement,  as market
conditions permit.

     If the only  securities  being  registered  on this Form are being  offered
pursuant to dividend or interest  reinvestment plans, please check the following
box. [ ]

<PAGE>
     If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on
a delayed or continuous  basis  pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of
1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest
reinvestment plans, check the following box. [X]

     If this Form is filed to  register  additional  securities  for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box
and list  the  Securities  Act  registration  statement  number  of the  earlier
effective registration statement for the same offering.

     If this Form is a  post-effective  amendment  filed pursuant to Rule 462(c)
under the  Securities  Act,  check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration  statement number of the earlier effective  registration  statement
for the same offering.

     If delivery of the  prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434,
please check the following box.


                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
 <TABLE>
<CAPTION>

TITLE OF SHARES       AMOUNT          PROPOSED    PROPOSED       AMOUNT OF
TO BE REGISTERED      TO BE           MAXIMUM     MAXIMUM        REGISTRATION
                      REGISTERED(2)   AGGREGATE   AGGREGATE      FEE
                                      PRICE       OFFERING
                                      PER UNIT    PRICE (3)
<S>                 <C>               <C>         <C>            <C>
Common Stock,       70 million        $4.97       $347,900,000   $91,845.60
par value $0.10     shares
per share(1)
</TABLE>


(1) Shares  issuable  upon  exercise  of  non-transferable  warrants to purchase
Common Stock.

(2) In accordance with Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933,Common Stock
registered hereby also includes such indeterminate number of shares as may be
distributable from time to time pursuant to anti-dilution provisions.

(3)  Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee
pursuant to Rule 457(c) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and based
upon the average high and low prices on June 12, 2000, reported on the American
Stock Exchange.




     THE REGISTRANT  HEREBY AMENDS THIS  REGISTRATION  STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR
DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANT SHALL
FILE A  FURTHER  AMENDMENT  THAT  SPECIFICALLY  STATES  THAT  THIS  REGISTRATION
STATEMENT SHALL  THEREAFTER  BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(A) OF
THE  SECURITIES  ACT OF 1933,  AS AMENDED OR UNTIL THIS  REGISTRATION  STATEMENT
SHALL  BECOME  EFFECTIVE  ON SUCH DATE AS THE  COMMISSION,  ACTING  PURSUANT  TO
SECTION 8(A), MAY DETERMINE.


<PAGE>






PROSPECTUS

            70 Million Shares of Common Stock Issuable Upon Exercise
                                   of Warrants

     We are offering up to 70 million shares of Common Stock issuable by us upon
exercise of non-transferable warrants to be issued to our stockholders.  We have
not yet  determined  the terms of the warrants or the date of their  issuance to
our  stockholders.  The  warrants  will  be  represented  by  our  Common  Stock
certificates and will not be separately  tradeable.  The exercise price for each
series of warrants and other terms will be included in a prospectus  supplement.
This  prospectus  may not be used to consummate any sales of Common Stock unless
accompanied by a prospectus supplement.

     Our Common Stock is traded on the American  Stock Exchange under the symbol
"DHC".  On June 12,  2000,  the closing  price of our Common Stock was $5.00 per
share.

     This investment involves risk. See "Risk Factors" beginning on page 1. You
should read this prospectus carefully before you invest.

      IN ORDER TO AVOID AN  "OWNERSHIP  CHANGE" FOR FEDERAL  TAX  PURPOSES,  OUR
CERTIFICATE  OF  INCORPORATION  PROHIBITS  ANY PERSON FROM BECOMING A BENEFICIAL
OWNER  OF 5% OR MORE OF OUR  OUTSTANDING  COMMON  STOCK,  EXCEPT  UNDER  LIMITED
CIRCUMSTANCES.  CONSEQUENTLY,  THERE ARE LIMITATIONS ON THE EXERCISE OF WARRANTS
DESCRIBED IN THIS PROSPECTUS.

     The Securities and Exchange Commission and state securities regulators have
not approved or disapproved these  securities,  or determined if this prospectus
is  truthful  or  complete.  Any  representation  to the  contrary is a criminal
offense.

            The date of this prospectus is June 13, 2000.


<PAGE>







                               TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                        PAGE

Risk Factors............................................. 1

Danielson Holding Corporation.........................    3

Where You Can Find More Information.....................  3

Forward-Looking Statements..............................  3

Use of Proceeds.........................................  3

Price Range of Common Stock.............................  4

Description of Common Stock.............................  5

Description of Warrants.................................. 6

Plan of Distribution....................................  7

Legal Matters...........................................  7

Experts.................................................  7


<PAGE>


                                  RISK FACTORS

     Before  purchasing  the  shares  offered  by this  prospectus,  you  should
carefully  consider  the  risks  described  below,  in  addition  to  the  other
information  presented in this prospectus or incorporated by reference into this
prospectus.  Some  or  all of the  following  risks  could  seriously  harm  our
business,  financial  condition  or results  of  operations.  In such case,  the
trading  price of our Common Stock could decline and you may lose all or part of
your investment.

     PROVISIONS IN OUR  CERTIFICATE OF  INCORPORATION  THAT LIMIT  OWNERSHIP AND
TRANSFERABILITY  OF OUR STOCK MAY ENTRENCH  CURRENT  MANAGEMENT  AND THE CURRENT
STOCKHOLDERS.  We  are  required  to  issue,  in  our  name,  as  escrow  agent,
certificates  representing shares of Common Stock that are beneficially owned by
holders of 5% or more of our stock.  In  addition,  when we receive  the written
request  from a 5%  Stockholder  to transfer  their  shares,  we may refuse such
request  upon the advice of our tax counsel that such  transfer  would create an
unreasonable  risk of an  "ownership  change".  In no  circumstances  may anyone
acquire 5% or more of our stock without our consent.

     WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO LIMIT THE EXERCISE OF THESE WARRANTS. The terms of the
warrants may limit the number of shares exercisable by a holder. If the exercise
of your warrants would result in a risk of your becoming a 5% shareholder,  your
exercise will be automatically reduced so that your Common Stock ownership would
be less than 5%. We may also limit the  exercise  of  warrants  by  holders  who
possess 5% of our outstanding Common Stock.

     ALTHOUGH WE CURRENTLY  RELY ON CASH AND SHORT TERM  INVESTMENTS TO MEET OUR
LIQUIDITY NEEDS, WE MAY EXPERIENCE LIQUIDITY  CONSTRAINTS IN THE FUTURE. In such
event, we may rely on dividends and tax sharing payments from our  subsidiaries.
These  dividends and tax sharing  payments may not be available  because,  among
other things:

     o   In some cases, our subsidiaries must first receive regulatory  approval
         before paying us dividends.

     o   There are  business  and  regulatory  considerations  that  affect  our
         subsidiaries,  including the impact of dividends on surplus which could
         affect a subsidiary's  insurance ratings, its competitive position, the
         amount  of  premiums  that  it can  write  and its  risk-based  capital
         requirements.

     o   There may be a prolonged material decline in an insurance  subsidiary's
         profits or materially adverse insurance regulatory developments.

     WE CANNOT BE CERTAIN THAT OUR BUSINESS  PLAN WILL BE ACHIEVED.  Although we
have sought to grow  through  entering  into  strategic  partnerships  or making
acquisitions,  we have limited financial  resources and there are constraints on
our ability to issue  additional  stock or  otherwise  raise  capital to finance
transactions.  This may  prevent us from  successfully  consummating  any future
transactions.

     OUR INSURANCE  BUSINESS IS AFFECTED BY MANY FACTORS  OUTSIDE OF OUR CONTROL
SUCH AS WEATHER  CONDITIONS AND ECONOMIC ACTIVITY THAT CAN CAUSE FLUCTUATIONS IN
THE RESULTS OF OUR  OPERATIONS.  Our business is  concentrated  primarily in the
Western United States.  If this area  experiences  an economic  downturn,  there
could be fewer car sales, less demand for automobile  insurance and lower policy
amounts in addition to increased workers'  compensation  claims.  Severe adverse
weather  conditions  could also  adversely  affect our business.  These factors,
together with competitive pricing,  could result in increases in our loss ratios
and fluctuations in our underwriting results and net income.

     WE FACE  INTENSE  COMPETITION  THAT COULD  IMPAIR  OUR  ABILITY TO GROW AND
ACHIEVE  PROFITABILITY.  We compete  both with large  national  writers and with
smaller  regional  companies  in each state in which we  operate.  Some of these
competitors  are larger and have greater  financial  resources  than us. Some of
these competitors in the workers'  compensation line of business have, from time
to time,  decreased their prices significantly to gain market share. Our ability
to grow  depends  on our  ability to expand in the states in which we already do
business and to expand into other states.

     WE ARE  SUBJECT  TO  INSURANCE  LAWS AND  REGULATIONS  WHICH  COULD HAVE AN
ADVERSE  IMPACT OUR  BUSINESS.  The states in which we  transact  business  have
passed  insurance laws and  regulations.  The agencies  established  pursuant to
these state laws have broad  administrative  and  supervisory  powers  which can
impact our insurance business including:

     o   the granting and revocation of licenses to transact
         insurance business

     o   regulation of trade practices

     o   establishment of guaranty associations

     o   licensing of agents

     o   approval of policy forms

     o   premium rate filing requirements

     o   reserve requirements

     o   the form and content of required regulatory financial
         statements

     o   periodic examinations of insurers' records

     o   capital and surplus requirements and the maximum
         concentrations of certain classes of investments

     These laws, in general,  also require approval of the particular  insurance
regulators  prior to certain actions by the insurance  companies,  including the
payment of dividends in excess of statutory limitations and certain transactions
and continuing  service  arrangements  with affiliates.  The laws of most states
provide for the filing of premium rate schedules and other  information with the
insurance  commissioner of a particular state, either directly or through rating
organizations.  The insurance commissioner of each state generally has powers to
disapprove  such  filings  or make  changes to the rates if they are found to be
excessive, inadequate or unfairly discriminatory.  The determination of rates is
based on various factors, including loss and loss adjustment expense experience.
The failure to obtain, or delay in obtaining,  the required approvals could have
an adverse impact on the operations of our insurance  subsidiaries.  We are also
required by insurance regulators to maintain certain minimum amounts of capital.

     WE CANNOT INSURE THAT  CURRENTLY  ESTABLISHED  PROVISIONS FOR UNPAID LOSSES
AND LOSS ADJUSTMENT EXPENSES ("'LAE") WILL PROVE ADEQUATE IN LIGHT OF SUBSEQUENT
ACTUAL EXPERIENCE. We are required to estimate liability for losses and LAE. Our
insurance  subsidiaries  establish provisions to cover their estimated liability
for losses and LAE with respect to both reported and unreported claims as of the
end of each  accounting  period.  By their nature,  these  provisions for unpaid
losses and LAE do not represent an exact  calculation  of  liabilities.  Rather,
they  are  estimates  involving  management's  projections  as to  the  ultimate
settlement and administration of claims.  These expectations are, in turn, based
on, among other things:

     o   facts and circumstances known at the time

     o   predictions of future events

     o   estimates of future trends in the severity and frequency of
         claims

     o   judicial theories of liability

     o   inflation

     Our  insurance  subsidiaries  regularly  review  their  respective  reserve
techniques  and reserve  positions and believe that adequate  provision has been
made for their respective unpaid losses and LAE. We cannot insure that currently
established  provisions for unpaid loses and LAE will prove adequate in light of
subsequent actual experience. Future earnings could be adversely impacted should
future loss  development  require  increases in provisions for unpaid losses and
LAE previously established for prior periods.

     THE MARKET FOR OUR SHARES HAS BEEN  HISTORICALLY  ILLIQUID WHICH MAY AFFECT
YOUR  ABILITY  TO SELL  YOUR  SHARES.  The  volume of  trading  in our stock has
historically been low. Having a market for shares without substantial  liquidity
can adversely  affect the price of the stock at a time an investor might want to
sell his shares.

     WE CAN NOT BE CERTAIN THAT THE NET OPERATING  LOSS ("NOL") WILL CONTINUE TO
BE AVAILABLE  TO OFFSET OUR TAX  LIABILITY.  We believe,  based in part upon the
views of our tax advisors,  that our NOL calculations are reasonable and that it
is  reasonable  to conclude  that some or all of our NOL would be  available  to
offset our future federal taxable income,  if any. The Internal  Revenue Service
("IRS")  has not  examined  our tax  returns  for the years in which the  losses
giving  rise to the NOL were  reported.  The IRS may  attempt to  challenge  the
amount or availability of the NOL in the event of a future tax audit. If the IRS
disallows  all or a portion of the NOL,  the  disallowance,  if sustained by the
courts, could have an adverse impact on our financial condition. In addition, if
we were to undergo an "ownership  change" as such term is used in Section 382 of
the Internal  Revenue Code,  the use of our NOL would be severely  limited.  Our
Certificate of  Incorporation  contains stock transfer  restrictions  which were
designed to help us preserve the NOL by avoiding an ownership  change. We cannot
be certain, however, that these restrictions will prevent an ownership change.


<PAGE>



                          DANIELSON HOLDING CORPORATION

     We are a holding company  incorporated  in Delaware.  We offer a variety of
insurance products through our subsidiaries.  Our largest subsidiary is National
American Insurance Company of California  ("NAICC").  NAICC and its subsidiaries
write  workers'  compensation,  non-standard  private  passenger and  commercial
automobile  insurance in the Western United  States,  primarily  California.  We
believe  that  through  NAICC  we  can  achieve   underwriting  success  through
refinement  of various  risk  profiles.  This  helps us divide the  non-standard
market into more defined  segments,  which enables us to price our products more
precisely.

     We are  seeking  to build  stockholder  value  while  maintaining  a strong
capital  structure.   We  are  also  seeking  to  grow  by  developing  business
partnerships and making strategic acquisitions, including acquisitions that will
both  complement  our existing  operations  and enable us to earn an  attractive
return on our investment.

                       WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

     We file annual,  quarterly and special reports,  proxy statements and other
information with the Securities and Exchange  Commission.  You may read and copy
any document we file with the Commission at the  Commission's  public  reference
room at 450  Fifth  Street,  N.W.,  Washington,  D.C.  20549.  Please  call  the
Commission at  1-800-SEC-0330  for further  information on the public  reference
room.  Our  Commission   filings  are  also  available  to  the  public  at  the
Commission's web site at http://www.sec.gov.

     The common shares are traded on the American Stock Exchange. Material filed
by us can be  inspected  at the  offices of the  American  Stock  Exchange at 86
Trinity Place, New York, NY 10006.

     The Commission  allows us to  "incorporate by reference" the information 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  information  that we file later
with the Commission will automatically update and supersede this information. We
incorporate  by reference the documents  listed below and any future  filings we
will make with the Commission  under Sections  13(a),  13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the
Securities  Exchange Act prior to the termination of the offerings  described in
this prospectus:

1.       Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
     December 31, 1999 (SEC file number 001-06732 and filing date of
     March 30, 2000);
2.   Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2000
     (SEC file number 001-6732 and filing date of May 15, 2000).

     You  may  request  a copy  of  this  filing,  at no  cost,  by  writing  or
telephoning as follows:  Danielson Holding  Corporation,  767 Third Avenue,  New
York, New York, 10017 (212) 888-0347.

     This  prospectus is part of a  registration  statement on Form S-3 we filed
with the SEC under the Securities  Act. You should rely only on the  information
or  representations  provided in this  prospectus.  We have authorized no one to
provide  you with  different  information.  We are not  making an offer of these
securities in any state where the offer is not permitted.  You should not assume
that the  information  in this  prospectus is accurate as of any date other than
the date on the front of the document.

                           FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

     This  prospectus  and  the  documents  incorporated  by  reference  in this
prospectus contain forward-looking statements.  These forward-looking statements
are based on our  current  expectations,  estimates  and  projections  about our
industry, management's beliefs and certain assumptions made by us. Words such as
"anticipates,"  "expects,"  "intends," "plans," "believes," "seeks," "estimates"
and  variations of these words or similar  expressions  are intended to identify
forward-looking  statements.  These  statements  are not  guarantees  of  future
performance and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that
are difficult to predict.  Therefore, our actual results could differ materially
from those expressed or forecasted in any forward-looking statements as a result
of a variety of factors,  including  those set forth in "Risk Factors" above and
elsewhere in, or incorporated by reference into, this  prospectus.  We undertake
no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking  statements for any reason,
even if new information becomes available or other events occur in the future.

                                 USE OF PROCEEDS

     The net proceeds to be received  from the exercise of the warrants  will be
used to fund acquisitions and for general corporate purposes,  including working
capital.


<PAGE>



                           PRICE RANGE OF COMMON STOCK

     Our Common Stock is traded on the American  Stock Exchange under the symbol
"DHC." The following table sets forth, for the periods  indicated,  the range of
high and low bid prices for our Common Stock as reported on the  American  Stock
Exchange.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                     HIGH     LOW         CLOSE
<S>                                                 <C>       <C>         <C>
1997:

      First Quarter............................... $14       $4 7/8      $6 7/8
      Second Quarter..............................  8 1/2     6 3/8       7 7/8
      Third Quarter...............................  9         8           9
      Fourth Quarter..............................  9 5/8     6 3/4       7 1/4

1998:

      First Quarter...............................  8 1/8     7 3/16      7 1/2
      Second Quarter..............................  8         7           7 3/8
      Third Quarter...............................  7 1/2     3 5/8       4 3/8
      Fourth Quarter..............................  4 3/8     3           3 9/16

1999:

      First Quarter...............................  4 5/8     2 7/8       2 7/8
      Second Quarter..............................  5 3/4     2 7/8       5 3/8
      Third Quarter...............................  7 1/2     5 1/4       5 5/8
      Fourth Quarter..............................  6 1/8     4 5/8       5 3/4

2000:

      First Quarter...............................  7 3/8     4 3/4       6 3/8


</TABLE>

     On June 12,  2000,  the  reported  last sales price of the Common Stock was
$5.00 per share.


<PAGE>



                           DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK

     We are authorized to issue 110,000,000  shares of capital stock. The number
of shares of Common Stock authorized to be issued is 100,000,000 with each share
having a par value of $.10.

VOTING RIGHTS

     Each holder of an outstanding share of our Common Stock is entitled to cast
one vote for each share  registered  to a Common Stock holder.  The  affirmative
vote of a majority  of the  outstanding  shares of the Common  Stock  holders is
necessary  to  approve  any   consolidation  or  merger  with  or  into  another
corporation pursuant to which, shares of Common Stock would be converted into or
exchanged for any securities or other consideration.

DIVIDENDS

     Subject to the rights and preferences of any outstanding  preferred  stock,
dividends on Common Stock are payable out of our funds when,  as and if declared
by our board of  directors.  However,  no dividend  may be paid or set aside for
payment and no  distribution  may be made on Common Stock unless (i) all accrued
and unpaid  dividends  with respect to the Preferred  Stock and any of the stock
ranking on a parity with the stock as to  dividends or upon  liquidation  at the
time the  dividends  are payable have been paid or funds have been set apart for
payment of the dividends and (ii)  sufficient  funds have been set apart for the
payment of the  dividends  for the current  dividend  period with respect to the
Preferred  Stock and any of the stock  ranking on a parity  with the stock as to
dividends or upon liquidation.

RIGHTS IN LIQUIDATION

     In the event we are liquidated,  dissolved or wound up, whether voluntarily
or involuntarily,  our net assets would be distributed  ratably among our Common
Stock holders  after  payment or provision for payment of the full  preferential
amounts to which the  holders of any series of our  preferred  stock  issued and
outstanding are entitled.

PREEMPTIVE RIGHTS

     Shares of our Common Stock do not entitle a stockholder  to any  preemptive
rights enabling a stockholder to subscribe for or receive shares of stock of any
class or any other securities convertible into any of our stock.

TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS

     Our Common Stock is subject to the following transfer restrictions:

     No holder whether record or beneficial,  direct or indirect,  of 5% or more
of Common Stock,  (including  without limitation any holder who proposes to make
an acquisition of Common Stock,  which after the acquisition  will result in the
holder  owning 5% or more of Common  Stock) (a "5%  Stockholder")  may purchase,
acquire or otherwise receive  additional shares of Common Stock (herein referred
to as an "Acquisition") or sell, transfer,  assign, pledge,  encumber or dispose
of any shares of Common Stock (herein  referred to as a "Transfer"),  prior to a
determination by us and our tax counsel that such transaction will not result in
or create an  unreasonable  risk of an "ownership  change" within the meaning of
Section  382(g) of the  Internal  Revenue  Code,  or any similar  provisions  of
superseding or additional law relating to preservation of the NOL (collectively,
an  "Ownership  Change" under the "Tax Law").  This 5%  limitation  may have the
effect  of  preserving  effective  control  of  the  Company  by  our  principal
stockholders and preserving our board's and management's tenure.

     In order to  ensure  compliance  with  such  restrictions,  and in order to
establish a procedure for processing requests to effect either an Acquisition or
a Transfer by any one or more 5%  Stockholder(s)  on a fair and equitable basis,
the following provisions apply to all 5% Stockholders:

     Delivery of Shares and Escrow  Receipts.  All shares of Common  Stock which
are  issuable to 5%  Stockholders  or which  subsequently  are  received by a 5%
Stockholder  in an  Acquisition  are  issued in the name of  "Danielson  Holding
Corporation,  as  Escrow  Agent"  and are held by us in  escrow  (the  "Escrowed
Stock"). In lieu of certificates reflecting their ownership of Common Stock, the
5% Stockholders  receive an escrow receipt evidencing their beneficial ownership
of Common Stock and record ownership of the Escrowed Stock.  Escrow receipts are
non-transferable. The 5% Stockholders retain full voting and dividend rights for
all Escrowed Stock.

     Duration of our Holding the Escrowed  Stock.  As escrow agent,  we hold all
shares of  Escrowed  Stock  until  termination  of the stock  escrow (the "Stock
Escrow").  If a 5%  Stockholder  desires to Transfer  Escrowed Stock to a non-5%
Stockholder,  we will hold all shares of Escrowed Stock until receipt by us of a
favorable  opinion  from our tax counsel  that the  Transfer may be made without
resulting in an Ownership Change under the Tax Law.

     Acquisitions  and Transfers.  All requests by 5% Stockholders to consummate
either an  Acquisition  or a Transfer of  Escrowed  Stock will be treated in the
order in which such requests were received,  i.e., on a "first to request, first
to receive"  basis.  All such requests must be in writing and delivered to us at
our principal  executive office,  attention General Counsel, by registered mail,
return  receipt  requested,  or by hand.  In the event  that our tax  counsel is
unable to conclude that a requested  Acquisition or Transfer can be made without
an Ownership Change under the Tax Law, then: (i) the requesting party will be so
advised  in  writing  by us;  and  (ii)  any  subsequent  request  by  other 5 %
Stockholders  to effect a transaction  of a type that we had  previously  denied
will be approved only after all previously denied requests (in the order denied)
are given an opportunity to consummate the previously  desired  transaction.  In
addition,  we may approve any requested  transaction in any order of receipt if,
in our business judgment, such transaction is in our best interests.

     Termination  of the Stock Escrow.  The Stock Escrow will terminate upon the
first to occur of the following: (i) pursuant to an amendment to the Tax Law, we
conclude that the  restrictions are no longer necessary in order to avoid a loss
of the NOL;  (ii) the NOL is no  longer  available  to us;  and  (iii) our board
concludes,  in its business judgment,  that preservation of the NOL no longer is
in our interest.  Upon termination of the Stock Escrow, each 5% Stockholder will
receive a notice that the Stock Escrow has been terminated and, thereafter, will
receive  a Common  Stock  certificate  evidencing  ownership  of the  previously
Escrowed Stock.

     Release  of the  Company.  We are  held  harmless  and  released  from  any
liability  to any and all 5%  Stockholders  arising  from our  actions as escrow
agent, except only for intentional  misconduct.  In performing our duties we are
and will be entitled to rely,  without any inquiry,  upon the written  advice of
our tax  counsel and other  experts  engaged by us. In the event that we require
further advice or comfort regarding action to be taken by us as escrow agent, we
may deposit the Escrowed  Stock at issue with a court of competent  jurisdiction
and make further  transfers  thereof in a manner  consistent with the rulings of
the court.


<PAGE>



                             DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

GENERAL

     The  warrants  will  be  issued  to all of our  stockholders,  will  not be
separately  transferable  from the  Common  Stock in  respect  of which they are
issued and will have such terms,  including  exercise price and exercise period,
as shall be  determined by us  immediately  prior to their  distribution.  It is
anticipated  that once  warrants  are  issued,  they  will be issued in  several
series,  which will  attach to all shares of Common  Stock then  outstanding  or
subsequently issued.

EXERCISE PRICE AND TERMS

     No warrant of any series will be exercisable  until we give notice that any
warrant  may be  exercised  (the  "Trigger  Date").  We will  file a  prospectus
supplement  which will provide the exercise price and the expiration date of the
warrant.  The  expiration  date will be no less than 14  business  days  after a
Trigger Date.

ADJUSTMENT OF WARRANT SHARES ISSUABLE

     The number of warrant  shares  issuable  upon exercise of a warrant will be
adjusted from time to time when specific events occur including:

         (a)   the payment of a dividend or distribution on our
Common Stock payable in shares of our Common Stock;
         (b)   the subdivision, combination or some reclassification
of shares of our Common Stock; or
         (c) the  distribution  on our  Common  Stock in shares  of our  capital
stock, other than in Common Stock.

If any of these events  occur,  the number of common  shares  issuable  upon the
exercise of a warrant will be adjusted so that the holder of any warrant will be
entitled  to receive  upon  exercise  of any  warrant the kind and number of our
Common  Stock  that he would have owned or been  entitled  to receive  after the
happening of any of the events  described  above, had the warrant been exercised
immediately  prior to the happening of that event.  The  adjustment  will become
effective  immediately  after  the  record  date in the  case of a  dividend  or
distribution. In the case of a subdivision, combination or reclassification, the
adjustment will become effective  immediately after the effective date. Whenever
we adjust the number of warrant shares  issuable upon exercise,  we will provide
notice to the registered holders of Common Stock.

     We are not  required  to issue  fractional  shares  of  Common  Stock  upon
exercise  of  warrants.  Instead  of  fractional  shares,  we  will  pay a  cash
adjustment equal to the product of (i) the fraction of the Common Stock and (ii)
the  difference of the current  market price of a share of Common Stock over the
exercise price.

MODIFICATION OF THE WARRANT

     From time to time, the terms of the warrants may be supplemented or amended
by us and the warrant  agent,  without the approval of any of the holders of the
warrants  with  respect to a series of warrants as to which the Trigger Date has
not yet  occurred.  With respect to a series of warrants  where the Trigger Date
has occurred, the terms of the warrants may be supplemented or amended by us and
the  warrant  agent only to cure any  ambiguity  or correct  or  supplement  any
provision which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision; or to
add provisions relating to questions or matters which arise,  additions which we
and the warrant  agent deem  necessary or desirable and which will not adversely
affect the interests of the warrant holders.

ESCROW ACCOUNT

     The warrant  agent will hold the exercise  price for all warrants that have
been exercised in a separate  escrow  account.  We will inform the warrant agent
and will issue a press release  indicating the number of warrants  exercised and
the number of shares of Common  Stock  outstanding  after  giving  effect to the
exercises.   We  will  also  request  that  all  shareholders  provide  us  with
information to allow us to determine if, as a result of the warrants' exercises,
any  shareholder  would become a 5%  stockholder  in our company.  If any person
would become a 5% stockholder  as a result of his exercise of warrants,  we will
automatically  reduce the number of warrants exercised so that the stockholder's
share of the Company would be less than 5%.

     We will give notice to the warrant  agent of Common Stock to be issued upon
exercise of the  warrants.  At such time,  the exercise  price for such warrants
shall  be  delivered  to  us  and  we  will  issue  and  deliver  without  delay
certificates for the number of full warrant shares issuable upon the exercise of
the warrants, together with any cash for fractional shares.

     If the board of  directors  determines  that the  exercise of the  warrants
would cause an  unreasonable  risk of an  Ownership  Change or an  unintentional
result on the "ownership change percentage",  the board may terminate the entire
call and refund the entire exercise price held in escrow.

                              PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

     The Common Stock covered by this prospectus will be issued upon exercise of
the warrants described above.

                                  LEGAL MATTERS

     Certain legal  matters in connection  with the sale of the shares of Common
Stock upon exercise of the warrants will be passed upon by Skadden, Arps, Slate,
Meagher & Flom LLP.

                                     EXPERTS

     KPMG LLP,  independent  auditors,  have audited our consolidated  financial
statements  included  in our  Annual  Report  on Form  10-K for the  year  ended
December 31, 1999,  as set forth in their  reports,  which are  incorporated  by
reference in this prospectus and elsewhere in the  registration  statement.  Our
financial  statements  are  incorporated  by reference in reliance on KPMG LLP's
reports, given on their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.


<PAGE>







                                     PART II

                     INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 14.  Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.

     The following  sets forth the expenses in connection  with the issuance and
distribution  of  the  securities  being  registered,  other  than  underwriting
discounts and  commissions.  All such expenses shall be borne by us. All amounts
set forth below are estimates, other than the SEC registration fee.

 .................................................SEC Registration Fee


 ....................................................Printing Expenses


 ......................................................Accounting Fees


 ..............................................Legal Fees and Expenses


 ...................................................Miscellaneous Fees


 ................................................................TOTAL


Item 15.  Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

     Section  145(a) of the  General  Corporation  Law of the State of  Delaware
("Delaware Corporation Law") provides, in general, that a corporation shall have
the power to indemnify  any person who was or is a part or is  threatened  to be
made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding,
whether civil,  criminal,  administrative or investigative (other than an action
by or in the right of the corporation),  because the person is or was a director
or officer of the corporation. Such indemnity may be against expenses (including
attorneys' fees),  judgment,  fines and amounts paid in settlement  actually and
reasonably  incurred  by the  person in  connection  with such  action,  suit or
proceeding,  if the  person  acted  in good  faith  and in a manner  the  person
reasonably  believed  to be in or not  opposed  to  the  best  interests  of the
corporation  and if, with  respect to any  criminal  action or  proceeding,  the
person  did not have  reasonable  cause to  believe  the  person's  conduct  was
unlawful.

     Section 145(b) of the Delaware Corporation Law provides, in general, that a
corporation  shall have the power to indemnify  any person who was or is a party
or is  threatened  to be made a party to any  threatened,  pending or  completed
action or suit by or in the right of the  corporation  to procure a judgment  in
its favor because the person is or was a director or officer of the corporation,
against  any  expenses  (including  attorneys'  fees)  actually  and  reasonably
incurred  by the person in  connection  with the defense or  settlement  of such
action or suit if the  person  acted in good  faith and in a manner  the  person
reasonably  believed  to be in or not  opposed  to  the  best  interests  of the
corporation.

     Section 145(g) of the Delaware Corporation Law provides, in general, that a
corporation shall have the power to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of
any person who is or was a director  or officer of the  corporation  against any
liability  asserted  against the person in any such capacity,  or arising out of
the person's status as such, whether or not the corporation would have the power
to indemnify the person against such liability under the provisions of the law.

Item 16.  Exhibits.


Exhibit No.                 Description

      5                     Opinion of Skadden, Arps, Slate,
                            Meagher & Flom LLP regarding legality
                            of the warrants.*

     23                     Consent of KPMG LLP.

     24                     Power of Attorney (included on
                            signature page of Registration
                            Statement).

* To be filed by amendment.

Item 17.  Undertakings.
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

1.       To file, during any period in which offers or sales are
     being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration
     statement:

a.       To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a) (3) of
         the Securities Act of 1933.

b.       To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising
         after the effective date of the registration statement (or
         the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which,
         individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental
         change in the information set forth in the registration
         statement.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or
         decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total
         dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that
         which was registered) and any deviation from the low or
         high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be
         reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the
         Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate,
         the changes in volume and price represent no more than a
         20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set
         forth in the "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in the
         effective registration statement.

c.       To include any material information with respect to the
         plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the
         registration statement or any material change to such
         information in the registration statement;

     provided,  however, that paragraphs (1) (a) and (1) (b) do not apply if the
     registration  statement  is on Form S-3 or Form  S-8,  and the  information
     required to be included in a  post-effective  amendment by those paragraphs
     is  contained  in  periodic  reports  filed by the  registrant  pursuant to
     Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are
     incorporated by reference in the registration statement.

2.   That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act
     of 1933,  each such  post-effective  amendment  shall be deemed to be a new
     registration  statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
     offering of such  securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial
     bona fide offering thereof.

3.       To remove from registration by means of a post-effective
     amendment any of the securities being registered which remain
     unsold at the termination of the offering.

     The  undersigned   registrant  hereby  undertakes  that,  for  purposes  of
determining  any liability  under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the
registrant's  annual  report  pursuant to section  13(a) or section 15(d) of the
Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934  (and,  where  applicable,  each  filing of an
employee  benefit  plan's  annual  report  pursuant  to  section  15(d)  of  the
Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934)  that is  incorporated  by  reference  in the
registration  statement  shall  be  deemed  to be a new  registration  statement
relating to the securities offered therein,  and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

     Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act
of 1933 may be permitted to directors,  officers and controlling  persons of the
registrant pursuant to the foregoing  provisions,  or otherwise,  the registrant
has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities  and Exchange  Commission
such  indemnification  is against  public policy as expressed in the Act and is,
therefore,  unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against
such liabilities  (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred
or paid by a director,  officer or  controlling  person of the registrant in the
successful  defense of any  action,  suit or  proceeding)  is  asserted  by such
director,  officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been  settled by  controlling  precedent,  submit to a court of  appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such  indemnification  by it is against public
policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of
such issue.


<PAGE>


                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the  requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant
certifies  that it has  reasonable  grounds to believe  that it meets all of the
requirements  for  filing  on Form S-3 and has  duly  caused  this  registration
statement  to be  signed  on its  behalf  by  the  undersigned,  thereunto  duly
authorized, in the City of New York, State of New York, on June 13, 2000.

                            DANIELSON HOLDING CORPORATION By:

                                                     ---------------
                                                     Martin J. Whitman
                                                     CHIEF EXECUTIVE

                                     OFFICER

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each individual whose signature appears
below  constitutes and appoints David M. Barse and Martin J. Whitman and each of
them or either of them,  his true and lawful  attorneys-in-fact  and agents with
full power of substitution  and  resubstitution,  for him and in his name, place
and stead, in any and all capacities,  to sign any and all amendments (including
post-effective  amendments)  to  this  registration  statement  (and  any  other
registration statement for the same offering that is to be effective upon filing
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the  Securities  Act of 1933) and to file the same
with all exhibits thereto, and all documents in connection  therewith,  with the
Securities and Exchange  Commission,  granting unto said  attorneys-in-fact  and
agents,  and each of them,  full power and  authority to do and perform each and
every act and thing  requisite and necessary to be done, as fully to all intents
and purposes as he might or could do in person,  hereby ratifying and confirming
all that  said  attorneys-in-fact  and  agents  or any of them,  or their or his
substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
This  power  of  attorney  may be  executed  in  counterparts.  Pursuant  to the
requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been
signed by the following  persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated in
one or more counterparts.

            NAME                       TITLE                DATE

                               Chief Executive Officer
      /s/ Martin J. Whitman           and Director          June 13, 2000
      ---------------------
     (Martin J. Whitman)

                               Chairman of the Board and
      /s/ Samuel Zell                  Director             June 13, 2000
      ---------------------
      (Samuel Zell)

                                 President and Chief
        /s/ David M. Barse      Operating Officer and
      -----------------------        Director               June 13, 2000
        (David M. Barse


      /s/ Michael T. Carney     Chief Financial Officer     June 13, 2000
      ---------------------
       (Michael T. Carney)


       /s/ Joseph F. Porrino        Director                June 13, 2000
      --------------------
       (Joseph F. Porrino)

       /s/ Frank B. Ryan            Director                June 13, 2000
       ---------------
       (Frank B. Ryan)

       /s/ Eugene M. Isenberg       Director                June 13, 2000
        --------------------
        (Eugene M. Isenberg)


      /s/ Wallace O. Sellers        Director                June 13, 2000
      ----------------------
       (Wallace O. Sellers)


       /s/ Stanley J. Gartska       Director                June 13, 2000
       ---------------
       (Stanley J. Gartska)

       /s/ William Pate             Director                June 13, 2000
       ---------------
       (William Pate)



<PAGE>


                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.       Description

  5               Opinion of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom
                  LLP regarding legality of the warrants.*

  23              Consent of KPMG LLP.

  24              Power of Attorney (included on signature page of
                  Registration Statement).

* To be filed by amendment.


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