As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 5, 1998
Registration No. 333-47047
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
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AMENDMENT NO.1
TO
FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
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OMNICOM GROUP INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
New York 13-1514814
(State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
incorporation or organization)
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437 Madison Avenue
New York, New York 10022
(212) 415-3600
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of
registrant's principal executive offices)
BARRY J. WAGNER, ESQ. Please send copies of all
Secretary communications to:
Omnicom Group Inc. MICHAEL D. DITZIAN, ESQ.
437 Madison Avenue Davis & Gilbert
New York, New York l0022 1740 Broadway
(Name, address,including zip code, New York, New York 10019
and telephone number,including (212) 468-4800
area code, of agent for service)
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to public: From time to time
after the effective date of the Registration Statement.
If the only securities being registered on this form are being offered
pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following
box: [_]
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>
=====================================================================================================================
Proposed Proposed
maximum maximum
Title of securities Amount to be offering price aggregate offering Amount of
being registered registered per unit(1) price(1) registration fee(2)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
2 1/4% Convertible Subordinated
Debentures due 2013 ......... $230,000,000 100% $230,000,000 $67,850(4)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Common Stock, $.50 par value .. 4,615,694(3) N/A N/A N/A
=====================================================================================================================
</TABLE>
(1) Estimated solely for the purposes of calculating the registration fee.
(2) Pursuant to Rule 457(i) there is no filing fee with respect to the shares
of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Debentures because no
additional consideration will be received in connection with the exercise
of the conversion privilege.
(3) Plus such additional indeterminate number of shares as may become issuable
upon conversion of the Debentures being registered hereunder by means of
adjustment of the conversion price.
(4) Previously paid in connection with the initial filing of the Registration
Statement.
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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 WHICH SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THIS REGISTRATION
STATEMENT SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(a) OF
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR UNTIL THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL BECOME
EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION, ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(a),
MAY DETERMINE.
================================================================================
<PAGE>
Information contained herein is subject to completion or amendment. A
Registration Statement relating to these securities has been filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. These securities may not be sold nor may
offers to buy be accepted prior to the time the Registration Statement becomes
effective. This Prospectus shall not constitute an offer to sell or the
solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of these securities
in any State in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior
to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such State.
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED MARCH 5, 1998
P R O S P E C T U S
OMNICOM GROUP INC.
$230,000,000 Principal Amount of 2 1/4% Convertible
Subordinated Debentures due 2013
(Interest payable January 6 and July 6)
4,615,694 Shares of Common Stock
----------------
This Prospectus relates to (i) $230,000,000 aggregate principal amount of
2 1/4% Convertible Subordinated Debentures due 2013 (the "Debentures") of
Omnicom Group Inc., a New York corporation ("Omnicom" or the "Company"), and
(ii) 4,615,694 shares of common stock, par value $.50 per share (the "Common
Stock"), of the Company which are initially issuable upon conversion of the
Debentures plus such additional indeterminate number of shares of Common Stock
as may become issuable upon conversion of the Debentures as a result of
adjustments to the conversion price (the "Shares"). The Debentures and the
Shares that are being registered hereby are to be offered for the account of the
holders thereof (the "Selling Securityholders"). The Debentures were initially
acquired from the Company by Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated (the "Initial
Purchaser") in January 1998 in connection with a private offering. See
"Description of the Debentures."
The Debentures are convertible into Common Stock of the Company at any time
after April 6, 1998 and prior to maturity, unless previously redeemed or repaid,
at a conversion price of $49.83 per share, subject to adjustments in certain
events. Interest on the Debentures is payable on January 6 and July 6 of each
year commencing July 6, 1998 at a rate of 2 1/4% per annum of the principal
amount. The Debentures may be repaid at the option of the holder on January 6,
2004. On February [ ], 1998, the closing price of the Common Stock as reported
on the New York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE") was $[ ] per share. The Common Stock
is traded under the symbol "OMC."
The Debentures do not provide for a sinking fund. The Debentures are
redeemable at the option of the Company, in whole or in part, at the redemption
prices set forth in this Prospectus, together with accrued interest, except that
no redemption may be made prior to December 31, 2001. Upon a Fundamental Change
(as defined herein), each holder of Debentures shall have the right, at the
holder's option, to require the Company to repay such holder's Debentures at the
repayment prices set forth in this Prospectus, subject to adjustments in certain
events, together with accrued interest. See "Description of Debentures --
Optional Redemption by the Company" and " -- Repayment at Option of Holders."
The Debentures are unsecured obligations of the Company and are
subordinated to all present and future Senior Indebtedness (as defined herein)
of the Company and will be effectively subordinated to all indebtedness and
liabilities of subsidiaries of the Company. The Indenture (as defined herein)
does not restrict the incurrence of any other indebtedness or liabilities by the
Company or its subsidiaries. See "Description of Debentures -- Subordination of
Debentures."
The Initial Purchaser has advised the Company that it intends to make a
market in the Debentures. The Initial Purchaser, however, is not obligated to do
so and any such market making may be discontinued at any time without notice, in
the sole discretion of the Initial Purchaser. The Company does not intend to
apply to list any of the Debentures on any securities exchange. No assurance can
be given that any market for the Debentures will develop or be maintained.
The Debentures and the Shares are being registered to permit public
secondary trading of the Debentures and, upon conversion, the underlying Common
Stock, by the holders thereof from time to time after the date of this
Prospectus. The Company has agreed among other things, to bear all expenses
(other than underwriting discounts and commissions and fees and expenses of
counsel and other advisors to the holders of the Debentures or the underlying
Common Stock) in connection with the registration and sale of the Debentures and
the underlying Common Stock covered by this Prospectus; provided, however, the
Company has not agreed to provide, or incur any expenses in connection with,
accountants' "cold comfort" letters, opinions of counsel, or to enter into
underwriting agreements, such as would be customary in an underwritten offering.
The Company will not receive any of the proceeds from sales of Debentures
or the Shares by the Selling Securityholders. The Debentures and the Shares may
be offered in negotiated transactions or otherwise at market prices prevailing
at the time of sale or at negotiated prices. See "Plan of Distribution." The
Selling Securityholders may be deemed to be "underwriters" as defined in the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). If any broker-dealers
are used by the Selling Securityholders, any commissions paid to broker-dealers
and, if broker-dealers purchase any Debentures or Shares as principals, any
profits received by such broker-dealers on the resale of the Debentures or
Shares may be deemed to be underwriting discounts or commissions under the
Securities Act. In addition, any profits realized by the Selling Securityholders
may be deemed to be underwriting commissions.
----------------
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED
UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE
CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
The date of this Prospectus is _____________, 1998
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
----
Available Information ................................................ 3
Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference ...................... 3
The Company .......................................................... 4
Use of Proceeds ...................................................... 4
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges ................................... 4
Description of Debentures ............................................ 4
General ..................................................... 5
Conversion of Debentures .................................... 5
Optional Redemption by the Company .......................... 7
Repayment at Option of Holders .............................. 8
Subordination of Debentures ................................. 10
Form, Denomination and Registration ......................... 11
Events of Default and Remedies .............................. 12
Modification of the Indenture ............................... 13
Registration Rights of the Debentureholders ................. 13
Information Concerning the Trustee .......................... 14
Description of Capital Stock ......................................... 14
Certain Federal Income Tax Considerations ............................ 14
Tax Consequences to United States Holders ................... 15
Tax Consequences to United States Alien Holders ............. 16
Selling Securityholders .............................................. 19
Plan of Distribution ................................................. 19
Legal Matters ........................................................ 20
Experts .............................................................. 21
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AVAILABLE INFORMATION
The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") a Registration Statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act with
respect to the Debentures and the Shares offered hereby. This Prospectus does
not contain all the information set forth in the Registration Statement and the
exhibits and schedules thereto. For further information with respect to the
Company and the Debentures and the Shares offered hereby, reference is made to
the Registration Statement and to the exhibits and schedules filed therewith.
Statements contained in this Prospectus as to the contents of any contract or
other document are not necessarily complete and in each instance reference is
made to the copy of such contract or other document filed as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement, each such statement being qualified in all respects by
such reference.
The Company is subject to the informational requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and in accordance
therewith files reports, proxy statements and other information with the
Commission. Copies of such reports, proxy statements, the Registration Statement
and exhibits thereto and other information may be inspected without charge at
the offices of the Commission at Judiciary Plaza, 450 Fifth Street, N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20549 and at the regional offices of the Commission located at
7 World Trade Center, New York, New York 10048 and Citicorp Center, 500 West
Madison Street, Suite 1400, Chicago, Illinois 60661, and copies of such
documents may be obtained from the Public Reference Section of the Commission at
its Washington, D.C. or regional offices upon the payment of the fees prescribed
by the Commission. The Commission maintains a World Wide Web site on the
Internet at http://www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy and information
statements and other information regarding registrants that file electronically
with the Commission, including the Company. In addition, reports, proxy
statements and other information concerning the Company may be inspected and
copied at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange, Inc., 20 Broad Street, New
York, New York 10005.
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
The following documents have been filed by the Company with the Commission
and are incorporated herein by reference:
(a) the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 1996;
(b) the Company's Unaudited Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the
quarters ended March 31, 1997, June 30, 1997 and September 30, 1997;
(c) the Company's Report on Form 8-K dated January 17, 1997 relating
to the issuance of its 4 1/4% Convertible Subordinated Debentures due 2007,
the Company's Report on Form 8-K dated January 20, 1998 relating to the
issuance of its 2 1/4% Convertible Subordinated Debentures due 2013 and the
Company's Report on Form 8-K dated March 4, 1998 relating to 1997 year end
and fourth quarter financial results; and
(d) the description of the Company's Common Stock contained in the
Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act and
any amendment or report filed for purposes of updating that description.
All documents filed with the Commission pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c),
14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this Prospectus and prior to
the termination of the offering being made hereby shall be deemed to be
incorporated by reference into this Prospectus and to be a part hereof from the
date of filing of such documents. Any statement contained in any document
incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to
be modified or superseded for purposes of this Prospectus to the extent that a
statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which
also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or
supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall
not be deemed, except as modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this
Prospectus.
The Company hereby undertakes to provide without charge to each person,
including any beneficial owner, to whom this Prospectus is delivered, upon
written or oral request of such person, a copy of any and all of the documents
that have been or may be incorporated by reference herein (other than exhibits
to such documents which are not specifically incorporated by reference into such
documents). Written or telephone requests for such copies should be directed to
Barry J. Wagner, Secretary and General Counsel, Omnicom Group Inc., 437 Madison
Avenue, New York, New York 10022; telephone number (212) 415-3600.
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THE COMPANY
The Company, through its wholly and partially-owned companies (hereinafter
collectively referred to as the "Omnicom Group"), operates advertising agencies
which plan, create, produce and place advertising in various media such as
television, radio, newspaper and magazines. The Omnicom Group offers its clients
such additional services as marketing consultation, consumer market research,
design and production of merchandising and sales promotion programs and
materials, direct mail advertising, corporate identification, public relations
and interactive marketing. The Omnicom Group offers these services to clients
worldwide on a local, national, pan-regional or global basis. Operations cover
the major regions of North America, the United Kingdom, Continental Europe, the
Middle East, Africa, Latin America, the Far East and Australia. In 1996 and
1995, 51% and 53%, respectively, of the Omnicom Group's billings came from its
non-U.S. operations.
According to the unaudited industry-wide figures published in 1997 in the
trade journal, Advertising Age, Omnicom was ranked as the second largest
advertising agency group worldwide.
The Omnicom Group operates as three separate, independent agency networks:
The BBDO Worldwide Network, the DDB Needham Worldwide Network and the TBWA
International Network. The Omnicom Group also operates two independent agencies,
Cline Davis & Mann and Goodby, Silverstein & Partners, certain marketing service
and specialty advertising companies through its Diversified Agency Services
division ("DAS") and certain interactive marketing companies through
Communicade.
The principal executive offices of the Company are located at 437 Madison
Avenue, New York New York 10022. Its telephone number is (212) 415-3600.
USE OF PROCEEDS
The Company will not receive any of the proceeds from sales of the
Debentures or the Shares by the Selling Securityholders.
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
The following table sets forth the ratio of earnings to fixed charges of
the Company for the periods indicated:
Nine Nine
months months
Ended Ended
Year Ended December 31, Septem- Septem-
---------------------------- ber 30, ber 30,
1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1996 1997
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
Ratio of earnings
to fixed charges ......... 2.28 2.32 3.15 3.59 4.17 3.80 4.01
The ratio of earnings to fixed charges is computed by dividing fixed
charges into earnings before income taxes plus fixed charges. Fixed charges
consist of interest expense and that portion of net rental expense deemed
representative of the interest factor.
DESCRIPTION OF DEBENTURES
The Debentures were issued under an indenture, dated as of January 6, 1998
(the "Indenture"), between the Company and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as trustee
(the "Trustee"). Copies of the Indenture and the Registration Rights Agreement
(as defined below) are available from the Trustee upon request by a registered
holder of the Debentures. The following summaries of certain provisions of the
Debentures, the Indenture and the Registration Rights Agreement do not purport
to be complete and are subject to, and are qualified in their entirety by
reference to, all the provisions of the Debentures, the Indenture and the
Registration Rights Agreement, including the definitions therein of certain
terms which are not otherwise defined in this Prospectus. Wherever particular
provisions or defined terms of the Indenture (or of the Form of Debentures which
is a part thereof) or the Registration Rights Agreement are referred to, such
provisions or defined terms are incorporated herein by reference.
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General
The Debentures represent unsecured general obligations of the Company
subordinate in right of payment to certain other obligations of the Company as
described under "Subordination of Debentures" and convertible into Common Stock
as described under "Conversion of Debentures." The Debentures are limited to
$230,000,000 aggregate principal amount, are issuable only in denominations of
$1,000 or multiples thereof and unless redeemed, repaid or converted prior
thereto, will mature on January 6, 2013 at their principal amount.
The Indenture does not contain any restrictions on the payment of
dividends, the repurchase of securities of the Company or any financial
covenants.
Interest is payable semiannually on January 6 and July 6 at a rate of
2 1/4% per annum of the principal amount, commencing July 6, 1998, to holders of
record at the close of business on the preceding December 22 and June 21,
respectively. Debentures which are repaid or redeemed on or prior to January 6,
2004 will have a yield from the original issue date of 5%. The Debentures will
be treated for tax purposes as having been issued with original issue discount.
See "Certain Federal Income Tax Considerations."
Conversion of Debentures
The holders of Debentures will be entitled at any time on or after April 6,
1998 through the close of business on January 6, 2013, subject to prior
redemption or repayment, to convert any Debentures or portions thereof (in
denominations of $1,000 or multiples thereof) into Common Stock of the Company,
at the conversion price set forth on the cover page of this Prospectus, subject
to adjustment as described below. Except as described below, no payment or other
adjustment will be made on conversion of any Debentures for interest accrued
thereon or for dividends on any Common Stock issued upon such conversion. If any
Debentures not called for redemption are converted after a record date for the
payment of interest and prior to the next succeeding interest payment date, such
Debentures must be accompanied by funds equal to the interest payable on such
succeeding interest payment date on the principal amount so converted. Holders
who convert Debentures on or after December 26, 2001 but before January 6, 2002
in advance of the redemption of such Debentures on a redemption date occurring
on or after December 31, 2001 but on or before January 6, 2002, will receive, in
addition to the Common Stock otherwise payable upon such conversion, accrued
interest to January 6, 2002 on the principal amount of Debentures so converted.
The Company is not required to issue fractional shares of Common Stock upon
conversion of Debentures and, in lieu thereof, will pay a cash adjustment based
upon the market price of Common Stock on the close of business on the last
business day prior to the date of conversion. In the case of Debentures called
for redemption or submitted for payment, conversion rights will expire at the
close of business on the Business Day (as defined in the Indenture) immediately
preceding the redemption or repayment date, unless the Company defaults in
making the payment due upon redemption or repayment. A Debenture in respect of
which a holder is exercising its option to require repayment on January 6, 2004
or upon a Fundamental Change may be converted only if such holder withdraws its
election to exercise its option to require repayment in accordance with the
terms of the Indenture. The Company's delivery of the fixed number of shares of
Common Stock into which the Debentures are convertible will be deemed to satisfy
the Company's obligation to pay the principal amount of the Debentures and all
accrued interest and original issue discount that has not previously been (or is
not simultaneously being) paid. The Common Stock is treated as issued first in
payment of accrued interest and original issue discount and then in payment of
principal. Thus, accrued interest and original issue discount are treated as
paid rather than cancelled, extinguished or forfeited.
The initial conversion price of $49.83 per share of Common Stock is subject
to adjustment as set forth in the Indenture in certain events, including:
(i) the issuance of Common Stock of the Company as a dividend or
distribution on the Common Stock;
(ii) certain subdivisions and combinations of the Common Stock;
(iii) the issuance to all holders of Common Stock of certain rights or
warrants entitling them to subscribe for or purchase Common Stock at less
than the Current Market Price (as defined in the Indenture);
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(iv) the distribution to all holders of Common Stock of capital stock
(other than Common Stock) or evidences of indebtedness of the Company or of
assets (including securities, but excluding those rights, warrants,
dividends and distributions referred to above or paid in cash);
(v) distributions consisting of cash, excluding any quarterly cash
dividend on the Common Stock to the extent that the aggregate cash dividend
per share of Common Stock in any quarter does not exceed the greater of (x)
the amount per share of Common Stock of the next preceding quarterly cash
dividend on the Common Stock to the extent that such preceding quarterly
dividend did not require an adjustment of the conversion price pursuant to
this clause (v) (as adjusted to reflect subdivisions or combinations of the
Common Stock), and (y) 3.75 percent of the average of the last reported
sales price of the Common Stock during the ten trading days immediately
prior to the date of declaration of such dividend, and excluding any
dividend or distribution in connection with the liquidation, dissolution or
winding up of the Company. If an adjustment is required to be made as set
forth in this clause (v) as a result of a distribution that is a quarterly
dividend, such adjustment will be based upon the amount by which such
distribution exceeds the amount of the quarterly cash dividend permitted to
be excluded pursuant to this clause (v). If an adjustment is required to be
made as set forth in this clause (v) as a result of a distribution that is
not a quarterly dividend, such adjustment would be based upon the full
amount of the distribution;
(vi) payment in respect of a tender offer or exchange offer by the
Company or any subsidiary of the Company for the Common Stock to the extent
that the cash and value of any other consideration included in such payment
per share of Common Stock exceeds the Current Market Price per share of
Common Stock on the trading day next succeeding the last date on which
tenders or exchanges may be made pursuant to such tender or exchange offer;
(vii) payment in respect of a tender offer or exchange offer by a
person other than the Company or any subsidiary of the Company in which, as
of the closing date of the offer, the Board of Directors is not
recommending rejection of the offer. The adjustment referred to in this
clause (vii) will only be made if the tender offer or exchange offer is for
an amount which increases the offeror's ownership of Common Stock to more
than 25% of the total shares of Common Stock outstanding, and if the cash
and value of any other consideration included in such payment per share of
Common Stock exceeds the Current Market Price per share of Common Stock on
the business day next succeeding the last date on which tenders or
exchanges may be made pursuant to such tender or exchange offer. The
adjustment referred to in this clause (vii) will generally not be made,
however, if, as of the closing of the offer, the offering documents with
respect to such offer disclose a plan or an intention to cause the Company
to engage in a consolidation or merger of the Company or a sale of all or
substantially all of the Company's assets; and
(viii) the issuance of Common Stock or securities convertible into, or
exchangeable for, Common Stock at a price per share (or having a conversion
or exchange price per share) that is less than the then Current Market
Price of the Common Stock (but excluding, among other things, issuances:
(a) pursuant to any bona fide plan for the benefit of employees, directors,
consultants or other individuals in connection with employee incentive
plans, of the Company now or hereafter in effect; (b) to acquire all or any
portion of a business in an arm' s-length transaction between the Company
and an unaffiliated third party including, if applicable, issuances upon
exercise of options or warrants assumed in connection with such an
acquisition; (c) in a bona fide public offering pursuant to a firm
commitment underwriting or sales at the market pursuant to a continuous
offering stock program; (d) pursuant to the exercise of warrants, rights
(including, without limitation, earnout rights) or options, or upon the
conversion of convertible securities, which are issued and outstanding on
the date hereof, or which may be issued in the future at fair value and
with an exercise price or conversion price at least equal to the Current
Market Price of the Common Stock at the time of issuance of such warrant,
right, option or convertible security; and (e) pursuant to a dividend
reinvestment plan or other plan hereafter adopted for the reinvestment of
dividends or interest provided that such Common Stock is issued at a price
at least equal to 95% of the market price of the Common Stock at the time
of such issuance).
In the case of (i) any reclassification of the Common Stock, or (ii) a
consolidation, merger or combination involving the Company or a sale or
conveyance to another corporation of the property and assets of the Company as
an entirety or substantially as an entirety, in each case as a result of which
holders of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive stock, other securities,
other property or assets (including cash) with respect
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to or in exchange for such Common Stock, the holders of the Debentures then
outstanding will generally be entitled thereafter to convert such Debentures
into the kind and amount of shares of stock, other securities or other property
or assets which they would have owned or been entitled to receive upon such
reclassification, consolidation, merger, combination, sale or conveyance had
such Debentures been converted into Common Stock immediately prior to such
reclassification, consolidation, merger, combination, sale or conveyance
assuming that a holder of Debentures would not have exercised any rights of
election as to the stock, other securities or other property or assets
receivable in connection therewith.
In the event of a taxable distribution to holders of Common Stock or in
certain other circumstances requiring conversion price adjustments, the holders
of Debentures may, in certain circumstances, be deemed to have received a
distribution subject to United States income tax as a dividend; in certain other
circumstances, the absence of such an adjustment may result in a taxable
dividend to the holders of Common Stock. See "Certain Federal Income Tax
Considerations" below.
Before taking any action which would cause an adjustment decreasing the
conversion price below the then par value, if any, of the Common Stock, the
Company will take any corporate action which may, in the opinion of its counsel,
be necessary in order that the Company may validly and legally issue fully-paid
and non-assessable shares of Common Stock at the conversion price as so
adjusted.
The Company from time to time may to the extent permitted by law reduce the
conversion price by any amount for any period of at least 20 days, in which case
the Company shall give at least 15 days' notice of such reduction, if the Board
of Directors has made a determination that such reduction would be in the best
interests of the Company, which determination shall be conclusive. The Company
may, at its option, make such reductions in the conversion price, in addition to
those set forth above, as the Board of Directors deems advisable to avoid or
diminish any income tax to holders of Common Stock resulting from any dividend
or distribution of stock (or rights to acquire stock) or from any event treated
as such for income tax purposes. See "Certain Federal Income Tax
Considerations."
No adjustment in the conversion price will be required unless such
adjustment would require a change of at least 1% in the conversion price then in
effect; provided that any adjustments which by reason of this provision are not
required to be made shall be carried forward and taken into account in any
subsequent adjustment. Except as stated above, the conversion price will not be
adjusted for the issuance of Common Stock or any securities convertible into or
exchangeable for Common Stock or carrying the right to purchase any of the
foregoing.
Optional Redemption by the Company
Except as provided below, the Debentures may not be redeemed prior to
December 31, 2001. The Debentures are not entitled to any sinking fund.
The Debentures will be redeemable at any time on or after December 31,
2001, on at least 30 but not more than 60 days' notice, at the option of the
Company, as a whole or in part, at the following prices (expressed as
percentages of the principal amount), together with accrued interest to and
including the date fixed for redemption, if redeemed during the three month
period beginning:
Date Percentage
---- ---------
January 6, 2002 112.841%
April 6, 2002 113.687%
July 6, 2002 114.537%
October 6, 2002 115.404%
January 6, 2003 116.275%
April 6, 2003 117.164%
July 6, 2003 118.057%
October 6, 2003 118.968%
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and at 118.968% if redeemed on January 6, 2004, and at 100% if redeemed
thereafter; provided that any semiannual payment of interest becoming due on the
date fixed for redemption shall be paid to the holders of record on the relevant
record date of the Debentures being redeemed. If the date fixed for redemption
is on or after December 31, 2001 but before January 6, 2002, the redemption
price shall be at 112.841% of the principal amount with accrued interest to
January 6, 2002.
If less than all of the outstanding Debentures are to be redeemed, the
Trustee shall select the Debentures to be redeemed in principal amounts of
$1,000 or multiples thereof by lot, pro rata or by another method the Trustee
considers fair and appropriate. If a portion of a holder's Debentures is
selected for partial redemption and such holder converts a portion of such
Debentures, such converted portion shall be deemed to be of the portion selected
for redemption. Debentures must be presented for redemption. If the Company
shall acquire any of the Debentures, such acquisition shall not operate as or be
deemed for any purpose to be a redemption or satisfaction of the indebtedness
represented by such Debentures unless and until the same are delivered to the
Trustee for cancellation.
Repayment at Option of Holders
Notwithstanding the Company's right of redemption, the holder of a
Debenture may elect to have that Debenture or portions thereof (in the principal
amount of $1,000 or any multiple thereof) repaid by the Company on January 6,
2004 (the "Holder Repayment Date"). Any such repayment shall be at a repayment
price of 118.968% of the principal amount thereof with accrued interest to the
Holder Repayment Date on the repaid Debentures. For a Debenture to be so repaid
at the option of the holder, the Company must receive at the office of one of
the Company's paying agents a notice (the "Holder Redemption Notice"), which is
not subsequently withdrawn, at any time from the opening of business on the date
that is 20 Business Days (as defined in the Indenture) prior to the Holder
Repayment Date until the close of business on the Business Day immediately
preceding the Holder Repayment Date.
Any Holder Repayment Notice may be withdrawn, in whole or in part, by the
holder by a written notice of withdrawal delivered to the paying agent prior to
the close of business on the Business Day immediately preceding the Holder
Repayment Date. All questions as to the validity, eligibility (including time of
receipt) and acceptance of any Debenture for repayment shall be determined by
the Company, whose determination shall be final and binding.
Payment of the repayment price for a Debenture for which a Holder Repayment
Notice has been delivered and not withdrawn is conditioned upon book-entry
transfer or delivery of such Debenture (together with necessary endorsements) to
the paying agent at its office at 55 Water Street, Room 234, North Building, New
York, NY 10041, or any other office of the paying agent maintained for such
purpose, at any time (whether prior to, on or after the Holder Repayment Date)
after delivery of such Holder Repayment Notice. Payment of the repayment price
for such Debenture will be made promptly following the later of the Holder
Repayment Date or the time of book-entry transfer or delivery of such Debenture.
If the paying agent holds, in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, money
sufficient to pay the repayment price of such Debenture on the Holder Repayment
Date, then on and after such date, such Debenture will cease to be outstanding,
and interest on such Debenture shall cease to accrue, and all other rights of
the holder shall terminate (other than the right to receive the repayment price
at the time of book-entry transfer or delivery of the Debentures).
If a Fundamental Change (as defined below) occurs at any time while
Debentures are outstanding, each holder of Debentures shall have the right, at
such holder's option, to require the Company to repay such holder with respect
to all (and not less than all) such holder's Debentures on the date (the
"Fundamental Change Repayment Date ") that is the 45th day (or if such 45th day
is not a Business Day, the next succeeding Business Day) after the date of the
first publication of the Company's notice of such Fundamental Change. Such
repayment shall be made at the following prices (expressed as percentages of the
principal amount) in the event of a Fundamental Change occurring during the
three-month period beginning:
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Date Percentage
----- ------------
January 6, 1998 100.679%
April 6, 1998 101.375%
July 6, 1998 102.071%
October 6, 1998 102.784%
January 6, 1999 103.498%
April 6, 1999 104.229%
July 6, 1999 104.961%
October 6, 1999 105.709%
January 6, 2000 106.460%
April 6, 2000 107.227%
July 6, 2000 107.997%
October 6, 2000 108.783%
January 6, 2001 109.571%
April 6, 2001 110.377%
July 6, 2001 111.186%
and at a repayment price of 112.012% of the principal amount if a Fundamental
Change occurs on or after October 6, 2001 but before December 31, 2001, and
thereafter at the redemption price set forth under `'Optional Redemption by the
Company" which would be applicable to a redemption at the option of the Company;
provided in each case that if the Applicable Price (as defined below) is less
than the Reference Market Price (as defined below), the Company shall repay such
Debentures at a price equal to the foregoing repayment price multiplied by the
fraction obtained by dividing the Applicable Price by the Reference Market
Price. In each case, the Company shall also pay accrued interest, if any, on
such Debentures to the Fundamental Change Repayment Date; provided that, if such
Fundamental Change Repayment Date is January 6 or July 6, then the interest
payable on such date shall be paid to the holder of record of the Debentures on
the next preceding record date. The Company shall mail to all holders of record
of the Debentures a notice of the occurrence of a Fundamental Change and of the
repayment right arising as a result thereof on or before the tenth day after the
occurrence of such Fundamental Change. The Company shall promptly furnish the
Trustee a copy of such notice. For a Debenture to be repaid at the option of the
holder resulting from a Fundamental Change, the Company must receive at the
office of one of the Company's paying agents a notice (the "Fundamental Change
Repayment Notice"), which is not subsequently withdrawn, at any time from the
opening of business on the date that is on or before the 43rd day after the date
of the notice from the Company (or if such 43rd day is not a Business Day, the
immediately preceding Business Day).
Any Fundamental Change Repayment Notice may be withdrawn by the holder by a
written notice of withdrawal delivered to the paying agent prior to the close of
business on the Business Day immediately preceding the Fundamental Change
Repayment Date. The notice of withdrawal shall state the principal amount at
maturity and the certificate numbers of the Debentures as to which the
withdrawal notice relates. All questions as to the validity, eligibility
(including time of receipt) and acceptance of any Debentures for repayment shall
be determined by the Company, whose determination shall be final and binding.
Payment of the repayment price for a Debenture for which a Fundamental
Change Repayment Notice has been delivered and not withdrawn is conditioned upon
book-entry transfer or delivery of such Debenture (together with necessary
endorsements) to the paying agent at its office at 55 Water Street, Room 234,
North Building, New York, NY 10041, or any other office of the paying agent
maintained for such purpose, at any time (whether prior to, on or after the
Fundamental Change Repayment Date) after delivery of such Fundamental Change
Repayment Notice. Payment of the repayment price for such Debenture will be made
promptly following the later of the Fundamental Change Repayment Date or the
time of book-entry transfer or delivery of such Debenture. If the paying agent
holds, in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, money sufficient to pay
the repayment price of such Debenture on the Fundamental Change Repayment Date,
then on and after such date such Debenture will cease to be outstanding, and
interest on such Debenture shall cease to accrued, and all other rights of the
holder shall terminate (other than the right to receive the repayment price upon
the time of book-entry transfer or delivery of the Debentures).
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The term "Fundamental Change" means the occurrence of any transaction or
event in connection with which all or substantially all Common Stock shall be
exchanged for, converted into, acquired for or constitute the right to receive
consideration (whether by means of an exchange offer, liquidation, tender offer,
consolidation, merger, combination, reclassification, recapitalization or
otherwise) which is not all or substantially all common stock listed (or, upon
consummation of or immediately following such transaction or event, which will
be listed) on a national securities exchange in the United States or approved
for quotation on the Nasdaq National Market or any similar system of automated
dissemination of quotations of securities prices in the United States. The term
"Applicable Price" means (i) in the event of a Fundamental Change in which the
holders of the Common Stock receive only cash, the amount of cash received by
the holder of one share of Common Stock and (ii) in the event of any other
Fundamental Change, the arithmetic average of the last reported sale price for
the Common Stock during the ten trading days immediately prior to the record
date for the determination of the holders of Common Stock entitled to receive
cash, securities, property or other assets in connection with such Fundamental
Change, or, if there is no such record date, the date upon which the holders of
the Common Stock shall have the right to receive such cash, securities, property
or other assets in connection with the Fundamental Change. The term "Reference
Market Price" shall initially mean $25.165 and in the event of any adjustment to
the conversion price, the Reference Market Price shall also be adjusted so that
the ratio of the Reference Market Price to the conversion price after giving
effect to any such adjustment shall always be the same as the ratio of $25.165
to the conversion price specified on the cover page of this Prospectus (without
regard to adjustment thereto).
The Company will comply with the provisions, to the extent applicable, of
Rule 13e-4 and any other tender offer rules under the Exchange Act which may
then be applicable in connection with the repayment rights of Debentureholders
in the event of a Fundamental Change. The repayment rights of the holders of
Debentures could discourage a potential acquiror of the Company. The Fundamental
Change repayment feature, however, is not the result of management's knowledge
of any specific effort to obtain control of the Company by means of a merger,
tender offer, solicitation or otherwise, or part of a plan by management to
adopt a series of anti-takeover provisions.
Subordination of Debentures
The indebtedness evidenced by the Debentures is subordinate to the prior
payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness (as defined in the Indenture). During
the continuance beyond any applicable grace period of any default in the payment
of principal, premium, interest or any other payment due on any Senior
Indebtedness, no payment of principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on the
Debentures shall be made by the Company. In addition, upon any distribution of
assets of the Company upon any dissolution, winding up, liquidation or
reorganization, the payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, and
interest on the Debentures is to be subordinated to the extent provided in the
Indenture in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all Senior
Indebtedness. By reason of such subordination provisions, in the event of the
Company's dissolution, holders of Senior Indebtedness may receive more, ratably,
and holders of the Debentures may receive less, ratably, than the other
creditors of the Company. Such subordination will not prevent the occurrence of
any Event of Default under the Indenture.
The term "Senior Indebtedness" means the principal of, premium, if any,
interest on, and any other payment due pursuant to any of the following: whether
outstanding on the date of the Indenture or thereafter incurred or created:
(a) all indebtedness of the Company for money borrowed (including any
indebtedness secured by a mortgage or other lien which is (i) given to
secure all or part of the purchase price of property subject thereto,
whether given to the vendor of such property or to another, or (ii)
existing on property at the time of acquisition thereof);
(b) all indebtedness of the Company evidenced by notes, debentures,
bonds or other securities sold by the Company for money;
(c) all lease obligations of the Company which are capitalized on the
books of the Company in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles;
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(d) all indebtedness of others of the kinds described in either of the
preceding clauses (a) or (b) or all lease obligations of others of the kind
described in the preceding clause (c) assumed by or guaranteed in any
manner by the Company or in effect guaranteed by the Company through an
agreement to purchase, contingent or otherwise; and
(e) all renewals, extensions or refundings of indebtedness of the
kinds described in any of the preceding clauses (a), (b) or (d) and all
renewals or extensions of leases of the kinds described in either of the
preceding clauses (c) or (d);
unless, in the case of any particular indebtedness, lease, renewal, extension or
refunding, the instrument or lease creating or evidencing the same or the
assumption or guarantee of the same expressly provides that such indebtedness,
lease, renewal, extension or refunding is not superior in right of payment to,
or is pari passu with, the Debentures.
As of September 30, 1997, the Company had $482,884,000 of Senior
Indebtedness outstanding. The amount of Senior Indebtedness may change in the
future. The Indenture contains no limitations on the incurrence of Senior
Indebtedness.
Form, Denomination and Registration
The Debentures are issued in fully registered form in denominations of
$1,000 principal amount and multiples thereof.
Global Debenture, Book-Entry Form. Debentures are issuable in fully
registered form without coupons, in denominations of $1,000 principal amount and
multiples thereof. Debentures sold by the Selling Securityholders pursuant to
the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus forms a part will be
represented by a global Debenture (the "Global Debenture"), except as set forth
below under "Certificated Debentures." The Global Debenture will be deposited
with, or on behalf of, The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York ("DTC")
and registered in the name of Cede & Co. ("Cede") as DTC's nominee. Beneficial
interests in the Global Debenture will be exchangeable for definitive
Certificated Debentures only in accordance with the terms of the Indenture.
Purchasers of the Debentures offered hereby may hold their interests in the
Global Debenture directly through DTC or indirectly through organizations which
are participants in DTC (the "Participants"). Transfers between Participants
will be effected in the ordinary way in accordance with DTC rules and will be
settled in clearing house funds.
Persons who are not Participants may beneficially own interests in the
Global Debenture held by DTC only through Participants, or certain banks,
brokers, dealers, trust companies and other parties that clear through or
maintain a custodial relationship with a Participant, either directly or
indirectly ("Indirect Participants"). So long as Cede, as the nominee of DTC, is
the registered owner of the Global Debenture, Cede for all purposes will be
considered the sole holder of the Global Debenture. Except as provided below,
owners of beneficial interests in the Global Debenture will not be entitled to
have certificates registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to
receive physical delivery of certificates in definitive form, and will not be
considered the holders thereof.
Payment of interest on and the redemption price of the Global Debenture
will be made to Cede, the nominee for DTC, as the registered owner of the Global
Debenture by wire transfer of immediately available funds on each interest
payment date or the redemption or repayment date, as the case may be. Neither
the Company, the Trustee nor any paying agent will have any responsibility or
liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account
of beneficial ownership interests in the Global Debenture or for maintaining,
supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership
interests.
The Company has been informed by DTC that, with respect to any payment of
interest on, or the redemption or repayment price of, the Global Debenture,
DTC's practice is to credit Participants' accounts on the payment date therefor
with payments in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests
in the principal amount represented by the Global Debenture as shown on the
records of DTC, unless DTC has reason to believe that it will not receive
payment on such payment date. Payments by Participants to owners of
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beneficial interests in the principal amount represented by the Global Debenture
held through such Participants will be the responsibility of such Participants,
as is now the case with securities held for the accounts of customers registered
in "street name."
Holders who elect to have their Debentures repaid or to convert their
Debentures into Common Stock should contact their brokers or other Participants
or Indirect Participants to obtain information on procedures, including proper
forms and cut-off times, for submitting such request.
Because DTC can only act on behalf of Participants, who in turn act on
behalf of Indirect Participants and certain banks, the ability of a person
having a beneficial interest in the principal amount represented by the Global
Debenture to pledge such interest to persons or entitles that do not participate
in the DTC system, or otherwise take actions in respect of such interest may be
affected by the lack of a physical certificate evidencing such interest.
Neither the Company nor the Trustee (or any registrar, paying agent or
conversion agent under the Indenture) will have any responsibility for the
performance by DTC or its Participants or Indirect Participants of their
respective obligations under the rules and procedures governing their
operations. DTC has advised the Company that it will take any action permitted
to be taken by a holder of Debentures (including, without limitation, the
presentation of Debentures for exchange as described below), only at the
direction of one or more Participants to whose account with DTC interests in the
Global Debenture are credited, and only in respect of the principal amount of
the Debentures represented by the Global Debenture as to which such Participant
or Participants has or have given such direction.
DTC has advised the Company as follows: DTC is a limited purpose trust
company organized under the laws of the State of New York, a member of the
Federal Reserve System, a "clearing corporation" within the meaning of the
Uniform Commercial Code and a "clearing agency" registered pursuant to the
provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange Act. DTC was created to hold
securities for its Participants and to facilitate the clearance and settlement
of securities transactions between Participants through electronic book-entry
changes to the accounts of its Participants, thereby eliminating the need for
physical movement of certificates. Participants include securities brokers and
dealers, banks, trust companies and clearing corporations and may include
certain other organizations such as the Initial Purchaser. Certain of such
Participants (or their representatives), together with other entities, own DTC.
Indirect access to the DTC system is available to others such as banks, brokers,
dealers and trust companies that clear through, or maintain a custodial
relationship with, a Participant, either directly or indirectly.
Although DTC has agreed to the foregoing procedures in order to facilitate
transfers of interests in the Global Debenture among Participants, it is under
no obligation to perform or continue to perform such procedures, and such
procedures may be discontinued at any time. If DTC is at any time unwilling or
unable to continue as depositary and a successor depositary is not appointed by
the Company within 90 days, the Company will cause Debentures to be issued in
definitive form in exchange for the Global Debenture.
Certificated Debentures. Holders of Debentures registered hereunder may
take physical delivery of the Debentures in definitive registered form. In
addition, Holders may request that certificated Debentures be issued in exchange
for Debentures represented by the Global Debenture. Furthermore, certificated
Debentures may be issued in exchange for Debentures represented by the Global
Debenture, if no successor depositary is appointed by the Company as set forth
above under "Global Debenture, Book-Entry Form."
Events of Default and Remedies
An Event of Default is defined in the Indenture as being: default in
payment of the principal of or premium, if any, on any of the Debentures
(including any repayment of Debentures as provided under "Repayment at Option of
the Holders" above); default for 30 days in payment of any installment of
interest on the Debentures; default by the Company for 45 days after notice in
the observance or performance of any other covenant in the Indenture; or certain
events involving bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the Company. The
Indenture provides that the Trustee may withhold notice to the holders of the
Debentures of any default (except in payment of principal of, or premium, if
any, or interest on the Debentures) if the Trustee considers it in the interests
of the holders of the Debentures to do so.
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The Indenture provides that if an Event of Default shall have occurred and
be continuing, the Trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in principal
amount of the Debentures then outstanding may declare the principal of all the
Debentures to be due and payable immediately, but if the Company shall cure all
defaults (except the nonpayment of interest and premium, if any, on and
principal of any Debentures which shall have become due by acceleration) and
certain other conditions are met, such declaration may be annulled and past
defaults may be waived by the holders of a majority of the principal amount of
the Debentures then outstanding.
The holders of a majority in principal amount of the Debentures then
outstanding shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of
conducting any proceedings for any remedy available to the Trustee, subject to
certain limitations specified in the Indenture.
Modification of the Indenture
The Indenture contains provisions permitting the Company and the Trustee,
with the consent of the holders of not less than 66-2/3% in principal amount of
the Debentures at the time outstanding, to modify the Indenture or any
supplemental indenture or the rights of the holders of the Debentures, except
that no such modification shall (i) extend the fixed maturity of any Debenture,
reduce the rate or extend the time for payment of interest thereon, reduce the
principal amount thereof or premium, if any, thereon, reduce any amount payable
upon redemption thereof, change the obligation of the Company to make repayment
of any Debenture as described under "Repayment at Option of Holders" above,
impair or affect the right of a holder to institute suit for the payment
thereof, change the currency in which the Debentures are payable or impair the
right to convert the Debentures into Common Stock subject to the terms set forth
in the Indenture, without the consent of each holder of a Debenture so affected,
or (ii) reduce the aforesaid percentage of Debentures whose holders are required
to consent to any such modification, without the consent of the holders of all
of the Debentures then outstanding.
Registration Rights of the Debentureholders
Pursuant to the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement dated as of
January 6, 1998 between the Company and the Initial Purchaser (the "Registration
Rights Agreement"), the Company has filed with the Commission a shelf
registration statement, of which this Prospectus forms a part, covering resales
by holders of the Debentures and the Common Stock issuable upon conversion of
the Debentures. The Company has agreed to use reasonable efforts to keep the
registration statement effective until the earlier of (i) the sale pursuant to
the shelf registration statement of all the securities registered thereunder and
(ii) the expiration of the holding period applicable to such securities under
Rule 144(k) under the Securities Act, or any successor provision. The
Registration Rights Agreement provides that the Company may suspend the use of
this Prospectus for a period not to exceed 30 days in any three-month period, or
not to exceed an aggregate of 60 days in any 12-month period under certain
circumstances relating to pending corporate developments, public filings with
the Commission and similar events. The Company has agreed to pay predetermined
liquidated damages to those holders of Debentures and those holders of Common
Stock issued upon conversion of the Debentures who have requested to sell
pursuant to the registration statement if the registration statement is not
timely filed or if the Prospectus is unavailable for periods in excess of those
permitted above. The Company has further agreed, if such failure to file or
unavailability continues for an additional thirty-day period, to pay
predetermined liquidated damages to all holders of Debentures and all holders of
Common Stock issued upon conversion of the Debentures, whether or not such
holder has requested to sell pursuant to the Registration Statement. The
Registration Rights Agreement provides for Selling Securityholders to (i) be
named as a Selling Securityholder in a supplement to this Prospectus and (ii)
deliver this Prospectus together with the relevant Prospectus Supplement to
purchasers, and further provides for Selling Securityholders to be bound by
those provisions of the Registration Rights Agreement which are applicable to
the Selling Securityholders (including indemnification provisions). The Company
has agreed to pay all expenses of the Registration Statement, provide to each
Selling Securityholder copies of this Prospectus and the relevant Prospectus
Supplement, notify each Selling Securityholder when the Registration Statement
has become effective and take certain other actions as are required to permit,
subject to the foregoing, unrestricted resales of the Debentures or Common
Stock.
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Information Concerning the Trustee
The Chase Manhattan Bank, the Trustee under the Indenture, has been
appointed by the Company as paying agent, conversion agent, registrar and
custodian with regard to the Debentures.
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
The Company's authorized capital stock consists of 300,000,000 shares of
$0.50 par value Common Stock, of which 161,969,510 shares were outstanding on
January 2, 1998, and 7,500,000 shares of $1.00 par value Preferred Stock, none
of which is outstanding. The foregoing reflects the two-for-one stock split in
the form of a one hundred percent stock dividend on the Company's outstanding
Common Stock payable to shareholders of record on December 16, 1997.
Each share of Common Stock entitles the holder thereof to one vote on all
matters submitted to a vote of shareholders. All shares of Common Stock have
equal rights and are entitled to such dividends as may be declared by the Board
of Directors out of funds legally available therefor and to share ratably upon
liquidation in the assets available for distribution to stockholders. The
Company is not aware of any restrictions on its present or future ability to pay
dividends. However, in connection with certain borrowing facilities entered into
by the Company and its subsidiaries, the Company is subject to certain
restrictions on the ratio of net cash flow to consolidated indebtedness, the
ratio of total consolidated indebtedness to total consolidated capitalization
and on its ability to make investments in and loans to affiliates and
unconsolidated subsidiaries. The Common Stock is not subject to call or
assessment, has no preemptive conversion or cumulative voting rights and is not
subject to redemption. The Company's shareholders elect a classified board of
directors, and may not remove a director except by an affirmative two-thirds
vote of all outstanding shares. A two-thirds vote is also required for the
Company's shareholders to amend the Company's by-laws or certain provisions of
its charter documents, and to change the number of directors comprising the full
board.
The Company may issue Preferred Stock in series having whatever rights and
preferences the Board of Directors may determine. One or more series of
Preferred Stock may be made convertible into Common Stock at rates determined by
the Board of Directors, and Preferred Stock may be given priority over the
Common Stock in payment of dividends, rights on liquidation, voting and other
rights. The Company has no current plans to issue any Preferred Stock. Preferred
Stock may be issued from time to time upon authorization of the Company Board of
Directors without action of the shareholders.
The transfer agent and registrar for the Common Stock is ChaseMellon
Shareholders Services L.L.C., 450 West 33rd Street, 15th Floor, New York, NY
10001.
CERTAIN FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
In the opinion of Davis & Gilbert, Tax Counsel to the Company, the
following summary accurately describes the principal United States federal
income tax consequences of ownership and disposition of the Debentures. This
summary is based on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended to the date
hereof (the "Code"), administrative pronouncements, judicial decisions and
existing and proposed Treasury Regulations, changes to any of which subsequent
to the date of this Prospectus may affect the tax consequences described herein
(possibly on a retroactive basis). This summary discusses only Debentures held
as capital assets within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code. It does not
discuss all of the tax consequences that may be relevant in light of a holder's
particular circumstances or to holders subject to special rules, such as certain
financial institutions, insurance companies, dealers in securities and
tax-exempt organizations or persons holding Debentures as a hedge or as part of
a straddle. Persons considering the purchase of Debentures should consult their
tax advisors with regard to the application of the United States federal income
tax laws to their particular situations as well as any tax consequences arising
under the laws of any state, local or foreign taxing jurisdiction.
As used herein, the term "United States Holder" means an owner of a
Debenture that is (i) for United States federal income tax purposes a citizen or
resident of the United States, (ii) a corporation, partnership or other entity
created or organized in or under the laws of the United States or of any
political subdivision thereof, or (iii) an estate or trust the income of which
is subject to United States federal income taxation regardless of its source.
The term also includes certain former citizens of the United States.
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As used herein, the term "United States Alien Holder" means an owner of a
Debenture that is, for United States federal income tax purposes, (i) a
nonresident alien individual, (ii) a foreign corporation, (iii) a nonresident
alien fiduciary of a foreign estate or trust or (iv) a foreign partnership one
or more of the members of which is, for United States federal income tax
purposes, a nonresident alien individual, a foreign corporation or a nonresident
alien fiduciary of a foreign estate or trust.
Tax Consequences to United States Holders
Qualified Stated Interest
Interest on the Debentures is fixed through January 6, 2013 at a 2 1/4%
rate. Such interest constitutes "qualified stated interest" which will be
taxable to a holder as ordinary interest income at the time it accrues or is
received in accordance with the holder's method of accounting for federal income
tax purposes. The original issue discount ("OID") rules which are applicable to
the Debentures are described under "Original Issue Discount" below.
Original Issue Discount
In general, subject to a de minimis rule, a debt obligation that is issued
for an amount less than its stated redemption price at maturity will be
considered to have been issued with OID for federal income tax purposes.
The "issue price" of a Debenture will equal the first price to the public
(not including bond houses, brokers or similar persons acting as underwriters,
placement agents or wholesalers) at which a substantial amount of the Debentures
is sold for cash. Under the applicable regulations, the "stated redemption
price" at maturity of a Debenture will equal 118.968% of the principal amount,
the price at which a holder may put the Debenture back to the Company on January
6, 2004, and the maturity date of the Debenture will be deemed to be January 6,
2004.
The Company expects that the OID with respect to the Debentures will exceed
the amount determined under the de minimis rule, because the difference between
the Debenture's stated redemption price at maturity and its issue price will
exceed the de minimis amount.
A holder of a Debenture will be required to include OID in income for
federal income tax purposes as it accrues for the period from issuance to
January 6, 2004, in accordance with a constant yield method based on a
compounding of interest whether or not he exercises the put option. Under this
method, a holder generally will be required to include in income increasingly
greater amounts of OID in successive accrual periods.
If the put option is not exercised, the Debenture will be treated as if the
Debenture were reissued (solely for purposes of the OID rules) on January 6,
2004 for an amount equal to the Debenture's adjusted issue price on that date. A
holder will not recognize gain or loss by reason of such deemed reissuance.
The Company will furnish annually to the IRS and to holders of the
Debentures information regarding qualified stated interest and OID as required
under applicable Treasury regulations.
Conversion of Debentures into Common Stock
In general, no gain or loss will be recognized for federal income tax
purposes on a conversion of the Debentures into shares of Common Stock. However,
a holder will recognize a capital gain or loss, as the case may be, equal to the
difference, if any, between cash paid in lieu of a fractional share and the
portion of the adjusted basis of the Debenture allocable to such fractional
share.
A holder's basis in the Common Stock received upon conversion will be the
same as such holder's basis in such Debenture at the time of conversion,
excluding the basis allocated to any fractional share as described above.
However, the holding period of a fractional interest in each full share of
Common Stock will commence on the day of conversion. Although there is no
authority precisely on point, the Company believes that the fractional interest
in each full share of Common Stock that will have such a holding period in the
hands of a holder will be equal to the ratio determined by dividing (x) the sum
of any unpaid accrued interest and the amount of original issue discount accrued
on or after the date on which the holder acquired the Debenture by
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(y) the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date of conversion. The
remainder of the interest in each full share of Common Stock will have a holding
period commencing on the day after the date on which the holder acquired the
Debenture.
The conversion price of the Debentures is subject to adjustment under
certain circumstances. Holders of the Debentures may be deemed to receive a
dividend to the extent of the Company's current or accumulated earnings and
profits if the conversion price is adjusted to reflect a taxable distribution of
property to holders of Common Stock or in certain other circumstances requiring
conversion price adjustments. Such deemed dividend would be includible in gross
income although the holder would not receive any cash.
Sale, Exchange or Retirement of the Debentures
Upon the sale, exchange or retirement of a Debenture, a holder will
recognize taxable gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount
realized and such holder's adjusted tax basis in the Debenture. For these
purposes, the amount realized does not include any amount attributable to
accrued qualified stated interest on the Debenture. A holder's adjusted tax
basis in a Debenture will equal the cost of the Debenture to such holder,
increased by the amount of any market discount and OID previously included in
income by the holder with respect to such Debenture and reduced by any amortized
bond premium.
Gain or loss realized on the sale, exchange or retirement of a Debenture
will be capital gain or loss (except to the extent of any accrued market
discount not previously included in the holder's taxable income), and will be
long-term capital gain or loss if the Debenture has been held for more than one
year.
Recently enacted legislation includes substantial changes to the federal
taxation of capital gains, including a 20% maximum tax rate for certain gains
from the sale of capital assets held by individuals for more than 18 months. The
deduction of capital losses is subject to certain limitations. Prospective
investors should consult their tax advisors regarding the treatment of capital
gains and losses.
Market Discount and Bond Premium
Holders that purchase the Debentures at a price other than the issue price
may be considered to have acquired the Debentures with market discount,
amortizable bond premium, or acquisition premium as such phrases are defined for
the United States federal income tax purposes. Such holders are advised to
consult their tax advisors as to the income tax consequences of the acquisition,
ownership and disposition of the Debentures.
Backup Withholding and Information Reporting
Certain noncorporate holders may be subject to backup withholding at a rate
of 31% on payments of principal, premium and interest (including OID if any) on,
and the proceeds of disposition of, a Debenture. Backup withholding will apply
only if the holder (i) fails to furnish its Taxpayer Identification Number
("TIN") which, for an individual, would be the individual's Social Security
number, (ii) furnishes an incorrect TIN, (iii) is notified by the Internal
Revenue Service that it has failed to report properly payments of interest and
dividends or (iv) under certain circumstances, fails to certify, under penalty
of perjury, that it has furnished a correct TIN and has not been notified by the
Internal Revenue Service that it is subject to backup withholding for failure to
report interest and dividend payments. Holders should consult their tax advisors
regarding their qualification for exemption from backup withholding and the
procedure for obtaining such an exemption if applicable.
The amount of any backup withholding from a payment to a holder will be
allowed as a credit against such holder's United States federal income tax
liability and may entitle such holder to a refund, provided that the required
information is furnished to the Internal Revenue Service.
Tax Consequences to United States Alien Holders
Under present United States federal law, and subject to the discussion
below concerning backup withholding:
(a) payments of principal, interest (including OID) and premium on the
Debentures by the Company or any paying agent to any United States Alien
Holder will not be subject to United States federal withholding tax,
provided that, in the case of interest (including OID), (i) such holder
does not own, actually or
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constructively, 10% or more of the total combined voting power of all
classes of stock of the Company entitled to vote, is not a controlled
foreign corporation related, directly or indirectly, to the Company through
stock ownership, and is not a bank receiving interest described in Section
881(c)(3)(A) of the Code and (ii) the statement requirement set forth in
Section 871(h) or Section 881(c) of the Code has been satisfied with
respect to the beneficial owner, as discussed below;
(b) a United States Alien Holder of a Debenture or Common Stock will
not be subject to United States federal income tax on gain realized on the
sale, exchange or other disposition of such Debenture, unless (i) such
holder is an individual who is present in the United States for 183 days or
more in the taxable year of disposition, and either (a) such individual has
a "tax home" (as defined in Code Section 911(d)(3)) in the United States
(unless such gain is attributable to a fixed place of business in a foreign
country maintained by such individual and has been subject to foreign tax
of at least 10%) or (b) the gain is attributable to an office or other
fixed place of business maintained by such individual in the United States
or (ii) such gain is effectively connected with the conduct by such holder
of a trade or business in the United States.
(c) Dividends paid on shares of Common Stock held by a United States
Alien Holder generally will be subject to withholding of U.S. federal
income tax either at a rate of 30% of the gross amount of the dividends or
at such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable tax treaty. Under
current law, dividends paid prior to January 1, 1999 to an address outside
the United States are presumed to be paid to a resident of such country
(unless the payer has knowledge to the contrary) for purposes of the
withholding discussed in the previous sentence and for purposes of
determining the applicability of a tax treaty rate. Under recently
finalized United States Treasury regulations (the "Final Regulations"),
however, a United States Alien Holder of Common Stock who wishes to claim
the benefit of an applicable treaty rate (and/or generally to avoid backup
withholding, as discussed below) with respect to dividends paid after
December 31, 1998 will be required to satisfy applicable certification and
other requirements. However, if the dividends are effectively connected
with the conduct of a trade or business in the United States by the United
States Alien Holder, such dividends will instead be subject to regular
United States federal income tax and will be exempt from the 30%
withholding tax.
(d) Under Section 2105(b) of the United States federal estate tax law,
a Debenture held by an individual who is not (i) a citizen, (ii) a former
citizen who is treated as a citizen for tax purposes, or (iii) a resident
of the United States at the time of his death will not be subject to United
States federal estate tax as a result of such individual's death, provided
that the individual does not own, actually or constructively, 10% or more
of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company
entitled to vote and, at the time of such individual's death, payments with
respect to such Debenture would not have been effectively connected to the
conduct by such individual of a trade or business in the United States.
(e) Shares of Common Stock held by an individual at the time of his
death (or theretofore transferred subject to certain retained rights or
powers) will be subject to United States federal estate tax unless
otherwise provided by an applicable tax treaty.
Sections 871(h) and 881(c) of the Code require that, in order to qualify
for the portfolio interest exemption from withholding tax described in paragraph
(a) above, either the beneficial owner of the Debenture, or a securities
clearing organization, bank or other financial institution that holds customers'
securities in the ordinary course of its trade or business (a "Financial
Institution") and that is holding the Debenture on behalf of such beneficial
owner, file a statement with the withholding agent to the effect that the
beneficial owner of the Debenture is not a United States Holder. Under current
United States Treasury regulations which apply to stated interest paid on a
Debenture on or before December 31, 1998 and to payment on or before such date
of proceeds from a sale or exchange of a Debenture, such requirement will be
fulfilled if the beneficial owner of a Debenture certifies on Internal Revenue
Service Form W-8, under penalties of perjury, that it is not a United States
Holder and provides its name and address, and any Financial Institution holding
the Debenture on behalf of the beneficial owner files a statement with the
withholding agent to the effect that it has received such a statement from the
holder (and furnishes the withholding agent with a copy thereof). The Final
Regulations, which apply to interest (including certain OID) paid on a Debenture
after December 31, 1998 and to payments made after such date of proceeds from a
sale or exchange of a Debenture, also provide that the requirement of Section
871(h) and 881(c) will generally be fulfilled if beneficial owners (including
partners of certain
17
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partnerships) as well as certain foreign partnerships meet the two conditions
set forth in the preceding sentence. However, a beneficial owner that is a
foreign estate or trust (or fiduciary thereof), a foreign partnership that has
entered into a withholding agreement with the Internal Revenue Service, or a
United States Alien Holder holding a Debenture through its U.S. branch will be
required to provide its "taxpayer identification number" ("TIN") in addition to
its name and address on the Form W-8. Foreign partnerships and their partners
should consult their tax advisors regarding possible additional information
reporting requirements.
If a United States Alien Holder of a Debenture is engaged in a trade or
business in the United States, and if interest (including OID) on the Debenture
is effectively connected with the conduct of such trade or business, the United
States Alien Holder, although exempt from the withholding tax discussed in the
preceding paragraph, will generally be subject to regular United States income
tax on interest (including any OID or market discount) and on any gain realized
on the sale, exchange or other disposition of a Debenture in the same manner as
if it were a United States Holder. See "Tax Consequences to United States
Holders" above. In lieu of the certificate described in the preceding paragraph,
such a holder will be required to provide to the Company a properly executed
Internal Revenue Service Form 4224 in order to claim an exemption from
withholding tax on stated interest paid on the Debentures on or before December
31, 1998 and payments made on or before such date of proceeds from the sale or
exchange of a Debenture. Under the Final Regulations, such a United States Alien
Holder will be required to provide a Form W-8 to the withholding agent on which
such Holder provides its name, address and TIN and states, under penalty of
perjury, that the interest (including certain OID) paid on a Debenture and the
gain on the sale or exchange of a Debenture is effectively connected with such
Holder's United States trade or business in order to obtain an exemption from
withholding tax on payments made after December 31, 1998. In addition, if such
United States Alien Holder is a foreign corporation, it may be subject to a
branch profits tax equal to 30% (or such lower rate provided by an applicable
treaty) of its effectively connected earnings and profits for the taxable year,
subject to certain adjustments. For purposes of the branch profits tax, interest
(including OID or market discount) on and any gain recognized on the sale,
exchange or other disposition of a Debenture will be included in the effectively
connected earnings and profits of such United States Alien Holder if such
interest or gain, as the case may be, is effectively connected with the conduct
by the United States Alien Holder of a trade or business in the United States.
Backup Withholding and Information Reporting
Under current Treasury Regulations, backup withholding at a rate of 31%
will not apply to payments of principal, premium or interest made outside the
United States by the Company or any paying agent thereof on a Debenture if the
certifications required by Sections 871(h) and 881(c) are received, provided
that the Company or such paying agent, as the case may be, does not have actual
knowledge that the payee is a United States person. Under current Treasury
Regulations, backup withholding at the rate of 31% generally will not apply to
dividends paid prior to January 1, 1999 to a United States Alien Holder at an
address outside the United States (unless the payer has knowledge that the payee
is a U.S. person). Under the Final Regulations, however, a United States Holder
will generally be subject to backup withholding with respect to dividends paid
after December 31, 1998 unless applicable certification requirements are met.
Under current Treasury Regulations, payments on the sale, exchange or other
disposition of a Debenture made to or through a foreign office of a broker
generally will not be subject to backup withholding. However, if such broker is
a United States person, a controlled foreign corporation for United States tax
purposes or a foreign person 50% or more of whose gross income is effectively
connected with a United States trade or business for a specified three-year
period, or in the case of payments made after December 31, 1998, a foreign
partnership (i) at least 50 percent of the capital or profit interests in which
are owned by United States persons or (ii) that has a United States trade or
business, information reporting will be required unless the broker has in its
records documentary evidence that the beneficial owner is not a United States
person and certain other conditions are met or the beneficial owner otherwise
establishes an exemption. Under the Final Regulations, backup withholding may
apply to any payment made after December 31, 1998 which such broker is required
to report if such broker has actual knowledge that the payee is a United States
person. Payments to or through the United States office of a broker will be
subject to backup withholding and information reporting unless the holder
certifies, under penalties of perjury, that it is not a United States person or
otherwise establishes an exemption.
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United States Alien Holders of Debentures should consult their tax advisors
regarding the application of information reporting and backup withholding in
their particular situations, the availability of an exemption therefrom, and the
procedure for obtaining such an exemption, if available. Any amounts withheld
from a payment to a United States Alien Holder under the backup withholding
rules will be allowed as a credit against such Holder's United States federal
income tax liability and may entitle such holder to a refund, provided that the
required information is furnished to the IRS.
THE UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX DISCUSSION SET FORTH ABOVE IS INCLUDED
FOR GENERAL INFORMATION ONLY AND MAY NOT BE APPLICABLE DEPENDING UPON A HOLDER'S
PARTICULAR SITUATION. HOLDERS SHOULD CONSULT THEIR TAX ADVISORS WITH RESPECT TO
THE TAX CONSEQUENCES TO THEM OF THE PURCHASE, OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF THE
DEBENTURES, INCLUDING THE TAX CONSEQUENCES UNDER STATE, LOCAL, FOREIGN AND OTHER
TAX LAWS AND THE POSSIBLE EFFECT INCLUDING POSSIBLE RETROACTIVE EFFECT OF
CHANGES IN UNITED STATES FEDERAL OR OTHER TAX LAWS.
SELLING SECURITYHOLDERS
The Debentures were originally acquired on January 6, 1998 from the Company
by the Initial Purchaser. The Initial Purchaser advised the Company that the
Initial Purchaser has resold the Debentures in transactions exempt from the
registration requirements of the Securities Act to "qualified institutional
buyers" (as defined in Rule 144A of the Securities Act). These subsequent
purchasers, or their transferees, pledgees, donees or successors, may from time
to time offer and sell any or all of the Debentures and/or Shares pursuant to
this Prospectus.
The Debentures and the Shares are being registered pursuant to the
Registration Rights Agreement which provides that the Company file a
registration statement with regard to the Debentures and the Shares within 90
days of the date of original issuance of the Debentures and keep such
registration statement effective until the earlier of (i) the sale pursuant to
the registration statement of all the securities registered thereunder and (ii)
the expiration of the holding period applicable to such securities under Rule
144(k) under the Securities Act or any successor provision. Although none of the
Selling Securityholders has advised the Company that it currently intends to
sell all or any of the Debentures or Shares pursuant to this Prospectus, the
Selling Securityholders may choose to sell the Debentures and/or Shares from
time to time upon notice to the Company. See "Plan of Distribution."
Prior to any use of this Prospectus in connection with an offering of the
Debentures and/or Shares, this Prospectus will be supplemented to set forth the
name and number of shares beneficially owned by the Selling Securityholder
intending to sell such Debentures and/or Shares and the number of Debentures
and/or Shares to be offered. The Prospectus Supplement will also disclose
whether any Selling Securityholder selling in connection with such Prospectus
Supplement has held any position or office with, been employed by or otherwise
has had a material relationship with, the Company or any of its affiliates
during the three years prior to the date of the Prospectus Supplement.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
The Debentures and the Shares are being registered to permit public
secondary trading of such securities by the holders thereof from time to time
after the date of this Prospectus. The Company has agreed, among other things,
to bear all expenses (other than underwriting discounts and selling commissions
and fees and expenses of counsel and other advisors to holders of the Debentures
and the underlying Common Stock) in connection with the registration and sale of
the Debentures and the Shares covered by this Prospectus; provided, however, the
Company has not agreed to provide, or incur any expenses in connection with,
accountants' "cold comfort" letters, opinions of counsel, or to enter into
underwriting agreements, such as would be customary in an underwritten offering.
The Company will not receive any of the proceeds from the offering of
Debentures and the Shares by the Selling Securityholders. The Selling
Securityholders may sell all or a portion of the Debentures and Shares
beneficially owned by them and offered hereby from time to time in one or more
transactions on any exchange on which the securities are listed at then
prevailing market prices. The Selling Securityholders may also make private
sales directly or through a broker or brokers on terms to be determined at the
time of such sales.
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The outstanding Common Stock is publicly traded on the New York Stock
Exchange. The Initial Purchaser has advised the Company that it is making and
currently intends to continue making a market in the Debentures; however, it is
not obligated to do so and any such market-making may be discontinued at any
time without notice in the sole discretion of the Initial Purchaser. The Company
does not intend to apply to list any of the Debentures on any securities
exchange. Accordingly, no assurance can be given as to the liquidity of, or
trading markets for, the Debentures.
In order to comply with the securities laws of certain states, if
applicable, the Debentures and Shares will be sold in such jurisdictions only
through registered or licensed brokers or dealers. In addition, in certain
states the Debentures and 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.
The Selling Securityholders and any broker-dealers or agents that
participate with the Selling Securityholders in the distribution of the
Debentures or the Shares may be deemed to be "underwriters" within the meaning
of the Securities Act, in which event any commissions received by such
broker-dealers or agents and any profits realized by the Selling Securityholders
on the resales of the Debentures or the Shares purchased by them may be deemed
to be underwriting commissions or discounts under the Securities Act.
In addition, any securities covered by this Prospectus which qualify for
sale pursuant to Rule 144, Rule 144A or any other available exemption from
registration under the Securities Act may be sold under Rule 144, Rule 144A or
such other available exemption rather than pursuant to this Prospectus. There is
no assurance that any Selling Securityholder will sell any or all of the
Debentures or Shares described herein, and any Selling Securityholder may
transfer, devise or gift such securities by other means not described herein.
The Company has advised the Selling Securityholders that the
anti-manipulative rules of Regulation M under the Exchange Act may apply to
their sales in the market.
The Debentures were originally sold by the Company to the Initial Purchaser
on January 6, 1998 in a private placement, to persons reasonably believed by
such Initial Purchaser to be "qualified institutional buyers" (as defined in
Rule 144A of the Securities Act). In connection with the private placement, the
Debentures were designated for trading in the Private Offerings, Resales and
Trading through Automated Linkages ("PORTAL") Market. The Company agreed to
indemnify and hold the Initial Purchaser harmless against certain liabilities
under the Securities Act that could arise in connection with the sale of the
Debentures by the Initial Purchaser. The Registration Rights Agreement provides
for the Company and the Selling Securityholders to indemnify each other against
certain liabilities arising under the Securities Act.
The Company has agreed to use its best efforts to cause the Registration
Statement to which this Prospectus relates to become effective as promptly as is
practicable and to keep the Registration Statement effective until the earlier
of (i) the sale pursuant to the Registration Statement of all the securities
registered thereunder and (ii) the expiration of the holding, period applicable
to such securities under Rule 144(k) under the Securities Act or any successor
provision. The Registration Rights Agreement provides that the Company may
suspend the use of this Prospectus in connection with sales of Debentures and
Shares by holders for a period not to exceed 30 days in any three-month period,
or not to exceed an aggregate of 60 days in any 12-month period, under certain
circumstances relating to pending corporate developments, public filings with
the Commission and similar events. Expenses of preparing and filing the
Registration Statement and all post-effective amendments will be borne by the
Company.
LEGAL MATTERS
The validity of the Debentures and the underlying Common Stock will be
passed upon for the Company by Davis & Gilbert, New York, New York. Members of
Davis & Gilbert participating in such matters own an aggregate of 7,550 shares
of Common Stock of the Company.
Davis & Gilbert, New York, New York, Tax Counsel to the Company, is passing
on the federal income tax considerations relevant to the purchase, ownership and
disposition of the Debentures as set forth under the caption "Certain Federal
Income Tax Considerations".
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EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements and the financial statement schedule
of the Company and its subsidiaries incorporated by reference in this prospectus
and elsewhere in the registration statement have been audited by Arthur Andersen
LLP, independent public accountants, as indicated in their reports with respect
thereto, and are included herein in reliance upon the authority of said firm as
experts in accounting and auditing in giving said reports.
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PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.
The estimated expenses payable by the Registrant in connection with the
distribution of the securities being registered are as follows:
SEC Registration Fee .................................. $67,850
Legal Fees And Expenses ............................... $10,000*
Miscellaneous Expenses ................................ $ 4,150*
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Total ............................................... $82,000*
=======
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*Estimated
Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers
The Registrant's Certificate of Incorporation contains a provision limiting
the liability of directors (except for approving statutorily prohibited
dividends, share repurchases or redemptions, distributions of assets on
dissolution or loans to directors) to acts or omissions in bad faith, involving
intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of the law, or resulting in
personal gain to which the director was not legally entitled. The Registrant's
By-Laws provide that an officer or director will be indemnified against any
costs or liabilities, including attorneys fees and amounts paid in settlement
with the consent of the registrant in connection with any claim, action or
proceeding to the fullest extent permitted by the New York Business Corporation
Law.
Section 722(a) of the New York Business Corporation Law provides that a
corporation may indemnify any officer or director, made or threatened to be
made, a party to an action other than one by or in the right of the corporation,
including an action by or on the right of any other corporation or other
enterprise, which any director or officer of the corporation served in any
capacity at the request of the corporation, because he was a director or officer
of the corporation, or served such other corporation or other enterprise in any
capacity, against judgments, fines, amounts paid in settlement and reasonable
expenses, including attorneys' fees actually and necessarily incurred as a
result of such action, or any appeal therein, if such director or officer acted,
in good faith, for a purpose which he reasonably believed to be in, or in the
case of service for any other corporation or other enterprise, not opposed to,
the best interests of the corporation and, in criminal actions, in addition, had
no reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.
Section 722(c) of the New York Business Corporation Law provides that a
corporation may indemnify any officer or director made, or threatened to be
made, a party to an action by or in the right of the corporation by reason of
the fact that he is or was a director of the corporation, or is or was serving
at the request of the corporation as a director or officer of any other
corporation of any type or kind, or other enterprise, against amounts paid in
settlement and reasonable expenses, including attorneys' fees actually and
necessarily incurred by him in connection with the defense or settlement of such
action, or in connection with an appeal therein, if such director or officer
acted, in good faith, for a purpose which he reasonably believed to be in, or,
in the case of service for another corporation or other enterprise, not opposed
to, the best interests of the corporation. The corporation may not, however,
indemnify any officer or director pursuant to Section 722(c) in respect of (1) a
threatened action, or a pending action which is settled or otherwise disposed
of, or (2) any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been
adjudged to be liable to the corporation, unless and only to the extent that the
court in which the action was brought or, if no action was brought, any court of
competent jurisdiction, determines in its discretion, that the person is fairly
and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such portion of the settlement and
expenses as the court deems proper.
Section 723 of the New York Business Corporation Law provides that an
officer or director who has been successful on the merits or otherwise in the
defense of a civil or criminal action of the character set forth in Section 722
is entitled to indemnification as permitted in such section. Section 724 of the
New York Business Corporation Law permits a court to award the indemnification
required by Section 722.
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The Company has entered into agreements with its directors to indemnify
them for liabilities or costs arising out of any alleged or actual breach of
duty, neglect, errors or omissions while serving as a director. The Company also
maintains and pays premiums for directors' and officers' liability insurance
policies.
Item 16. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
*4.1 Indenture dated as of January 6, 1998 between the Company
and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as trustee (filed as Exhibit
4.1 to the Company's Report on Form 8-K dated January 20,
1998, and such exhibit is incorporated herein by reference)
*4.2 Form of Debentures (included in Exhibit 4.1)
*4.3 Registration Rights Agreement dated as of January 6, 1998
between the Company and Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated
(filed as Exhibit 4.3 to the Company's Report on Form 8-K
dated January 20, 1998, and such exhibit is incorporated
herein by reference)
*5.1 Opinion of Davis & Gilbert
*8.1 Opinion of Davis & Gilbert
*12.1 Statement re: calculation of ratio of earnings to fixed
charges
*23.1 Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP
*23.2 Consent of Davis & Gilbert (included in Exhibit 5.1)
*23.3 Consent of Davis & Gilbert (included in Exhibit 8.1)
*24.1 Power of Attorney (included on Signature Page)
*25.1 Statement of Eligibility of the Trustee on Form T-1
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*Previously filed.
Item 17. Undertakings
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act
of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers or 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 Securities Act and will be governed by the final
adjudication of such issue.
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:
(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended;
(ii) 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 this
Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or
decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of
securities
II-2
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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; and
(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of
distribution not previously disclosed in this Registration Statement or any
material change to such information in this Registration Statement.
Provided, however, That paragraphs (l)(i) and (l)(ii) of this section shall
not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective
amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or
furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section
15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended that are incorporated
by reference in this Registration Statement.
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended, 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.
(4) 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, as amended (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, as amended) 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.
II-3
<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 March 5, 1998.
OMNICOM GROUP INC.
Registrant
By: /s/ John D. Wren
---------------------------
John D. Wren
Chief Executive Officer
----------------------
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears
below constitutes and appoints John D. Wren and Barry J. Wagner, and each of
them, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full and several
power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and
stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any or all amendments, to this
Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and
other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agent full power and
authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary
to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as
they or he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that
said attorneys-in-fact and agents or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully
do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
II-4
<PAGE>
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the
following capacities on March 5, 1998.
Signature Title
--------- -----
/s/ John D. Wren Chief Executive Officer
- ----------------------------------- and Director (Principal
John D. Wren Executive Officer)
/s/ Fred J. Meyer Chief Financial Officer
- ----------------------------------- (Principal Financial Officer)
Fred J. Meyer
/s/ Jonathan E. Ramsden Controller
- ----------------------------------- (Principal Accounting Officer)
Jonathan E. Ramsden
* Director
- -----------------------------------
Bernard Brochand
* Director
- -----------------------------------
Robert J. Callander
* Director
- -----------------------------------
James A. Cannon
* Director
- -----------------------------------
Leonard S. Coleman, Jr.
* Director
- -----------------------------------
Bruce Crawford
* Director
- -----------------------------------
Susan S. Denison
* Director
- -----------------------------------
John R. Murphy
* Director
- -----------------------------------
John R. Purcell
* Director
- -----------------------------------
Keith L. Reinhard
* Director
- -----------------------------------
Allen Rosenshine
* Director
- -----------------------------------
Gary L. Roubos
* Director
- -----------------------------------
Quentin I. Smith, Jr.
* Director
- -----------------------------------
William G. Tragos
* Director
- -----------------------------------
Egon P. S. Zehnder
*By: /s/ Barry J. Wagner
- -----------------------------------
Barry J. Wagner
As attorney-in-fact for the
above-named directors
II-5
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit No. Description
- ------------ -------------
*4.1 Indenture dated as of January 6, 1998 between the Company and
The Chase Manhattan Bank, as trustee (filed as Exhibit 4.1 to
the Company's Report on Form 8-K dated January 20, 1998, and
such exhibit is incorporated herein by reference)
*4.2 Form of Debentures (included in Exhibit 4.1)
*4.3 Registration Rights Agreement dated as of January 6, 1998
between the Company and Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated
(filed as Exhibit 4.3 to the Company's Report on Form 8-K
dated January 20, 1998, and such exhibit is incorporated
herein by reference)
*5.1 Opinion of Davis & Gilbert
*8.1 Opinion of Davis & Gilbert
*12.1 Statement re: calculation of ratio of earnings to fixed
charges
*23.1 Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP
*23.2 Consent of Davis & Gilbert (included in Exhibit 5.1)
*23.3 Consent of Davis & Gilbert (included in Exhibit 8.1)
*24.1 Power of Attorney (included on Signature Page)
*25.1 Statement of Eligibility of the Trustee on Form T-1
- ----------
*Previously filed.