<PAGE>
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
on February 28, 1996
Registration No.
---------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
--------------------------------------
FORM S-3
Registration Statement under the Securities Act of 1933
--------------------------------------
BUFFTON CORPORATION
(Exact name of Issuer as specified in its Charter)
Delaware 75-1732794
(State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization) Identification No.)
Robert H. McLean
226 Bailey Avenue 226 Bailey Avenue
Suite 101 Suite 101
Fort Worth, Texas 76107 Fort Worth, Texas 76107
(Address of Principal (817) 332-4761
Executive Offices) (Name, address and telephone
number of Agent for Service
With Copies to:
Carter L. Ferguson
McLean & Sanders
100 Main Street
Fort Worth, Texas 76102
---------------------------
Approximate Date of Commencement of Proposed Sale to the Public: From time to
time after the effective date of this Registration Statement.
If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant
to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, 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. [ ]
The Exhibit Index is located at Page 17.
<PAGE>
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Title of Proposed Proposed
Securities Amount Maximum Maximum Amount of
to be to be Offering Price* Aggregate Registration
Registered Registered Per Share Offering Price* Fee*
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Common Stock,
Par Value
$.05 Per Share 126,500 $2.13 $269,445.00 $100.00
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
*Estimated solely for the purpose of determining the registration fee based upon
the average of high and low prices on the American Stock Exchange on February
13, 1996.
-----------------------------------------
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 the Registration Statement shall become
effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a),
may determine.
<PAGE>
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION
DATED February 26, 1996
Preliminary
Prospectus
BUFFTON CORPORATION
226 Bailey Avenue, Suite 101 Fort Worth, Texas 76107
Telephone: (817) 332-4761
--------------------------------------------
126,500 Shares
COMMON STOCK
Par Value $.05 Per Share
-------------------------------------------
This Prospectus relates to the offer of 126,500 shares of Common Stock, par
value $.05 per share ("Common Stock") of Buffton Corporation, ("Buffton"), a
Delaware corporation. Buffton's Common Stock is listed on the American Stock
Exchange. All shares are being offered for sale from time to time by the
Selling Shareholders (see caption "Selling Shareholders") or by pledgees,
donees, transferees, or other successors of such other successors of such
Selling Shareholders, on such exchange or otherwise at market prices then
prevailing or at negotiated prices then obtainable. On February 13, 1996, the
closing price of Buffton's Common Stock on the American Stock Exchange was
reported to be $2.13. For a discussion of certain risk factors see "Risk
Factors."
-------------------------------------
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR HAS THE 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 February 26, 1996.
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.
<PAGE>
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
The following documents, or portions thereof, filed by Buffton with the
Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") are hereby incorporated by reference
into this Prospectus:
1. Buffton's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30,
1995, filed with the SEC on December 27, 1995.
2. Form 8-K, dated January 19, 1996 and filed with the SEC on February 5,
1996.
3. Buffton's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December
31, 1995, filed with the SEC on February 13, 1996.
All documents filed by Buffton pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), Section
14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange
Act") after the date of this Prospectus and prior to the termination of this
offering shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this Prospectus
from the date of filing of such documents.
Buffton hereby undertakes to provide without charge to each person to whom
a prospectus is delivered, upon the written or oral request of such person, a
copy of any and all of the documents incorporated by reference in this
Registration Statement (other than exhibits to such documents unless such
exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference into the documents that the
Registration Statement incorporated). Written or oral requests for such copies
should be directed to Buffton Corporation, Corporate Secretary, 226 Bailey
Avenue, Suite 101, Fort Worth, Texas 76107, phone (817) 332-4761.
AVAILABLE INFORMATION
Buffton is subject to the informational requirements of the Exchange Act
and in accordance therewith files reports, proxy statements and other
information with the Commission. Such reports, proxy statements and other
information can be inspected and copied at the public reference facilities
maintained by the Commission: at Room 1024, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington,
D.C.; at Room 1228, 219 S. Dearborn Street, Chicago, Illinois; at Suite 500E,
5757 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, California; and at Room 1100, 26 Federal
Plaza, New York, New York; and copies of such material can be obtained from the
Public Reference Section of the Commission, Washington, D.C. 20549, at
prescribed rates. Such reports, proxy statements and other information can also
be inspected at the offices of Buffton.
Buffton's stock is listed on the American Stock Exchange. Reports, proxy
statements and other information concerning Buffton may be inspected at the
offices of the American Stock Exchange located at 86 Trinity Place, New York,
New York 10006.
-2-
<PAGE>
RISK FACTORS
1. Competition
-----------
Both industry segments of Buffton are in highly competitive markets.
2. Legal Proceedings
-----------------
During March 1992, the United States Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA), issued a Record of Decision (ROD) with respect to Buffton's Superfund
Site in Vestal, New York. An Administrative Order for Remedial Design and
Remedial Action was issued on October 1, 1992. The ROD required Buffton to
construct a water treatment facility at the site and to pump contaminated ground
water from bedrock and overburden extraction wells for 15 to 30 years until
remediation goals are met. In December 1992, Buffton's environmental
consultants prepared and submitted a Remedial Design Work Plan (RDWP) to the
EPA. The EPA issued comments on the RDWP on October 1, 1993, and a revised RDWP
was submitted to EPA on October 21, 1993. During February 1994, Buffton
received comments from the EPA with respect to the revised RDWP and Buffton's
environmental consultants submitted a response. The EPA approved the revised
RDWP in October 1994. On November 14, 1994, engineering design and related
fieldwork was begun in order to meet the specifications of the revised RDWP.
During fiscal 1995, $430,000 was incurred for work related to the
engineering design. These costs were capitalized when incurred because the
remedy would prevent further environmental contamination with respect to the
contaminated ground water being pumped from the extraction wells and improve the
property compared with its condition when acquired by Buffton. Due to concerns
about the correctness of the remedy provided for in the ROD, additional field
work was performed and in June 1995, an RDWP Addendum was prepared and submitted
to the EPA. Buffton received comments from the EPA regarding this Addendum, and
Buffton's environmental consultants submitted a response shortly thereafter.
On August 24, 1995, Buffton and its legal and environmental consultants met
with officials of the EPA and agreed on additional fieldwork deemed necessary by
the EPA to support Buffton's position regarding the RDWP Addendum. At this
meeting, officials of the EPA agreed the remedy needed to be modified and that
certain requirements under the existing ROD needed to be eliminated or reduced
in scope. Since this meeting, additional fieldwork provided for in the RDWP
Addendum has been conducted at the site and resulted in the formulation of a
revised remedy. On December 19, 1995, Buffton and its legal and environmental
consultants presented to the EPA the RDWP Addendum and the recommended changes
to the ROD in the form of a revised remedy. The revised remedy was favorably
received by the EPA and will be reviewed. The revised remedy eliminates certain
requirements of the existing ROD and significantly reduces the time period for
remediation. Initial estimates of the revised remedy indicate capital costs of
approximately $800,000 to $900,000, and ongoing maintenance costs of
approximately $200,000 to $250,000 in the aggregate. The capital costs would be
incurred over a one to two year period after the ROD is amended with the ongoing
maintenance costs being incurred over a five year period after capital cost
completion. There is no guaranty that the EPA will agree totally with the
proposed revised remedy. It is anticipated that a revised ROD can be issued
during Buffton's third quarter and design of the capital portion of the revised
remedy begun thereafter.
-3-
<PAGE>
Buffton is a party to a legal action which is immaterial, and due to the
nature of Buffton's business, it could be a party in other legal or
administrative proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business.
3. Dividends Not Likely
--------------------
Buffton has not declared nor paid dividends on Buffton Common Stock since
its inception. Further, for the foreseeable future, Buffton intends to utilize
excess revenues for growth and acquisitions.
THE COMPANY
Buffton was incorporated as Buffton Oil & Gas, Inc. on December 17, 1980
and changed to its present name on February 14, 1983. Buffton is a holding
company and operates through wholly-owned subsidiaries in two industries, namely
electronic products and hospitality. Buffton's operating segments are summarized
below:
OPERATING SEGMENTS:
Electronic Products. Current Technology, Inc., located in Las Colinas,
-------------------
Texas, was acquired January 1, 1989. Current Technology designs, manufactures
and markets electronic filter/surge suppression products (TVSS), power
supply/power conversion products and custom power distribution systems. The TVSS
products are designed to reduce the adverse effects of electrical disturbances
on sensitive solid state electronics such as computer-based systems, point-of-
sale systems, medical imaging equipment (MRI/CAT), robotics, telecommunication
equipment, industrial control systems and other applications. These products are
sold nationally through well-defined channels of distribution, utilizing the
services of independent sales representatives with specific geographic
responsibility. Current Technology also relies upon the services of a select
group of international distributors in a limited number of foreign markets. The
primary markets served are the medical, factory automation, data
processing/office automation and telecommunication industries.
Hospitality. BFX Hospitality Group, Inc. owns and operates food and
-----------
beverage, lodging and entertainment concepts in Texas and Louisiana through
three wholly-owned subsidiaries, American Food Classics, Inc., BFX-LA, Inc.
d/b/a Bourbon Street Hospitality and Boutique Inns, Inc.
American Food Classics, Inc. owns and operates Lucile's, A Stateside
Bistro, opened in April 1993, in Fort Worth, Texas, offering a variety of menu
items centered around classic regional American dishes. The decor is a warm,
comfortable, traditional atmosphere. This concept includes a full bar with
specialty beers and mixed drinks. Entertainment features a piano bar as well as
a sound system with piano music throughout the dining area. Lucile's is open
seven days a week for lunch and dinner and is open for breakfast on Saturday and
Sunday. The check averages are $9.50 for lunch and $15.75 for dinner. Annual
revenues are approximately $2.2 million. The facility is a leased, free standing
building with approximately 5,000 square feet providing seating for 150 plus an
additional 25 in a small outdoor patio.
-4-
<PAGE>
American Food Classics, Inc. also owns and operates Cabo, The Original "Mix
Mex" Grill, opened in December 1994 in Houston, Texas, offering Mexican food
with Central and South American influences. Cabo was acquired by American Food
Classics, Inc. in January 1996. Cabo has a distinctive "diner look" decor. This
concept includes a bar with specialty frozen drinks, tea and lemonade, as well
as private label food items and clothing. Classic rock, blues, country and
crossover music are played on a wall mounted C.D. jukebox with a number of video
monitors featuring current sporting events. The facility is approximately 1,300
square feet and seats approximately 58 but will soon be expanded to 3,000 square
feet seating 120. Cabo is located in a strip center and is open seven days a
week for lunch and dinner. The check average is $11.50. Annual revenues for the
present Cabo facility are $1.4 million but the expanded Cabo unit is expected to
have annual revenues of approximately $2 million. Space for a second Cabo unit
has been leased in the downtown Houston historical district.
Bourbon Street Hospitality owns and operates Cat's Meow, an entertainment
facility at 701 Bourbon Street in New Orleans, Louisiana. Cat's Meow was opened
in 1989 and was acquired by Bourbon Street Hospitality in January 1994. Cat's
Meow is housed in a historic French Quarter Building with approximately 5,000
square feet. The building has a courtyard and second floor balcony. Cat's Meow
has attracted nationwide popularity and is considered one of the highest
grossing facilities per square foot in the United States. Cat's Meow offers full
bars upstairs and downstairs with specialty house drinks, frozen drinks and
specialty bottled beer as well as a Cat's Store offering a number of retail
items. Cat's Meow has annual revenues of approximately $3.2 million.
Entertainment features highly produced, high energy karaoke and includes
talented MC's and DJ's with a variety of music.
Bourbon Street Hospitality also owns and operates River Rats, an
entertainment facility at 441 Bourbon Street in New Orleans, Louisiana. The
facility was acquired by Bourbon Street Hospitality, Inc. in January 1994 and
remodeled to implement the River Rats concept in November 1995. River Rats is
housed in a historic French Quarter Building with approximately 6,500 square
feet. The building has a second floor with a balcony. River Rats offers full
bars upstairs and downstairs with specialty house drinks and frozen drinks as
well as a River Rat's Store offering a number of retail items. River Rats has
annual revenues of approximately $1.5 million. Entertainment features highly
produced high energy karaoke, talented MC's and DJ's with skits performed from
time to time and a variety of music accented by strobe and laser disco lighting.
Boutique Inns, Inc. owns and operates the Stockyards Hotel located in
historic north Fort Worth, Texas. The Stockyards Hotel was acquired in January
1996. The Stockyards Hotel offers guests 52 uniquely designed sleeping rooms
that reflect the Old West of the early 1900's, over 3500 square feet of meeting
space and full service catering for corporate meetings, wedding receptions and
family reunions. Boutique Inns, Inc. intends to remodel the Stockyards Hotel in
1996 to refurbish the 52 rooms and lobby area and to utilize two American Food
Classics, Inc. food and beverage concepts in its first floor space. These food
and beverage concepts should be open by September 1996. The Stockyards Hotel
presently has annual revenues of $1,800,000, and occupancy has averaged
approximately 72% for the last twelve months. Following the remodeling and the
opening of the new food and beverage concepts, the Stockyards Hotel is expected
to have annual revenues of approximately $3.2 million.
-5-
<PAGE>
Buffton has recently established Buffton Realty Ventures, a commercial real
estate operation, to engage in developing or acquiring properties for BFX
Hospitality Group, Inc. and other properties offering unique opportunity for
profit. Buffton Realty Ventures may, from time to time, utilize joint ventures
and limited partnerships, as well as recourse and non-recourse mortgage debt.
Buffton Realty Ventures operates as a division of Buffton.
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
The authorized capital stock of Buffton consists of 30,000,000 shares of
Common Stock, $.05 par value per share, and 5,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock,
$.01 par value per share (the "Preferred Stock").
Common Stock
------------
At February 13, 1996 there were 6,706,878 shares of Common Stock
outstanding. Holders of shares of Common Stock are entitled to one vote per
share on matters to be voted upon by the stockholders, and, subject to the prior
rights of the holders of Preferred Stock, to receive dividends when and as
declared by the Board of Directors with funds legally available therefor and to
share ratably in the assets of Buffton legally available for distribution to the
stockholders in the event of liquidation or dissolution, after payment of all
debts and other liabilities. Holders of the Common Stock are not entitled to
preemptive rights and have no subscription, redemption or conversion privileges.
The Common Stock does not have cumulative voting rights, which means the holder
or holders of more than half of the shares voting for the election of directors
can elect all the directors then being elected. All the outstanding shares of
Common Stock are fully paid and nonassessable. The rights, preferences and
privileges of holders of Common Stock are subject to the rights of the holders
of shares of any series of Preferred Stock which Buffton may issue in the
future. Each share of outstanding Common Stock has attached certain Rights to
purchase Preferred Stock upon the occurrence of certain events. See, "Preferred
---------
Stock." All outstanding Common Stock has been approved for listing on the
- -----
American Stock Exchange.
Preferred Stock
---------------
There are no shares of Preferred Stock outstanding. Buffton has, however,
pursuant to a Rights Agreement dated June 23, 1988 (the "Rights Agreement"),
declared a dividend of one Preferred Share Purchase Right (the Right) on each
outstanding share of common stock. Under certain conditions, each Right may be
exercised to purchase one one-hundredth share of Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock at a purchase price of $28.50, subject to adjustment. The Rights
Agreement was amended on November 15, 1995 and now provides that the Rights may
only be exercised 10 days after public announcement that a third party has
acquired or obtained the right to acquire 15% or more of Buffton's common stock
or has commenced a tender offer to acquire more than 15% of Buffton's common
stock. The Rights, which do not have voting rights, expire on July 5, 1998 and
may be redeemed by Buffton at a price of $.01 per Right at any time prior to
their expiration. Rights or beneficial ownership of Rights acquired by a person
or group of affiliated persons acquiring 15% or more of Buffton's outstanding
common stock will be null and void. In the event that a tender offer which would
result in any person or group beneficially owning 15% or more of Buffton's
common stock or that Buffton is acquired in a merger or other business
combination
-6-
<PAGE>
transaction or 50% or more of its consolidated assets or earning power is sold,
provision shall be made so that each holder of a Right shall have the right to
receive, upon exercise thereof at the then current exercise price, that number
of shares of common stock of the surviving company, which at the time of such
transaction, would have a market value of two times the exercise price of the
Right.
The Board of Directors has the authority, without further stockholder
approval, to issue shares of Preferred Stock in one or more series and to
determine the dividend rights, any conversion rights or rights of exchange,
voting rights, rights and terms of redemption (including sinking fund
provisions), liquidation preferences and any other rights, preferences,
privileges and restrictions of any series of Preferred Stock, and the number of
shares constituting such series and the designation thereof.
The issuance of Preferred Stock may have the effect of delaying, deferring
or preventing a change in control of Buffton, making removal of the present
management of Buffton more difficult or resulting in restrictions upon the
payment of dividends and other distributions to the holders of Common Stock.
Business Combinations: Certain Charter and Bylaw Provisions
------------------------------------------------------------
Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the "Delaware Law")
prohibits a publicly-held Delaware corporation from engaging in a "business
combination" with an "interested stockholder" for a period of three years after
the date of the transaction in which the person became an interested
stockholder, unless upon consummation of such transaction the interested
stockholder owned 85% of the voting stock of the corporation outstanding at the
time the transaction commenced or unless the business combination is, or the
transaction in which such person became an interested stockholder was, approved
in a prescribed manner. A "business combination" includes mergers, asset sales
and other transactions resulting in a financial benefit to the stockholder. An
"interested stockholder" is a person who, together with affiliates and
associates, owns (or, in the case of affiliates and associates of the issuer,
did own within the last three years) 15% or more of the corporation's voting
stock.
Buffton's Amended Certificates of Incorporation (the "Charter") and Bylaws
contain provisions limiting the right to call special stockholder meetings to
the Chairman of the Board, the President, or the Board of Directors; requiring
advance notice for submission of stockholder proposals, including without
limitation proposals for nominees to be voted on at stockholder meetings;
prohibiting the stockholders from removing Directors from office except for
cause upon the affirmative vote of 80% of the holders of outstanding stock,
reserving to the Directors the exclusive right to fill vacancies on the Board;
requiring the approval of the holders of at least 80% of outstanding stock to a
business combination with an owner of 15% or more of Buffton's outstanding
stock; and requiring a vote of stockholders owning 80% of the outstanding shares
to amend certain provisions of the Charter and Bylaws. Buffton's Charter also
provides for the Board of Directors to be divided into three classes of
directors serving staggered three-year terms. As a result, approximately one-
third of the Board of Directors will be elected each year. These provisions may
have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing change in control of
Buffton.
-7-
<PAGE>
Buffton has included in its Charter and Bylaws provisions to (i) eliminate
the personal liability of its directors for monetary damages resulting from
breaches of their fiduciary duty to the extent permitted by the Delaware Law and
(ii) indemnify its directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by
Section 145 of the Delaware Law, including circumstances in which
indemnification is otherwise discretionary.
USE OF PROCEEDS
None of the proceeds of this offering will inure to the benefit of Buffton.
SELLING SHAREHOLDERS
The following table lists the name of each Selling Shareholder and the
total number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by the Shareholders,
the total number of shares of Common Stock offered for the accounts of such
person, and the percentage of Common Stock of Buffton to be owned by the Selling
Shareholders after completion of the offering. The table also discloses material
relationships, if any, which the Selling Shareholders have with Buffton.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Number of Shares
Total Shares and Percentage of Material
Owned Prior Total Shares Class After Relationship
Name to Offering Offered Offering with Buffton
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Hotels of Distinction, Inc. 50,000 50,000 -0- None
Patricia Barnett 30,000 30,000 -0- None
Winona Winters 28,000 28,000 -0- None
Vink, Pier & Teague 10,000 10,000 -0- None
James McInerney 5,500 5,500 -0- None
William T. Murphy, Jr. 3,000 3,000 -0- None
----------------------------------
</TABLE>
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
The Selling Shareholders may elect to sell shares from time to time
subsequent to registration depending upon market conditions existing at such
times. The distribution of the shares by the Selling Shareholder may be
effected from time to time in one or more transactions (i) on the American Stock
Exchange, (ii) in private transactions otherwise than on the exchange, or (iii)
in a combination of any such transactions. Such transactions may be effected by
the Selling Shareholder at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at
prices related to such prevailing market prices, at
-8-
<PAGE>
negotiated prices or at fixed prices. The Selling Shareholder may effect such
transactions by selling shares to or through broker-dealers, and such broker-
dealers will receive compensation in the form of discounts or commissions from
the Selling Shareholder and may receive commissions from the purchasers of
shares for whom they may act as agent (which discounts or commissions from the
Selling Shareholder or such purchasers will not exceed those customary in the
types of transactions involved).
LEGAL OPINIONS
The validity of the shares offered hereby has been passed upon for Buffton
by McLean & Sanders, a Professional Corporation, 100 Main Street, Fort Worth,
Texas 76102-3090.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements of Buffton incorporated in this
Prospectus by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Buffton for the
year ended September 30, 1995 and the audited historical financial statements of
Stockyards Hotel as of and for the year ended December 31, 1994 included on
pages F-2 through F-4 of Buffton's Form 8-K dated January 19, 1996 have been so
incorporated in reliance on the reports of Price Waterhouse LLP, independent
accountants, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and
accounting.
DISCLOSURE OF COMMISSION POSITION ON INDEMNIFICATION
FOR SECURITIES ACT LIABILITIES
Pursuant to Article IX of its Bylaws, Buffton shall indemnify any person
who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened,
pending or completed action, suit, or proceeding, whether civil, criminal,
administrative (other than an action by or in the right of the Corporation) by
reason of the fact that he is a director, officer, employee or agent of the
Corporation if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to
be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, and with respect
to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his
conduct was unlawful.
In addition, Buffton will indemnify any person who was or is a party or is
threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or
suit by or in the right of the Corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by
reason of the fact that he is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of
the Corporation if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed
to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, except that no
indemnification shall be made in respect to any claim, issue or matter as to
which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable for negligence or
misconduct in the performance of his duty to the Corporation unless and only to
the extent that a court of competent jurisdiction shall determine such person is
entitled to indemnity.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act
of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling the
registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, the registrant has been
informed 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.
-9-
<PAGE>
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution
- ------- -------------------------------------------
The following are the estimated expenses to be incurred by Buffton in
connection with the offering described in this Registration Statement.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C>
Filing fee for Registration Statement $ 100.00
Legal and Accounting fees and expenses $10,000.00
Miscellaneous expenses $ 250.00
Total $10,350.00
</TABLE>
All of these estimated expenses will be borne by Buffton.
Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers
- ------- -----------------------------------------
Pursuant to Article IX of its Bylaws, Buffton shall indemnify any person
who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened,
pending or completed action, suit, or proceeding, whether civil, criminal,
administrative (other than an action by or in the right of the Corporation) by
reason of the fact that he is a director, officer, employee or agent of the
Corporation if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to
be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, and with respect
to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his
conduct was unlawful.
In addition, Buffton will indemnify any person who was or is a party or is
threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or
suit by or in the right of the Corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by
reason of the fact that he is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of
the Corporation if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed
to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, except that no
indemnification shall be made in respect to any claim, issue or matter as to
which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable for negligence or
misconduct in the performance of his duty to the Corporation unless and only to
the extent that a court of competent jurisdiction shall determine such person is
entitled to indemnity.
II-1
<PAGE>
Item 16. Exhibits
- ------- --------
The documents listed hereunder are filed as exhibits hereto.
Number Description Page Number
- ------ ----------- -----------
4.3* Rights Agreement, dated as of June 23, 1988, filed
as Exhibit 1 to the Buffton Form 8-K dated
June 30, 1988, as amended in Amendment to Rights
Agreement, dated November 15, 1995, filed as
Exhibit 1 to the Buffton Form 8-K dated November 15,
1995.
5 Opinion of Counsel as to legality II-7
23.1 Consent of Independent Accountants II-8
23.2 Consent of Counsel, included in Exhibit 5 filed II-7
herewith
- -------------------------------
* Incorporated by reference
II-2
<PAGE>
Item 17. Undertakings
- ------- ------------
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(a) (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;
(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 the Registration Statement;
(iii) To include any material information with respect to the
plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration
Statement or any material change to such information in the
Registration Statement;
Provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do
-----------------
not apply if the Registration Statement is on Form S-3 or Form S-8,
and the information required to be included in a post-effective
amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed
by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and that are incorporated by reference
in the Registration Statement.
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed
to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered
therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed
to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment
any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the
termination of the offering.
(b) Filings Incorporating Subsequent Exchange Act Documents by Reference.
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the
registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an
employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
II-3
<PAGE>
(c) Acceleration of Effectiveness.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act
of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the
registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant
has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission
such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is,
therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against
such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred
or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the
successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public
policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication
of such issue.
POWER OF ATTORNEY
Each person whose signature appears in the following section headed
"Signatures" authorizes Robert H. McLean with full power to act alone to file
one or more amendments (including Post-Effective Amendments) to this
Registration Statement which amendments may make such changes in this
Registration Statement as he deems appropriate and each person appoints Robert
H. McLean as attorney-in-fact, with full power to act alone to execute in the
name of and on behalf of each such person, individually and in any capacity
stated below, all amendments to this Registration Statement, whenever filed.
SIGNATURES
The Registrant. 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 Fort Worth, and the State of Texas, on this 26th
day of February, 1996.
BUFFTON CORPORATION
/s/ Robert H. McLean
------------------------------------
Robert H. McLean
Chairman of the Board,
President and Chief Executive Officer
II-4
<PAGE>
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities on the dates indicated.
SIGNATURE TITLE DATE
--------- ----- ----
/s/ Robert H. McLean Director, Chairman of February 26, 1996
- --------------------------- the Board, President
Robert H. McLean and Chief Executive
Officer
/s/ Robert Korman Vice President, February 26, 1996
- --------------------------- Chief Financial
Robert Korman Officer, Treasurer
and Secretary
/s/ Walter D. Rogers, Jr. Director, President February 26, 1996
- --------------------------- and Chief Executive
Walter D. Rogers, Jr. Officer of Current
Technology, Inc.
/s/ Bruno V. D'Agostino Director February 26, 1996
- ---------------------------
Bruno V. D'Agostino
/s/ John M. Edgar Director February 26, 1996
- ---------------------------
John M. Edgar
/s/ H. Hampton Hodges Director February 26, 1996
- ---------------------------
H. Hampton Hodges
/s/ H.T. Hunnewell Director February 26, 1996
- ---------------------------
H.T. Hunnewell
/s/ Russell J. Sarno Director February 26, 1996
- ---------------------------
Russell J. Sarno
II-5
<PAGE>
EXHIBITS INDEX
--------------
The documents listed hereunder are filed as exhibits hereto.
Number Description Page Number
- ------ ----------- -----------
4.3* Rights Agreement, dated as of June 23, 1988, filed
as Exhibit 1 to the Buffton Form 8-K dated
June 30, 1988, as amended in Amendment to Rights
Agreement dated November 15, 1996, filed as Exhibit 1
to the Buffton Form 8-K dated November 15, 1995.
5 Opinion of Counsel as to legality 18
23.1 Consent of Independent Accountants 19
23.2 Consent of Counsel, included in Exhibit 5 filed 18
herewith
- -------------------------------
* Incorporated by reference
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 5
McLean & Sanders
A PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION
ATTORNEYS
RONALD L. ADAMS RICHARD H. GATELEY
RANDY L. AGNEW THEODORE MACK
A. WILLIAM BRACKETT 100 MAIN STREET HUNTER T. McLEAN
HARRY M. BRANTS FORT WORTH, TEXAS 76102-3090 ELAINE SANDERS MORRIS
BRUCE S. CAMPBELL RUSSELL J. NORMENT
JOSEPH F. CLEVELAND, JR. (817) 338-1700 TOM B. RENFRO
EDGAR O. COBLE Metro 429-9181 RICHARD U. SIMON, JR.
JAMES A. CREEL COBY D. SMITH
JOE A. DRAGO Facsimile (817) 870-2265 JAMES M. WHITTON
HENRI J. DUSSAULT
LUTHER W. ELLIS JOHN G. HILL
CARTER L. FERGUSON FORREST MARKWARD
DANIEL A. FOSTER OF COUNSEL
February 26, 1996
Buffton Corporation
226 Bailey Avenue, Suite 101
Fort Worth, Texas 76107
RE: Form S-3 Registration Statement Covering 126,500 Shares of the
--------------------------------------------------------------
Common Stock of Buffton Corporation
-----------------------------------
Gentlemen:
You have requested our opinion in connection with the Registration
Statement on Form S-3 to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, with respect to the offering
by certain selling shareholders of shares of Buffton Corporation Common Stock,
par value $.05 per share ("Common Stock").
As counsel for Buffton Corporation, we are familiar with the
Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Company, as amended, and its
affairs. We have also examined, or caused to be examined, such other documents
and instruments and have made, or caused to be made, such further investigation
as deemed appropriate in connection with this opinion. We have assumed the
genuineness of all signatures, the correctness of copies and all statements of
fact contained in documents which are the basis of this opinion. Based upon the
foregoing, it is our opinion that the shares of Common Stock offered by the
Prospectus contained in the Registration Statement are legally issued, fully
paid, and non-assessable.
Accordingly, we hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an
exhibit to the Registration Statement, and to the reference to our firm under
the caption "Legal Matters" in the Prospectus.
Very truly yours,
McLean & Sanders,
A Professional Corporation
By: /s/ Carter L. Ferguson
-----------------------------------------
Carter L. Ferguson, Director
CLF:dlb
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 23.1
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Prospectus
constituting part of this Registration Statement on Form S-3 of our report dated
November 14, 1995 appearing on page F-2 of Buffton Corporation's Annual Report
on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 1995. We also consent to the
incorporation by reference of our report dated January 9, 1996, appearing on
page F-1 of Stockyards Hotel's Current Report for the year ended December 31,
1994 on Form 8-K, dated January 19, 1996. We also consent to the references to
us under the heading "Experts" in such Prospectus.
PRICE WATERHOUSE LLP
/s/ Price Waterhouse LLP
Fort Worth, Texas
February 26, 1996
