As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 10, 1997
Registration No. 333-
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
HERMAN MILLER, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)
Michigan
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
38-0837640
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
855 East Main Avenue, P.O. Box 302, Zeeland, Michigan 49464-0302; (616) 654-3000
(Address including zip code, and telephone number including area code, of
Registrant's principal executive offices)
James E. Christenson
Herman Miller, Inc.
855 East Main Avenue
P.O. Box 302
Zeeland, Michigan 49464-0302
(616) 654-3000
(Name, address including zip code, telephone number including area
code, of agent for service) It is requested that copies of communication
from the Securities and Exchange Commission be sent to:
Michael G. Wooldridge
Varnum, Riddering, Schmidt & Howlett
333 Bridge Street, N.W.
P.O. Box 352
Grand Rapids, Michigan 49501-0352
(616) 336-6000
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale of the securities to
the public: As soon as practicable after the Registration Statement becomes
effective.
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 plan, 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. [ ]
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
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Proposed Maximum Proposed Maximum
Title of each Class of Amount Being Offering Price Aggregate Offering Amount of
Securities Being Registered Registered Per Unit(1) Price(1) Registration Fee
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Common Stock
($.20 par value) 164,882 $55.1875 $9,099,425.40 $2,757.40
</TABLE>
(1) For purposes of computing the registration fee only, the price shown
is based on the price of $55.1875 per share, the average of the high
and low sales prices for the common stock of Herman Miller, Inc.
on the NASDAQ National Market System on January 8, 1997, in accordance
with Rule 457(c).
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.
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<PAGE>
Registration Statement Relating
to
Herman Miller, Inc.
Cross Reference Sheet Pursuant to Item 501 of Regulation S-K
Form S-3 Item Number and Caption Prospectus Captions
or Page
1. Forepart of the Registration Statement and Outside
Front Cover Page of Prospectus.......................... Forepart of
Registration
Statement; Cross
Reference Sheet;
Cover Page
2. Inside Front and Outside Back Cover Pages of
Prospectus.............................................. Inside Cover Page;
Available
Information;
Incorporation of
Certain Documents
by Reference
3. Summary Information, Risk Factors and Ratio of
Earnings to Fixed Charges............................... The Company
4. Use of Proceeds......................................... Not Applicable
5. Determination of Offering Price......................... Not Applicable
6. Dilution................................................ Not Applicable
7. Selling Security Holders................................ Selling Shareholder
8. Plan of Distribution.................................... Selling Shareholder
9. Description of Securities to be Registered.............. Description of
Capital Stock
10. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.................. Experts
11. Material Changes........................................ Not Applicable
12. Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference....... Incorporation of
Certain Documents
by Reference
13. Disclosure of Commission Position on Indemnification
for Securities Act Liabilities.......................... Not Applicable
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<PAGE>
PROSPECTUS
164,882 Shares
Herman Miller, Inc.
Common Stock
($.20 Par Value)
____________________
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.
_____________________
All of the shares of common stock offered hereby (the "Shares") are
being sold for the account of a certain shareholder (the "Selling Shareholder")
of Herman Miller, Inc. (the "Company"). The Company will not receive any of the
proceeds from the sale of the Shares.
The Selling Shareholder may, from time to time, offer for sale and sell
or distribute the Shares to be offered hereby in negotiated transactions or
through other means. The sales may be effected at prevailing market prices at
the time of sale or at such other prices as may be negotiated by the Selling
Shareholder. (See the discussion under the caption "Selling Shareholder.")
________________________
NO PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY INFORMATION OR MAKE ANY
REPRESENTATIONS OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS IN CONNECTION WITH
THE OFFER CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE, ANY SUCH
INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATIONS MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED
BY THE COMPANY. THIS PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR A
SOLICITATION OF ANY OFFER TO BUY ANY OF THE SECURITIES OFFERED HEREBY IN ANY
JURISDICTION TO ANY PERSON TO WHOM IT IS UNLAWFUL TO MAKE SUCH OFFER IN SUCH
JURISDICTION.
___________________________
The date of this Prospectus is _________, 1997
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<PAGE>
AVAILABLE INFORMATION
The Company is subject to the informational requirements of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended ("Exchange Act"), and, in accordance
therewith files reports, proxy statements and other information with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"). The reports, proxy
statements and other information can be inspected and copied at the Public
Reference Section of the Commission, Room 1024, 450 Fifth Street, N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20549, and at the Commission's Regional Offices located at 7
World Trade Center, Suite 1300, New York, New York 10048, and 500 West Madison
Street, Suite 1400, Chicago, Illinois 60601. Copies of such materials can be
obtained by mail from the Public Reference Section of the Commission at 450
Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, at prescribed rates. The Commission
maintains a Web side (which can be found at http://www.sec.gov) that contains
reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding
registrants that file electronically with the Commission.
The Company has filed with the Commission a Registration Statement on
Form S-3 (herein, together with all amendments and exhibits thereto and
documents incorporated by reference, referred to as the "Registration
Statement") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act").
This Prospectus does not contain all of the information set forth in the
Registration Statement, certain parts of which are omitted in accordance with
the rules and regulations of the Commission. For further information, reference
is hereby made to the Registration Statement. The statements contained in this
Prospectus concerning the contents of any contract or other document referred to
are not necessarily complete. Where such contract or other document is an
exhibit to the Registration Statement, each statement is qualified in all
respects by the provisions of such exhibit to which reference is hereby made for
a full statement of the provisions thereof.
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 1,
1996, and its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarters ended
August 31, 1996 and November 30, 1996, which have been filed by the Company with
the Commission (File No. 0-5813), are incorporated herein by reference. All
reports or documents filed by the Company pursuant to Sections 13, 14 or 15(d)
of the Exchange Act after the date hereof and prior to the termination of the
offering of the Common Stock, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference
herein and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents. Any
statement contained in a document incorporated herein by reference shall be
deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Prospectus to the
extent that a statement contained herein modifies or supersedes such statement.
Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so
modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Prospectus.
Upon written or oral request, the Company will provide, without charge,
a copy of any documents incorporated by reference herein (other than certain
exhibits) to any person to whom a Prospectus is delivered. Requests for such
copies should be directed to Robert Dentzman, Treasurer, Herman Miller, Inc.,
855 East Main Avenue, P.O. Box 302, Zeeland, Michigan 49464-0302; telephone
(616) 654-3000.
THE COMPANY
Herman Miller, Inc. (the "Company") is engaged in the design,
manufacture and sale of furniture systems and furniture, and related products
and services, for offices, and, to a lesser extent, for health-care facilities
and other uses. Through research, the Company seeks to define and clarify
customer needs and problems existing in its markets and to design, through
innovation where feasible, products and systems as solutions to such problems.
The Company's principal executive offices are located at 855 East Main Avenue,
Zeeland, Michigan 49464; telephone (616) 654-3000.
The Company's Common Stock is traded in the over-the-counter National
Market System and is quoted on the National Association of Securities Dealers
Automated Quotation System ("NASDAQ") under the symbol MLHR.
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<PAGE>
SELLING SHAREHOLDER
The Shares may be offered for sale and sold under this Prospectus by
Gary J. VanDyke ("Selling Shareholder"). Effective October 30, 1995, Selling
Shareholder acquired the Shares from the Company pursuant to terms and
conditions of an Agreement and Plan of Reorganization by and among the Company,
Coro, Inc. ("Coro"), a subsidiary of the Company, AKM, Inc. ("AKM"), a
corporation wholly owned by the Selling Shareholder, and Selling Shareholder,
dated October 12, 1995 (the "Merger Agreement"). Under the terms of the Merger
Agreement, the Company acquired AKM pursuant to which AKM was merged with and
into Coro. In consideration of the merger, Selling Shareholder received 164,882
shares of the Company's Common Stock. All of those Shares may be offered by
Selling Shareholder for sale hereunder.
Under the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement, the Company
entered into a Registration Rights Agreement with Selling Shareholder, dated
October 30, 1995, pursuant to which the Company agreed to register the Shares
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), for offer and sale by
Selling Shareholder. The Company has agreed to maintain the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement covering the Shares until the earlier of the disposition
of all of the Shares or October 31, 1997. In addition, the Company has agreed to
pay the expenses for registering the Shares and maintaining the effectiveness of
the Registration Statement.
Since May 1, 1996, Selling Shareholder has served as General Manager of
Herman Miller Canada, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company. Prior to
October 31, 1995, the Selling Shareholder served as President of OP Ventures,
Inc., and OP Ventures of Texas, Inc., two wholly owned subsidiaries of AKM and
independent dealerships of the Company. As the date of this Prospectus, Selling
Shareholder owned 165,074 shares of the Company's outstanding Common Stock.
Selling Shareholder may effect such transactions through private,
negotiated transactions or by selling the Shares to or through dealers, and such
dealers may receive compensation in the form of underwriting discounts,
concessions, or commissions from Selling Shareholder. In connection with the
sale of shares, Selling Shareholder may be deemed to have received compensation
from the Company in the form of underwriting discounts. Selling Shareholder and
any dealers that participate with Selling Shareholder in the distribution of
Shares may be deemed to be underwriters, and any commissions received by them
and any profit on the resale of Shares sold by them might be deemed to be
underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended.
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
The Company's authorized Stock consists of 10,000,000 shares of
preferred stock, none of which are outstanding, and 60,000,000 of Common Stock.
The following is a description of the Company's capital stock.
Preferred Stock
The Board of Directors may authorize the issuance from time-to-time of
up to 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, without par value, by adopting a
resolution fixing the powers, preferences, rights and other provisions thereof,
without any shareholder action. The preferred stock may be issued in one or more
series and may be used for any corporate purpose.
Common Stock
Subject to the rights, if any, of holders of any Company's preferred
stock then outstanding, all voting rights are vested in holders of shares of
Common Stock. Each share of Common Stock entitled the holder thereof to one
vote. Holders of shares of Common Stock are not entitled to cumulative voting
rights and have no preemptive right to subscribe for additional securities
issuable by the Company.
Subject to any prior rights of holders of preferred stock then
outstanding, holders of the Company's Common Stock are entitled to receive
dividends as the Board of Directors may from time to time declare out of
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<PAGE>
funds legally available for that purpose. In the event of the liquidation,
dissolution or winding up of the Company, holders of Common Stock are entitled
to share pro rata in the distributable assets.
General
The Company's Articles of Incorporation and the Michigan Business
Corporation Act contain provisions which could be utilized by the Company to
impede any efforts to acquire control of the Company, namely:
Classified Board Of Directors. The Company's Articles of Incorporation
provide for the division of the Board of Directors into three classes with
staggered three-year terms of office. Accordingly, if someone acquires a
majority of the Company's Common Stock, such a person could not necessarily
obtain majority control of the Board of Directors until the second annual
meeting of the Company's shareholders following the acquisition of a majority of
the Company's Common Stock.
Board Evaluation of Acquisition Offers. The Company's Articles require
that the Board of Directors may not approve or recommend an offer (except when
made by the Company) to make a tender or exchange offer for the Company's
shares, to merge or consolidate the Company or to purchase substantially all of
the Company's assets unless the Board of Directors has evaluated the offer and
determined that the offer would be in compliance with applicable laws and in the
best interests of the Company and its shareholders. In making its evaluation,
the Board of Directors is required to consider not only the adequacy of the
consideration but also the social and economic impact of the transaction on the
Company and its various constituencies.
Michigan Fair Price Provisions. Chapter 7A of the Michigan Business
Corporation Act impacts certain business combinations involving Michigan
corporations such as the Company. Except in cases in which certain minimum
price, form of consideration, and procedural requirements are satisfied or for
certain transactions that may be approved in advance by the Company's Board of
Directors, higher than normal voting requirements are imposed with respect to
various transactions involving persons who own ten percent or more of the
Company's voting stock (referred to as "Interested Shareholders"). Transactions
to which the higher voting requirements apply require an advisory statement from
the Board of Directors and must be approved by not less than 90% of the votes of
each class of stock entitled to vote and by not less than two-thirds of the
votes, other than the votes of Interested Shareholders who are (or whose
affiliates are) a party to the proposed transaction or an affiliate of the
Interested Shareholders, of each class entitled to vote.
Michigan Shareholder Equity Provisions. Chapter 7B of the Michigan
Business Corporation Act affects the voting rights of persons who acquire more
than 20%, 33-1/3%, or 50 percent of a Michigan corporation's voting stock
(referred to as "Control Shares"). Chapter 7B denies shareholder voting rights
to those persons or entities who make purchase offers or investors who increase
their holdings above any of the Control Share levels, unless they are granted
voting rights by a majority vote of all disinterested shareholders (shareholders
excluding the bidders or owners of Control Shares and the corporation's
management). If the shareholders do not elect to grant voting rights to Control
Shares, under certain circumstances, the Control Shares may become subject to
redemption.
EXPERTS
The financial statements and schedules incorporated by reference in
this prospectus and elsewhere in the registration statement to the extent and
for the periods indicated in their reports 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 giving said reports.
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<PAGE>
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.
Expenses in connection with the issuance and distribution of the
securities being registered herein are estimated as follows:
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Registration Fee $2,757.40
Legal Fees and Expenses 4,500.00
Accountants Fees and Expenses 2,000.00
--------
Total: $9,257.40
</TABLE>
Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
The Articles of Incorporation of the Registrant provide that its
directors and officers are required to be indemnified as of right to the fullest
extent permitted under the Michigan Business Corporation Act ("MBCA") in
connection with any actual or threatened civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative action, suit or proceeding (whether brought by or in the name of
the Registrant, a subsidiary or otherwise) in which a director or officer is a
witness or which is brought against a director or officer in his or her capacity
as a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of the Registrant or of any
corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other
enterprise which the director or officer was serving at the request of the
Registrant. Persons who are not directors or officers of the Registrant may be
similarly indemnified in respect of said service to the extent authorized by the
Board of Directors of the Registrant. Under the MBCA, directors, officers,
employees or agents are entitled to indemnification against expenses (including
attorney fees) whenever they successfully defend legal proceedings brought
against them by reason of the fact that they hold such a position with the
Registrant. In addition, with respect to actions not brought by or in the right
of the Registrant, indemnification is permitted under the MBCA for expenses
(including attorney fees), judgments, fines, penalties and reasonable
settlements if it is determined that the person seeking indemnification acted in
a good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in and not
opposed to the best interest of the Registrant or its shareholders and, with
respect to criminal proceedings, he or she had no reasonable cause to believe
that his or her conduct was unlawful. With respect to actions brought by or in
the right of the Registrant, indemnification is permitted under the MBCA for
expenses (including attorney fees) and reasonable settlement, if it is
determined that the person seeking indemnification acted in good faith and in a
manner he or she reasonably believed to be in and not opposed to the best
interest of the Registrant or its shareholders; provided, indemnification is not
permitted if the person is found liable to the Registrant, unless the court in
which the action or suit was brought has determined that indemnification is fair
and reasonable in view of all the circumstances of the case.
The MBCA and the Registrant's Articles of Incorporation also authorize
the Registrant to provide indemnification broader than that set forth in the
MBCA and the Articles of Incorporation. Pursuant to this authority, the
Registrant has entered into indemnification agreements with each of its
directors, which provide for the prompt indemnification to the fullest extent
permitted by applicable law and for the prompt advancement of expenses,
including reasonable attorney fees, incurred in connection with any proceeding
in which a director is a witness or which is brought against a director in his
or her capacity as a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of the
Registrant or of any corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee
benefit plan or other enterprise which the director is serving at the request of
the Registrant. Indemnification is permitted for expenses and reasonable
settlement amounts incurred in connection with a proceeding by or in the right
of the Registrant and for expenses, judgments, penalties, fines and reasonable
settlement amounts incurred in connection with the proceeding other than by or
in the right of the Registrant. Indemnification under the indemnity agreements
is conditioned on the director having acted in good faith and in a manner he or
she reasonably believes to be in or not
S-1
<PAGE>
opposed to the best interest of the Registrant and, with respect to any criminal
proceeding, he or she had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was
unlawful. The Articles of Incorporation of the Registrant also limit the
personal liability of members of its Board of Directors for monetary damages
with respect to claims by the Registrant or its shareholders resulting from
certain negligent acts or omissions.
Item 16. Exhibits.
Reference if made to the Exhibit Index which appears at page S-5 of
this Registration Statement.
Item 17. Undertakings.
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made,
a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
(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,
represents 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 (1)(i) and (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 that are incorporated by reference in the
registration statement.
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be
a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment
any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of
the offering.
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the
registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and each filing of an employee benefit plan's
annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed
to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein,
and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the
initial bona fide offering thereof.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of
the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the
Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange
Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act
and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification
against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses
incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant
in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public
policy as expressed by the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of
such issue.
S-2
<PAGE>
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
As independent public accountants, we hereby consent to the incorporation by
reference in this registration statement of our reports dated June 28, 1996,
included in Herman Miller, Inc.'s Form 10-K for the year ended June 1, 1996, and
to all references to our Firm included in this Registration Statement.
/s/ Arthur Andersen LLP
ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP
Grand Rapids, Michigan
January 8, 1997
S-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 Zeeland, State of Michigan, on the 7th day of
January, 1997.
HERMAN MILLER, INC.
By /s/ Michael A. Volkema
Michael A. Volkema, President and Chief
Executive Officer
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature
appears below constitutes and appoints Michael A. Volkema and David L. Nelson,
and each of them, his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with
full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her
name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments
(including post-effective 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 and any other regulatory
authority, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent, full power and
authority to do and perform each and every act and thing required and necessary
to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he
or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that
said attorney-in-fact and agent, or his or her substitute, may lawfully do or
cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed below on January 7, 1997, by the
following persons in the capacities indicated.
/s/ Michael A. Volkema /s/ Brian C. Walker
Michael A. Volkema, Director, Brian C. Walker, Executive
President and Chief Vice President
Executive Officer (Principal (Principal Financial Officer
Executive Officer) and Principal
Accounting Officer)
/s/ C. William Pollard /s/ David L. Nelson
C. William Pollard, Director David L. Nelson, Director and
Chairman of the Board
/s/ Ruth Alkema Reister /s/ Charles D. Ray
Ruth Alkema Reister, Director Charles D. Ray, M.D., Director
/s/ William K. Brehm /s/ J. Harold Chandler
William K. Brehm, Director J. Harold Chandler, Director
/s/ Brian Griffiths /s/ Richard H. Ruch
Brian Griffiths, Lord Griffiths Richard H. Ruch, Director
of Fforestfach, Director
/s/ E. David Crockett /s/ James R. Carreker
Dr. E. David Crockett, Director James R. Carreker, Director
S-4
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit Number and Description
5 Opinion of Varnum, Riddering, Schmidt & Howlett as to the validity of
the issuance of the securities being registered.......................
23.1 Consent of Arthur Andersen (included on Page S-3).....................
23.2 Consent of Varnum, Riddering, Schmidt & Howlett (included with the
opinion filed as Exhibit 5)...........................................
24 Power of Attorney (included on Signature Page)........................
H:\WPFILES\103-1129.
S-5
<PAGE>
January 8, 1997
Herman Miller, Inc.
855 East Main Avenue
P.O. Box 302
Zeeland, Michigan 49464-0302
Gentlemen:
We have acted as your counsel in connection with the preparation of the
Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the "Registration Statement) to be filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the purpose of registering under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, one hundred sixty-four thousand eight
hundred eighty-two (164,882) shares of common stock, par value $.20 per share,
of Herman Miller, Inc., a Michigan corporation (the "Company"). We are familiar
with the corporate action taken by the Board of Directors of the Company in
authorizing the registration of such shares, and we have examined such documents
and questions of law as we consider necessary or appropriate for the purpose of
furnishing this opinion.
It is our opinion that the 164,822 authorized and issued shares of the
common stock of the Company, to be sold by the Selling Shareholder (the
"Shares"), as defined in the Registration Statement, when sold in accordance
with the procedures described in the Registration Statement, will be legally
issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we
are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or under the rules and regulations of
the Securities and Exchange Commission relating thereto.
Very truly yours,
VARNUM, RIDDERING, SCHMIDT & HOWLETTLLP
/s/ Michael G. Wooldridge
Michael G. Wooldridge
EXHIBIT 5
