<PAGE>
Filed Pursuant to Rule No. 424(B)(5)
Registration No. 333-15401
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
(To Prospectus dated November 18, 1996)
$250,000,000
LOGO
6 3/8% NOTES DUE NOVEMBER 30, 2001
Interest on the 6 3/8% Notes Due November 30, 2001 (the "Notes") is payable
semiannually on November 30 and May 30 of each year, beginning May 30, 1997.
The Notes are not redeemable prior to maturity.
The Notes will be issued in fully registered form only in denominations of
$1,000 or integral multiples thereof. The Notes will be initially represented
by one or more global Notes registered in the name of The Depository Trust
Company (the "Depositary") or its nominee. Beneficial interests in the Notes
will be shown on, and transfers thereof will be effected only through, records
maintained by the Depositary and its participants. Owners of beneficial
interests in the Notes will be entitled to physical delivery of Notes in
certificated form equal in principal amount to their respective beneficial
interests only under the limited circumstances described herein.
Settlement for the Notes will be made in immediately available funds. The
Notes will trade in the Depositary's Same-Day Funds Settlement System until
maturity, and secondary market trading activity for the Notes will, therefore,
settle in immediately available funds. All payments of principal and interest
will be made by the Company in immediately available funds.
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 SUPPLEMENT OR THE ACCOMPANYING
PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
UNDERWRITING
PRICE TO DISCOUNTS AND PROCEEDS TO
PUBLIC(1) COMMISSIONS(2) COMPANY(1)(3)
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Per Note......................... 99.638% .600% 99.038%
Total............................ $249,095,000 $1,500,000 $247,595,000
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
(1)Plus accrued interest, if any, from November 21, 1996.
(2)For information regarding indemnification of the Underwriters, see
"Underwriting".
(3)Before deducting expenses which are payable by the Company estimated at
$150,000.
The Notes are offered by the Underwriters, subject to prior sale, when, as and
if accepted by the Underwriters and subject to certain conditions. It is
expected that delivery of the Notes in book-entry form will be made through
the facilities of the Depositary on or about November 21, 1996.
SALOMON BROTHERS INC
BA SECURITIES, INC.
CITICORP SECURITIES, INC.
NATIONSBANC CAPITAL MARKETS, INC.
SMITH BARNEY INC.
UBS SECURITIES
The date of this Prospectus Supplement is November 18, 1996.
<PAGE>
IN CONNECTION WITH THIS OFFERING, THE UNDERWRITERS MAY OVER-ALLOT OR EFFECT
TRANSACTIONS WHICH STABILIZE OR MAINTAIN THE MARKET PRICE OF THE NOTES AT
LEVELS ABOVE THOSE WHICH MIGHT OTHERWISE PREVAIL IN THE OPEN MARKET. SUCH
STABILIZING, IF COMMENCED, MAY BE DISCONTINUED AT ANY TIME.
DESCRIPTION OF THE NOTES
The Notes offered hereby (referred to in the accompanying Prospectus as the
"Debt Securities" and "Senior Debt Securities") are senior unsecured debt
securities of Comdisco, Inc. (the "Company") which are described under the
caption "Description of Debt Securities" in the Prospectus. The following
description of the particular terms of the Notes supplements, and to the
extent, if any, inconsistent therewith replaces, the description of the
general terms and provisions of the Debt Securities and Senior Debt Securities
set forth in the Prospectus, to which description reference is made.
Capitalized terms not defined herein have the meanings assigned to such terms
in the Prospectus.
GENERAL
The Notes offered hereby are to be issued under an Indenture, dated as of
December 1, 1995, between the Company and Yasuda Bank and Trust Company
(U.S.A.), as Trustee, and will constitute a separate series of Debt Securities
for purposes of the Indenture. The Notes will be limited to $250,000,000 in
aggregate principal amount, will mature on November 30, 2001, and will bear
interest at the rate of 6 3/8% per annum. Interest on the Notes will be
calculated on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months, will accrue
from the date of issue and will be payable semiannually on November 30 and May
30 of each year (each an "Interest Payment Date"), commencing May 30, 1997,
and at maturity, to the persons in whose names the Notes are registered at the
close of business on the November 15 or May 15, as the case may be,
immediately preceding such Interest Payment Date. The Notes will not be
redeemable at the option of the Company, or repayable at the option of the
Holder, prior to maturity and will not be subject to any sinking fund.
Following issuance of the Notes, $700 million of Debt Securities will remain
as unallocated under the Registration Statement (of which this Prospectus
Supplement and accompanying Prospectus form a part). The Indenture does not
limit the aggregate principal amount of Debt Securities which may be issued
upon authorization of the Company's Board of Directors. The Notes are not
secured by any lien but rank on a parity with other presently outstanding
unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of the Company. As of September 30,
1996, the Company had approximately $2.9 billion in unsecured and
unsubordinated indebtedness which will rank on a parity with the Notes, and
$1.2 billion in outstanding secured indebtedness.
BOOK-ENTRY DELIVERY AND FORM
Upon issuance, all Notes will be represented by one or more fully registered
Global Securities (the "Global Notes"), without coupons, which will be
deposited with, or on behalf of, the Depositary, and registered in the name of
Cede & Co., as the nominee of the Depositary. Except under the circumstances
described below, the Notes will not be issuable in definitive form. Unless and
until it is exchanged in whole or in part for the individual Notes represented
thereby, interests in the Global Notes may not be transferred except as a
whole by the Depositary to a nominee of such Depositary or by a nominee of
such Depositary to such Depositary or another nominee of such Depositary or by
such Depositary or any such nominee to a successor of such Depositary or such
successor.
Each Global Note representing Book-Entry Notes will be exchangeable for
Notes in definitive certificated form ("Certificated Notes") of like tenor and
terms and of differing authorized
S-2
<PAGE>
denominations aggregating a like principal amount, only if (i) the Depositary
notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary
for the Global Notes, or if the Depositary ceases to be a clearing agency
registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"Exchange Act"), and a successor depositary has not been appointed by the
Company within ninety (90) days, (ii) the Company in its sole discretion
determines that the Global Notes shall be exchangeable for Certificated Notes
or (iii) there shall have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default under
the Senior Indenture with respect to the Notes. Upon any such exchange, the
Certificated Notes shall be registered in the names of the Beneficial Owners
of each Global Note representing Book-Entry Notes, which names shall be
provided by the Depositary's relevant Participants (as identified by the
Depositary) to the Trustee.
The following is based on information furnished by the Depositary:
The Depositary will act as securities depositary for the Book-Entry
Notes. The Book-Entry Notes will be issued as fully registered securities
registered in the name of Cede & Co. (the Depositary's partnership
nominee). One fully registered Global Note will be issued for each issue of
Book-Entry Notes, each in the aggregate principal amount of such issue, and
will be deposited with the Depositary. If, however, the aggregate principal
amount of any issue exceeds $200,000,000, one Global Note will be issued
with respect to each $200,000,000 of principal amount and an additional
Global Note will be issued with respect to any remaining principal amount
of such issue.
The Depositary is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New
York Banking Law, a "banking organization" within the meaning of the New
York Banking Law, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a "clearing
corporation" within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code,
and a "clearing agency" registered pursuant to the provisions of Section
17A of the Exchange Act. The Depositary holds securities that its
participants ("Participants") deposit with the Depositary. The Depositary
also facilitates the settlement among Participants of securities
transactions, such as transfers and pledges, in deposited securities
through electronic computerized book-entry changes in Participants'
accounts, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of securities
certificates. Direct Participants of the Depositary ("Direct Participants")
include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing
corporations and certain other organizations (including the Underwriters
and the Trustee). The Depositary is owned by a number of its Direct
Participants and by the New York Stock Exchange, Inc., the American Stock
Exchange, Inc., and the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
Access to the Depositary's system is also available to others such as
securities brokers and dealers, banks and trust companies that clear
through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Direct Participant,
either directly or indirectly ("Indirect Participants"). The rules
applicable to the Depositary and its Participants are on file with the
Securities and Exchange Commission.
Purchases of Book-Entry Notes under the Depositary's system must be made
by or through Direct Participants, which will receive a credit for such
Book-Entry Notes on the Depositary's records. The ownership interest of
each actual purchaser of each Book-Entry Note represented by a Global Note
("Beneficial Owner") is in turn to be recorded on the Direct and Indirect
Participants' records. Beneficial Owners will not receive written
confirmation from the Depositary of their purchase, but Beneficial Owners
are expected to receive written confirmations providing details of the
transaction, as well as periodic statements of their holdings, from the
Direct or Indirect Participants through which such Beneficial Owner entered
into the transaction. Transfers of ownership interests in a Global Note
representing Book-Entry Notes are to be accomplished by entries made on the
books of Participants acting on behalf of Beneficial Owners. Beneficial
Owners of a Global Note representing Book-Entry Notes will not receive
Certificated Notes representing their ownership interests therein, except
in the event that use of the book-entry system for such Book-Entry Notes is
discontinued.
S-3
<PAGE>
To facilitate subsequent transfers, all Global Notes representing Book-
Entry Notes which are deposited with, or on behalf of, the Depositary are
registered in the name of the Depositary's nominee, Cede & Co. The deposit
of Global Notes with, or on behalf of, the Depositary and their
registration in the name of Cede & Co. effect no change in beneficial
ownership. The Depositary has no knowledge of the actual Beneficial Owners
of the Global Notes representing the Book-Entry Notes; the Depositary's
records reflect only the identity of the Direct Participants to whose
accounts such Book-Entry Notes are credited, which may or may not be the
Beneficial Owners. The Participants will remain responsible for keeping
account of their holdings on behalf of their customers.
Conveyance of notices and other communications by the Depositary to
Direct Participants, by Direct Participants to Indirect Participants, and
by Direct and Indirect Participants to Beneficial Owners will be governed
by arrangements among them, subject to any statutory or regulatory
requirements as may be in effect from time to time.
Neither the Depositary nor Cede & Co. will consent or vote with respect
to the Global Notes representing the Book-Entry Notes. Under its usual
procedures, the Depositary mails an Omnibus Proxy to the Company as soon as
possible after the applicable record date. The Omnibus Proxy assigns Cede &
Co.'s consenting or voting rights to those Direct Participants to whose
accounts the Book-Entry Notes are credited on the applicable record date
(identified in a listing attached to the Omnibus Proxy).
Principal, premium, if any, and/or interest payments on the Global Notes
representing the Book-Entry Notes will be made to the Depositary. The
Depositary's practice is to credit Direct Participants' accounts on the
applicable payment date in accordance with their respective holdings shown
on the Depositary's records unless the Depositary has reason to believe
that it will not receive payment on such date. Payments by Participants to
Beneficial Owners will be governed by standing instructions and customary
practices, as is the case with securities held for the accounts of
customers in bearer form or registered in "street name", and will be the
responsibility of such Participant and not of the Depositary, the Trustee
or the Company, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may
be in effect from time to time. Payment of principal, premium, if any,
and/or interest to the Depositary is the responsibility of the Company or
the Trustee, disbursement of such payments to Direct Participants shall be
the responsibility of the Depositary, and disbursement of such payments to
the Beneficial Owners shall be the responsibility of Direct and Indirect
Participants.
If applicable, redemption notices shall be sent to Cede & Co. If less
than all of the Book-Entry Notes within an issue are being redeemed, the
Depositary's practice is to determine by lot the amount of the interest of
each Direct Participant in such issue to be redeemed.
A Beneficial Owner shall give notice of any option to elect to have its
Book-Entry Notes repaid by the Company by causing the Direct Participant to
transfer the Participant's interest in the Global Note or Notes
representing such Book-Entry Notes, on the Depositary's records, to the
Trustee. The requirement for physical delivery of Book-Entry Notes in
connection with a demand for repayment will be deemed satisfied when the
ownership rights in the Global Note or Notes representing such Book-Entry
Notes are transferred by Direct Participants on the Depositary's records.
The Depositary may discontinue providing its services as securities
depository with respect to the Book-Entry Notes at any time by giving
reasonable notice to the Company or the Trustee. Under such circumstances,
in the event that a successor securities depository is not obtained,
Certificated Notes are required to be printed and delivered.
The Company may decide to discontinue use of the system of book-entry
transfers through the Depositary (or a successor securities depository). In
that event, Certificated Notes will be printed and delivered.
S-4
<PAGE>
The information in this section concerning the Depositary and the
Depositary's system has been obtained from sources that the Company believes
to be reliable, but the Company takes no responsibility for its accuracy.
SAME-DAY SETTLEMENT AND PAYMENT
Settlement for the Notes will be made by the Underwriters in immediately
available funds. All payments of principal and interest on the Notes will be
made by the Company in immediately available funds.
USE OF PROCEEDS
The Company intends to use the net proceeds of $247,595,000 from the sale of
the Notes to reduce outstanding short-term debt and for other general
corporate purposes. Pending such applications, the net proceeds may be
invested in cash equivalents. As of September 30, 1996, the Company's
outstanding short-term debt had a weighted average interest rate of 5.62%,
with maturities ranging from one day to three months.
UNDERWRITING
Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Underwriting Agreement
dated November 18, 1996 and a related Terms Agreement dated November 18, 1996
(together, the "Underwriting Agreement"), among the Company and Salomon
Brothers Inc, BA Securities, Inc., Citicorp Securities, Inc., NationsBanc
Capital Markets, Inc., Smith Barney Inc. and UBS Securities LLC (the
"Underwriters"), the Company has agreed to sell to the Underwriters, and the
Underwriters have severally agreed to purchase from the Company, the
respective principal amounts of Notes set forth opposite their names below.
The Underwriting Agreement provides that the obligations of the Underwriters
are subject to certain conditions precedent and that the Underwriters will be
obligated to purchase all of the Notes if any are purchased.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PRINCIPAL
NAME AMOUNT
---- ------------
<S> <C>
Salomon Brothers Inc........................................ $ 41,750,000
BA Securities, Inc.......................................... $ 41,650,000
Citicorp Securities, Inc.................................... $ 41,650,000
NationsBanc Capital Markets, Inc............................ $ 41,650,000
Smith Barney Inc............................................ $ 41,650,000
UBS Securities LLC.......................................... $ 41,650,000
------------
Total.................................................. $250,000,000
============
</TABLE>
The Underwriters have advised the Company that they initially propose to
offer the Notes to the public at the public offering price set forth on the
cover page of this Prospectus Supplement and to certain dealers at such price
less a concession not in excess of .350% of the principal amount of the Notes.
The Underwriters may allow, and such dealers may reallow, a discount not in
excess of .250% of the principal amount of the Notes to certain other dealers.
After the initial public offering, the public offering price, concession and
discount may be changed.
All secondary trading in the Notes will settle in immediately available
funds. See "Description of the Notes--Same-Day Settlement and Payment."
The Notes are a new issue of securities with no established trading market.
The Company has been advised by the Underwriters that they intend to make a
market in the Notes, but are not obligated
S-5
<PAGE>
to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. No
assurance can be given as to whether a trading market for the Notes will
develop.
The Underwriting Agreement provides that the Company will indemnify the
several Underwriters against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or contribute to payments the
Underwriters may be required to make in respect thereof.
The Underwriters and their affiliates may engage in transactions with, or
perform services for, the Company, including investment and commercial banking
transactions and services, in the ordinary course of business.
S-6
<PAGE>
PROSPECTUS
$950,000,000
LOGO
DEBT SECURITIES
Comdisco, Inc. (the "Company") may issue from time to time, together or
separately its debt securities (the "Debt Securities"), which may be either
senior ("Senior Debt Securities") or subordinated in priority of payment
("Subordinated Debt Securities"). The Company may also issue Debt Securities
which may be convertible into or exchangeable for shares of common stock, par
value $0.10, of the Company (the "Common Stock"). The Company may also issue
Subordinated Debt Securities at a substantial discount from their principal
amount at maturity, with no periodic payments of interest, which will be
convertible into or exchangeable for shares of Common Stock, in amounts, at
prices and on terms to be determined by market conditions at the time of
offering ("Zero-Coupon Subordinated Convertible Securities").
The Debt Securities may be issued in one or more series or issuances and will
be limited to $950,000,000 in aggregate public offering price (or its
equivalent, based on the applicable exchange rate, to the extent Debt
Securities are issued for one or more foreign currencies or currency units).
The Debt Securities may be sold for U.S. dollars, or any foreign currency or
currencies or currency units, and the principal of, any premium on, and any
interest on, the Debt Securities may be payable in U.S. dollars, or any foreign
currency or currencies or currency units.
The specific terms of the Debt Securities in respect of which this Prospectus
is being delivered are set forth in the accompanying Prospectus Supplement,
including, where applicable, the specific designation, ranking, priority,
aggregate principal amount, currency or currencies, denominations, maturity,
which may be fixed or extendible, premium or discount, if any, interest rate
(or method of calculation), which may be fixed or floating, and time of payment
of interest, form (which may be bearer, registered or global), terms for
redemption at the option of the Company or repayment at the option of the
holder, terms for sinking fund payments, terms for conversion into or exchange
for shares of Common Stock and any other terms in connection with the offers
and sale of Debt Securities. Additionally, the Prospectus Supplement relating
to an issuance of Subordinated Debt Securities or Zero-Coupon Subordinated
Convertible Securities will identify the indenture pursuant to which such Debt
Securities will be offered and the trustee under such indenture, and will
provide a summary of the provisions of such indenture which are materially
different than the descriptions contained in this Prospectus. The applicable
Prospectus Supplement will also contain information, where applicable, about
certain United States federal income tax considerations relating to the Debt
Securities and any listing on a securities exchange of the Debt Securities
covered by such Prospectus Supplement and about relationships between the
Company and the applicable trustee.
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 OR ANY PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT. ANY
REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
The Debt Securities may be offered directly, through agents designated from
time to time, through underwriting syndicates led by one or more managing
underwriters, through or to one or more dealers or underwriters acting alone,
or through a combination of the foregoing. If any agents, dealers or
underwriters are involved in the sale of any of the Debt Securities, their
names, and any applicable fee, commission, purchase price or discount
arrangements with them, will be set forth, or will be calculable from the
information set forth, in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. See "Plan of
Distribution."
The date of this Prospectus is November 18, 1996.
<PAGE>
AVAILABLE INFORMATION
The Company is subject to the information requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and, in accordance
therewith, files reports and other information with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "Commission"). Reports, proxy statements and other
information filed by the Company can be inspected and copied at the public
reference facilities maintained by the Commission at 450 Fifth Street, N.W.,
Room 1024, Washington, D.C. 20549, and at the Commission's Regional Offices
located at 7 World Trade Center, New York, New York 10048 and 500 West Madison
Street, Suite 1400, Chicago, Illinois 60661. Copies of such material can be
obtained by mail from the Public Reference Branch of the Commission at 450
Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, at prescribed rates. In addition,
reports, proxy statements and other information concerning the Company may be
inspected at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange, 20 Broad Street, 7th
floor, New York, New York 10005 and the Chicago Stock Exchange, 440 South
LaSalle Street, Chicago, Illinois 60605. The Commission maintains a Web site,
which contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information
regarding registrants that, like the Company, file electronically with the
Commission, at the following address: http://www.sec.gov.
Additional information regarding the Company and the Debt Securities is
contained in the registration statement on Form S-3 (together with all
exhibits and amendments, the "Registration Statement") filed with the
Commission (File No. 333-15401) 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 Commission's rules. For further information
pertaining to the Company and the Debt Securities offered hereby reference is
made to the Registration Statement which may be inspected without charge at
the office of the Commission at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C.
20549, and copies thereof may be obtained from the Commission at prescribed
rates.
Statements made in this Prospectus concerning the provisions of any
contract, agreement or other document referred to herein are not necessarily
complete. With respect to each such statement concerning a contract, agreement
or other document filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement or
otherwise filed with the Commission, reference is made to such exhibit or
other filing for a more complete description of the matter involved, and each
such statement is qualified in its entirety by such reference.
----------------
Unless otherwise indicated, currency amounts in this Prospectus and any
Prospectus Supplement are stated in United States dollars ("$", "dollars,"
"U.S. dollars," or "U.S.$").
----------------
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
The following documents filed with the Commission (File No. 1-7725) are
incorporated herein by reference.
1. The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
September 30, 1995.
2. The Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated January 8, 1996 and
filed with the Commission on January 10, 1996.
3. The Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated January 12, 1996 and
filed with the Commission on January 17, 1996.
4. The Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q dated December 31, 1995
and filed with the Commission on February 8, 1996.
5. The Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated February 7, 1996 and
filed with the Commission on February 16, 1996.
2
<PAGE>
6. The Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q dated March 31, 1996 and
filed with the Commission on May 15, 1996.
7. The Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q dated June 30, 1996 and
filed with the Commission on July 30, 1996, as amended by Form 10-Q/A dated
August 15, 1996 and filed with the Commission on August 16, 1996.
8. The Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated November 15, 1996 and
filed with the Commission on November 15, 1996.
9. The description of the Common Stock included in the registration
statement filed under the Exchange Act under File No. 1-7725, including all
amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description.
10. The description of the Company's Common Stock Purchase Rights
included in the Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed November 20, 1987,
as amended by Form 8-A/A filed December 6, 1994.
All documents filed by the Company pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or
15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date of this Prospectus and prior
to the termination of the offering of the Debt Securities 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 a 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 so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of
this Prospectus.
The Company will provide without charge to each person to whom this
Prospectus is delivered, upon the written or oral request of such person,
including any beneficial owner, a copy of any or all of the documents
incorporated herein by reference (other than exhibits, unless such exhibits are
specifically incorporated by reference in such documents). Written requests for
such copies should be directed to Edward A. Pacewicz, Vice President and
Treasurer, Comdisco, Inc., 6111 North River Road, Rosemont, Illinois 60018;
telephone (847) 698-3000.
THE COMPANY
Comdisco, Inc. (with its subsidiaries, the "Company" or "Comdisco") is
primarily engaged in the buying, selling and leasing of new and used computer
and other high technology equipment and in providing business continuity
services. In addition, the Company provides technology planning and asset
management services, integrating leasing and business continuity services with
customized asset acquisition, asset management software tools and data center
moves and/or consolidations, disposition and migration strategies. These
services are designed to provide integrated, long-term, cost effective asset
and technological planning to users of high technology equipment.
The Company's operations are conducted through its principal office in the
Chicago area and approximately fifty offices in the United States, Canada,
Europe and the Pacific Rim. The Company also operates in South America;
however, it does not maintain local offices. Subsidiaries in Europe and Canada
offer services similar to those offered in the United States, although the
Company's European leasing operations are predominately in the computer
marketplace. The Company's business continuity activities include the domestic,
Canadian and European marketplaces.
The Company was founded in 1969 and incorporated in Delaware in 1971. The
executive offices of the Company are located in the Chicago area at 6111 North
River Road, Rosemont, Illinois 60018, and its telephone number is (847) 698-
3000. At June 30, 1996, the Company had 2,238 full-time employees.
3
<PAGE>
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
The following table sets forth the ratio of earnings to fixed charges for
the Company for the periods indicated.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FISCAL YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30,
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1996 1995 1994 1993 1992
---- ---- ---- ---- ----
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
1.64 1.55 1.29 1.43 1.09
</TABLE>
For purposes of calculating the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, earnings
have been calculated by adding fixed charges and income taxes to net earnings
to common stockholders without taking into account earnings and losses
attributed to discontinued operations and extraordinary items. Fixed charges
consist of interest expense on all indebtedness, amortization of debt issuance
costs, and one-third of rental expense, which is assumed to be the
representative interest portion of rental expense.
USE OF PROCEEDS
Unless otherwise stated in the accompanying Prospectus Supplement, the
Company intends to use the net proceeds from the sale of the Debt Securities
for general corporate purposes, including equipment purchases, repayment of
short-term debt and redemption or repurchase of senior debt. Pending such
applications, the net proceeds may be temporarily invested in cash
equivalents. Management of the Company expects that it will, on a recurrent
basis, engage in additional financings as the need arises to finance the
growth of the Company or to lengthen the average maturity of its borrowings.
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
GENERAL
The following description of the terms of the Debt Securities sets forth
certain general terms and provisions of the Debt Securities to which any
Prospectus Supplement may relate. The particular terms of the Debt Securities
offered by any Prospectus Supplement and the extent, if any, to which such
general provisions may apply to such Debt Securities will be described in such
Prospectus Supplement.
The Senior Debt Securities are to be issued under an Indenture, as amended
from time to time (the "Senior Indenture") dated as of December 1, 1995,
between the Company and Yasuda Bank and Trust Company (U.S.A.) as trustee, or
the trustee named in the applicable Prospectus Supplement as trustee (the
"Senior Trustee"). The Senior Indenture is an exhibit to the Registration
Statement. Subordinated Debt Securities (other than Zero-Coupon Convertible
Subordinated Securities) will be issued under an indenture or indentures, as
amended from time to time (collectively, the "Subordinated Indenture") between
the Company and the trustee or trustees named in the applicable Prospectus
Supplement (collectively, the "Subordinated Trustee"). Zero-Coupon Convertible
Subordinated Securities will be issued under an indenture or indentures, as
amended from time to time (collectively, the "Zero-Coupon Convertibles
Indenture") between the Company and the trustee named in the applicable
Prospectus Supplement as trustee (collectively, the "Zero-Coupon Convertibles
Trustee"). Prior to the issuance of any Subordinated Debt Securities or Zero-
Coupon Convertible Subordinated Securities thereunder, the forms of
Subordinated Indenture and Zero-Coupon Convertibles Indenture, as applicable,
will be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the
"Trust Indenture Act"), and filed by amendment as exhibits to the Registration
Statement. The Senior Indenture, Subordinated Indenture and Zero-Coupon
Convertibles Indenture are collectively referred to as the "Indentures."
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The terms of the Debt Securities include those stated, and to be stated, in
the Indentures and those made a part of the Indentures by reference to the
Trust Indenture Act, and the holders of Debt Securities are referred to the
Indentures and the Trust Indenture Act for a statement thereof. The following
summary of certain provisions of the Debt Securities and the Indentures does
not purport to be complete and is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety
by reference to, the Indentures and the Trust Indenture Act. The term "Debt
Securities," as used under this caption, refers to all Securities issued or
issuable from time to time under the Indentures. The particular terms of the
Debt Securities offered by a Prospectus Supplement and the extent, if any, to
which such general provisions may apply to Debt Securities, will be described
in the Prospectus Supplement relating to such Debt Securities.
Wherever particular defined terms of the Indentures are referred to, it is
intended that such defined terms shall be incorporated herein by reference.
Unless otherwise indicated herein, capitalized terms used herein that are
defined in the Indentures shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the
Indentures.
Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, none of
the Indentures limits the amount of Debt Securities which may be issued
thereunder, and each Indenture provides that Debt Securities of any series may
be issued thereunder up to the aggregate principal amount which may be
authorized from time to time by the Company and may be denominated in any
currency or currency unit designated by the Company. Unless otherwise provided
in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, neither the Indentures nor the Debt
Securities will limit or otherwise restrict the amount of other indebtedness
which may be incurred or the other securities which may be issued by the
Company or any of its subsidiaries.
Debt Securities of a series may be issuable in registered form without
coupons ("Registered Securities"), in bearer form with or without coupons
attached ("Bearer Securities") or in the form of one or more global securities
in registered or bearer form (each a "Global Security").
Reference is made to the Prospectus Supplement relating to the particular
series of Debt Securities offered thereby for the following terms, when
applicable, of the Debt Securities: (i) the title of the Debt Securities; (ii)
any limit on the aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities; (iii) the
date or dates, or the method by which such date or dates will be determined or
extended, on which the principal (and premium, if any) of the Debt Securities
will be payable; (iv) the rate or rates per annum at which the Debt Securities
will bear interest, if any, or the method by which such rate or rates will be
determined and the date or dates from which such interest will accrue; (v) the
dates on which such interest, if any, will be payable and the Regular Record
Dates for any interest payable on any Registered Security on any such Interest
Payment Dates, any circumstances in which the Company may defer interest
payments or any manner of computing interest if other than a 360-day year of
twelve 30-day months; (vi) the place or places where principal and interest
(and premium, if any) on the Debt Securities may be payable, where any
Registered Securities may be surrendered for transfer and where Debt Securities
may be exchanged and notices and demands may be served or published, (vii) the
price at which, the periods within which or the date or dates on which, and the
terms and conditions upon which the Debt Securities may, pursuant to any
optional or mandatory redemption provisions, be redeemed at the option of the
Company; (viii) the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem, repay or
purchase Debt Securities pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions
or at the option of a Holder thereof and the period or periods, price or prices
and terms and conditions upon which such repurchase, redemption or purchase
shall occur; (ix) whether Debt Securities are to be Registered Securities,
Bearer Securities or both, are to be issuable with or without coupons and the
terms upon which Bearer Securities may be exchanged for Registered Securities
and in the case of Bearer Securities, the date as of which such Bearer
Securities shall be dated (if not the date of original issuance of the first
security of like tenor and term); (x) whether Debt Securities are to be issued
in the form of a Global Security, the Depositary and Global Exchange Agent,
whether such global form is temporary or permanent, the circumstances under
which any temporary Global Security will be exchanged for definitive Global
Securities and any applicable Exchange Date; (xi) whether any additional
amounts ("Additional Amounts") will be payable to Holders of the Debt
Securities; (xii) the denomination of any Registered Security (if other than
$1,000 or any integral multiple thereof) and of
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any Bearer Security (if other than $5,000 or any integral multiple thereof);
(xiii) if other than Dollars, the currency or currencies of denomination,
including any composite currency or index; (xiv) the application, if any, of
the defeasance or covenant defeasance provisions of the applicable Indenture to
the Debt Securities; (xv) if other than Dollars, the currency, currencies or
currency units in which payments shall be made on the Debt Securities and the
time and manner of determining any exchange rate between the currency or
Currencies of denomination and that or those in which they are to be paid;
(xvi) the manner in which any payments on an offered Security may be determined
with respect to an index; (xvii) the designation of any initial Exchange Rate
Agent; (xviii) the terms and conditions, if any, upon which the Debt Securities
are to be convertible into or exchangeable for any securities of any Person
(including the Company); (xix) the portion of the principal amount of the Debt
Securities, if other than the principal amount thereof, payable upon
acceleration of maturity thereof; (xx) the Person to whom any interest on any
Registered Security shall be payable, if other than the Person in whose name
such Registered Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered
at the close of business on the Regular Record Date, the manner in which, or
Person to whom, any interest on any Bearer Security will be payable, if other
than upon presentation and surrender of the coupons appertaining thereto as
they mature, and the extent to which any interest payable on an Interest
Payment Date on any temporary Security issued in Global form will be paid if
other than the manner in the applicable Indenture; (xxi) the terms of any
pledge of property made to secure the obligations of the Company under such
Debt Securities and the circumstances under which such pledge may be released,
and the limitations, if any, on recourse against the Company under such Debt
Securities; (xxii) if other than the Trustee, the identity of the Security
Registrar and/or Paying Agent; (xxiii) if other than the principal amount
thereof, the portion of the principal amount of the Debt Securities which will
be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to
an Event of Default; (xxiv) if other than as defined in the Indenture, the
meaning of "Business Day" when used with respect to the Debt Securities; and
(xxv) any other terms of the Debt Securities not inconsistent with the
provisions of the applicable Indenture. The variable terms of the Debt
Securities are subject to change from time to time, but no such change will
affect any Debt Security already issued or as to which an offer to purchase has
been accepted by the Company. For purposes of this Prospectus, any reference to
the payment of principal (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on any Debt
Securities will be deemed to include mention of the payment of any Additional
Amounts required by the terms of such Debt Securities.
Special United States Federal income tax considerations or other restrictions
or terms applicable to any Debt Securities which are (i) Bearer Securities,
(ii) offered exclusively to United States Aliens (as defined in the Indenture)
or (iii) denominated in a currency other than United States dollars will be set
forth in a Prospectus Supplement relating thereto.
Under the Indentures, the Company will have the ability to issue Debt
Securities with terms different from those of Debt Securities previously issued
thereunder and, without the consent of the holders thereof, to issue additional
amounts of a series of Debt Securities (with different dates for payments,
different rates of interest and in different currencies or currency), in an
aggregate principal amount determined by the Company.
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the
Indentures do not, and will not, include covenants of the Company restricting
its ability to incur additional debt.
Principal and interest, premium and additional amounts, if any, will be
payable in the manner, at the places and subject to the restriction set forth
in the Indentures, the Debt Securities and the Prospectus Supplement relating
thereto, provided that payment of any interest and any additional amounts may
be made at the option of the Company by check mailed to the holders of
registered Debt Securities at their registered addresses.
Debt Securities may be presented for exchange, and registered Debt Securities
may be presented for transfer in the manner, at the places and subject to the
restrictions set forth in the applicable Indentures, the Debt Securities and
the Prospectus Supplement relating thereto. Bearer Securities and the coupons,
if any, pertaining thereto will be transferable by delivery. Unless otherwise
specified in
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the applicable Prospectus Supplement, no service charge will be made for any
transfer or exchange of Debt Securities, but the Company may require payment of
a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in
connection therewith.
DENOMINATIONS, FORM, EXCHANGE, REGISTRATION AND TRANSFER
Debt Securities of a series may be issuable solely as Registered Securities,
solely as Bearer Securities or as both Registered Securities and Bearer
Securities. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Prospectus Supplement,
Registered Securities denominated in U.S. dollars (other than Global
Securities, which may be of any denomination) are issuable in denominations of
$1,000 and any integral multiple thereof and Bearer Securities denominated in
U.S. dollars are issuable in denominations of $5,000 and any integral multiples
thereof. The Indentures will also provide that Debt Securities of a series may
be issuable in global form. See "Description of Debt Securities--Global
Securities" below. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Prospectus
Supplement, Bearer Securities (except Global Securities) will have interest
coupons attached.
Registered Securities of any series will be exchangeable for other Registered
Securities of the same series of authorized denominations and of a like
aggregate principal amount, tenor and terms. In addition, if Debt Securities of
any series are issuable as both Registered Securities and Bearer Securities, at
the option of the Holder, but subject to applicable laws, upon request
confirmed in writing, and subject to the terms of the applicable Indenture,
Bearer Securities (with all unmatured coupons, except as provided below, and
all matured coupons in default) of such series will be exchangeable into
Registered Securities of the same series of any authorized denominations and of
a like aggregate principal amount, tenor and terms. Bearer Securities
surrendered in exchange for Registered Securities of the same series between
the close of business on a Regular Record Date or a Special Record Date and the
relevant date for payment of interest shall be surrendered without the coupon
relating to such date for payment of interest, and interest will not be payable
in respect of the Registered Security issued in exchange for such Bearer
Security, but will be payable only to the Holder of such coupon when due in
accordance with the terms of the applicable Indenture. Unless otherwise
specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, Bearer Securities will not
otherwise be issued in exchange for Registered Securities.
Debt Securities may be presented for exchange as provided above, and
Registered Securities may be presented for registration of transfer (duly
endorsed or accompanied by a satisfactory written instrument of transfer), at
the office of the Security Registrar or at the office of any transfer agent
designated by the Company for such purpose with respect to such series of Debt
Securities, without service charge and upon payment of any taxes and other
governmental charges. If the Prospectus Supplement refers to any transfer agent
(in addition to the Security Registrar) initially designated by the Company
with respect to any series of Debt Securities, the Company may at any time
rescind the designation of any such transfer agent or approve a change in the
location through which any such transfer agent (or Security Registrar) acts,
except that, if Debt Securities of a series are issuable solely as Registered
Securities, the Company will be required to maintain a transfer agent in each
Place of Payment for such series and, if Debt Securities of a series are
issuable as Bearer Securities, the Company will be required to maintain (in
addition to the Security Registrar) a transfer agent in a Place of Payment for
such series located outside the United States. The Company may at any time
designate additional transfer agents with respect to any series of Debt
Securities.
The Company shall not be required (i) to issue, register the transfer of or
exchange Debt Securities of any particular series to be redeemed or exchanged
for a period of 15 days preceding the first publication of the relevant notice
of redemption or, if Registered Securities are outstanding and there is no
publication, the mailing of the relevant notice of redemption or exchange, (ii)
to register the transfer of or exchange any Registered Security so selected for
redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Registered
Security being redeemed or exchanged in part, or (iii) to exchange any Bearer
Security so selected for redemption except that such a Bearer Security may be
exchanged for a Registered Security of like tenor and terms of that series,
provided that such Registered Security shall be surrendered for redemption.
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GLOBAL SECURITIES
The Debt Securities of a series may be issued in whole or in part in the form
of one or more Global Securities that will be deposited with, or on behalf of,
a depository (the "Depository") identified in the Prospectus Supplement
relating to such series. Global Securities may be issued in fully registered or
bearer form and may be issued in either temporary or permanent form. Unless and
until it is exchanged in whole or in part for the individual Debt Securities
represented thereby, a Global Security may not be transferred except as a whole
by the Depository for such Global Security to a nominee of such Depository or
by a nominee of such Depository to such Depository or another nominee of such
Depository or by the Depository or any nominee of such Depository to a
successor Depository or any nominee of such successor.
The specific terms of the depository arrangement with respect to a series of
Debt Securities will be described in the applicable Prospectus Supplement
relating to such series. The Company anticipates that the following provisions
will generally apply to depository arrangements.
Upon the issuance of a Global Security, the Depository for such Global
Security or its nominee will credit on its book-entry registration and transfer
system the respective principal amounts of the individual Debt Securities
represented by such Global Security to the accounts of persons that have
accounts with such Depository ("Participants"). Such accounts shall be
designated by the underwriters, dealers or agents with respect to such Debt
Securities or by the Company if such Debt Securities are offered and sold
directly by the Company. Ownership of beneficial interests in a Global Security
will be limited to Participants or persons that may hold interests through
Participants. Ownership of beneficial interests in such Global Security will be
shown on, and the transfer of that ownership will be effected only through,
records maintained by the applicable Depository or its nominee (with respect to
interests of Participants) and records of Participants (with respect to
interests of persons who hold through Participants). The laws of some states
require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of such
securities in definitive form. Such limits and such laws may impair the ability
to own, pledge or transfer a beneficial interest in a Global Security.
So long as the Depository for a Global Security or its nominee is the
registered owner of such Global Security, such Depository or such nominee, as
the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the Debt
Securities represented by such Global Security for all purposes under the
applicable Indenture. Except as provided below, owners of beneficial interests
in a Global Security will not be entitled to have any of the individual Debt
Securities of the series represented by such Global Security registered in
their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of
any such Debt Securities of such series in definitive form and will not be
considered the owners or holders thereof under the applicable Indenture.
Payments of principal of and any interest (and premium, if any) on individual
Debt Securities represented by a Global Security registered in the name of a
Depository or its nominee will be made to the Depository or its nominee, as the
case may be, as the registered owner of the Global Security representing such
Debt Securities. None of the Company, the Trustee, any Paying Agent or the
Security Registrar for such Debt Securities 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 Security for such Debt
Securities or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to
such beneficial ownership interest.
The Company expects that the Depository for a series of Debt Securities or
its nominee, upon receipt of any payment of principal or interest (or premium,
if any) in respect of a permanent Global Security representing any of such Debt
Securities, immediately will credit Participants' accounts with payments in
amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interest in the principal
amount of such Global Security representing such Debt Securities as shown on
the records of such Depository or its nominee. The Company also expects that
payments by Participants to owners of beneficial interests in such Global
Security held through such Participants will be governed by standing
instructions and customary practices, as is now the case with securities held
for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in "street name."
Such payments will be the responsibility of such Participants.
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If a Depository for a series of Debt Securities is at any time unwilling,
unable or ineligible to continue as depository and a successor depository is
not appointed by the Company within 90 days, the Company will issue definitive
Debt Securities of such series to Participants in exchange for the Global
Security representing such series of Debt Securities. In addition, the Company
may, at any time and in its sole discretion, subject to any limitations
described in the applicable Prospectus Supplement relating to such Debt
Securities, determine not to have any Debt Securities of such series
represented by one or more Global Securities and, in such event, will issue
individual Debt Securities of such series to Participants in exchange for the
Global Security or Securities representing such series of Debt Securities.
ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT SECURITIES
The Debt Securities may be issued under the Indentures as Original Issue
Discount Securities to be offered and sold at a substantial discount below
their principal amount. Special United States federal income tax, accounting
and other considerations applicable to any such Original Issue Discount
Securities will be described in any Prospectus Supplement relating thereto.
"Original Issue Discount Security" means any security that provides for an
amount less than the principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon a
declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof as a result of the
occurrence of an Event of Default and the continuation thereof. In addition,
the Subordinated Debt Securities may, for United States federal income tax
purposes, be deemed to have been issued with "Original Issue Discount" ("OID")
even if such securities are offered and sold at an amount equal to their stated
principal amount. The United States federal income tax consequences of
Subordinated Debt Securities deemed to be issued with OID will be described in
any Prospectus Supplement relating thereto.
LIMITATIONS ON ISSUANCE OF BEARER SECURITIES
In compliance with United States federal tax laws and regulations, Bearer
Securities may not be offered, sold, resold or delivered in connection with
their original issuance in the United States or to United States persons (each
as defined below) other than to a Qualifying Branch of a United States
Financial Institution (as defined below) or a United States person acquiring
Bearer Securities through a Qualifying Branch of a United States Financial
Institution and any underwriters, agents and dealers participating in the
offering of Debt Securities must agree that they will not offer any Bearer
Securities for sale or resale in the United States or to United States persons
(other than a Qualifying Branch of a United States Financial Institution or a
United States person acquiring Bearer Securities through a Qualifying Branch of
a United States Financial Institution) nor deliver Bearer Securities within the
United States. In addition, any such underwriters, agents and dealers must
agree to send confirmations to each purchaser of a Bearer Security confirming
that such purchaser represents that it is not a United States person or is a
Qualifying Branch of a United States Financial Institution and, if such person
is a dealer, that it will send similar confirmations to purchasers form it. The
term "Qualifying Branch of a United States Financial Institution" means a
branch located outside the United States of a United States securities clearing
organization, bank or other financial institution listed under Treasury
Regulation Section 1.165(c)(1)(v) that agrees to comply with the requirements
of Section 165(j)(3)(A), (B) or (C) of the Code and the regulations thereunder.
Bearer Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto will bear a legend
substantially to the following effect: "Any United States person who holds this
obligation will be subject to limitations under the United States income tax
laws, including the limitations provided in Sections 165(j) and 1287(a) of the
Internal Revenue Code." Under Sections 165(j) and 1287(a) of the Code, holders
that are United States persons, with certain exceptions, will not be entitled
to deduct any loss on Bearer Securities and must treat as ordinary income any
gain realized on the sale or other disposition (including the receipt of
principal) of Bearer Securities.
The term "United States person" means a citizen or resident of the United
States, a corporation, partnership or other entity created or organized in or
under the laws of the United States or of any political
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subdivision thereof, and an estate or trust the income of which is subject to
United States federal income taxation regardless of its source, and the term
"United States" means the United State of America (including the states and the
District of Columbia), its territories, its possessions and other areas subject
to its jurisdiction (including the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico).
PAYMENT AND PAYING AGENTS
Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the Place
of Payment for a series issuable solely as Registered Securities will be New
York, New York, U.S.A., and the Company will initially designate the corporate
trust office of the applicable Trustee for this purpose. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, at the option of the Company, interest, if any, may be paid on
Registered Securities (i) by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled
thereto as such Person's address appears in the Security Register or (ii) by
wire transfer to an account located in the United States maintained by the
Person entitled thereto as specified in the Security Register. Unless otherwise
provided in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, payment of any installment of
interest on Registered Securities will be made to the Person in whose name such
Registered Security is registered at the close of business on the Regular
Record Date of such interest.
If Debt Securities of a series are issuable solely as Bearer Securities or as
both Registered Securities and Bearer Securities, information relating to the
place and manner of payment, and the identity of the Company's Paying Agents,
will be specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement.
The Company may from time to time designate additional offices or agencies
for payment with respect to any Debt Securities, approve a change in the
location of any such office or agency and, except as provided above, rescind
the designation of any such office or agency.
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER OR SALE OF ASSETS BY THE COMPANY
Except as is otherwise specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement,
each Indenture provides, or will provide, that the Company may, without the
consent of the Holders of Outstanding Debt Securities, consolidate with or
merge into any other person or convey, transfer or lease its properties and
assets substantially as an entirety to another person, provided that, (i) the
resulting, surviving or transferee person (if other than the Company) is
organized and existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof
or the District of Columbia and such person assumes all obligations of the
Company under any Debt Securities and related Indenture, (ii) the Company or
such successor person shall not immediately thereafter be in default under the
Indenture relating to any Debt Securities and (iii) certain other conditions
under the applicable Indenture are met. Upon the assumption of the Company's
obligations by such a person in such circumstances, subject to certain
exceptions, the Company shall be discharged from all obligations under any Debt
Securities and the Indenture relating to any Debt Securities.
MODIFICATION OF THE INDENTURE; WAIVER OF COVENANTS
Each Indenture provides, or will provide, that, with the consent of the
holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
outstanding Debt Securities of each affected series, modifications and
alterations of such Indenture may be made which affect the rights of the
holders of such Debt Securities and that at least a majority in principal
amount of Debt Securities of each affected series may, with respect to such
Debt Securities, waive past defaults under such Indenture or compliance by the
Company with certain provisions of such Indenture; provided however, that no
such modification or alteration may be made without the consent of the holder
of each Debt Security so affected which would, among other things, (i) change
the maturity of the principal of, or of any installment of interest (or
premium, if any) on, or any redemption price, with respect to any Debt Security
issued pursuant to such Indenture, or reduce the principal amount thereof or
any premium thereon, or change the place of payment, method of calculation of
interest or the currency of payment of principal or interest (or premium, if
any) on, or reduce the minimum rate of interest thereon, or impair the right to
institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or with respect to
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any such Debt Security, or reduce the amount of principal of an Original Issue
Discount Security that would be due and payable upon an acceleration of the
maturity thereof; or (ii) reduce the percentage in principal amount of
outstanding Debt Securities required to modify or alter such Indenture or
required to waive compliance with certain provisions of, or past defaults
under, such Indenture, or reduce the requirements for quorum or voting provided
by such Indenture.
ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS
Each Indenture provides, or will provide, that, subject to the duty of the
applicable Trustee during default to act with the required standard of care,
the applicable Trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its
rights or powers under such Indenture at the request or direction of any of the
holders, unless such holders shall have offered to the applicable Trustee
reasonable indemnity. Subject to such provisions for the indemnification of the
applicable Trustee and certain other conditions, the holders of a majority in
aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of any series
will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any
proceeding for any remedy available to the applicable Trustee, or exercising
any trust or power conferred on the applicable Trustee with respect to the Debt
Securities of that series.
No holder of any Debt Security of any series will have any right to institute
any proceeding with respect to the applicable Indenture or for any remedy
thereunder, unless: (i) such holder shall have previously given to the
applicable Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect
to Debt Securities of that series; (ii) the holders of not less than 25% in
aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of that series
shall have made written request, and offered reasonable indemnity, to the
applicable Trustee to institute such proceeding as trustee; (iii) the
applicable Trustee shall have failed to institute such proceeding within 60
days after receipt of such written request; and (iv) the applicable Trustee
shall not have received during such 60 day period from the holders of a
majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of that series
a direction inconsistent with such request. However, the holder of any Debt
Security will have an absolute right to receive payment of the principal of
(and premium, if any) and interest on such Debt Security on the due dates
expressed in such Debt Security and to institute suit for the enforcement of
any such payment.
PARTICULAR TERMS OF THE SENIOR DEBT SECURITIES
GENERAL
The following description of the Senior Debt Securities sets forth certain
general terms and provisions of the Senior Debt Securities to which any
Prospectus Supplement may relate. The particular terms of the Senior Debt
Securities offered by any Prospectus Supplement, and the extent, if any, to
which such general provisions may apply to the Senior Debt Securities so
offered, will be described in the Prospectus Supplement relating to such Senior
Debt Securities. The Senior Debt Securities will be direct, unsecured
obligations of the Company and will rank equally with each other and with all
outstanding unsecured senior indebtedness of the Company.
EVENTS OF DEFAULT; WAIVERS, ETC.
Unless otherwise described in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, under the
Senior Indenture, the following will be Events of Default with respect to
Senior Debt Securities of any series under the Senior Indenture: (a) default in
the payment of any interest or Additional Amounts upon any of the Senior Debt
Securities of that series when due, continued for 30 days; (b) default in the
payment of any principal or premium, if any, on any of the Senior Debt
Securities of that series when due, whether at maturity, upon declaration of
acceleration, notice of redemption, request for repayment, or otherwise; (c)
default in the deposit of any sinking fund payment, when due, in respect of any
of the Senior Debt Securities of that series; (d) default in the performance of
any covenant of the Company, contained in the Senior Indenture (other than a
covenant expressly included in the Senior Indenture for the benefit of a series
of Senior Debt Securities other than such series or otherwise expressly dealt
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with in the Senior Indenture or the Senior Debt Securities) continued for 60
days after written notice as provided in the Senior Indenture; (e) default in
the payment when due (subject to any applicable grace period), whether at
stated maturity or otherwise, of any principal of or interest on (however
designated) any indebtedness for borrowed money of, or guaranteed by, the
Company (other than the Senior Debt Securities of any series and other than
non-recourse indebtedness) in an aggregate principal amount exceeding 5% of the
consolidated net worth of the Company and its subsidiaries (determined as of
the most recent fiscal quarter for which a balance sheet is available), whether
such indebtedness now exists or shall hereafter be created, which default shall
result in such indebtedness becoming or being declared due and payable prior to
the date on which it would otherwise become due and payable and the Senior
Trustee receives written notice from a Holder or the Company of such
declaration; provided however, that if any such acceleration shall subsequently
be rescinded or annulled (including through the discharge of the accelerated
indebtedness) prior to the obtaining of any judgment or decree for the payment
of any money due on such indebtedness or the actual payment of money on such
indebtedness, any acceleration with respect to Senior Debt Securities of any
series consequent solely on such other acceleration shall likewise be deemed
rescinded or annulled without further action on the part of any Holders;
provided, further, that for a default other than a default in payment, so long
as the Company is contesting in good faith such event of default and the
Company delivers to the Senior Trustee a certificate that the Company is
contesting in good faith the existence of such event of default, then no Event
of Default shall be deemed to exist under this clause; (f) certain events in
bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization; and (g) any other Event of Default
established with respect to Senior Debt Securities of that series. The Senior
Trustee may withhold notice to the Holders of any series of Debt Securities
issued under the Senior Indenture of any default (except in the payment of
principal, premium, if any, or interest, if any, on any of the Debt Securities
of such series or in the making of any sinking fund installment) if it
considers it in the interest of such Holders to do so. No Event of Default with
respect to a particular series of Senior Debt Securities necessarily
constitutes an Event of Default with respect to any other series of Senior Debt
Securities issued under the Senior Indenture.
If an Event of Default with respect to outstanding Senior Debt Securities of
any series occurs and is continuing, the Senior Trustee or the Holders of not
less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Senior Debt Securities of
that series may declare the principal amount of all outstanding Senior Debt
Securities of that series (or such lesser amount as may be provided for in the
Senior Debt Securities of that series or the Prospectus Supplement relating to
that series) and the interest accrued thereon and Additional Amounts payable in
respect thereof, if any, to be due and payable immediately. At any time after a
declaration of acceleration has been made with respect to Senior Debt
Securities of any series, but before a judgment or decree for payment of money
due has been obtained by the Senior Trustee, the Holders of a majority in
principal amount of the outstanding Senior Debt Securities of that series may
rescind any declaration of acceleration and its consequences, if all payments
due (other than those due as a result of acceleration) have been made and all
Events of Default have been remedied or waived.
Any default with respect to Senior Debt Securities of any series may be
waived by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of all outstanding
Senior Debt Securities of that series, except a default in the payment of
principal or premium, if any, or interest or Additional Amounts, if any, on any
of the Senior Debt Securities of that series or a default in respect of a
covenant or provisions which cannot be modified or amended without the consent
of the Holder of each of the outstanding Senior Debt Securities of such series
affected. Upon any such waiver, such default shall cease to exist and any Event
of Default arising from it shall be deemed to be cured.
The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Senior Debt
Securities of any series may direct the time, method and place of conducting
any proceeding for any remedy available to the Senior Trustee or exercising any
trust or power conferred on the Senior Trustee with respect to Senior Debt
Securities of such series, provided that such direction shall not be in
conflict with any rule of law or the Senior Indenture and the Senior Trustee
determines that the action so directed is not unduly prejudicial to the rights
of other Holders of such series. Before proceeding to exercise any right
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or power under the Indenture at the direction of such Holders, the Senior
Trustee shall be entitled to receive from such Holders reasonable security or
indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred
by it in complying with any such direction.
The Company is required to file with the Senior Trustee annually a written
statement as to the presence or absence of certain defaults under the Senior
Indenture and compliance by the Company with all conditions and covenants under
the Senior Indenture.
CONCERNING THE SENIOR TRUSTEE
The Senior Trustee has its principal office at 666 Fifth Avenue, 8th Floor,
New York, New York 10103. The Senior Trustee's offices for the purpose of
presenting Securities for payment or registration of transfer or exchange are
located at the same address. The Company has leased equipment to the Senior
Trustee and provides it with business continuity services through its
subsidiaries. The Senior Trustee is one of several core relationship banks
which provide credit and banking services to the Company and its subsidiaries,
both domestically and internationally.
PARTICULAR TERMS OF THE SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITIES
GENERAL
The particular terms of the Subordinated Debt Securities, including Zero-
Coupon Convertible Subordinated Securities, offered by any Prospectus
Supplement and the extent, if any, to which such general provisions may apply
will be described in the Prospectus Supplement relating to such Subordinated
Debt Securities.
The Subordinated Debt Securities will be direct, unsecured obligations of the
Company. Except to the extent otherwise set forth in the applicable Prospectus
Supplement or applicable Subordinated Debt Indenture or Zero-Coupon
Convertibles Indenture, the obligations of the Company pursuant to the
Subordinated Debt Securities will be subordinated in right of payment to all
Senior Indebtedness of the Company. See "Subordination," below.
The default provisions, covenants and amendment provisions, relating to
Subordinated Debt Securities, including, as applicable, Zero-Coupon Convertible
Subordinated Securities, will be set forth in the applicable Indenture and the
Prospectus Supplement relating to such Debt Securities.
To the extent that Subordinated Debt Securities, including, as applicable,
Zero-Coupon Convertible Subordinated Securities, are issued as Original Issue
Discount Securities, or deemed to be issued with OID, the United States federal
income tax considerations applicable to such Subordinated Debt Securities will
be described in any applicable Prospectus Supplement.
Prior to the issuance of any Subordinated Debt Securities, including without
limitation, Zero-Coupon Convertible Subordinated Securities, the Company will
qualify the applicable Zero-Coupon Convertibles Indenture or Subordinated
Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act and amend the Registration Statement to
file the applicable Indenture as an exhibit. The applicable Prospectus
Supplement will also identify the Trustee under the applicable Indenture and
the Trustee's relationships with the Company.
SUBORDINATION
Indebtedness evidenced by the Subordinated Debt Securities, including Zero-
Coupon Convertible Subordinated Securities, will be subordinated in right of
payment, as set forth in the applicable Subordinated Indenture or Zero-Coupon
Convertibles Indenture, to the prior payment in full, in cash or cash
equivalents, of all existing and future Senior Indebtedness (as defined below),
in each case as more fully provided in the Prospectus Supplement applicable to
such Subordinated Debt Securities.
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By reason of such subordination, unless and to the extent otherwise provided
in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, in the event of dissolution,
insolvency, bankruptcy or similar proceedings, upon any distribution of the
assets of the Company, the holders of Senior Indebtedness will first be
entitled to receive payment in full in cash or cash equivalents of all amounts
due or to become due thereon, before the Holders of the Subordinated Debt
Securities, including Zero-Coupon Convertible Subordinated Securities, will be
entitled to receive any payment or distribution from the Company with respect
to any Subordinated Debt Securities, including Zero-Coupon Convertible
Subordinated Securities.
Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, no
payment of the principal amount at maturity, interest, if any, or any other
amount with respect to the Subordinated Debt Securities, including Zero-Coupon
Convertible Subordinated Securities, may be made (nor may the Company acquire
any Zero-Coupon Convertible Subordinated Securities for cash or property) if
(i) any payment default on any Senior Indebtedness occurs and is continuing
that permits the acceleration of the maturity thereof or (ii) any other default
on any Senior Indebtedness occurs and is continuing that permits the
acceleration of the maturity thereof and either such default is the subject of
judicial proceedings or the Company receives notice of the default, unless (a)
in the case of defaults on Senior Indebtedness other than payment defaults, 180
days pass after notice of default is given and such default is not then the
subject of judicial proceedings or (b) the default with respect to Senior
Indebtedness is cured or waived and, in each case, the terms of the applicable
Subordinated Indenture or Zero-Coupon Convertibles Indenture otherwise permit
the payment (or acquisition of the Zero-Coupon Convertible Subordinated
Securities) at that time.
Unless otherwise defined in the definitive form of applicable Subordinated
Indenture or Zero-Coupon Convertibles Indenture filed under the Registration
Statement, or is otherwise provided in an applicable Prospectus Supplement,
"Senior Indebtedness" means the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on
(including interest accruing after the filing of a petition initiating any
proceeding pursuant to any bankruptcy law, whether or not allowable as a claim
in such proceeding) and other amounts due on or in connection with, any
Indebtedness of the Company, either outstanding on the date of the applicable
Subordinated Indenture or Zero-Coupon Convertibles Indenture or created,
incurred or assumed subsequent to such date, unless, in the case of any
particular Indebtedness, the instrument creating or evidencing the same or
pursuant to which the same is outstanding expressly provides that such
Indebtedness shall not be senior in right of payment to the Subordinated Debt
Securities, including Zero-Coupon Convertible Subordinated Securities. Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, and except as otherwise provided in
the applicable Subordinated Indenture or Zero-Coupon Convertibles Indenture, or
in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, "Senior Indebtedness" shall include
the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on (including interest accruing
after the filing of a petition initiating any proceeding pursuant to any
bankruptcy law, whether or not allowable as a claim in such proceeding) all
obligations of every nature of the Company from time to time owed to the
holders of the Senior Debt Securities under the Senior Indenture including,
without limitation, all fees, expenses (including fees and expenses of
counsel), claims, charges and indemnity obligations.
Unless otherwise defined in the definitive form of applicable Subordinated
Indenture or Zero-Coupon Convertibles Indenture filed under the Registration
Statement, or otherwise provided in the applicable Prospectus Supplement,
"Indebtedness" means (i) any liability of any Person (A) for borrowed money, or
under any reimbursement obligation relating to a letter of credit, or (B)
evidenced by a bond, note, debenture or similar instrument (including a
purchase money obligation) given in connection with the acquisition of any
businesses, properties or assets of any kind (other than a trade payable or a
current liability arising in the ordinary course of business), or (C) under
interest rate contracts and exchange rate contracts, or (D) for the payment of
money as lessee under leases required to be capitalized on the balance sheet of
the lessee under generally accepted accounting principles; (ii) any liability
of others described in the preceding clause (i) that such Person has guaranteed
or that is otherwise its legal liability; (iii) all Indebtedness referred to in
(but not excluded from ) clauses (i) and (ii) above of other Persons and all
dividends of other Persons, the payment of which is secured by (or for which
the holder of such Indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or
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otherwise, to be secured by) any lien upon or in property (including, without
limitation, accounts and contract rights) owned by such Person, even though
such Person has not assumed or become liable for the payment of such
Indebtedness; and (iv) any amendment, supplement, modification, deferral,
renewal, extension or refunding of any liability of the types referred to in
clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) above.
If Subordinated Debt Securities are issued under a Subordinated Indenture, or
Zero-Coupon Subordinated Convertible Securities are issued under a Zero-Coupon
Convertibles Indenture, the amount of Senior Indebtedness outstanding as of a
then recent date will be set forth in the applicable Prospectus Supplement.
Except to the extent otherwise set forth in a Prospectus Supplement, no
Subordinated Indenture or Zero-Coupon Convertibles Indenture will contain any
restriction on the amount of Senior Indebtedness which the Company may incur.
DESCRIPTION OF THE COMPANY'S COMMON STOCK
The following statements with respect to the Company's common stock and
common stock purchase rights are subject to the detailed provisions of the
Company's restated certificate of incorporation, as amended (the "Certificate
of Incorporation"), and bylaws, as amended (the "Bylaws"), and to the Rights
Agreement (as defined below). These statements do not purport to be complete
and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the terms of the
Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws and the Rights Agreement, which are
incorporated by reference as exhibits to the Registration Statement. All
references to outstanding Common Stock and related rights reflect the three-
for-two stock split of the Company's Common Stock which was effected with
respect to holders of record on November 17, 1995.
GENERAL
The Company is authorized to issue 200,000,000 shares of Common Stock, par
value $0.10 per share, of which 50,371,511 shares were issued and outstanding
as of June 30, 1996, and 100,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $.10
per share ("Preferred Stock"), of which an aggregate of 3,562,600 shares of
8.75% Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series A and B were issued and outstanding as
of June 30, 1996.
Holders of Common Stock are entitled to one vote for each share held on all
matters requiring stockholder action. Subject to the rights of the holders of
Preferred Stock, the holders of Common Stock are entitled to receive dividends
out of any funds of the Company lawfully available therefore (if, when and as
declared by the Board of Directors in its discretion). Certain restrictions set
forth in the Company's financing agreements limit the Company's ability to
declare and pay dividends.
Stockholders are entitled upon liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the
affairs of the Company to share ratably in the assets of the Company legally
available for distribution to holders of Common Stock. Holders of Common Stock
have no preemptive rights. The shares of Common Stock do not have cumulative
voting rights.
The Certificate of Incorporation of the Company provides for a Board of
Directors of not less than four and no more than fifteen directors, with the
number to be set by or in accordance with the Bylaws. The affirmative votes of
the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the stock then entitled to vote in an
election of directors is required for the approval of any proposal that any
director of the Company be removed from office, or that the provisions relating
to the number in classification of directors or the Bylaw provision setting the
number or procedure for determining the number of directors be altered, amended
or repealed.
Article 12 of the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company requires the
affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the stock and entitled
to vote in an election of directors, not owned by a Substantial Stockholder (as
defined below) for the approval of certain business combinations and certain
other transactions with a Substantial Stockholder unless certain minimum price
and procedural
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requirements are met and for the amendment or repeal of these provisions. A
Substantial Stockholder is defined as any person or entity that acquires at
least 10% or more of the Common Stock of the Company, excluding any member of
the Board of Directors of the Company as of September 30, 1985, or any employee
benefit plan of the Company or its subsidiaries. Such super-majority approval
would not be required if (1) the business combination is solely between the
Company and another corporation 50% or more stock which is owned, directly or
indirectly, by the Company and none of which is owned by a Substantial
Stockholder or (2) all following conditions are satisfied: (a) the cash or fair
market value of the consideration to be received per share by holders of the
common stock is not less than the higher of (i) the highest per share price
paid by such Substantial Stockholder in acquiring any Common Stock of the
Company of (ii) the highest per share market price of the Company's Common
Stock during the three-month period immediately preceding the date of the proxy
statement described in (c) below or, if none, the six-month period prior to the
consummation of the business combination; (b) after becoming a Substantial
Stockholder and prior to consummation of such business combination (i) such
Substantial Stockholder shall not have acquired any newly issued shares of
capital stock, directly or indirectly, from the Company except proportionately
as a stockholder or upon compliance with the provisions of Article 12 and (ii)
such Substantial Stockholder shall not have received the benefit, directly or
indirectly (except proportionately as a stockholder), of any loans or other
financial assistance provided by the Company, or made any major change in the
Company's equity capital structure; and (c) if such proposal otherwise requires
stockholder approval, a proxy statement responsive to the requirements of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, whether or not the Company is subject to such
requirements, shall be mailed to the stockholders of the Company for the
purpose of soliciting stockholder approval of such business combination.
The outstanding shares of the Company's Common Stock are duly and validly
issued, fully paid and nonassessable, and any shares of Common Stock issuable
upon the conversion or exchange of Debt Securities which are convertible into
or exchangeable for Common Stock, unless the applicable Prospectus Supplement
specifies otherwise, upon the purchase of such Debt Securities at the option of
the Holder thereof will be, duly and validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable.
COMMON STOCK PURCHASE RIGHTS
Each outstanding share of Common Stock of the Company is accompanied by a
common stock purchase right (a "Right"). Each Right entitles the registered
holder to purchase from the Company one share of Common Stock of the Company at
a price of $63.49 per share, subject to adjustment. The description and terms
of the Rights are set forth in the Rights Agreement, dated as of November 18,
1987, as amended and restated as of November 7, 1994 (the "Rights Agreement"),
between the Company and Chemical Bank (the successor of Manufacturers Hanover
Trust Company), as Rights Agent.
The following summary of certain provisions of the Rights and the Rights
Agreement does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and is qualified
in its entirety by reference to, all of the provisions of the Rights and the
Rights Agreement, including particular provisions or defined terms of the
Rights Agreement. A copy of the Rights Agreement has been filed with the
Commission as an exhibit to a Registration Statement on Form 8-A, which, as
amended by Form 8-A/A, is incorporated herein by reference. See "Incorporation
of Certain Documents by Reference."
Presently, the Rights are attached to all Common Stock certificates
representing shares outstanding, and no separate Right Certificates have been
distributed. The Rights will separate from the Common Stock and a Distribution
Date will occur upon the earlier of (i) 10 days following a public announcement
that a person or group has become an Acquiring Person (as defined below) or
(ii) the close of business on the 10th business day (or such later date as the
Board of Directors determine) after the date a person or group makes a tender
or exchange offer which if completed would result in such person or group being
the beneficial owner of 15% or more of the outstanding Common Stock or (iii)
the close of business on the 10th business day after the Board of Directors
declares a person to
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be an Adverse Person (as defined below). An "Acquiring Person" is a person or
group of affiliated or associated persons has acquired, or obtained the right
to acquire, beneficial ownership of 15% or more of the outstanding Common Stock
(the date of such announcement being the "Stock Acquisition Date"); provided,
however, that an Acquiring Person shall not include, and a Distribution Date
shall not occur as a result of the ownership of Common Stock by, any person
who, at the Record Date, together with all affiliates and associates of such
person, is the beneficial owner of 20% or more of the shares of Common Stock
then outstanding (an "Existing Holder") until such time as such Existing Holder
or any affiliate or associate of such Existing Holder shall become the
beneficial owner of any additional shares of Common Stock or any other person
who is the beneficial owner of any shares of Common Stock shall become an
affiliate or associate of such Existing Holder, if after giving effect to such
additional shares or the shares beneficially owned by such other person, such
Existing Holder, together with all affiliates and associates of such Existing
Holder, shall be the beneficial owner of 30% or more of the shares of Common
Stock then outstanding; and provided further that each of the Existing Holder's
successors in interest (as defined in the Rights Agreement) that would
beneficially own, as a result of the transfer to such successor of any shares
of Common Stock beneficially owned by an Existing Holder, 15% or more of the
shares of Common Stock then outstanding shall be treated as an Existing Holder.
An "Adverse Person" is a person or group, other than an Existing Holder, which
beneficially owns 10% or more of the outstanding Common Stock and as to which
the Board of Directors has made a determination that such person or group has
interests adverse to those of the Company (based on requirements set out in the
Rights Agreement).
Until the Distribution Date, (i) the Rights will be evidenced by the Common
Stock certificates and will be transferred with and only with such Common Stock
certificates, (ii) Common Stock certificates issued after the Record Date will
contain a notation incorporating the Rights Agreement by reference and (iii)
the surrender for transfer of any certificates for shares of Common Stock
outstanding will also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the
Common Stock represented by such certificates.
The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date and will expire at
the close of business on November 17, 1997, unless earlier redeemed by the
Company as described below.
As soon as practicable after the Distribution Date, Rights Certificates will
be mailed to holders of record of the Common Stock as of the close of business
on the Distribution Date and, thereafter, the separate Rights Certificates
alone will represent the Rights. All shares of Common Stock issued prior to the
Distribution Date will be issued with Rights. Shares of Common Stock issued
after the Distribution Date will be issued with Rights if such shares are
issued pursuant to the exercise of stock options or under an employee benefit
plan, granted or awarded as of the Distribution Date, or upon the conversion of
securities issued after adoption of the Rights Agreement. Except as otherwise
determined by the Board of Directors, no other shares of Common Stock issued
after the Distribution Date will be issued with Rights.
In the event that (i) a person becomes an Acquiring Person (except pursuant
to an offer for all outstanding shares of Common Stock which the independent
directors of the Company determine to be fair to and otherwise in the best
interests of the Company and its stockholders) or (ii) the Board of Directors
declares a person to be an Adverse Person, following the Distribution Date,
each holder of a Right will thereafter have the right to receive, upon
exercise, the number of shares of Common Stock for which such Right was
exercisable immediately prior to the first occurrence of such event (currently,
one) at an adjusted per share Purchase Price of 20% of the market price per
share of Common Stock. Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, following the
occurrence of any of the events set forth in this paragraph, all Rights that
are, or (under certain circumstances specified in the Rights Agreement) were,
beneficially owned by any Acquiring Person or Adverse Person will be null and
void. However, Rights are not exercisable following the occurrence of any of
the events set forth above until such time as the Rights are no longer
redeemable by the Company as set forth below.
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In the event that, at any time following the Stock Acquisition Date, (i) the
Company is acquired in a merger or other business combination transaction
(other than a merger which follows an offer described in the preceding
paragraph) or (ii) 50% or more of the Company's assets or earning power is sold
or transferred, each holder of a Right (except Rights which have previously
been voided as set forth above) shall thereafter have the right to receive,
upon exercise, common stock of the acquiring company having a value equal to
two times the Exercise Price of the Right. The Exercise Price is the Purchase
Price multiplied by the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise
of a Right prior to the events described in this paragraph (currently, one).
The events set forth in this paragraph and in the preceding paragraph are
referred to as the "Triggering Events".
The Purchase Price payable, and the number of shares of Common Stock or other
securities or property issuable, upon exercise of the Rights are subject to
adjustment from time to time to prevent dilution (i) in the event of a stock
dividend on, or a subdivision, combination or reclassification of, the Common
Stock, (ii) if holders of the Common Stock are granted certain rights or
warrants to subscribe for shares of Common Stock or convertible securities at
less than the current market price of the Common Stock or (iii) upon the
distribution to holders of the Common Stock of evidences of indebtedness or
assets (excluding regular quarterly cash dividends) or of subscription rights
or warrants (other than those referred to above).
With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the Purchase Price will be required
until cumulative adjustments amount to at least 1% of the Purchase Price. No
fractional shares of Common Stock will be issued upon exercise of the Rights
and, in lieu thereof, an adjustment in cash will be made based on the market
price of the Common Stock on the last trading date prior to the date of
exercise.
At any time until fifteen days following the Stock Acquisition Date, the
Company may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part, at a price of $.048
per Right (payable, at the election of the Company, in cash, Common Stock or
such other consideration as the Board of Directors may determine). Immediately
upon the action of the Board of Directors ordering redemption of the Rights,
the Rights will terminate and the only right of the holders of Rights will be
to receive the $.048 redemption price.
Until a Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will have no rights
as a stockholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right to
vote or to receive dividends. While the distribution of the Rights will not be
taxable to stockholders or to the Company, stockholders may, depending upon the
circumstances, recognize taxable income in the event that the Rights become
exercisable for Common Stock (or other consideration) of the Company or for
common stock of the acquiring company as set forth.
Other than those provisions relating to the principal economic terms of the
Rights, any of the provisions of the Rights Agreement may be amended by the
Board of Directors of the Company prior to the Distribution Date. After the
Distribution Date, the provisions of the Rights Agreement may be amended by the
Board in order to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency, to make changes
which do not adversely affect the interests of holders of Rights (excluding the
interests of an Acquiring Person or Adverse Person), or to shorten or lengthen
any time period under the Rights Agreement; provided, however, that no
amendment to adjust the time period governing redemption shall be made at such
time as the Rights are not redeemable.
Each share of outstanding Common Stock has one Right attached thereto. Until
the Distribution Date, the Company will issue one Right with each share of
Common Stock that shall become outstanding so that all such shares will have
attached Rights.
The Rights have certain antitakeover effects. The Rights will cause
substantial dilution to a person or group that attempts to acquire the Company
without conditioning the offer on a substantial number of Rights being
acquired. Accordingly, the existence of the Rights may deter certain acquirors
from making takeover proposals or tender offers. However, the Rights are not
intended to prevent a
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takeover but rather are designed to enhance the ability of the Board of
Directors to negotiate with an acquiror on behalf of all of the stockholders.
In addition, the Rights should not interfere with a proxy contest.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
The Company may sell any of the Debt Securities directly to purchasers, or
through agents, dealers, or underwriters.
The Prospectus Supplement and Pricing Supplement, if any, set forth the terms
of the offering of the particular series of Debt Securities to which such
Prospectus Supplement and any such Pricing Supplement relate, including (i) the
name or names of any underwriters or agents with whom the Company has entered
into arrangements with respect to the sale of such series of Debt Securities,
(ii) the initial public offering or purchase price of such series of Debt
Securities, (iii) any underwriting discounts, commissions and other items
constituting underwriters' compensation from the Company and any other
discounts, concessions or commissions allowed or reallowed or paid by any
underwriters to other dealers, (iv) any commissions paid to any agents, (v) the
net proceeds to the Company, and (vi) the securities exchanges, if any, on
which such series of Debt Securities will be listed.
If underwriters are used in the sale, the Debt Securities will be acquired by
the underwriters for their own account and may be resold from time to time in
one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public
offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. The
obligations of the underwriters to purchase such Debt Securities will be
subject to certain conditions precedent, and the underwriters will be obligated
to purchase all the Debt Securities offered by the Prospectus Supplement
relating to such series if any are purchased. Any initial public offering price
and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers may be
changed from time to time.
Offers to purchase the Debt Securities may be solicited directly by the
Company or by agents designated by the Company from time to time. Any agent
involved in the offering and sale thereof in respect of which this Prospectus
is delivered is named and any commissions payable by the Company to such agent
are set forth in the Prospectus Supplement relating to such series. Unless
otherwise indicated in the Prospectus Supplement, any such agent will be acting
on a best efforts basis for the period of its appointment.
If a dealer is utilized in the sale of the Debt Securities in respect of
which this Prospectus is delivered, the Company will sell such Debt Securities
to the dealer, as principal. The dealer may then resell such Debt Securities to
the public at varying prices to be determined by such dealer at the time of
resale. Any initial public offering price and any discounts or concessions
allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time.
If the sale is accomplished through an underwriter or underwriters, the
Company will enter into an underwriting agreement with such underwriters at the
time of sale to them, and the names of the underwriters (including
identification of any managing underwriter or underwriters) and the terms of
the transaction will be set forth in the Prospectus Supplement, which, together
with this Prospectus, will be used by the underwriters to make resales of the
Debt Securities in respect of which the Prospectus Supplement and this
Prospectus is delivered to the public.
If so indicated in an applicable Prospectus Supplement, the Company will
authorize underwriters, agents or dealers to solicit offers by certain
institutions to purchase Debt Securities to which such Prospectus Supplement
relates pursuant to Delayed Delivery Contracts ("Contracts") providing for
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payment and delivery on the date or dates stated in the Prospectus Supplement.
Each of the Contracts will be for an amount not less than, and, unless the
Company otherwise agrees, the aggregate principal amount of Debt Securities
sold pursuant to such Contracts shall not be less or more than, the respective
amounts stated in the Prospectus Supplement. Institutions with whom Contracts,
when authorized, may be made include commercial and savings banks, insurance
companies, pension funds, investment companies, educational and charitable
institutions, and other institutions, but will in all cases be subject to the
approval of the Company. Contracts will not be subject to any conditions except
that (i) the purchase by an institution of Debt Securities covered thereby
shall not at the time of delivery be prohibited under the applicable laws of
any jurisdiction in the United States to which such institution is subject, and
(ii) if the particular Debt Securities are being sold to underwriters, the
Company shall have sold to such underwriters the total amount of such Debt
Securities less the amount thereof covered by such Contracts. Underwriters,
agents or dealers will not have any responsibility in respect of the validity
of such arrangements or the performance of the Company or such institutional
investors thereunder.
Underwriters, agents and dealers may be entitled under agreements entered
into with the Company to indemnification by the Company against certain civil
liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribution
with respect to payments which the underwriters or agents may be required to
make in respect thereof.
All Debt Securities will be new issues of securities with no established
trading market. Any underwriters to whom Debt Securities are sold by the
Company for public offering and sale may make a market in such Debt Securities,
but such underwriters will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any
market making at any time without notice. No assurance can be given concerning
the liquidity of the trading market for any Debt Securities.
Underwriters, agents and dealers, and their respective affiliates, may engage
in transactions with, or perform services for, the Company, including
investment and commercial banking transactions and services, in the ordinary
course of business.
Underwriters, agents and dealers participating in the distribution of the
Debt Securities may be deemed to be underwriters under the Securities Act, and
any discounts and commissions received by them and any profit realized by them
on resale of Debt Securities may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and
commissions under the Securities Act.
LEGAL MATTERS
Certain legal matters with respect to the legality of the Debt Securities
will be passed upon for the Company by Jeremiah M. Fitzgerald, Esq., Vice
President and General Counsel of the Company and for the underwriters, agents
and dealers by Brown & Wood LLP, New York, New York. Certain other legal
matters will be passed upon for the Company by McBride Baker & Coles, Chicago,
Illinois. Mr. Fitzgerald beneficially owns 20,727 shares of the Company's
Common Stock and holds options, granted under the Company's stock option plans,
to purchase an additional 40,084 shares of Common Stock.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements and schedule of Comdisco, Inc. and
subsidiaries as of September 30, 1995 and 1994 and for each of the years in the
three-year period ended September 30, 1995 incorporated herein by reference to
the Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Company for the year ended September 30,
1995 have been audited by KPMG Peat Marwick LLP, independent certified public
accountants, as indicated in their reports with respect thereto, and are
incorporated by reference herein in reliance upon the authority of said firm as
experts in auditing and accounting.
20
<PAGE>
================================================================================
NO DEALER, SALESPERSON OR OTHER INDIVIDUAL HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY IN-
FORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY REPRESENTATION OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED OR INCORPO-
RATED BY REFERENCE IN THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT OR THE PROSPECTUS IN CONNEC-
TION WITH THE OFFER MADE BY THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT AND THE PROSPECTUS AND,
IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATION MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS
HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED BY THE COMPANY OR BY ANY UNDERWRITER. NEITHER THE DELIV-
ERY OF THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT OR THE PROSPECTUS NOR ANY SALE MADE HEREUNDER
AND THEREUNDER SHALL UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES CREATE AN IMPLICATION THAT THERE
HAS BEEN NO CHANGE IN THE AFFAIRS OF THE COMPANY SINCE THE DATE HEREOF. THIS
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT AND THE PROSPECTUS DO NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER OR SOLICI-
TATION BY ANYONE IN ANY STATE IN WHICH SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION IS NOT AUTHO-
RIZED OR IN WHICH THE PERSON MAKING SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION IS NOT QUALIFIED
TO DO SO OR TO ANYONE TO WHOM IT IS UNLAWFUL TO MAKE SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITA-
TION.
---------------
TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PAGE
----
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
<S> <C>
Description of the Notes................................................... S-2
Use of Proceeds............................................................ S-5
Underwriting............................................................... S-5
PROSPECTUS
Available Information...................................................... 2
Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference............................ 2
The Company................................................................ 3
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges......................................... 4
Use of Proceeds............................................................ 4
Description of Debt Securities............................................. 4
Particular Terms of the Senior Debt Securities............................. 11
Particular Terms of the Subordinated Debt Securities....................... 13
Description of the Company's Common Stock.................................. 15
Plan of Distribution....................................................... 19
Legal Matters.............................................................. 20
Experts.................................................................... 20
</TABLE>
$250,000,000
[LOGO OF COMDISCO]
6 3/8% NOTES
DUE NOVEMBER 30, 2001
SALOMON BROTHERS INC
BA SECURITIES, INC.
CITICORP SECURITIES, INC.
NATIONSBANC CAPITAL MARKETS, INC.
SMITH BARNEY INC.
UBS SECURITIES
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
DATED NOVEMBER 18, 1996
================================================================================
