<PAGE>
[LOGO]
PROSPECTUS
Dividend
Reinvestment
and Optional Cash
Payment Plan for
Shareholders
of ReliaStar
Financial Corp.
<PAGE>
PROSPECTUS
RELIASTAR FINANCIAL CORP.
DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT AND OPTIONAL CASH PAYMENT PLAN
COMMON STOCK
(WITHOUT PAR VALUE)
The Dividend Reinvestment and Optional Cash Payment Plan (the "Plan") of
ReliaStar Financial Corp., formerly known as The NWNL Companies, Inc. (the
"Company") provides holders of shares of the Company's Common Stock (the "Common
Stock") with a simple and convenient method of purchasing additional shares of
Common Stock without payment of any brokerage commissions or service charges.
You are eligible to participate in the Plan if you are either a holder of record
or a beneficial owner of 50 shares or more of Common Stock.
A participant in the Plan may:
-- have the cash dividends on his or her Common Stock automatically
reinvested in additional shares of Common Stock;
-- invest in additional shares of Common Stock by making optional cash
payments of at least $50.
The Purchase Price of the shares of Common Stock purchased with reinvested
dividends or with optional cash payments will be the average of the daily high
and low sales prices of the Company's Common Stock in New York Stock Exchange
trading for each of the 10 trading days ending on the relevant Investment Date,
subject to adjustments. See Questions 9 and 14.
A participant will receive a 4% discount from the market-based Purchase Price on
shares of Common Stock purchased with reinvested dividends and a 1% discount on
shares purchased through optional cash payments. Each of the discounts is
subject to change from time to time at the Company's discretion. See Question
11. The Company has established a monthly maximum limiting the amount of
optional cash payments and reinvested dividends it will accept from a
participant in any month. The Company has also established an aggregate monthly
maximum limiting the total amount of optional cash payments it will accept from
all participants in any month. See Question 14.
The shares of Common Stock to be issued under the Plan and to which this
Prospectus relates may be newly issued shares or treasury shares.
This Prospectus should be retained for future reference.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE
ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A
CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS IS JUNE 7, 1996.
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
----
AVAILABLE INFORMATION..................................................... 3
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE........................... 3
THE COMPANY............................................................... 4
LIMITATIONS, WAIVERS AND TRADING ACTIVITY................................. 4
DESCRIPTION OF THE PLAN................................................... 5
Purpose............................................................... 5
Administration........................................................ 6
Participation......................................................... 6
Costs................................................................. 7
Purchases............................................................. 7
Optional Cash Payments and Investment Limitations..................... 8
Reports to Participants............................................... 11
Cash Dividends........................................................ 12
Certificates for Shares............................................... 12
Withdrawal............................................................ 12
Other Information..................................................... 13
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION...................................................... 16
USE OF PROCEEDS........................................................... 17
LEGAL OPINIONS............................................................ 17
EXPERTS................................................................... 17
------------------------
NO PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY
REPRESENTATIONS OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED IN OR INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE IN
THIS PROSPECTUS, AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATIONS MUST
NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED. THIS PROSPECTUS DOES NOT
CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR THE SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY ANY
SECURITIES OTHER THAN THE SECURITIES TO WHICH IT RELATES OR AN OFFER TO SELL OR
THE SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY SUCH SECURITIES IN ANY CIRCUMSTANCES IN
WHICH SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION IS UNLAWFUL. NEITHER THE DELIVERY OF THIS
PROSPECTUS NOR ANY SALE MADE HEREUNDER SHALL, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, CREATE
ANY IMPLICATION THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE IN THE AFFAIRS OF THE COMPANY
SINCE THE DATE HEREOF OR THAT THE INFORMATION CONTAINED OR INCORPORATED BY
REFERENCED HEREIN IS CORRECT AS OF ANY TIME SUBSEQUENT TO ITS DATE.
------------------------
FOR NORTH CAROLINA INVESTORS: THE COMMISSIONER OF INSURANCE OF THE STATE OF
NORTH CAROLINA HAS NOT APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED THIS OFFERING, NOR HAS SUCH
COMMISSIONER PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS.
2
<PAGE>
AVAILABLE INFORMATION
The Company is subject to the informational requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and in accordance
therewith files reports, proxy statements and other information with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"). Such reports, proxy
statements and other information can be inspected and copied at the public
reference facilities of the Commission, Room 1024, Judiciary Plaza, 450 Fifth
Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, and at the Commission's Regional Offices
located at Suite 1400, Northwestern Atrium Center, 500 West Madison Street,
Chicago, Illinois 60661, and 14th Floor, 75 Park Place, New York, New York
10007. Copies of such materials can be obtained by mail from the public
reference section of the Commission at Room 1024, Judiciary Plaza, 450 Fifth
Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, at prescribed rates. In addition, such
materials also may be inspected and copied at the offices of the New York Stock
Exchange, 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005.
This Prospectus constitutes a part of a registration statement on Form S-3
(herein, together with all amendments and exhibits, referred to as the
"Registration Statement") filed by the Company with the Commission under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended. This Prospectus omits certain of the
information contained in the Registration Statement, and reference is hereby
made to the Registration Statement for further information with respect to the
Company. Any statements contained herein concerning the provisions of any
document are not necessarily complete, and, in each instance, reference is made
to the copy of each document filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement
or otherwise filed with the Commission. Each such statement is qualified in its
entirety by such reference.
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
The following documents filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to the
Exchange Act are incorporated herein by reference:
1. The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
1995 (which incorporates by reference certain portions of the Company's 1995
Annual Report to Shareholders, including financial statements and accompanying
information, and certain portions of the Company's definitive Notice and Proxy
Statement for the Company's 1996 Annual Meeting of Shareholders), the Quarterly
Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1996, and Current Reports on
Form 8-K dated March 29, 1996 and May 24, 1996;
2. The Form 8-K/A dated May 20, 1993 to the Company's Current Report on
Form 8-K filed by the Company in lieu of a Registration Statement on Form 8-B,
which contains a description of the Common Stock and related Rights to Purchase
Preferred Stock; and
3. All other documents filed by the Company pursuant to Sections 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 shares of Common Stock
offered hereby.
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 that 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 a copy of this
Prospectus is delivered, upon the written or oral request of any such person, a
copy of any or all of the documents which are incorporated herein by reference
(other than exhibits to such documents, unless such exhibits are specifically
incorporated therein by reference). Requests should be directed to ReliaStar
Financial Corp., 20 Washington Avenue South, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55401, Attn:
Secretary, telephone 612-342-3879.
3
<PAGE>
THE COMPANY
The Company is a holding company whose subsidiaries specialize in life insurance
and related financial services. Through Northwestern National Life Insurance
Company ("Northwestern") and other subsidiaries, the Company issues and
distributes individual life insurance and annuities, group life and health
insurance, and life and health reinsurance and markets and manages mutual funds.
The Company operates in four business segments: Individual Insurance, Employee
Benefits, Life and Health Reinsurance and Pension.
In addition to Northwestern, the Company's principal subsidiaries, each of which
is owned by Northwestern, are Bankers Security Life Insurance Society ("BSL"),
Northern Life Insurance Company, and United Services Life Insurance Company
("USL"). Additional subsidiaries include NWNL Benefits Corporation, Washington
Square Advisors, Inc., Washington Square Securities, Inc., ReliaStar Mortgage
Corporation and NWNL Northstar, Inc.
The Company, which was incorporated in Delaware in 1988, became the parent of
Northwestern and its subsidiaries pursuant to a Plan of Conversion and
Reorganization which became effective on January 3, 1989. Pursuant to the Plan
of Conversion and Reorganization, Northwestern, which was organized in 1885, was
converted from a combined stock and mutual life insurance company to a stock
life insurance company.
The Company's principal executive offices are located at 20 Washington Avenue
South, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55401, telephone 612-372-5432. References herein
to the Company relate to ReliaStar Financial Corp. (previously known as The NWNL
Companies, Inc.) and Northwestern, as its predecessor, and their subsidiaries
unless otherwise indicated by the context.
Additional information concerning the Company is included in the documents
incorporated herein by reference. See "Incorporation of Certain Documents by
Reference".
LIMITATIONS, WAIVERS AND TRADING ACTIVITY
The Plan limits the aggregate amount of cash dividends and optional cash
payments which an individual or institution may invest as described below. The
maximum monthly amount the Company will accept from a participant in the form of
optional cash payments is $5,000 and from reinvested dividends is $5,000. The
Company has also established a $500,000 Aggregate Monthly Maximum (as
hereinafter defined) limiting the total amount of optional cash payments it will
accept from all participants in any month.
The Company has retained the right to waive the $5,000 per participant
limitations pursuant to written Requests for Waiver under the procedures
described in Question 14. The Company may grant Requests for Waiver to
participants, including financial intermediaries and broker-dealers, in the
future. Requests for Waiver will be considered on the basis of a variety of
factors, which may include: the Company's current and projected capital needs,
the alternatives available to the Company to meet those needs, prevailing market
prices for Common Stock and other Company securities, general economic and
market conditions, expected aberrations in the price or trading volume of
Company securities, the number of shares of Common Stock held by the participant
submitting the waiver request, the aggregate amount of investments for which
such waivers have been submitted and the administrative constraints associated
with granting such waivers. Grants of Requests for Waiver will be made in the
absolute discretion of the Company. Requests for Waiver from the $5,000 maximum
monthly limit for optional cash payments will be limited to the extent of the
Aggregate Monthly Maximum then in effect. The
4
<PAGE>
Company may also, in its sole discretion, accept optional cash payments in
excess of the Aggregate Monthly Maximum in an amount determined by the Company,
not to exceed 20% of the Aggregate Monthly Maximum. In addition the Company may,
in its sole discretion, change the Aggregate Monthly Maximum. See Question 14.
From the inception of the Plan in August 1993 to the date hereof, the Company
has issued shares under the Plan with an aggregate issue price of $15,890,940.
Until February 1994, the Plan did not provide a specific dollar limit on the
aggregate amount which may be invested by an individual participant under the
Plan. During this period, one financial intermediary and three broker-dealers
effected short-term transactions which enabled them to make substantial
purchases under the Plan. The financial intermediary purchased approximately
$1.6 million of shares and the three broker-dealers purchased approximately $2
million, $2.8 million and $1.4 million, respectively. The Company believes that
participation in the Plan by these intermediaries and broker-dealers has created
volatility in the trading volume of the Common Stock. It is expected that the
per participant maximum monthly limits on dividend reinvestments and optional
cash payments will restrict participation in the Plan by financial
intermediaries and broker-dealers.
In view of the discounts on shares purchased with reinvested dividends and
optional cash payments (see Question 11) and the Company's ability to waive the
per participant maximum monthly limits and change the Aggregate Monthly Maximum,
it is possible that certain financial intermediaries, including broker-dealers,
may engage in positioning transactions in order to take advantage of the
discount feature. To the extent such waivers are granted, participation by
financial intermediaries and broker-dealers may generate some volatility in the
trading volume and possibly the market price of shares. The Company has not
entered into any formal or informal arrangements to facilitate such activity.
Individuals or entities engaged in such practices may be considered
"underwriters" as that term is defined in the Securities Act of 1933. Acting as
an underwriter may give rise to disclosure obligations and other liabilities
under such act.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PLAN
The following is a statement of the provisions of the Plan, in a question and
answer format. Those holders of shares of Common Stock who choose not to
participate in the Plan will continue to receive cash dividends, as declared and
paid.
PURPOSE
1. WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE PLAN?
The Plan will provide eligible holders of shares of the Company's Common Stock
with a simple and convenient method of automatically reinvesting their cash
dividends or making optional cash payments, or both, to purchase additional
shares of Common Stock without payment of any brokerage commissions or service
charges. In addition, net proceeds to the Company from shares of Common Stock
purchased under the Plan will provide the Company with new equity capital. The
Company will use these proceeds for its general corporate purposes.
5
<PAGE>
ADMINISTRATION
2. WHO ADMINISTERS THE PLAN?
Norwest Bank Minnesota, N.A. (the "Administrator") administers the Plan,
maintains records, sends statements of account to participants and performs
other duties relating to the Plan. Shares of Common Stock purchased under the
Plan are held by the Administrator.
PARTICIPATION
3. WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE?
You are an "Eligible Shareholder" and may therefore participate in the Plan if
you qualify as either one of the following: (a) you are a shareholder who holds
50 or more shares of Common Stock registered on the stock transfer books of the
Company in your name (a "Holder of Record") or (b) you are a shareholder who has
beneficial ownership of 50 or more shares of Common Stock that are registered in
a name other than your name (e.g., in the name of a broker, bank or other
nominee) (a "Beneficial Owner"). To participate in the Plan a Beneficial Owner
must either become a Holder of Record or make appropriate arrangements with his
or her nominee to participate on behalf of the Beneficial Owner. Beneficial
Owners should refer to Question 12 for specific instructions regarding
enrollment and participation. Any shareholder who resides in a foreign
jurisdiction in which it is unlawful for the Company to allow such shareholder
to participate is not eligible to participate in the Plan.
The Company may from time to time at its discretion permit employees of the
Company and its subsidiaries to participate in the Plan on such terms and
conditions that the Company may establish for such purposes. To the extent that
the Company permits participation by such employees, wherever in this Prospectus
the provisions of the Plan refer to Eligible Shareholders, such references will
be deemed to include employees of the Company and its subsidiaries, as the
context requires.
4. HOW DOES AN ELIGIBLE SHAREHOLDER PARTICIPATE?
An Eligible Shareholder may elect to participate in the Plan by completing the
enclosed Authorization Form and returning it to the Administrator. If shares of
Common Stock are registered in more than one name (joint holders, trustee,
etc.), all registered holders must sign. Once enrolled in the Plan, a
participant will continue to be enrolled without further action on his or her
part. Authorization Forms and additional copies of this Prospectus may be
obtained at any time by calling the Administrator's representatives at
612-450-4064 or 1-800-468-9716. Beneficial Owners should refer to Question 12
for enrollment information.
5. WHEN MAY AN ELIGIBLE SHAREHOLDER JOIN THE PLAN?
An Eligible Shareholder may join the Plan at any time. If the Authorization Form
is received by the Administrator on or prior to the record date established for
payment of a particular cash dividend, reinvestment of cash dividends will begin
with that dividend payment. If the Authorization Form is received after the
record date for a particular cash dividend, reinvestment of cash dividends will
not begin until the dividend payment date following the next record date. Record
dates for quarterly cash dividends on shares of Common Stock generally precede
the dividend payment dates by approximately 15 business days. The dividend
payment dates normally occur on the second Friday of February, May, August and
November. The dividend payment and record dates are subject to change from time
to time at the Company's discretion. Optional cash payments will be invested
monthly. See Question 13. A completed Authorization Form and optional cash
payment must be received by the Administrator two
6
<PAGE>
Trading Days (see Question 9) before the start of the relevant Pricing Period. A
participant will remain in the Plan until he or she withdraws from the Plan or
all of the shares held and credited to the participant's account under the Plan
are sold.
6. WHAT DOES THE AUTHORIZATION FORM PROVIDE?
The Authorization Form directs the Administrator to apply a participant's cash
dividends on shares of Common Stock registered in the participant's name to the
purchase of additional shares of Common Stock. A participant may also make
optional cash payments, which will be used to purchase additional shares of
Common Stock as described in Questions 13 and 14. Shares purchased through
reinvested dividends or with optional cash payments are credited to the
participant's account under the Plan and the cash dividends on such shares will
also be used to purchase additional shares of Common Stock. If the "optional
cash payments only" box on the Authorization Form is checked, the Company will
continue to pay cash dividends in the usual manner to the participant on shares
registered in the participant's name but will apply any optional cash payments
received and cash dividends on shares credited to the participant's account
under the Plan to the purchase of additional shares of Common Stock. Beneficial
Owners should refer to Question 12 for enrollment information.
COSTS
7. ARE THERE ANY EXPENSES TO A PARTICIPANT IN CONNECTION WITH PURCHASES UNDER
THE PLAN?
No. All costs of administration associated with purchases under the Plan are
paid by the Company. However, when a participant withdraws from the Plan, sells
shares under the Plan or requests a stock certificate, he or she may incur
expenses related to any such transaction. See Question 20.
PURCHASES
8. WHEN WILL SHARES OF COMMON STOCK BE PURCHASED UNDER THE PLAN?
Cash dividends and optional cash payments will be reinvested or invested, as the
case may be, on the Investment Date. The Investment Date will be the cash
dividend payment date during a month in which a cash dividend is paid and in any
other month will be the second Friday of such month or, if such Friday is not a
Trading Day then the last Trading Day immediately preceding such second Friday.
For the purpose of making purchases, the Administrator will commingle the funds
of the participants under the Plan. The Administrator will apply any cash
dividends and any optional cash payments to the purchase of shares of Common
Stock pursuant to the Plan on the applicable Investment Date.
NO INTEREST WILL BE PAID ON FUNDS HELD BY THE ADMINISTRATOR PENDING REINVESTMENT
OR INVESTMENT.
9. HOW WILL THE PURCHASE PRICE BE DETERMINED?
The "Purchase Price" is the average of the daily high and low sales prices of
the Company's Common Stock in New York Stock Exchange trading for each of the 10
consecutive Trading Days (the "Pricing Period") ending on the relevant
Investment Date. A "Trading Day" means a day on which the New York Stock
Exchange is open and for which trades in the Company's Common Stock are
reported. (See Question 14 regarding adjustments to the Purchase Price
applicable to the investment of optional cash payments in the event that a
Threshold Price is not satisfied on one or more Trading Days during a Pricing
Period.)
7
<PAGE>
10. HOW MANY SHARES OF COMMON STOCK WILL BE PURCHASED FOR A PARTICIPANT?
The number of shares to be purchased depends on the amount of a participant's
dividends, the Purchase Price of the shares of Common Stock, optional cash
payments, and the amount of the Purchase Price Discount. See Question 11. A
participant's account will be credited with that number of shares, including
fractions computed to three decimal places, equal to the total amount to be
invested divided by the Purchase Price (reduced by any Purchase Price Discount).
The number of shares purchased with optional cash payments may be affected by
the application of the Threshold Price. See Question 14.
11. WHAT ARE THE PURCHASE PRICE DISCOUNTS?
The Purchase Price for shares acquired under the Plan by reinvestment of cash
dividends or investment of optional cash payments may be reduced by a Purchase
Price Discount. The Purchase Price Discount for reinvestment of cash dividends
is currently 4%. The Purchase Price Discount for optional cash payments is
currently 1%. Each of the Purchase Price Discounts is subject to change from
time to time at the Company's discretion. Neither Purchase Price Discount will,
in any event, exceed 5%. Changes to the Purchase Price Discounts will be
considered on the basis of a variety of factors, which may include: the
Company's current and projected capital needs, the alternatives available to the
Company to meet those needs, prevailing market prices for Common Stock and other
Company securities, general economic conditions and expected aberrations in the
price or trading volume of Company securities. Changes to the Purchase Price
Discounts with respect to reinvestments or investments made on any Investment
Date will be made by the Company notifying the Administrator of the change at
least 5 Trading Days prior to the relevant Pricing Period. Neither the Company
nor the Administrator shall be required to provide any written notice to
participants of changes to the Purchase Price Discounts, but current information
regarding the Purchase Price Discounts may be obtained by calling the
Administrator's representatives at 612-450-4064 or 1-800-468-9716.
12. HOW DOES A BENEFICIAL OWNER PARTICIPATE IN THE PLAN?
Beneficial Owners who wish to reinvest their cash dividends under the Plan must
instruct their broker, bank or nominee to participate in the Plan on their
behalf. This may be accomplished if the broker, bank or nominee provides a
dividend reinvestment service. Beneficial Owners who wish to make optional cash
payments must instruct their broker, bank or nominee to contact the
Administrator and request a Broker and Nominee Form (the "B&N Form"). The
broker, bank or nominee must deliver a B&N Form to the Administrator each time
that such broker, banker or nominee transmits an optional cash payment on behalf
of a Beneficial Owner. B&N Forms will be furnished to brokers, banks or nominees
at any time upon request to the Administrator at the address or telephone
specified in Question 31.
OPTIONAL CASH PAYMENTS AND INVESTMENT LIMITATIONS
13. HOW DOES THE OPTIONAL CASH PAYMENTS OPTION WORK?
Each month the Administrator will apply any optional cash payment in good funds
timely received from a participant to the purchase of shares of Common Stock for
the account of the participant. In order for funds to be invested on an
Investment Date, the Plan Administrator must have received the check or money
order on or before the second Trading Day preceding the first Trading Day of the
relevant Pricing Period. All Eligible Shareholders (except for brokers, banks
and other nominees who are required to submit a B & N Form as described above)
who have submitted a signed Authorization Form are eligible to make optional
cash payments at any time.
8
<PAGE>
If a participant has checked the "optional cash payments only" box on the
Authorization Form, the Company will pay cash dividends on shares registered
directly in the participant's name in the usual manner. An optional cash payment
received from the participant two Trading Days before the start of the relevant
Pricing Period will be applied to the purchase of additional shares of Common
Stock for the participant's account on the Investment Date for the relevant
Pricing Period.
If a participant has not checked the "optional cash payments only" box on the
Authorization Form, the Company will apply the participant's cash dividends to
the purchase of additional shares of Common Stock for the participant's account
under the Plan. An optional cash payment received from the participant two
Trading Days before the start of the relevant Pricing Period will be applied to
the purchase of additional shares of Common Stock for the participant's account
on the Investment Date for the relevant Pricing Period.
A participant's first optional cash payment may be made by a participant by
forwarding a check, made payable to the order of the Administrator, accompanied
by the signed Authorization Form. Thereafter, this type of investment may be
made only when accompanied by a signed Cash Payment Form which will be sent to a
participant by the Administrator as an attachment to his or her transaction
statement.
The same amount of money need not be sent each month, and there is no obligation
to make an optional cash payment each month. An optional cash payment of less
than $50 and that portion of any optional cash payment that exceeds the
allowable monthly maximum or the Aggregate Monthly Maximum will be returned to
the participant without interest.
No interest will be paid by the Company or the Plan Administrator on optional
cash payments held for investment.
Cash dividends payable on shares of Common Stock credited to the participant's
account under the Plan will be reinvested in additional shares of Common Stock.
14. WHAT ARE THE LIMITATIONS ON DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT AND OPTIONAL CASH
PAYMENTS?
MINIMUM/MAXIMUM LIMITS. An optional cash payment may not be less than $50. The
maximum monthly amount the Company will accept from a participant in the form of
optional cash payments is $5,000 and from reinvested dividends is $5,000.
Investments greater than $5,000 of dividend reinvestments or optional cash
payments may be made by a participant only upon acceptance by the Company of a
written Request for Waiver from such participant. Such prior approval or
acceptance of a Request for Waiver must be obtained: (a) in the case of dividend
reinvestments, at least two trading days prior to the record date for the
applicable dividend; and (b) in the case of optional cash payments, at least two
trading days prior to the commencement of the relevant pricing period with
respect to which such waiver is sought. Participants interested in obtaining a
waiver from the $5,000 limits should contact the Company at 612-372-5354.
Requests for Waiver will be considered on the basis of a variety of factors,
which may include: the Company's current and projected capital needs, the
alternatives available to the Company to meet those needs, prevailing market
prices for Common Stock and other Company securities, general economic and
market conditions, expected aberrations in the price or trading volume of
Company securities, the number of shares of Common Stock held by the participant
submitting the waiver request, the aggregate amount of investments for which
such waivers have been submitted and the administrative constraints associated
with granting such waivers. Grants of Requests for Waiver will be made in the
absolute discretion of the Company.
9
<PAGE>
AGGREGATE MONTHLY MAXIMUM. The Company reserves the right to limit the
aggregate amount of optional cash payments it will accept from all participants
in any month (the "Aggregate Monthly Maximum"). Currently the Aggregate Monthly
Maximum which the Company will accept from all participants in the form of
optional cash payments is $500,000. The Company may, in its sole discretion,
accept optional cash payments in excess of the Aggregate Monthly Maximum in an
amount determined by the Company, not to exceed 20% of the Aggregate Monthly
Maximum. The Company may, in its sole discretion, at least one Trading Day prior
to any Pricing Period, change the Aggregate Monthly Maximum and so notify the
Administrator. A change in the Aggregate Monthly Maximum will be considered on
the basis of a variety of factors, which may include: the Company's current and
projected capital needs, the alternatives available to the Company to meet those
needs, prevailing market prices for Common Stock and other Company securities,
general economic and market conditions, expected aberrations in the price or
trading volume of Company securities, the aggregate amount of optional cash
payments for which such change may be made and the administrative constraints
associated with making such change. Neither the Company nor the Administrator
shall be required to provide any written notice to participants as to whether
the Aggregate Monthly Maximum has been changed for any Pricing Period, but
current information regarding the Aggregate Monthly Maximum may be obtained by
calling the Administrator's representatives at 612-450-4064 or 1-800-468-9716.
In any month in which optional cash payments tendered exceed the sum of the
Aggregate Monthly Maximum for the month and any additional amount determined to
be accepted by the Company, the excess will be promptly returned to
participants, without interest, on the following basis: Each participant
tendering optional cash payments during the month in excess of $5,000 will have
returned all or a portion of the excess on a pro rata basis. If the aggregate of
tendered payments of $5,000 (including that portion of tendered payments in
excess of that amount) or less exceeds the sum of the Aggregate Monthly Maximum
for the month and any additional amount determined to be accepted by the
Company, then a portion of such payments will be returned on a basis deemed
reasonable by the Company and the Administrator. A participant may call the
Administrator's representatives one Trading Day before the start of a Pricing
Period for information as to whether optional cash payments tendered exceeded
the sum of the Aggregate Monthly Maximum and any additional amount determined to
be accepted by the Company.
AGGREGATION OF OPTIONAL CASH PAYMENTS. For the purposes of the limitations on
optional cash payments, all optional cash payments for participants with more
than one account using the same social security number or taxpayer
identification number may, in the Company's discretion, be aggregated. For a
participant unable to supply a social security number or taxpayer identification
number, participation may, in the Company's discretion, be limited to only one
account. The Company reserves the right to decide that future participation in
the Plan is dependent upon past compliance with these optional cash payment
terms.
For purposes of these limitations, all Plan accounts which the Company, in its
sole judgment, believes to be under common control or management or to have
common ultimate beneficial ownership may be aggregated. If the Company
determines that such accounts are to be aggregated, the Company will have the
right to return, without interest, those optional cash payments the Company
deems appropriate.
The Company may establish other additional limitations and requirements that
apply to participation in the Plan by brokers, banks and others acting in a
representative capacity.
10
<PAGE>
THRESHOLD PRICE LIMIT. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the
contrary, the Company may establish for any Pricing Period a minimum price for
the investment of optional cash payments (the "Threshold Price"). The Company
will, at least five Trading Days prior to each Pricing Period, determine whether
to establish a Threshold Price and, if a Threshold Price is established, its
amount and so notify the Administrator. The determination whether to establish a
Threshold Price and, if a Threshold Price is established, its amount will be
made by the Company at its discretion after a review of current market
conditions and other factors the Company deems relevant. Neither the Company nor
the Administrator shall be required to provide any written notice to
participants as to whether a Threshold Price has been established for any
Pricing Period, but current information regarding the Threshold Price may be
obtained by calling the Administrator's representatives at 612-450-4064 or
1-800-468-9716.
The Threshold Price, if established for any Pricing Period, will be a stated
dollar amount that the average of the high and low sale prices of Common Stock
in New York Stock Exchange trading for a Trading Day in the Pricing Period must
equal or exceed. In the event that the Threshold Price is not satisfied for a
Trading Day in the Pricing Period, then that Trading Day and the trading prices
for that day will be excluded from the Pricing Period for purposes of
determining the Purchase Price applicable to the investment of optional cash
payments (but NOT to the reinvestment of dividends). Thus, for example, if the
Threshold Price is not satisfied for three of the 10 Trading Days in a Pricing
Period, then the Purchase Price applicable to the investment of optional cash
payments (but NOT to the reinvestment of dividends) will be based upon the
remaining seven Trading Days when the Threshold Price is satisfied.
For each Trading Day on which the Threshold Price is not satisfied, 1/10 of each
optional cash payment will be returned to the participant without interest.
Thus, for example, if the Threshold Price is not satisfied for three Trading
Days, 3/10 of a participant's optional cash payment will be returned.
Setting a Threshold Price for a Pricing Period shall not affect the setting of a
Threshold Price for any subsequent Pricing Period. The Threshold Price concept
and return procedure discussed above apply only to optional cash payments and
NOT to the reinvestment of dividends.
15. WHEN WILL OPTIONAL CASH PAYMENTS RECEIVED BY THE ADMINISTRATOR BE INVESTED?
Optional cash payments will be invested monthly on the Investment Date.
Authorization and cash payment for the investment must be in good funds and
received by the Administrator two Trading Days before the start of the relevant
Pricing Period in order for the Administrator to invest the optional cash
payment on the relevant Investment Date. If received after that time, the cash
payment will be held by the Administrator until the Investment Date of the
following month. Checks and other drafts must clear before the start of the
relevant Pricing Period for the funds to be available to purchase shares of
Common Stock. No interest will be paid on any optional cash payment held by the
Administrator for investment. Optional cash payments will be returned if a
written request for return is received by the Administrator, at the address
specified in Question 31, no less than two Trading Days prior to the start of a
Pricing Period.
REPORTS TO PARTICIPANTS
16. WHAT KIND OF REPORTS WILL BE SENT TO PARTICIPANTS IN THE PLAN?
Each participant having a changed investment balance in the Plan will receive a
quarterly account statement of his or her account as soon as practical after
each cash dividend payment date. In addition, participants making optional cash
payments will receive an account statement as soon as practical following each
transaction. These statements are a participant's continuing record of the cost
of purchases and should be retained for income tax purposes. In addition, each
participant will receive
11
<PAGE>
copies of the same communications sent to every other holder of shares of Common
Stock, including the Company's quarterly reports, annual report, notice of
annual meeting and proxy statement, and income tax information for reporting
dividends paid or sales proceeds if applicable.
CASH DIVIDENDS
17. WILL PARTICIPANTS BE CREDITED WITH CASH DIVIDENDS ON FRACTIONS OF SHARES?
Yes. Cash dividends on all full and fractional shares held for a participant's
account in the Plan will be reinvested.
CERTIFICATES FOR SHARES
18. WILL CERTIFICATES BE ISSUED FOR SHARES OF COMMON STOCK PURCHASED?
Normally, certificates for shares of Common Stock purchased under the Plan will
not be issued to a participant. The number of shares credited to the account of
the participant under the Plan will be shown on the participant's account
statement. This service protects against loss, theft or destruction of stock
certificates. Certificates for any number of full shares credited to an account
under the Plan will be issued upon the written request of a participant who
wishes to remain in the Plan. This request should be directed to the
Administrator. The participant may incur a fee for this service. Any remaining
full shares and fractions of shares will continue to be credited to the
participant's account.
Certificates for fractions of shares will not be issued under any circumstances.
Shares credited to the account of a participant under the Plan may not be
pledged as collateral. A participant who wishes to pledge such shares must
request that a certificate for such shares be issued in the participant's name,
and pay the Administrator's fee for the certificate.
19. IN WHOSE NAME WILL CERTIFICATES BE REGISTERED WHEN ISSUED?
Accounts under the Plan are maintained in the name in which the certificate of a
participant was registered at the time he or she entered the Plan. Consequently,
certificates for full shares will be similarly registered when issued.
WITHDRAWAL
20. HOW DOES A PARTICIPANT WITHDRAW FROM THE PLAN?
In order to withdraw from the Plan, a participant must notify the Administrator
in writing that he or she wishes to withdraw.
When a participant withdraws from the Plan or upon termination of the Plan by
the Company two options are available. If the participant chooses the stock
settlement option, a certificate for full shares credited to the participant's
account under the Plan will be issued and a cash payment will be made for any
fraction of a share. Alternatively, the participant may choose the cash
settlement option which provides for the sale of all of the shares, both full
and fractional, credited to the participant's account under the Plan. If a
participant requests such sale, the sale will be made at market, within five
Trading Days after the receipt of the request, for the account of the
participant through a broker designated by the Administrator. The Company will
not provide such broker with any instructions as to the manner in which a
participant's shares are sold; such broker will sell such shares as provided in
the Plan. The participant will receive the proceeds of the sale less any related
brokerage commissions, service charges and transfer taxes.
12
<PAGE>
21. WHEN MAY A PARTICIPANT WITHDRAW FROM THE PLAN?
A participant may withdraw from the Plan at any time.
If the request to withdraw is received by the Administrator on or before the
record date for any cash dividend payment, the amount of the dividend that
otherwise would have been reinvested on such cash dividend payment date and any
optional cash payment then being held by the Administrator for investment for
the participant's account will be paid to the withdrawing participant.
Subsequent cash dividends will be paid to the withdrawing participant unless he
or she reenrolls in the Plan, which may be done at any time.
If the request to withdraw is received by the Administrator between a dividend
record date and the payment date, the request will be effective as soon as those
dividends have been credited to the participant's account. The withdrawing
participant's next cash dividend and subsequent cash dividends will be paid to
the withdrawing participant unless he or she reenrolls in the Plan, which may be
done at any time.
22. WHAT HAPPENS TO A FRACTION OF A SHARE WHEN A PARTICIPANT WITHDRAWS FROM THE
PLAN?
When a participant withdraws from the Plan, a cash adjustment representing any
fraction of a share will be mailed directly to the participant. The cash payment
to the participant will be based on the market price of the Common Stock at the
time that full shares are transferred.
OTHER INFORMATION
23. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A PARTICIPANT SELLS OR TRANSFERS ALL OR PART OF THE SHARES
REGISTERED IN THE PARTICIPANT'S NAME?
If a participant disposes of all shares of Common Stock registered in the
participant's name but not held in the participant's account under the Plan, the
Administrator will continue to reinvest the dividends on the shares credited to
the participant's account under the Plan until notified by the participant that
the participant wishes to withdraw from the Plan. If no full shares are credited
to the participant's account under the Plan, the Company will mail a cash
payment to the participant for the fraction of a share remaining in the
participant's account. If a participant sells some but not all shares registered
in the participant's name, the Administrator will continue to automatically
reinvest cash dividends on the remaining shares registered in the participant's
name as originally authorized.
A participant must, at all times, own 50 shares of Common Stock in order to
continue participating in the Plan. At any time when a participant's total
number of shares is less than 50, the Administrator will advise the shareholder
that he or she is no longer eligible to participate. The notice form shall
provide the disqualified shareholder the option of having his or her shares sold
by the Administrator or receiving certificates for the number of full shares in
the Plan and a cash payment for the fraction of a share remaining in the
participant's account as more fully set forth in Questions 21 and 22. If no
instructions are received by the Administrator within 30 Trading Days of mailing
such notice, the Administrator may terminate the account and issue certificates
for all full shares in the account together with cash for any fraction of a
share.
24. WHAT HAPPENS IF THE COMPANY ISSUES A STOCK DIVIDEND, DECLARES A STOCK SPLIT
OR HAS A RIGHTS OFFERING?
Any stock dividends, split shares or rights to purchase additional shares
distributed by the Company on shares credited to the account of a participant
under the Plan will be added to the participant's account.
13
<PAGE>
Stock dividends or split shares distributed on shares registered in the name of
the participant and not held in his or her account under the Plan will be mailed
directly to such participant in the same manner as to shareholders who are not
participating in the Plan.
25. HOW WILL A PARTICIPANT'S SHARES BE VOTED AT MEETINGS OF SHAREHOLDERS?
If shares registered in the name of a participant in the Plan are voted by the
participant by proxy card on any matter submitted to a meeting of shareholders,
the total number of shares owned by the participant (both shares credited to the
participant's account under the Plan and those registered in the name of the
participant) will be shown on such proxy card and voted on such matter.
If the proxy card is not returned or if it is returned unsigned, none of the
participant's shares will be voted unless the participant votes in person.
26. WHAT ARE THE FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES OF PARTICIPATION IN THE PLAN?
The following summary is based upon an interpretation of current Federal tax
law. Each participant should consult his or her own tax advisor to determine
particular tax consequences, including state tax consequences which will vary
from state to state, which may result from participation in the Plan and a
subsequent disposition of shares of Common Stock acquired pursuant to the Plan.
A participant in the Plan will be considered for Federal income tax purposes as
having received, on the Investment Date, a dividend in an amount equal to the
fair market value on that date of the shares of Common Stock acquired with
reinvested dividends. Such shares will have a tax basis equal to the same
amount.
A participant will be treated as having received a dividend upon the purchase of
shares of Common Stock with an optional cash payment in an amount equal to the
excess, if any, of the fair market value of those shares on the Investment Date
on which they are acquired over the amount of the optional cash payment. The tax
basis of shares of Common Stock purchased with an optional cash payment will
equal the amount of the payment plus the excess, if any, of the fair market
value of the shares purchased over the amount of the payment. The Internal
Revenue Service has ruled that service charges and fees paid by the Company on a
participant's behalf are not subject to federal income tax.
For Federal income tax purposes, the fair market value of shares of Common Stock
acquired under the Plan will be equal to 100% of the average of the high and low
sales prices of the Common Stock in New York Stock Exchange trading on the
relevant Investment Date. If the Investment Date falls on a date which is not a
Trading Day, then the fair market value will be the average of the high and low
sales prices of the Common Stock in New York Stock Exchange trading for the
Trading Day immediately preceding such Investment Date.
It should be noted that the fair market value on an Investment Date is likely to
differ from the Purchase Price, as reduced by the Purchase Price Discount, used
to determine the number of shares of Common Stock purchased. Such Purchase Price
is the average of the high and low sales prices of the Common Stock in New York
Stock Exchange trading for the ten Trading Days comprising the relevant Pricing
Period (subject to adjustment with respect to the investment of optional cash
payments in the event that the Threshold Price is not satisfied on one or more
days during a Pricing Period), and is subject to the Purchase Price Discounts
described in Question 11.
14
<PAGE>
The following example may be helpful to illustrate the federal income tax
consequences of the reinvestment of dividends:
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
Cash dividends reinvested $1,000.00
Purchase Price* $30.00
Less 4.0% Purchase Price Discount + 1.20
---------
Net purchase price per share $28.80
Number of shares purchased ($1,000 DIVIDED BY $28.80) 34.722
Total taxable dividend resulting from transaction ($30.00 x 34.722) $1,041.66
</TABLE>
- ------------------------
* This price is assumed for illustrative purposes only and the tax
consequences will vary with the market price of the Common Stock. This
example assumes no difference between the Investment Date fair market value
and the Purchase Price used to determine the number of shares acquired. If
the Purchase Price exceeds the fair market value of the Common Stock on the
Investment Date, the dividend income to the participant would be reduced by
the amount of the difference multiplied by the number of shares purchased.
Conversely, if the Purchase Price is less than the fair market value, the
dividend income would be increased by the amount of the difference
multiplied by the number of shares purchased.
+ The Purchase Price Discount is subject to change from time to time at the
Company's discretion. See Question 11.
A participant's holding period for shares of Common Stock acquired pursuant to
the Plan will begin on the day following the Investment Date on which they were
acquired for the participant's account.
A participant will not realize any taxable income upon receipt of a certificate
for full shares of Common Stock credited to the participant's account, either
upon the participant's request for the certificate or upon termination of
participation in the Plan.
A participant will realize gain or loss upon the sale or exchange of shares of
Common Stock acquired pursuant to the Plan. A participant will also realize gain
or loss upon receipt, following termination of participation in the Plan, of a
cash payment for any fractional share credited to the participant's account. The
amount of any such gain or loss will be the difference between the amount that
the participant received for the shares, or fractional share, and the tax basis
therefor.
27. WHAT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE COMPANY UNDER THE PLAN?
Neither the Company nor the Administrator will be liable in administering the
Plan for any act done in good faith or for any omission to act, including,
without limitation, any claim of liability arising out of the failure to
terminate a participant's account upon such participant's death prior to receipt
of notice in writing of such death. The foregoing, however, does not abridge any
rights of a participant to bring action against the Company or the Administrator
based on alleged violations of federal securities laws.
A participant should recognize that the Company cannot assure a profit or
protect against a loss on the shares issued to a participant under the Plan.
Shareholders are cautioned that this Prospectus does not represent a change in
the Company's cash dividend policy nor a guarantee of future cash dividends,
which will depend upon the Company's earnings, financial requirements,
governmental regulations and other factors.
15
<PAGE>
28. WHAT PROVISION IS MADE FOR FOREIGN SHAREHOLDERS WHOSE DIVIDENDS ARE SUBJECT
TO INCOME TAX WITHHOLDING?
In the case of those foreign shareholders whose dividends are subject to United
States income tax withholding, the Administrator will apply the net amount of
the dividends of such foreign shareholders, after deduction of taxes, to the
purchase of shares of Common Stock pursuant to the Plan.
Foreign shareholders who check the "optional cash payments only" box on the
Authorization Form will continue to receive cash dividends on shares registered
in their names in the same manner as if they were not participating in the Plan.
Optional cash payments received from them must be in United States dollars and
will be invested in the same manner as optional cash payments from other
participants. Checks and other drafts must be received by the Administrator two
Trading Days before the start of the relevant Pricing Period in order for the
funds to be invested on the relevant Investment Date.
29. MAY THE PLAN BE CHANGED OR DISCONTINUED?
The Company reserves the right to suspend, modify or terminate the Plan at any
time. Notice of any such suspension, modification or termination will be sent to
all participants.
30. CAN THE COMPANY OR THE ADMINISTRATOR TERMINATE A PARTICIPANT'S INTEREST IN
THE PLAN?
The Company or the Administrator may terminate a participant's participation in
the Plan at any time for any reason, by notice in writing mailed to the
participant. In such event the Administrator will follow the procedures for
withdrawal set forth in Questions 20 and 21.
31. WHERE SHOULD CORRESPONDENCE REGARDING THE PLAN BE DIRECTED?
All correspondence regarding the Plan should be addressed to the Administrator:
Norwest Bank Minnesota, N.A.
Dividend Reinvestment Department
Post Office Box 539
South St. Paul, Minnesota 55075-0539
and reference to the Company should appear on all correspondence. Telephone
inquiries should be directed to 612-450-4064 or 1-800-468-9716.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
The Common Stock acquired under the Plan is being sold directly by the Company.
The Company may sell Common Stock to owners of shares (including brokers or
dealers) who, in connection with any resales of such shares, may be deemed to be
underwriters. Such shares, including shares acquired pursuant to waivers granted
with respect to the dividend reinvestment or optional cash payment features of
the Plan, may be resold in market transactions (including coverage of short
positions) on any national securities exchange on which shares of Common Stock
trade or in privately negotiated transactions. These exchanges include the New
York Stock Exchange, the national exchange on which the Common Stock is
currently listed. Because the Company may grant waivers with respect to the
dividend reinvestment and optional cash payment features and change the
Aggregate Monthly Maximum, it is possible that certain financial intermediaries,
including broker-dealers, may engage in positioning transactions in order to
take advantage of the discount features under the Plan. The difference between
the price such owners pay to the Company for shares of Common Stock acquired
under the Plan, after
16
<PAGE>
deduction of the applicable discount from the Market Price, and the price at
which such shares are resold, may be deemed to constitute underwriting
commissions received by such owners in connection with such transactions.
USE OF PROCEEDS
The net proceeds of the sales of Common Stock by the Company pursuant to the
Plan are expected to be used for general corporate purposes. The Company has no
basis for estimating either the number of shares of Common Stock that will
ultimately be sold by it pursuant to the Plan or the prices at which such shares
will be sold.
LEGAL OPINIONS
The validity of the shares of Common Stock offered hereby have been passed upon
for the Company by Faegre & Benson, 2200 Norwest Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota
55402.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements and the related financial statement
schedules incorporated in this prospectus by reference from the Company's Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995, have been audited by
Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent auditors, as stated in their reports, which
are incorporated herein by reference, and have been so incorporated in reliance
upon the reports of such firm given upon their authority as experts in
accounting and auditing.
17
