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AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON NOVEMBER 21, 1997
REGISTRATION NO. 333-38765
-------------------
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
AMENDMENT NO. 1
TO
FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
-------------------
ARMOR HOLDINGS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)
DELAWARE 59-3392443
(State or other jurisdiction (I.R.S.Employer
of incorporation or organization) Identification No.)
ARMOR HOLDINGS, INC. Warren B. Kanders
13386 INTERNATIONAL PARKWAY Chairman of the Board of Directors
JACKSONVILLE, FL 32218 Armor Holdings, Inc.
(904) 741-5400 13386 International Parkway
Jacksonville, FL 32218
(904) 741-5400
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(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, (Address, including zip code, and telephone number,
including area code, of registrant's principal executive including area code,of registrant's principal executive offices)
offices)
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with copies to:
ROBERT L. LAWRENCE, ESQ.
KANE KESSLER, P.C.
1350 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS
NEW YORK, NY 10019
(212) 541-6222
APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO PUBLIC: As soon
as practicable after the Registration Statement becomes effective.
If the only securities being registered on this Form are being
offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the
following box. [ ]
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be
offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the
Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with
dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. [X]
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an
offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the
following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the
earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. [ ]
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule
462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the
Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective
registration statement for the same offering. [ ]
If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule
434, please check the following box. [ ]
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CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
================================================================================================================================
TITLE OF EACH Proposed Proposed
CLASS OF maximum maximum Amount of
SECURITIES Amount offering price aggregate registration
TO BE REGISTERED registered per share(1) offering price(1) fee(2)
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Common Stock,
$.01 par value 858,524 $12.53 $10,757,305 $3,259.79
================================================================================================================================
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(1) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee
pursuant to Rule 457(c), based upon the average of the high and low sale
prices for the Common Stock on the American Stock Exchange on October
23, 1997.
(2) The Company has previously paid to the Commission a registration fee of
$3,259.79 pursuant to Rule 457(c).
THE COMPANY HEREBY AMENDS THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR DATES AS
MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE COMPANY SHALL FILE A
FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT
SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(A) OF THE
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL BECOME
EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION, ACTING PURSUANT TO SECTION 8(A), MAY
DETERMINE.
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Information contained herein is subject to completion or amendment. A
registration statement relating to these securities has been filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. These securities may not be sold nor may
offers to buy be accepted prior to the time the registration statement becomes
effective. This prospectus shall not constitute an offer to sell or the
solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of these
securities in any State in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be
unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities law of
any such State.
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED NOVEMBER 21, 1997
PROSPECTUS
858,524 SHARES
ARMOR HOLDINGS, INC.
COMMON STOCK
The 858,524 shares of the common stock, par value $.01 per share (the
"Common Stock"), of Armor Holdings, Inc., (the "Company"), offered hereby are
being offered by FS Partners, LLC, Scottish Eastern Investment Trust, Martin
Currie North American Fund and Martin Brayshaw (collectively, the "Selling
Stockholders"). The Company will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale
of the shares of Common Stock to be sold by the Selling Stockholders. See "Use
of Proceeds and "Selling Stockholders."
The Common Stock is listed on the American Stock Exchange (the
"AMEX") under the symbol "ABE." On November 20, 1997 the closing sales price
of the Common Stock on the AMEX was $11.00 per share.
FOR A DISCUSSION OF CERTAIN RISKS OF AN INVESTMENT IN THE SHARES OF
COMMON STOCK OFFERED HEREBY, SEE "RISK FACTORS" ON PAGES 7 TO 11.
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.
INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS SUBJECT TO COMPLETION OR AMENDMENT. A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT RELATING TO THESE SECURITIES HAS BEEN FILED WITH THE
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION. THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE SOLD NOR MAY
OFFERS TO BUY BE ACCEPTED PRIOR TO THE TIME THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT BECOMES
EFFECTIVE. THIS PROSPECTUS SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR THE
SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY NOR SHALL THERE BE ANY SALE OF THESE
SECURITIES IN ANY STATE IN WHICH SUCH OFFER, SOLICITATION OR SALE WOULD BE
UNLAWFUL PRIOR TO REGISTRATION OR QUALIFICATION UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF
ANY SUCH STATE.
The date of this Prospectus is __________ __, 1997
<PAGE>
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
The Company hereby incorporates into this Prospectus by reference the
following documents and the exhibits thereto previously filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") pursuant to the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") and the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"):
1. The Company's description of the Common Stock contained in
the Company's Registration Statement on Form 8-A (Reg. No.
1-11667) pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act,
including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of
updating such description;
2. Annual Report on Form 10-KSB, as amended on Form 10-KSB/A-1
on April 29, 1997, for the fiscal year ended December 28,
1996;
3. Current Report on Form 8-K, dated April 22, 1997, as amended
on Form 8-K/A-1 on June 20, 1997;
4. Definitive Proxy Statement dated May 27, 1997, relating to
the annual meeting of stockholders held on June 12, 1997;
5. 1996 Annual Report to Stockholders, filed on May 28, 1997.
6. Current Report on Form 8-K, dated June 24, 1997, as amended
on Form 8-K/A-1 on August 11, 1997;
7. Quarterly Report on Form 10-QSB for the quarterly period
ended March 29, 1996, as amended on Form 10-QSB/A-1 filed
May 15, 1997;
8. Financial Statements included on pages F-1 through F-82 in
Registration Statement No. 333-28879 on Form S-1, filed by
the Company with the Commission under the Securities Act;
9. Summary Historical, Supplemental and Pro Forma Financial
Data included on page 4 in Registration Statement No.
333-28879 on Form S-1, filed by the Company with the
Commission under the Securities Act;
10. Selected Consolidated Historical, Supplemental and Pro Forma
Financial Data included on pages 13-14 in Registration
Statement No. 333-28879 on Form S-1, filed by the Company
with the Commission under the Securities Act;
11. Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated Financial Statements
included on pages 15-22 in Registration Statement No.
333-28879 on Form S-1, filed by the Company with the
Commission under the Securities Act;
12. Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended
June 28, 1997; and
13. Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended
September 27, 1997.
In addition, all reports and other 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 shares
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shall be deemed to be incorporated herein by reference and to be a part hereof
from the date of filing of such reports and 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 incorporated
or 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 who receives
a Prospectus, upon the written request of such person, a copy of any of the
aforementioned documents, and all exhibits and amendments thereto, including
the financial statements and schedules, as filed with the Commission. Written
requests for such copies should be directed to the Company's Corporate
Secretary at c/o Armor Holdings, Inc., 13386 International Parkway,
Jacksonville, Florida 32218, (904) 741-5400.
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PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
The following summary is qualified in its entirety by, and should be
read in conjunction with, the more detailed information and the Consolidated
Financial Statements (including the Notes thereto) included elsewhere in this
Prospectus. The historical Consolidated Financial Statements of Armor
Holdings, Inc. for the year ended December 28, 1996 and for the interim three
month period ended March 29, 1997 have been restated on a supplemental basis
to give effect to the Company's combination with DSL Group Limited ("DSL") on
April 16, 1997 in a transaction accounted for as a pooling of interests.
Accordingly, such financial statements reflect the combined results of Armor
Holdings, Inc. and DSL since July 31, 1996, the effective date of the
acquisition of DSL's predecessor company by DSL. Certain other financial and
operating data contained herein are presented on a pro forma basis to give
effect to the acquisition of Gorandel Trading Limited ("GTL") on June 9, 1997,
Supercraft (Europe) Limited, f/k/a Supercraft (Garments) Limited
("Supercraft") on April 7, 1997, and assets of Defense Technology Corporation
of America on September 30, 1996. Unless the context otherwise requires (i)
references to the Company mean Armor Holdings, Inc. and its consolidated
subsidiaries and (ii) the information contained herein gives effect to the
transfer on June 16, 1997, of the Company's operating assets and liabilities
to a subsidiary as a result of which the Company became a holding company.
References to the Company's fiscal year mean the 52-week fiscal year ended on
the last Saturday of that calendar year (e.g., fiscal 1996 means the fiscal
year ended December 28, 1996). References to the Company's third quarter mean
the 13-week period ended on the 13th Saturday following the close of the
second quarter of that calendar year (e.g., third quarter 1997 means the
13-week period ended September 27, 1997). This Prospectus contains
forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. The Company's
actual results may differ materially from the results discussed in such
forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including those set
forth under the caption "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in this Prospectus.
THE COMPANY
Armor Holdings, Inc. is a leading provider of security solutions to
the increasing level of security problems encountered by domestic and foreign
law enforcement personnel, governmental agencies and multi-national
corporations. The Company's solutions include a broad range of high quality
branded manufactured products, such as ballistic resistant vests and tactical
armor, bomb disposal equipment, less-than-lethal munitions and anti-riot
products marketed under brand names such as American Body Armor(TM), Defense
Technology(TM) and First Defense(R). The Company distributes its manufactured
products through its network of approximately 500 distributors or agents
worldwide. The Company also provides sophisticated security planning, advisory
and management services to multi-national corporations and governmental and
non-governmental agencies, including the provision of highly trained,
multi-lingual and experienced security personnel in violent and unstable areas
of the world such as Angola, Colombia, Russia and the Democratic Republic of
Congo (the former Zaire).
Founded in 1969 as American Body Armor & Equipment, Inc., the Company
was until recently primarily a manufacturer of armored products. Since the
Company underwent a change of control in January 1996, the Company has pursued
a strategy of growth through acquisition of businesses and assets that
complement its existing operations. Since July 1996, the Company has acquired
or combined with five businesses in the security products and specialty
security services market including: (i) DSL, a leading provider of specialty
security services in high risk and volatile regions of the world; (ii) GTL, a
provider of specialized security services throughout Russia and Central Asia;
(iii) Supercraft, a European manufacturer of military apparel, high visibility
garments and ballistic resistant vests; (iv) assets of Defense Technology
Corporation of America, a manufacturer of less-than-lethal and anti-riot
products; and (v) assets of the NIK Public Safety Product Line, a product line
of portable narcotic identification kits used by law enforcement agencies. In
1996, the Company, on a pro forma basis giving effect to four of these
transactions as though they had occurred as of the beginning of such period,
generated approximately
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$68 million in revenues. The Company continues to seek to acquire businesses
that will either expand its portfolio of products and services, strengthen its
distribution network or expand its operations internationally.
The market for security products and services worldwide is large and
growing. Spending for police protection in the U.S. alone is estimated at $41
billion per year. The industry continues to be very fragmented, consisting of
many small manufacturers and service providers. The market is changing, driven
by the nature and perception of violent criminal activity both domestically
and internationally, as increases in gang, illegal drug and militant
activities have created more sophisticated, well-equipped and violent
criminals. These changes have created opportunities for consolidation among
providers of sophisticated products to the law enforcement and institutional
corrections markets. Internationally, greater political, economic and social
tensions and the proliferation of weapons due to deficient security and
illegal arms sales continue to fuel criminal activities in lesser-developed
nations. As the targets of many of these criminal activities, multi-national
corporations and governmental agencies operating in these volatile regions are
increasingly outsourcing their security services to reputable, experienced
private companies.
The Company believes these trends are increasing demand for its
products and services. To capitalize on these trends, the Company is
implementing its business and growth strategies. The principal elements of the
Company's business strategy are: (i) offer a comprehensive portfolio of
solutions to security threats; (ii) promote brand development through training
and sales support; (iii) capitalize on the Company's global distribution
network; (iv) capitalize on a diversified, global and institutional service
customer base; and (v) maximize profitability and operational efficiencies.
The principal elements of the Company's growth strategy are: (i) pursue
strategic acquisitions; (ii) leverage its distribution network; (iii) leverage
its service client base; and (iv) continue global expansion.
The Company's executive offices are located at 13386 International
Parkway, Jacksonville, Florida 32218. Its telephone number is (904) 741-5400.
THE OFFERING
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Common Stock offered by the Company.............................. 0 shares
Common Stock offered by the Selling Stockholders................. 858,524 shares
Common Stock to be outstanding after the offering (1)............ 16,023,740 shares
Use of proceeds.................................................. The Company will
receive no
proceeds from the
sale of the shares
of Common Stock
offered hereby.
All proceeds will
be received by the
Selling
Stockholders. See
"Use of Proceeds"
American Stock Exchange symbol................................... ABE
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(1) Excludes (i) 2,029,333 shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance upon
the exercise of outstanding options under the Company's 1994 Incentive
Stock Plan, Amended and Restated 1996 Stock Option
5
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Plan and Amended and Restated 1996 Non-Employee Directors Stock
Option Plan, and (ii) 1,101,000 shares available for issuance,
upon exercise of options that may be granted under such plans.
RISK FACTORS
An investment in the shares of Common Stock offered hereby involves a
high degree of risk. For a discussion of certain risks of an investment in the
Common Stock offered hereby, see "Risk Factors" on pages 7 through 11.
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RISK FACTORS
Prospective purchasers of the Common Stock should consider carefully the
following risk factors relating to the offering and the business of the
Company, together with the information and financial data set forth elsewhere
in this Prospectus, prior to making an investment decision. This Prospectus
contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the
Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. Such statements are
indicated by words or phrases such as "anticipate," "estimate," "project,"
"management believes," "the Company believes" and similar words or phrases.
Such statements are based on current expectations and are subject to risks,
uncertainties and assumptions. Certain of these risks are described below.
Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should
underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially
from those anticipated, estimated or projected.
RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH FUTURE ACQUISITIONS
A key element of the Company's growth strategy is the acquisition of
businesses and assets that will complement its current businesses. There can
be no assurance that the Company will be able to identify attractive
acquisition opportunities, obtain financing for acquisitions on satisfactory
terms or successfully acquire identified targets. In addition, there can be no
assurance that the Company will be successful in integrating acquired
businesses into its existing operations or that such integration will not
result in unanticipated liabilities or unforeseen operational difficulties,
which may be material, or require a disproportionate amount of management's
attention. Such acquisitions may result in the Company incurring additional
indebtedness or issuing preferred stock or additional Common Stock. There can
be no assurance that competition for acquisition opportunities in the industry
will not escalate, thereby increasing the cost to the Company of making
acquisitions or causing the Company to refrain from making further
acquisitions. In addition, the terms and conditions of the Company's credit
facility with Barnett Bank, N.A. (the "Credit Facility") impose, and the terms
and conditions of future debt instruments may impose, restrictions on the
Company that, among other things, restrict the Company's ability to make
acquisitions.
RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH MANAGING A GROWING BUSINESS
The Company has rapidly expanded its operations, and this growth has
placed significant demands on its management, administrative, operating and
financial resources. The continued growth of the Company's customer base, the
types of services offered and the geographic markets served can be expected to
continue to place a significant strain on the Company's resources. In
addition, personnel qualified both in the provision of the Company's security
services and the marketing of such services are difficult to identify and
hire. The Company's future performance and profitability will depend in large
part on its ability to attract and retain additional management and other key
personnel, its ability to implement successfully enhancements to its
management systems and its ability to adapt those systems, as necessary, to
respond to growth in its business. No assurance can be made that the Company
will be able to hire such qualified persons as and when required. See
"Business--Growth Strategy."
INHERENT RISKS OF CERTAIN PRODUCTS SOLD BY THE COMPANY
The products manufactured by the Company are used in applications
where the failure of such products to perform as expected, or the failure to
use such products properly, could result in serious bodily injury or death.
These products include body armor designed to protect against ballistic and
sharp instrument penetration, and less-than-lethal and anti-riot products such
as pepper sprays, distraction devices, and flameless expulsion grenades. The
Company and DTC (as hereinafter defined), among other parties, have been named
as defendants in a product liability lawsuit claiming damages for wrongful
death resulting from the use by law enforcement officers of
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less-than-lethal products sold by DTCoA (as hereinafter defined). The Company
is aware of claims, including claims against DTCoA, of permanent physical
injury and death caused by self-defense sprays and other munitions intended to
be less-than-lethal. The Company is also aware that the U.S. Justice
Department is studying the role that self-defense pepper sprays may have had
in the deaths of suspects sprayed by law enforcement personnel. In addition,
the manufacture and sale of certain less-than-lethal products may be the
subject of product liability claims in the event that such products do not
perform in the manner in which they are intended to perform. See "--Risks of
Product Liability" and "Business--Litigation."
INHERENT RISKS OF SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE COMPANY
The Company provides security services through DSL. These services
are most in demand in areas of the world encountering high levels of violence,
unstable or chaotic political environments and little or no effective local
law enforcement authorities. As a result, DSL's management and employees are
often located in highly unsafe and unstable environments, such as Africa,
South America and Central Asia. Under certain circumstances, the Company
supplements its own personnel with local police or military who are not
legally under the control and supervision of the Company. This lack of direct
control may limit the Company's effectiveness without insulating the Company
from liability claims based on the actions of these personnel. In addition,
murders, kidnappings and attacks on facilities and installations are endemic
in the locations in which DSL operates. There can be no assurance that
lawsuits alleging negligence in the provision of security services and seeking
substantial amounts in damages will not be brought in the future, or that any
such lawsuit would not be successful and have a material adverse effect on the
Company's financial condition and results of operations. See
"Business--Products and Services."
RISKS OF PRODUCT LIABILITY
The failure of the Company's products to perform as intended could
result in serious injury or death and give rise to product liability claims
against the Company. There can be no assurance that the Company's product
liability insurance coverage will be sufficient to cover the payment of any
potential claim. In addition, there can be no assurance that insurance
coverage will continue to be available or, if available, that the Company will
be able to obtain it at a reasonable cost. Any substantial uninsured loss
would have to be paid out of the assets of the Company and would have a
material adverse effect on the Company's financial condition. In addition, the
lack of product liability coverage would prohibit the Company from bidding for
orders for certain municipal customers which require such coverage. Any such
lack of coverage would have a material adverse effect on the Company's
financial condition and results of operations. See "Business--Litigation."
RISKS OF CONDUCTING INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS
The Company has operations and assets in many parts of Africa, South
America, Southeast Asia, Central Asia, the Balkans and Russia. In addition,
the Company sells its products and services in other foreign countries and is
seeking to increase its level of international business activity. Accordingly,
the Company is subject to various risks, including U.S.-imposed embargoes of
sales to specific countries, foreign import controls and foreign currency
restrictions, which may be arbitrarily imposed and enforced, exchange rate
fluctuations, expropriation of assets, war, civil uprisings and riots,
government instability and legal systems of decrees, laws, regulations,
interpretations and court decisions that are not always fully developed and
that may be retroactively or arbitrarily applied. The Company may be subject
to unanticipated income taxes, excise duties, import taxes, export taxes or
other governmental assessments. There can be no assurance that such risks will
not result in a loss of business or other unexpected costs which could have a
material adverse effect on the Company's financial condition and results of
operations. Since DSL routinely operates in areas where local government
policies regarding foreign entities and the local tax and legal regimes are
often uncertain, poorly administered and in a state of flux, it is difficult
to assure
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that the Company is in compliance with all relevant local laws and taxes at
any given point in time. A subsequent determination that the Company failed to
comply with relevant local laws and taxes could have a material adverse effect
on the Company's financial condition and results of operations. See
"Business--Products and Services."
GOVERNMENT REGULATION
The Company is subject to federal licensing requirements with respect
to the sale in foreign countries of certain of its products. In addition, the
Company is obligated to comply with a variety of federal, state and local
regulations governing certain aspects of its operations and the workplace,
including regulations promulgated by, among others, the U.S. Departments of
Commerce, State and Transportation, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.
The Company is subject to various federal, state and local
environmental laws, regulations and ordinances governing, among other things,
emissions to air, discharge to waters and the generation, handling, storage,
transportation, treatment and disposal of hazardous substances and wastes. The
Company uses a variety of hazardous chemicals in connection with the
manufacture of certain of its less-than-lethal products, including tear gas.
Current conditions and future events, such as changes in existing laws and
regulations, may give rise to additional compliance costs that could have a
material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition or
results of operations. Furthermore, if a release of hazardous substances
occurs on or from the Company's properties or any associated offsite disposal
location, or if contamination from prior activities is discovered at any of
the Company's properties, the Company may be held liable and the amount of
such liability could be material. See "Business--Environmental Matters."
The Company, like other companies operating internationally, is
subject to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and other laws which prohibit
improper payments to foreign governments and their officials by U.S. and other
business entities. DSL operates in countries known to experience endemic
corruption. The Company's extensive operations in such countries creates the
risk of an unauthorized payment by an employee or agent of the Company which
would be in violation of various laws including the Foreign Corrupt Practices
Act. Violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act may result in severe
criminal penalties which could have an adverse effect on the Company's
financial condition and results of operations.
BUDGET CONSIDERATIONS
Customers for the Company's products include law enforcement and
governmental agencies. Budgetary allocations for law enforcement are
dependent, in part, upon government tax revenues and budgetary constraints,
which fluctuate from time to time. Many domestic and foreign government
agencies have experienced budget deficits that have led to decreased
expenditures in certain areas. The Company's results of operations may be
subject to substantial period-to-period fluctuations as a result of these and
other factors affecting capital spending. A reduction of funding for law
enforcement could materially and adversely affect the Company's business,
financial condition and results of operations. See "Industry
Overview--Manufactured Security Products Market."
COMPETITION
The Company's business is highly competitive in all product and
service lines. Many of the Company's competitors have significantly greater
financial resources, larger facilities and operations and depth and experience
of personnel as well as more recognizable trademarks for products similar to
those sold by the Company. In addition, the Company's competitors may develop
or improve their products, in which event the Company's products may be
rendered obsolete or less marketable. The security services industry is
extremely competitive and
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<PAGE>
highly fragmented. The Company expects that the level of competition will
increase in the future. There can be no assurance that the Company will be
able to continue to compete successfully. See "Business--Competition."
INFLUENCE OF SIGNIFICANT STOCKHOLDERS
Warren B. Kanders, in his capacity as the sole stockholder of Kanders
Florida Holdings, Inc. ("Kanders"), may be deemed to be the beneficial owner
of approximately 24.6% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock. In addition,
officers and directors of the Company, including Mr. Kanders, beneficially own
an aggregate of approximately 5,719,082 shares, or 33.6%, of the Common Stock.
Consequently, Mr. Kanders, as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the
Company and as the sole stockholder of Kanders, together with the Company's
officers and directors, will have the ability to significantly influence the
election of the Company's directors and on the outcome of corporate actions
requiring stockholder approval, including a change in control. See "Principal
Stockholders" and "Description of Capital Stock."
DEPENDENCE ON KEY PERSONNEL
The Company is substantially dependent upon the personal efforts and
abilities of Warren B. Kanders, Jonathan M. Spiller, Richard T. Bistrong,
Alastair G.A. Morrison and the Hon. Richard N. Bethell. Should any of these
members of the Company's senior management be unable or unwilling to continue
in their present roles, the Company's business could be materially adversely
affected. See "Management--Directors and Executive Officers."
EFFECT OF CERTAIN STATUTORY PROVISIONS
The Company is subject to the anti-takeover provisions of Section 203
of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the "DGCL"). In general, Section 203
prohibits a publicly-held Delaware corporation from engaging in a "business
combination" with an "interested stockholder" for a period of three years
after the date of the transaction in which the person became an interested
stockholder, unless the business combination is approved in a prescribed
manner. See "Description of Capital Stock--Certain Provisions of Delaware
Law."
VOLATILITY OF MARKET PRICE FOR COMMON STOCK
The market price for the Common Stock may be highly volatile. The
Company believes that a variety of factors, including announcements by the
Company or its competitors, quarterly variations in financial results, trading
volume, general market trends and other factors, could cause the market price
of the Common Stock to fluctuate substantially. Due to the relatively small
size of the Company, a large contract awarded to or lost by the Company may
have the effect of distorting the Company's overall financial results. In
addition, the stock market has experienced extreme price and volume
fluctuations that are often unrelated to the operating performance of
particular companies. These market fluctuations may adversely affect the price
of the Common Stock. See "Price Range of Common Stock and Dividend Policy."
SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF COMMON STOCK ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE
As of November 20, 1997, the Company had 16,023,740 shares of Common
Stock outstanding. Of these shares, 10,565,325 shares are freely tradeable
under the Securities Act by persons who are not "affiliates" of the Company
(in general, an affiliate is any person who has a control relationship with
the Company). The remaining 5,458,415 outstanding shares of Common Stock are
deemed to be "restricted securities" as that term is defined in Rule 144, all
of which will become qualified for sale in the public market in compliance
with Rule 144.
10
<PAGE>
No prediction can be made as to the effect, if any, that market sales
of shares of Common Stock that are restricted securities, or the availability
of such shares for sale, will have on the market price of the Common Stock
prevailing from time to time. Sales of substantial amounts of Common Stock, or
the perception that such sales could occur, could adversely affect prevailing
market prices for the Common Stock and could impair the Company's future
ability to raise capital through an offering of equity securities.
As part of the Company's acquisition strategy, the Company
anticipates issuing additional shares of its Common Stock. To the extent that
the Company is able to execute its acquisition strategy, the number of
outstanding shares of Common Stock that will be eligible for sale in the
future is likely to increase substantially. In addition, the potential
issuance of additional shares in connection with anticipated acquisitions
could depress demand for the Common Stock and result in a lower price than
would otherwise be obtained. See "Shares Eligible for Future Sale."
NO DIVIDENDS
The Company currently does not intend to pay any cash dividends on
the Common Stock. The Company currently intends to retain any earnings for
working capital, repayment of indebtedness, capital expenditures and general
corporate purposes. The Credit Facility contains restrictions on the Company's
ability to pay dividends or make other distributions. See "Price Range of
Common Stock and Dividend Policy."
FOR ALL OF THE FOREGOING REASONS AND OTHERS SET FORTH IN THIS PROSPECTUS, THE
SECURITIES OFFERED HEREBY INVOLVE A HIGH DEGREE OF RISK. ANY PERSON
CONSIDERING AN INVESTMENT IN THE SECURITIES OFFERED HEREBY SHOULD BE AWARE OF
THESE AND OTHER FACTORS SET FORTH IN THIS PROSPECTUS. THE SECURITIES SHOULD BE
PURCHASED ONLY BY PERSONS WHO CAN AFFORD A TOTAL LOSS OF THEIR INVESTMENT IN
THE COMPANY.
11
<PAGE>
SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS
Since Kanders acquired its interest in the Company in January 1996,
the Company has pursued a strategy of growth through acquisition of businesses
and assets that complement its existing businesses. Through November 20, 1997,
the Company has consummated the five transactions discussed below, and is
continuing to pursue other acquisition opportunities. In addition, the Company
recently established a holding company structure to facilitate management of
its growth and completed a public offering of 4,000,000 primary shares of its
Common Stock.
DSL GROUP LIMITED
On April 16, 1997, the Company combined with DSL Group Limited in a
transaction accounted for as a pooling of interests (the "DSL Transaction").
DSL is a leading provider of specialized security services in high risk and
volatile environments. DSL was formed on June 3, 1996 for the purpose of
acquiring DSL Holdings Limited ("DSL Holdings"), its predecessor corporation,
whose assets included an indirect 50% interest in Gorandel Trading Limited.
DSL's acquisition of DSL Holdings was completed on July 31, 1996. Supplemental
consolidated financial statements of the Company for fiscal 1996 and for first
quarter 1997 have been provided which give effect to the DSL Transaction on a
supplemental basis. In connection with the DSL Transaction, the Company issued
1,274,217 shares of Common Stock valued at the time at $10.9 million for all
of the outstanding ordinary share capital of DSL and paid $7.5 million in cash
for all of the outstanding preference shares. The Company also assumed and
subsequently repaid $6.9 million, plus interest, of DSL's outstanding credit
facility. In connection with the DSL Transaction, the Company recorded a
non-recurring charge to earnings in the second quarter of fiscal 1997 of
approximately $2.5 million. This charge consisted of transaction costs,
principally professional fees of approximately $1.1 million, and restructuring
costs of approximately $1.4 million incurred to consolidate the administrative
and accounting functions of DSL with those of the Company at its headquarters
in Jacksonville, Florida. The historical combined net revenues of DSL and its
predecessor for 1996 were approximately $31.1 million.
GORANDEL TRADING LIMITED
On June 9, 1997, the Company acquired the remaining 50% of Gorandel
Trading Limited that it did not previously own. GTL provides specialized
security services throughout Russia and Central Asia. The aggregate purchase
price of the transaction was approximately $2.4 million, consisting of
$570,000 in cash paid at closing, $600,000 in cash to be paid upon the
satisfaction of certain conditions and 115,176 shares of Common Stock valued
at the time at $1.2 million. As part of this transaction, the Company agreed
to make a loan of $200,000 to a former stockholder of GTL, subject to certain
conditions. GTL's net revenues for 1996 were approximately $6.4 million.
SUPERCRAFT (EUROPE) LIMITED
On April 7, 1997, the Company acquired Supercraft (Europe) Limited,
f/k/a Supercraft (Garments) Limited. Supercraft is a European manufacturer of
military apparel, high visibility garments and ballistic resistant vests,
which it distributes to law enforcement and military agencies throughout
Europe, the Middle East and Asia. The Company acquired Supercraft for a total
purchase price of approximately $2.6 million consisting of (i) approximately
$1.3 million in cash, subject to adjustments, (ii) $875,000 in cash which was
placed in escrow pending final disposition of title to certain real property
and (iii) certain additional consideration in an amount not to exceed
(pound)250,000 (approximately $410,000) based on 1997 operating results.
Supercraft's net revenues for 1996 were approximately $5.7 million.
12
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DEFENSE TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION OF AMERICA
On September 30, 1996, a subsidiary of the Company, Defense
Technology Corporation of America, a Delaware corporation ("DTC"), acquired
substantially all of the assets (the "DTCoA Assets") of Defense Technology
Corporation of America, a Wyoming corporation ("DTCoA"). DTC manufactures
less-than-lethal and anti-riot products, including pepper sprays, tear gas,
distraction devices, flameless expulsion grenades and specialty impact
munitions, which it distributes to U.S. and foreign law enforcement agencies
and the military. The Company acquired these assets by paying DTCoA a purchase
price consisting of approximately $838,000 in cash, 270,728 shares of Common
Stock valued at the time at $2.0 million, subject to reduction under certain
circumstances, and by issuing to Key Bank of Wyoming ("Key Bank"), which made
a credit facility available to DTCoA, 358,714 shares of Common Stock valued at
the time at $2.65 million in return for Key Bank's agreement to release its
liens on the assets of DTCoA. The Company also assumed certain specified
liabilities of DTCoA. The combined net revenues of DTC and DTCoA for 1996 were
approximately $8.9 million.
NIK PUBLIC SAFETY PRODUCT LINE
Effective as of July 1, 1996, NIK Public Safety, Inc. ("NIK"), a
subsidiary of the Company, acquired the NIK Public Safety Product Line (the
"NIK Product Line"). NIK assembles and distributes portable narcotic
identification kits used for the identification of narcotic substances by law
enforcement agencies. In addition, NIK distributes the Flex-Cuf(R) restraint,
specimen collection kits, evidence collection kits and tamper guard evidence
tape. The Company acquired the NIK Product Line for a purchase price
consisting of 310,931 shares of Common Stock valued at the time at $2.4
million. NIK's net revenues for 1996 were approximately $2.2 million.
CONVERSION TO A HOLDING COMPANY STRUCTURE
On June 12, 1997, at the annual meeting of stockholders, the
stockholders of the Company approved the creation of a holding company
structure for all of the Company's operations. As of June 16, 1997, the
Company transferred all of its operating assets and liabilities relating to
its American Body Armor(TM) business to a subsidiary and the Company became a
holding company. As a result, the Company owns directly or indirectly the
outstanding capital stock of its subsidiary corporations and no longer
conducts any manufacturing operations directly.
PUBLIC OFFERING OF COMMON STOCK
On July 25, 1997, the Company issued 4,000,000 new shares of Common
Stock at $10.125 per share through a public offering (the "Public Offering")
underwritten by SBC Warburg Dillon Read, Equitable Securities Corporation and
Stephens Inc. After subtracting underwriting discounts and commissions, the
Company realized net proceeds of $38,070,000, portions of which the Company
has used to repay all of the outstanding indebtedness on its Credit Facility
with Barnett Bank.
USE OF PROCEEDS
The Company will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of the
shares of Common Stock offered hereby. All proceeds will be received by the
Selling Stockholders. See "Selling Stockholders."
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
The sale of the shares of Common Stock by the Selling Stockholders
may be effected from time to time in transactions (which may include block
transactions by or for the account of the Selling Stockholders) on the
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<PAGE>
AMEX or on such other market as the Company's Common Stock may then be
trading, in negotiated transactions, a combination of such methods of sale, or
otherwise. Sales may be made at fixed prices which may be changed, at market
prices prevailing at the time of sale, or at negotiated prices.
The Selling Stockholders may effect such transactions by selling
their shares of Common Stock directly to purchasers, through broker-dealers
acting as agents for the Selling Stockholders, or to broker-dealers who may
purchase shares as principals and thereafter sell the shares from time to time
on the AMEX or on such other market as the Company's Common Stock may then be
trading, in negotiated transactions, or otherwise. Such broker-dealers, if
any, may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions, or
commissions from the Selling Stockholders and/or the purchasers for whom such
broker-dealers may act as agents or to whom they may sell as principals, or
both (which compensation as to a particular broker-dealer may be in excess of
customary commissions).
The Selling Stockholders and broker-dealers, if any, acting in
connection with such sale might be deemed to be "underwriters" within the
meaning of Section 2(11) of the Securities Act and any commission received by
them and any profit on the resale of the securities might be deemed to be
underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act.
Each of the Selling Stockholders, other than Mr. Brayshaw (the
"Institutional Selling Stockholders"), entered into a registration rights
agreement with the Company which provides for the registration of the shares
of Common Stock offered hereby under the Securities Act and the blue sky laws
of the several states. Pursuant to the registration rights agreement, the
Company is required to bear the cost of such registration and indemnify, among
others, the Institutional Selling Stockholders against certain liabilities,
including those under the Securities Act.
14
<PAGE>
PRICE RANGE OF COMMON STOCK AND DIVIDEND POLICY
The Common Stock has been traded on the AMEX under the symbol "ABE"
since March 18, 1996. Prior to March 18, 1996, the Common Stock was traded in
the over-the-counter market, and was listed in the bid and ask quotes of
brokers as reported by the National Quotation Bureau, Inc. (the "Bulletin
Board") under the symbol "ABOA."
The following table sets forth the range of reported high and low bid
quotations for the Common Stock as listed on the Bulletin Board for fiscal
1995 and for the period January 1, 1996 to March 17, 1996 and the range of
high and low sales prices for the Common Stock on the AMEX for the period from
March 18, 1996 to November 20, 1997. The bid quotations represent inter-dealer
prices, and do not include mark-ups, mark-downs or commissions, and may not
necessarily represent actual transactions.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
HIGH LOW
1995
- ----
<S> <C> <C>
1st Quarter............................................................................. 11/4 3/4
2nd Quarter............................................................................. 1 1/16
3rd Quarter............................................................................. 15/16 7/8
4th Quarter............................................................................. 31/4 1
1996
- ----
1st Quarter (through March 17)......................................................... 53/4 23/4
1st Quarter (from March 18)............................................................. 51/2 51/16
2nd Quarter............................................................................. 9 51/8
3rd Quarter............................................................................. 77/8 6
4th Quarter............................................................................. 8 61/2
1997
- ----
1st Quarter............................................................................. 91/2 71/2
2nd Quarter............................................................................. 107/8 83/4
3rd Quarter............................................................................. 123/4 101/2
4rd Quarter (through November 20) ...................................................... 13 11
</TABLE>
On November 20, 1997, the last reported sales price of the Common
Stock on the AMEX was $11.00 per share. As of November 20, 1997, the Company
had approximately 1,871 stockholders of record.
The Company has not paid any cash dividends on its Common Stock for
the last three fiscal years, and does not intend to pay any cash dividends on
the Common Stock for the foreseeable future. The Company currently intends to
retain any earnings for working capital, repayment of indebtedness, capital
expenditures and general corporate purposes. In addition, except under certain
conditions, the Company is precluded from paying dividends on its Common Stock
pursuant to the Credit Facility. See "Description of Certain Indebtedness" and
Note 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
15
<PAGE>
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the
"Selected Consolidated Historical and Supplemental Financial Data," "Unaudited
Pro Forma Consolidated Financial Statements," the Consolidated Financial
Statements and the Supplemental Consolidated Financial Statements and the
Notes thereto included elsewhere in this Prospectus. This Prospectus contains
forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities
Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. Such statements are indicated by
words or phrases such as "anticipate," "estimate," "project," "management
believes," "the Company believes" and similar words or phrases. Such
statements are based on current expectations and are subject to risks,
uncertainties and assumptions. Should one or more of these risks or
uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect,
actual results may vary materially from those anticipated, estimated or
projected.
GENERAL
Supplemental Consolidated Financial Statements. On April 16, 1997,
the Company consummated the DSL Transaction. Pursuant to the DSL Transaction,
the Company, among other things, issued 1,274,217 shares of Common Stock in
exchange for all the outstanding ordinary and deferred share capital of DSL,
and Armor Holdings Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company ("AHL"),
paid the sum of (pound)4.6 million (approximately $7.5 million) in cash for
all of the outstanding preference share capital of DSL. The DSL Transaction
was accounted for as a pooling of interests. Accordingly, the historical
Consolidated Financial Statements for the Company as at and for fiscal 1996
and for third quarter 1997 have been restated on a supplemental basis to
reflect the historical financial statements of the Company combined with DSL
since DSL's inception. DSL was incorporated on June 3, 1996 and, through a
management buy-out transaction on July 31, 1996, acquired all of the
outstanding share capital of DSL Holdings. The buy-out transaction resulted in
a step up in basis for accounting purposes which resulted in the recording of
approximately $9.6 million of goodwill.
The following discussion of the Company's results of operations and
analysis of financial condition for fiscal 1996 and third quarter 1997
reflects results on this supplemental basis. The discussion of the Company's
results of operations for the prior periods are not affected by the DSL
Transaction and accordingly are presented on a historical basis. The results
of operations for the business combinations accounted for as purchase
transactions are included since their effective acquisition dates: as of
September 30, 1996 for the DTCoA Assets and July 1, 1996 for the NIK Product
Line.
Product and Service Businesses. Historically, the Company was
primarily a manufacturer and distributor of security products. Cost of goods
sold for the Company historically consisted of the cost of raw materials and
overhead allocated to manufacturing operations. Operating expenses for the
Company historically consisted of sales and marketing expenses and corporate
overhead at the Company's headquarters.
As a result of the DSL Transaction, a significant portion of the
Company's business now involves the provision of security services. Cost of
goods sold for DSL consists principally of labor and related costs, including
corporate overhead at DSL's various security sites. Operating expenses for DSL
consisted primarily of corporate overhead at DSL's corporate headquarters.
Due to the differences between manufacturing and service operations,
the Company's supplemental gross margins are not comparable with gross margins
reported in historical periods.
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<PAGE>
Fresh-Start Reporting. The Company emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy
reorganization on September 20, 1993. In connection with the confirmation of
its Plan of Reorganization, the Company adopted "fresh-start reporting" in
accordance with the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
Statement of Position 90-7, "Financial Reporting by Entities in Reorganization
Under the Bankruptcy Code." Accordingly, since September 20, 1993, the
Company's financial statements have been prepared as if it were a new
reporting entity.
Revenue Recognition. The Company records product revenues at gross
amounts to be received, including amounts to be paid to agents as commissions,
at the time the product is shipped to the distributor. Although product
returns are permitted within 30 days from the date of purchase, these returns
are minimal and usually consist of minor modifications to the ordered product.
The Company records service revenue as the service is provided on a contract
by contract basis.
Foreign Currency Translation. In accordance with Statement of
Financial Accounting Standard No. 52, "Foreign Currency Translation," assets
and liabilities denominated in a foreign currency are translated into U.S.
dollars at the current rate of exchange at year-end and revenues and expenses
are translated at the average monthly exchange rates. The cumulative
translation adjustment which represents the effect of translating assets and
liabilities of the Company's foreign operations was a loss of approximately
$229,000 for fiscal 1996.
Impact of Acquisitions. The results of operations for fiscal 1996 and
third quarter 1997, which are reported on a supplemental basis, reflect the
results of operations of the Company combined with DSL. Additionally the
results of operations for DTC and NIK are reflected since the acquisition
dates of the DTCoA Assets and the NIK Product Line, September 30, 1996 and
July 1, 1996, respectively. Accordingly, period-to-period comparisons should
be considered in the context of the timing of the transactions.
Subsequent Events. On June 9, 1997, the Company acquired the
remaining 50% interest of GTL that it did not previously own. The aggregate
purchase price of the transaction is approximately $2.4 million, consisting of
$570,000 in cash paid at closing, $600,000 in cash paid on September 30, 1997,
subject to certain conditions, and 115,176 shares of Common Stock valued at
the time at $1.2 million. As part of this transaction, the Company agreed to
make a $200,000 loan available to a former stockholder of GTL, subject to
certain conditions.
On April 16, 1997, the Company completed its combination with DSL,
which was accounted for under the pooling method of accounting for business
combinations. In connection with the DSL Transaction, the Company issued
1,274,217 shares of Common Stock valued at the time at $10.9 million for all
of the outstanding ordinary share capital of DSL and paid $7.5 million in cash
for all of the outstanding preference shares. The Company also assumed and
subsequently repaid $6.9 million, plus interest, of DSL's outstanding credit
facility.
In connection with the DSL Transaction, the Company recorded a
non-recurring charge to earnings in the second quarter of fiscal 1997 of
approximately $2.5 million. The components of this charge relate to
transaction costs, principally professional fees of approximately $1.1
million, and restructuring costs of approximately $1.4 million incurred to
consolidate the administrative and accounting functions of DSL with those of
the Company at its headquarters in Jacksonville, Florida.
On April 7, 1997, the Company completed the acquisition of
Supercraft, which has been accounted for under the purchase method of
accounting for business combinations. The Company acquired Supercraft for a
total purchase price of approximately $2.6 million consisting of (i) $1.3
million in cash, subject to adjustments, (ii) $875,000 which was held in
escrow pending final disposition of title to certain real property and (iii)
certain additional consideration in an amount not to exceed (pound)250,000
(approximately $410,000) based on 1997 operating results.
17
<PAGE>
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 27, 1997 COMPARED TO NINE MONTHS ENDED
SEPTEMBER 28, 1996
Revenues--products. Products revenues increased $10.6 million, or
94%, to $21.0 million for the nine months ended September 27, 1997 from $11.3
million for the nine months ended September 28, 1996. This increase in sales
resulted primarily from a $7.3 million increase in sales generated from the
DTC and NIK operations in the nine months ended September 27, 1997, as well as
sales generated by Supercraft from the date of acquisition, April 7, 1997,
until September 27, 1997.
Revenues--services. Services revenues were $33.0 million in the nine
months ended September 27, 1997 compared to $5.3 million in the nine months
ended September 28, 1996. The increase is primarily due to only two months of
operations being reflected in the 1996 period, as DSL operations have only
been included as of August 1, 1996, as stated previously.
Cost of sales. Cost of sales increased $28.6 million, or 251%, to
$40.0 million in the nine months ended September 27, 1997 from $11.4 million
in the nine months ended September 28, 1996. The majority of the increase is
due to the combination with DSL, which had a $22.4 million impact in direct
operating costs associated with DSL revenues in the nine months ended
September 27, 1997 compared to the nine months ended September 28, 1996. The
remaining $6.2 million increase in cost of sales is attributed to the
increased manufacturing costs of the products business (associated with a 94%
increase in revenues). As a percentage of total revenues, cost of sales
increased to 73% in the nine months ended September 27, 1997 from 69% in the
nine months ended September 28, 1996, reflecting the higher cost of sales
associated with the security services business.
Operating expenses. Operating expenses increased $5.1 million to $9.0
million (16% of total revenues) in the nine months ended September 27, 1997
from $3.9 million (24% of total revenues) during the nine months ended
September 28, 1996. The increase in the actual dollar amount of operating
expenses between the periods was due to approximately $2.5 million related to
overhead costs associated with DSL, approximately $1.6 million related to
additional revenues generated by DTC and NIK and approximately $1.0 million of
corporate overhead costs for the development of the infrastructure of the
Company as a holding company.
Depreciation and amortization. Depreciation and amortization expense
increased to $610,000 in the nine months ended September 27, 1997 from
$101,000 in the nine months ended September 28, 1996. Of the $509,000
increase, approximately $260,000 was due to an increase in the amortization of
intangibles acquired during the second half of 1996, and approximately
$250,000 was due to an increase in the amortization of acquired goodwill in
the DSL Transaction.
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries. Equity in earnings
of unconsolidated subsidiaries amounted to approximately $622,000 in the nine
months ended September 27, 1997, compared to $188,000 in the nine months ended
September 28, 1996. The equity relates to DSL's original 50% investment in GTL
until June 9, 1997, the date the Company acquired the remaining 50% interest
not owned by DSL, at which point the 100% investment was consolidated into the
Company's results. The equity also relates to a 20% investment in Jardine
Securicor Gurkha Services Limited ("JSGS"), a joint venture company. The 1996
period reflects only two months of operations.
Operating income before non-recurring charges. Operating income
before non-recurring charges increased $4.5 million, or 221%, to $5.9 million
in the nine months ended September 27, 1997 from $1.4 million in the nine
18
<PAGE>
months ended September 28, 1996. This increase was due primarily to the
combination with DSL and the acquisitions of Supercraft, the DTCoA Assets and
the NIK Assets.
Interest expense, net. Interest expense, net increased $154,000, or
65%, to $392,000 for the nine months ended September 27, 1997 from $238,000
for the nine months ended September 28, 1996. The increase in interest expense
is primarily due to borrowings of approximately $15.4 million in April 1997
under the Company's Credit Facility in connection with the DSL Transaction
including the acquisition of DSL's outstanding preference shares and the
repayment of DSL's outstanding loan balance with N.M. Rothschild & Sons
Limited (the "Rothschild Loan") at the time of the combination. Additional
draws were subsequently made on the Credit Facility, increasing the Company's
balance thereon to $18.6 million, which was repaid with proceeds realized from
the Public Offering.
Merger, integration and other non-recurring charges. Fees and
expenses associated with completing the DSL Transaction (approximately $1.1
million) have been expensed. These expenses, in combination with certain other
charges relating to the financial and administrative restructuring and
consolidation of DSL into the Company, totaled approximately $2.5 million, or
$0.13 per share, and represent a one-time charge.
Income taxes. Income taxes totaled $1.4 million in the nine months
ended September 27, 1997, as compared to $467,000 in the nine months ended
September 28, 1996. The provision was based on the Company's U.S. federal and
state statutory rates of approximately 39% for its U.S.-based companies and a
38% blended effective tax rate for foreign operations of the Company, and was
significantly increased by certain non-recurring charges which are not tax
deductible.
Dividends on preference shares. During the nine months ended
September 27, 1997, DSL incurred $143,000 in preference share dividends. These
dividends were paid out of after tax earnings. These preference shares were
acquired by the Company on April 16, 1997 in the DSL Transaction.
Net income. Net income increased $907,000, or 161%, to $1.5 million
in the nine months ended September 27, 1997 from $562,000 for the nine months
ended September 28, 1996. As noted previously, the increase is due to the
effect of acquisitions made during the period being partially offset by the
non-recurring charge incurred by the Company in the nine months ended
September 27, 1997.
THIRD QUARTER 1997 COMPARED TO THIRD QUARTER 1996
Revenues--products. Products revenues increased $3.3 million, or 75%,
to $7.8 million for third quarter 1997 from $4.5 million for third quarter
1996. This increase in sales resulted primarily from $3.1 million in sales
generated from the DTC and Supercraft operations in third quarter 1997.
Revenues-services. Services revenues increased $9.1 million, or 173%,
to $14.3 million for third quarter 1997 from $5.2 million for third quarter
1996. The increase is due to only two months of operations being reflected in
the 1996 period, the consolidation of GTL in the 1997 period and internal
growth of this business segment.
Cost of sales. Cost of sales increased $9.3 million, or 132%, to
$16.3 million in third quarter 1997 from $7.0 million in third quarter 1996.
The majority of the increase is due to DSL which had a $7.1 million increase
in direct operating costs associated with the increase in DSL revenues in
third quarter 1997. The remaining $2.2 million increase in cost of sales is
attributed to the increased manufacturing costs of the products business
(associated with a 75% increase in revenues). As a percentage of total
revenues, cost of sales increased to 74% in third quarter 1997 from 72% in
third quarter 1996, reflecting the higher cost of sales associated with the
security services business.
19
<PAGE>
Operating expenses. Operating expenses increase $1.2 million to $3.1
million (14% of total revenues) in third quarter 1997 from $1.9 million (20%
of total revenues) during third quarter 1996. The increase in the actual
dollar amount of operating expenses between the periods was primarily due to
approximately $619,000 related to the increased overhead costs associated with
DSL and approximately $527,000 related to the additional revenues generated by
DTC. The decrease in operating expenses as a percentage of total revenues
reflects the impact of the increased revenues of the security services
operations in third quarter 1997.
Depreciation and amortization. Depreciation and amortization expense
increased to $223,000 in third quarter 1997 from $76,000 in third quarter
1996. Of the $147,000 increase, approximately $52,000 was due to amortization
of intangibles acquired during the second half of 1996 and the remainder is
primarily due to increased amortization of acquired goodwill in the DSL
Transaction, as well as amortization of goodwill relating to the acquisitions
of Supercraft and GTL.
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries. Equity in earnings
of unconsolidated subsidiaries amounted to approximately $58,000 in third
quarter 1997, compared to $188,000 in third quarter 1996. The equity relates
to DSL's original 50% investment in GTL until June 9, 1997, the date the
Company acquired the remaining 50% interest not owned by DSL, at which point
the 100% investment was consolidated into the Company's results.
The equity also relates to a 20% investment in JSGS.
Interest (income) expense, net. Interest (income) expense, net
decreased $155,000, or 115%, to $20,000 income in third quarter 1997 from
$135,000 expense for third quarter 1996. The Company incurred approximately
$134,000 in interest expense during third quarter 1997 related to the $15.4
million borrowing under the Credit Facility to acquire DSL's preference shares
and to repay DSL's outstanding balance on the Rothschild Loan at the time of
combination. In addition, the Company recognized approximately $184,000 in
interest income during third quarter 1997 related to the net proceeds obtained
from the Public Offering.
Income taxes. Income tax totaled $945,000 in third quarter 1997, as
compared to $320,000 expense in third quarter 1996. The provision is based on
the Company's U.S. federal and state statutory rates of approximately 39% for
its U.S.-based companies and a 38% blended effective tax rate for foreign
operations of the Company.
Net income. Net income increased $1.2 million, or 269%, to $1.6
million in third quarter 1997 from $439,000 for third quarter 1996.
FISCAL 1996 AS COMPARED TO FISCAL 1995
Revenues--products. Products revenues increased $6.3 million, or 54%,
to $18.0 million in fiscal 1996 from $11.7 million in fiscal 1995. This
increase resulted primarily from a 35% increase in domestic and international
products revenues, coupled with revenues generated by the DTC and NIK
operations for one and two quarters, respectively.
Revenues--services. Services revenues were $13.0 million in fiscal
1996 during the period from August 1, 1996 through December 31, 1996. There
were no services revenues prior to August 1, 1996.
Cost of sales. Cost of sales increased $13.7 million, or 184%, to
$21.1 million in fiscal 1996 from $7.4 million in fiscal 1995. Of such
increase, $10.1 million is due to increased services revenues generated in
fiscal 1996, as stated above. As a percentage of total revenues, cost of sales
increased to 68.4% in fiscal 1996 from 63.4% in fiscal 1995, reflecting the
higher cost of sales associated with the security services business. Products
20
<PAGE>
business gross margin increased to 40% in fiscal 1996 from 37% in fiscal 1995,
due to the impact of higher margin products being sold by both DTC and NIK.
Operating Expenses. Operating expenses increased $3.5 million, or
103%, to $6.9 million in fiscal 1996 from $3.4 million in fiscal 1995. As a
percentage of net sales, operating expenses decreased to 22% in fiscal 1996
from 29% in fiscal 1995. DSL's operating expenses as a percentage of net sales
amounted to 14% for fiscal 1996, whereas the products businesses' percentage
amounted to 28% for fiscal 1996. Of the $3.5 million increase, $1.8 million is
attributable to DSL, approximately $800,000 is due to increases in commissions
resulting from increased sales in the products business and the remainder is
due to the additional operating costs associated with NIK and DTC.
Depreciation and amortization. Depreciation and amortization
increased $501,000 to $554,000 in fiscal 1996 from $53,000 in fiscal 1995. Of
the $501,000 increase, the majority was due to additional depreciation and
amortization related to the products business, including the DTCoA Assets
purchased. In addition, approximately $159,000 of this expense relates to the
amortization of intangibles incurred by DSL and carried over onto the books of
the Company.
Interest expense, net. Interest expense, net increased $234,000, or
83%, to $515,000 in fiscal 1996 from $281,000 in fiscal 1995. This increase
resulted primarily from $261,000 of interest expense incurred by DSL relating
to a $6.8 million working capital loan. This loan has subsequently been paid
off. In addition, the Company incurred net interest expense of $253,000
relating to the Convertible Notes.
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated subsidiaries. Equity in
investments held by DSL amounted to approximately $320,000 in fiscal 1996
compared to no such income in fiscal 1995. This equity relates to GTL and
JSGS, as discussed previously.
Non-operating income. Non-operating income decreased $226,000 to
$2,000 in fiscal 1996 from $228,000 in fiscal 1995. The non-operating income
in fiscal 1995 relates to the termination of a non-compete agreement entered
into in 1990 between the Company and a competitor.
Income before income taxes. Income before income taxes increased $1.3
million to $2.1 million in fiscal 1996 from $824,000 in fiscal 1995. Of the
$1.3 million increase, approximately $600,000 was due to the products business
and approximately $700,000 was due to the services business.
Income taxes. The Company's net operating loss carryforward ("NOL")
at December 28, 1996 decreased to approximately $4.4 million from
approximately $4.7 million at January 1, 1996. Due to the Company's change in
control resulting from the Kanders investment in January 1996, the allowed
annual usage of this tax benefit became restricted to approximately $300,000
per year.
The Company's effective tax rate was 37% in fiscal 1995 compared to
57% in fiscal 1996 (excluding the U.S. GAAP adjustment of the preference share
dividends). This increase in rate was incurred due to an unusual and
extraordinary tax penalty of approximately $320,000 relating to DSL's
operation in Kazakhstan. Had this charge not been incurred, DSL's effective
tax rate would have been 45%.
In accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No.
109, "Accounting for Income Taxes" ("SFAS 109"), the Company has recorded a
deferred tax asset, representing its cumulative net operating loss
carryforward and deductible temporary differences, subject to applicable
limits and an asset valuation allowance. Any future benefit obtained from the
realization of this asset will be applied to reduce the reorganization value
in
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<PAGE>
excess of amounts allocable to identifiable assets. As of December 28, 1996,
the gross amount of this deferred tax asset was $1.8 million, the entire
amount of which has been offset by a valuation allowance.
Dividends on preference shares. Preference share dividends were
approximately $239,000 in fiscal 1996 compared to no dividends in fiscal 1995.
These preference shares were acquired by the Company on April 16, 1997 in the
DSL Transaction.
Net income. Net income increased $169,000, or 33%, to $689,000 in
fiscal 1996 from $520,000 in fiscal 1995. This increase reflects the effect of
increased sales in fiscal 1996 as well as the positive effects on net income
from the NIK and DTC operations, partially offset by non-recurring
non-operating income received in fiscal 1995 and no such income being received
in fiscal 1996.
FISCAL 1995 AS COMPARED TO FISCAL 1994
Revenues--products. Products revenues increased $386,000, or 3.4%, to
$11.7 million in fiscal 1995 from $11.3 million in fiscal 1994. This increase
resulted primarily from an increase in sales in the domestic body armor
products business.
Cost of sales. Cost of sales decreased $298,000, or 4%, to $7.4
million in fiscal 1995 from $7.7 million in fiscal 1994. The decrease was due
to positive manufacturing variances (better utilization of labor and purchases
of raw material). In addition, the domestic market experienced better margins
and contributed a greater percentage to the overall sales figures as the
products business gross margin increased from 31.8% to 36.6%.
Operating expenses. Operating expenses increased $715,000, or 27%, to
$3.4 million in fiscal 1995 from $2.7 million in fiscal 1994. Increases in
salaries for additional personnel in the sales and marketing areas of the
Company and domestic commissions (due to the increase in domestic sales)
comprised the majority of the overall increase in operating expenses. In
addition, increased domestic travel costs and certain costs associated with
the investment by Kanders in the Company are included in operating expenses
for fiscal 1995. Increases in research and development expenses were also
incurred due to new vest certification and testing costs, as well as in
connection with the ISO 9002 certification of the Company's quality control
standards. The Company received the ISO 9002 certification in October 1995.
See "Business--Manufacturing and Raw Materials."
Depreciation and amortization. Depreciation and amortization
increased $10,000, or 23%, to $53,000 in fiscal 1995 from $43,000 in fiscal
1994. The increase was due to increasing capital expenditures during the year.
Interest expense. Interest expense increased $65,000, or 30%, to
$281,000 in fiscal 1995 from $216,000 in fiscal 1994. This increase resulted
primarily from higher borrowings under the Company's LaSalle credit facility.
Non-operating income. Non-operating income amounted to $228,000 in
fiscal 1995, compared to no such income in fiscal 1994. This income is
non-recurring and relates to the termination of a non-compete agreement
entered into in 1990 between the Company and a competitor.
Income before income taxes. Income before income taxes increased
$122,000, or 17%, to $824,000 in fiscal 1995 from $702,000 in fiscal 1994. The
increase is primarily due to the non-operating income incurred in 1995 being
partially offset by the increases in selling, general, and administrative
expenses.
Income taxes. In accordance with SFAS 109, the Company has recorded a
deferred tax asset, representing its cumulative net operating loss
carryforward and deductible temporary differences, subject to applicable
limits and
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<PAGE>
an asset valuation allowance. Any future benefit obtained from the realization
of this asset will be applied to reduce the reorganization value in excess of
amounts allocable to identifiable assets. As of December 31, 1995, the gross
amount of this deferred tax asset was $2.0 million the entire amount of which
has been offset by a valuation allowance.
Net income. Net income increased $97,000, or 23%, to $520,000 in
fiscal 1995 from $423,000 in fiscal 1994. This increase in profit reflects the
improved margins and non-recurring, non-operating income received in fiscal
1995, partially offset by the increase in selling, general and administrative
expenses.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Prior to April 30, 1996, the Company's principal source of working
capital was its credit facility with LaSalle. On April 30, 1996, the Company
sold $11.5 million principal amount of its Convertible Notes and used a
portion of the proceeds thereof to repay all amounts outstanding under the
LaSalle credit facility. Thereafter, the Company terminated the LaSalle credit
facility. In December 1996, the holders of all of the Convertible Notes
converted their Convertible Notes into an aggregate of 2,300,000 shares of
Common Stock.
On November 14, 1996, the Company entered into the Credit Facility
with Barnett Bank, N.A. ("Barnett Bank") for a revolving credit facility of up
to $10 million for working capital purposes. The Credit Facility was amended
as of March 26, 1997 to increase the revolving line of credit to $20 million.
As of the end of third quarter 1997, the Company had no indebtedness to Barnett
Bank. The Credit Facility is secured by, among other things, the inventory,
accounts receivable, equipment, patents, trademarks and other intellectual
property of the Company and certain of its U.S. subsidiaries, and is
guaranteed by certain of its U.S. subsidiaries. In addition, the Company has
pledged to Barnett Bank all of the outstanding shares of common stock owned
by the Company in DTC, NIK and Armor Holdings Properties, Inc. See
"Description of Certain Indebtedness" and Note 6 to the Consolidated
Financial Statements.
On July 25, 1997, the Company issued 4,000,000 new shares of Common
Stock at $10.125 per share through a public offering underwritten by SBC
Warburg Dillon Read, Equitable Securities Corporation and Stephens Inc. After
subtracting underwriting discounts and commissions, the Company realized
proceeds of $38,070,000, of which approximately $18.6 million was used to
reduce the Company's outstanding balance on the Credit Facility to a zero
balance. The remaining net proceeds were placed in short term investments.
As of December 28, 1996, the Company had working capital of $14.3
million, which reflects the net proceeds of $8.6 million (after paying down
the LaSalle credit facility to a zero balance) from the issuance of the
Convertible Notes as well as positive cash flow from operations. At the end of
third quarter 1997, the Company had working capital of $31.3 million which
reflects the net proceeds (after paying down the Credit Facility to a zero
balance) of the Public Offering.
The Company anticipates that cash generated from the Public Offering,
operations and borrowings under the Credit Facility will enable the Company to
meet its liquidity, working capital and capital expenditure requirements
during the next 12 months. The Company, however, may require additional
financing to pursue its strategy of growth through acquisitions. If such
financing is required, there are no assurances that it will be available, or
if available, that it can be obtained on terms favorable to the Company or on
a basis that is not dilutive to stockholders.
The Company's spending for its fiscal 1997 capital expenditures will
be approximately $4.5 million, of which the Company has already spent $4.3
million. Such expenditures include, among other things, construction
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<PAGE>
and other costs related to the Company's new office and manufacturing facility
at the Jacksonville International Tradeport as well as upgrading the Company's
management information systems.
QUARTERLY RESULTS--HISTORICAL
The following table presents summarized unaudited quarterly results
of operations for the Company for fiscal 1995 and 1996. The Company believes
all necessary adjustments have been included in the amounts stated below to
present fairly the following selected information when read in conjunction
with the Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto. Future quarterly
operating results may fluctuate depending on a number of factors. Results of
operations for any particular quarter are not necessarily indicative of
results of operations for a full year or any other quarter.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FISCAL 1995
-----------------------------------------------------------
FIRST SECOND THIRD FOURTH
QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER
------- ------- ------- -------
(AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Sales....................................................... $2,537 $2,939 $2,930 $3,335
Gross Profit................................................ 951 1,089 1,106 1,152
Net income.................................................. 112 128 226 54
Net income per common share and common share
equivalent................................................ $0.02 $0.02 $0.03 $0.01
FISCAL 1996
-----------------------------------------------------------
FIRST SECOND THIRD FOURTH
QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER
------- ------- ------- -------
(AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
Sales....................................................... $3,267 $3,596 $4,452 $6,696
Gross Profit................................................ 1,157 1,338 1,808 2,829
Net income.................................................. 72 114 239 380
Net income per common share and common share
equivalent................................................ $0.01 $0.02 $0.03 $0.04
</TABLE>
QUARTERLY RESULTS--SUPPLEMENTAL
The following table presents summarized unaudited quarterly results
of operations for the Company for fiscal 1995 and 1996, giving retroactive
effect to the DSL Transaction. The Company believes all necessary adjustments
have been included in the amounts stated below to present fairly the following
selected information when read in conjunction with the Supplemental
Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto. Future quarterly
24
<PAGE>
operating results may fluctuate depending on a number of factors. Results of
operations for any particular quarter are not necessarily indicative of
results of operations for a full year or any other quarter.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FISCAL 1995
-----------------------------------------------------------
FIRST SECOND THIRD FOURTH
QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER
------- ------- ------- -------
(AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Sales....................................................... $2,537 $2,939 $2,930 $3,335
Gross Profit................................................ 951 1,089 1,106 1,152
Net income.................................................. 112 128 226 54
Net income per common share and common share
equivalent................................................ $0.02 $0.02 $0.03 $0.01
FISCAL 1996
-----------------------------------------------------------
FIRST SECOND THIRD FOURTH
QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER
------- ------- ------- -------
(AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
Sales....................................................... $3,267 $3,596 $12,746 $11,358
Gross Profit................................................ 1,157 1,338 2,387 4,913
Net income.................................................. 72 114 62 411
Net income per common share and common share
equivalent................................................ $0.01 $0.02 $0.01 $0.04
</TABLE>
25
<PAGE>
INDUSTRY OVERVIEW
The Company participates in the global security industry through the
manufacture of security products marketed to law enforcement and correctional
personnel and the provision of specialized security services to multi-national
corporations and governmental agencies. The industry information described
below illustrates certain trends which management believes will contribute to
increasing demand for the Company's products and services. Due to the
fragmented nature of the security industry, however, specific statistical data
directly relating to the market segments in which the Company operates are
generally unavailable.
GENERAL
In recent years, the nature and perception of violent criminal
activity have changed in the U.S. and internationally. The proliferation of
advanced weaponry and related technologies has made the criminal and terrorist
element a more serious and unpredictable threat to the safety of citizens and
law enforcement personnel. Legal gun ownership has reached over 65 million
people in the U.S., and 31 U.S. states now permit the carrying of concealed
weapons, thereby increasing the risk of gun-related incidents. Such diverse
trends as increases in gang, illegal drug and militant activities have created
more sophisticated, well-equipped and violent criminals. For example, studies
by the U.S. Department of Justice indicate that the incidence of bombings in
the U.S. has grown over 200% from 1985 to 1995. Crime is viewed as a leading
public concern by the U.S. population, according to a recent Gallup poll.
Internationally, greater political, economic and social tensions and
the proliferation of weapons due to deficient security and illegal arms sales
continue to fuel criminal activities in lesser-developed nations. For example,
industry sources estimate that the crime rate in Russia has doubled in the
last five years. As multi-national corporations have increased their presence
in these lesser-developed nations to take advantage of new markets and natural
resources, they are frequently the targets of violent activity, including
kidnapping, terrorism and vandalism. A study by the U.S. Department of State
indicates that approximately two-thirds of all international terrorist
incidents in 1996 were targeted at private business concerns. Some 20% to 30%
of multi-national corporations operating in Russia have been faced with
demands for protection money. Kidnappings for ransom have been on the rise for
the past few years and, increasingly, the targets are local and foreign
business executives. According to industry sources, over 7,900 kidnappings of
business executives or their family members took place worldwide in 1995.
MANUFACTURED SECURITY PRODUCTS MARKET
Certain industry studies estimate that U.S. spending for private
security equipment will increase from $14 billion in 1990 to over $24 billion
in 2000 and worldwide expenditures for private security equipment will grow by
9.2% per year from approximately $26 billion in 1994 to approximately $44
billion in 2000. Although these statistics do not correlate directly to the
Company's product lines, the Company believes that the increasing spending in
the private security sector is indicative of a greater demand for the
Company's products in the law enforcement, correctional and governmental
sectors.
Partially in response to increased awareness of crime, the number of
police officers has increased by approximately 23% in the period from 1985 to
1994. Expenditures on police protection in the U.S. have increased at a
compounded annual rate of 8% from 1980 to 1992 to a total of approximately $41
billion annually. In 1993, a U.S. Department of Justice survey of local police
departments indicated that 65% of such organizations have purchased body armor
for all of their officers, 60% supply their officers with pepper spray, 35%
supply their officers with tear gas and 10% maintain inventories of stun
grenades and less-than-lethal projectiles. In addition,
26
<PAGE>
the Company believes the rise in the prison population has spurred demand from
institutional correctional facilities for manufactured security products. In
the U.S., the prison population has grown at a compounded annual rate of 8%
from 1980 to approximately 1.6 million inmates in 1995.
SPECIALIZED SECURITY SERVICES MARKET
Many multi-national corporations, such as petrochemical and mining
companies, have significant manpower and money invested in large projects in
poor, lesser-developed nations that are often beset by political instability,
ineffective and corrupt police forces and judicial systems, terrorism, high
crime rates and a general breakdown or lack of political, economic and social
infrastructures. Recent developments such as the fall of Communism in Europe
and the former Soviet Union and reduced interest of world superpowers in the
stabilization of many third world governments have resulted in numerous
changes in government and, in certain cases, great political instability in
such countries. Providing security for personnel and assets in such volatile
and dangerous areas is a primary factor considered by companies and
governmental agencies making decisions to invest in and send personnel to
unstable areas.
In response to such security problems, corporations are increasingly
contracting experienced private companies to perform their security services.
Industry studies demonstrate that the security services market in the U.S.,
which does not contend with the same level of security threats as most
lesser-developed nations, is expected to increase at a rate of 7.9% annually
from approximately $17 billion in 1994 to approximately $26 billion by the
year 2000. Management believes that demand by multi-national corporations and
governmental agencies operating in lesser-developed nations for specialized
security services, such as risk assessment, crisis management, guard force
management, security force organization and executive protection, is likely to
increase as such entities continue to establish operations and manufacturing
facilities in foreign and developing countries.
27
<PAGE>
BUSINESS
GENERAL
The Company is a leading provider of effective security solutions to
the increasing level of security threats encountered by domestic and foreign
law enforcement personnel, governmental agencies and multi-national
corporations. These solutions include a broad range of high quality branded
manufactured products such as ballistic resistant vests and tactical armor,
bomb disposal equipment, less-than-lethal munitions and anti-riot products
marketed under brand names such as American Body Armor(TM), Defense
Technology(TM) and First Defense(R), and sophisticated security planning,
advisory and management services, including the provision of highly trained,
multi-lingual and experienced security personnel in violent and unstable areas
of the world.
Founded in 1969 as American Body Armor & Equipment, Inc., the Company
until recently was primarily a manufacturer of armored products such as
ballistic resistant vests and tactical armor. Since Kanders acquired its
interest in the Company in January 1996, the Company has pursued a strategy of
growth through acquisition of businesses and assets that complement its
existing businesses. Through such acquisitions and the expansion of its
existing businesses, the Company seeks to: (i) offer superior customer service
through a comprehensive portfolio of security products and services; (ii)
capitalize on its growing, diversified, global and institutional client base;
(iii) promote brand development through the quality of its products, superior
training and customer service; and (iv) maximize profitability and operational
efficiencies. The Company believes that further growth will be generated by
the leverage of its distribution network and client base as well as expansion
into new territories.
Because the Company's customers require the highest level of
reliability from the Company's products and services the Company focuses on
quality, testing, training and support. To demonstrate its commitment to
quality, the Company became the first domestic manufacturer of body armor to
qualify for ISO 9002 certification by successfully completing an audit
certifying its compliance with a comprehensive series of quality management
and quality control standards. The Company routinely tests its products before
releasing them to customers and tests each layout of its ballistic resistant
vests. Recognizing the importance of safe and proper use of its products, the
Company offers comprehensive training to end-users and provides extensive
customer service support to its distributor network and end users. All
security personnel furnished by the Company undergo extensive and on-going
training.
The Company believes that governmental and international agencies and
multi-national corporations will continue to face significant threats of
violent criminal and hostile activity, terrorism and civil disturbances. The
Company therefore expects demand for its products and services to increase as
these entities anticipate, mitigate and react to perceived or actual security
threats worldwide.
BUSINESS STRATEGY
The Company approaches its markets by focusing on customer service,
providing customized security solutions and offering branded, differentiated
products. The Company is pursuing the following business strategy in order to
increase its scale and profitability:
Offer a Comprehensive Portfolio of Solutions to Security Threats. The
Company has established a comprehensive portfolio of security solutions that
respond to a wide array of customer needs. Historically, the Company
manufactured, marketed and sold body armor and related products to law
enforcement agencies. Since July 1996, however, the Company has significantly
increased the scope of its product offerings through acquisitions of
complementary business lines, including less-than-lethal munitions and
anti-riot products, military apparel and narcotic identification kits. Through
the Company's combination with DSL, the Company has become a leading
28
<PAGE>
provider of specialized security solutions that are designed to ensure the
safety and security of personnel and fixed assets in remote and hostile areas
of the world. The Company intends to continue to diversify its product and
service portfolio through internal development and acquisitions of
complementary business and product lines.
Promote Brand Development through Training and Sales Support. The
Company's products are sold under established, highly-regarded brand names
such as American Body Armor(TM), Defense Technology(TM), First Defense(R) and
NIK(R). To maintain the value of these brands, the Company employs strict
quality control measures by conducting thorough product testing and providing
extensive customer support through a domestic and international network of
factory-direct sales representatives. These representatives offer
comprehensive customer training and dedicated customer service. DSL is one of
the world's oldest and most respected providers of sophisticated security
services and protects its reputation through rigorous selection, training and
management of personnel.
Capitalize on the Company's Broad Distribution Network. To sell its
portfolio of manufactured products, the Company has developed a broad network
of approximately 345 domestic independent distributors and approximately 150
international agents through whom it markets its products to end-users,
including domestic and international law enforcement agencies and governmental
authorities. The distributors benefit from their association with the Company
due to the quality of the Company's manufactured products, the scope of its
product line, the high degree of service provided by the Company and the
distributors' opportunity to participate profitably in the sale of the
Company's products. The wide range of products provided by the Company create
efficiencies in distribution which help to lower the Company's selling cost
per unit.
Capitalize on a Diversified, Global and Institutional Service Client
Base. DSL's client base includes international law enforcement agencies,
governmental authorities, the United Nations, the U.S. State Department and
multi-national corporations including petrochemical companies, mineral
extraction companies and financial services institutions operating in remote
and hostile environments. Once established in a particular region, the Company
is often selected by other multi-national organizations currently operating in
or expanding operations into that region. Through its service client base, the
Company believes it can expand its global presence through additional
referrals, enhance its reputation as the provider of choice within certain
geographic regions and reinforce its image as an innovative and worldwide
provider of specialized security services.
Maximize Profitability and Operational Efficiencies-Products. The
Company manufactures superior quality, high-end products which it sells for
premium prices. Because margins are an important consideration, the Company
generally has avoided highly-competitive bids for its manufactured products.
In addition, the Company maintains production efficiency through its close
attention to raw materials purchasing and flexible production planning.
Maximize Profitability and Operational Efficiencies-Services. The
Company provides value-added security services in unstable, high risk areas of
the world through highly qualified specialists with extensive international
security training and in most cases, military experience. Such services
require an in-depth understanding of foreign, political, economic and cultural
norms. In certain regions of the world, DSL has opened offices to establish a
strong local presence and efficiently gather local intelligence. DSL attempts
to absorb these fixed costs across a number of contracts in a particular
geographic region to enhance operating margins.
GROWTH STRATEGY
The Company expects the demand for defensive security products and
services to continue to grow in the foreseeable future. The Company seeks to
capitalize on this growth through the pursuit of strategic acquisitions,
leveraging of existing distribution network and geographic operating presence
with new products and services and continued global expansion.
29
<PAGE>
Pursue Strategic Acquisitions. The Company believes that there
currently exists a large pool of attractive acquisition candidates in the
manufacturing and service sectors potentially available for purchase. The
Company intends to continue to pursue selective acquisitions to enhance its
position in its current markets, to acquire operations in new markets and to
acquire operations that will broaden the range of products and scope of
services which the Company can provide.
Leverage Distribution Network. The Company plans to leverage its
distribution network by expanding its range of branded and differentiated
security products through the acquisition of niche defensive security products
manufacturers and investment in the development of new and enhanced products
which complement the Company's existing offerings. The Company believes that a
broader product line will enable it to provide more comprehensive security
solutions, thereby strengthening the relationship between the Company and its
distributors.
Leverage Service Client Base. The Company intends to grow with its
service clients, particularly those involved in the petrochemical and mineral
extraction industries, as they expand their commercial activities in remote
and hostile areas. In addition, satisfied clients historically have provided
significant growth opportunities for the Company in the form of client
referrals, providing additional growth to the Company with little associated
marketing expense.
Continue Global Expansion. The Company seeks to expand the geographic
scope of its security product and service offerings through acquisitions,
through the extension of its distribution network into new territories and by
providing security products and services to existing customers who are
expanding geographically. The Company anticipates targeting those regions
which contain substantial supplies of natural resources, such as Africa, South
America and Russia, and those countries which represent significant
opportunities for economic growth, such as India. In addition, many of the
Company's existing clients are pursuing rapid global expansion strategies
which may provide the Company with access to new territories and prospective
new client relationships.
PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
LAW ENFORCEMENT AND SECURITY PRODUCTS
Armor Products
The Company manufactures a wide array of armor products under the
brand name American Body Armor(TM) which are designed to protect against
bodily injury caused by bullets, knives and explosive shrapnel. The Company's
principal armor products are ballistic resistant vests, sharp instrument
penetration armor and bomb protective gear. In addition to body armor, the
Company also markets an assortment of other personal armor products, including
helmets, shields and upgrade armor plates. The Company's lines of ballistic
protective vests provide varying levels of protection depending upon the
configuration of ballistic materials and the standards (domestic or
international) to which the armor is built. The Company's body armor products
manufactured in the United States are certified under guidelines established
by the National Institute of Justice where applicable.
The Company offers two types of ballistic resistant armor:
concealable armor and tactical armor. Concealable armor, which generally is
worn beneath the user's clothing, is the Company's basic line of body armor.
These vests are often sold with a shock plate, which is an insert designed to
improve the protection of vital organs from sharp instrument attack and to
provide enhanced blunt trauma protection.
Tactical armor is worn externally and is designed to provide
protection over a wider area of a user's body and defeat higher levels of
ballistic threats. These vests, which are usually manufactured with hard armor
ballistic
30
<PAGE>
plates that provide additional protection against rifle fire, are designed to
afford the user maximum protection. Tactical armor may also provide enhanced
protection against neck, shoulder and kidney injuries. Tactical armor is
offered in a variety of styles, including tactical assault vests, tactical
police jackets, floatation vests, high-coverage armor and flak jackets.
The sharp instrument penetration armor manufactured by the Company is
designed primarily for use by personnel in correctional facilities and by
other law enforcement employees who are primarily exposed to threats from
knives and other sharp instruments. These vests are constructed with special
metallic blends and are available in both concealable and tactical models. In
addition, these vests can be combined with ballistic armor configurations to
provide both ballistic and sharp instrument penetration resistant protection.
The Company manufactures a wide range of bomb protective gear. This
equipment, known as Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) equipment, includes bomb
disposal suits, which are primarily constructed of an aramid ballistic fabric
that is sheathed in a Nomex(R) brand fire-retardant cover. These suits cover
the user's entire body (except the hands) and include a fitted helmet that
provides protection and communication capabilities. Other EOD equipment
manufactured by the Company includes bomb protection blankets and letter bomb
suppression pouches.
The Company also distributes Scanna(R) letter bomb detection equipment.
The Company manufactures a variety of hard armor ballistic shields
primarily for use in tactical clearance applications. These shields are
manufactured using Spectra(R) ballistic fibers, polyethylene ballistic
materials, ballistic steel, ceramic tiles, ballistic glass or a combination of
any one or more of these materials. Other hard armor products include tactical
face masks and helmets, ballistic shields, barrier shields and blankets. These
products allow tactical police officers to enter high threat environments with
maximum ballistic protection.
Other specialty products manufactured by the Company include armored
press vests, executive vests, raincoats and fireman turnout coats. These
specialty products can be custom designed to provide various levels of
ballistic protection. The Company also manufactures specialty armor
applications for vehicles and aircraft, including the construction of
customized armored cars. The Company has the exclusive rights in the United
States to distribute Gallet(R) helmets to the law enforcement community. The
Company also distributes a variety of items manufactured by others, including
gas masks, batons and holsters.
Less-Than-Lethal Products
The Company manufactures a complete line of less-than-lethal and
anti-riot and crowd control products designed to assist law enforcement and
military personnel in handling situations that do not require the use of
deadly force. These products, which generally are available for use only by
authorized public safety agencies, include pepper sprays, tear gas, specialty
impact munitions and distraction devices.
The Company manufactures pepper sprays containing the active
ingredient oleoresin capsicum, a cayenne pepper extract. The Company's pepper
spray formula is patented and carries the trademark name of First Defense(R).
The products range from small "key-ring" and hand-held units to large volume
canisters for anti-riot and crowd control applications.
The Company's tear gases are manufactured using
Orthochlorobenzalmalononitrile (CS) and Chloroacetophenone (CN). These
products are packaged in hand-held or launchable grenades, both pyrotechnic
and non-pyrotechnic, as well as in 37 mm, 40 mm and 12 gauge munitions. The
munitions include barricade rounds, blast dispersions and pyrotechnic
canisters. The Company holds a patented design covering two of its
non-pyrotechnic grenades.
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<PAGE>
The Company manufactures a wide range of specialty impact munitions
that can be used against either individual targets or in anti-riot and crowd
control situations. These products, which range from single projectiles such
as bean bags, rubber balls, wood batons and rubber batons to multiple
projectile products containing rubber pellets, rubber balls or foam, can be
fired from standard 12 gauge shotguns, 37 mm gas guns and 40 mm launchers.
The Company also manufactures a patented and trademarked device that
is used for dynamic entries by specially trained forces where it is necessary
to divert the attention of individuals away from an entry area. This product,
which carries the trademark name of Distraction Device(R), emits a loud bang
and brilliant flash of light when used.
Narcotic Identification and Evidence Equipment
The Company assembles and markets portable narcotic identification
kits under the NIK(R) brand name which are used by law enforcement personnel
to identify a variety of controlled substances, including cocaine, marijuana,
heroin and LSD. The Company also assembles and markets evidence collection
kits and evidence tape, and has the exclusive rights to distribute Flex-Cuf(R)
and Key-Cuff(TM) disposable restraints.
SPECIALIZED SECURITY SERVICES
The Company is the world's leading provider of specialized security
services in high risk and hostile environments, including Africa, South
America, Central Asia, Russia and the Balkans. The core of the Company's
security service business is the creation and implementation of solutions to
complex security problems in high risk areas through detailed and targeted
analysis of potential threats to security, assistance in the secure design of
facilities, the provision of highly qualified specialists with extensive
international experience in practical security applications and on-going
training of security personnel and client personnel with respect to preventive
security measures. The Company also provides humanitarian mine clearance and
ordnance disposal, maintenance of the security of lines of communication,
including airlines and airports, and high risk insurance services.
The security solutions offered by the Company generally involve
security consultation services and the provision of very experienced security
personnel who act as planners, trainers, managers, advisors, instructors and
liaison personnel. The Company also provides teams of supervisors, many of
whom are British Special Air Services ("SAS") veterans, who frequently are
employed as premium guards for government embassies. In connection with its
security services, the Company utilizes the services of approximately 5,200
locally recruited guards. These guards are supervised, managed and trained by
the Company's professional security staff, but approximately 3,000 are
employed by local companies that subcontract their manpower to the Company.
Other security services provided by the Company include risk assessment,
project organization and management, equipping, training and management of
existing guard forces, system design, procurement, installation, crisis
management, VIP protection, specialist instruction and training and evacuation
planning.
CUSTOMERS
LAW ENFORCEMENT AND SECURITY PRODUCTS
The Company sells its products through a network of independent
distributors who serve the law enforcement communities. In 1996, the Company
sold approximately 75% of its products in the U.S., with the balance sold
internationally. The primary end-users of the Company's products are law
enforcement agencies, local police departments such as the Philadelphia Police
Department, state police agencies such as the Georgia State
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Patrol, state correctional facilities, highway patrols and sheriffs'
departments. The Company's largest distributor accounted for approximately
6.1% of the Company's overall revenue from product sales in 1996, and the
Company's top ten customers accounted for approximately 21.6% of overall
revenue from product sales in 1996.
SPECIALIZED SECURITY SERVICES
The Company's principal security services clients include large
multi-national corporations that have significant investments in remote and
hostile areas of the world. These clients include petrochemical companies, who
accounted for approximately 35% of the Company's security business in fiscal
1996, and mining and construction companies, who accounted for approximately
24% of the Company's security business in fiscal 1996. Other significant
clients include the United Nations, governmental embassies, including those
belonging to the United States, projects funded by the World Bank and the
European Commission and a variety of banking, finance, aid and humanitarian
organizations and companies engaged in international trade and commerce. The
following table sets forth certain information regarding selected current and
recent clients, the nature of the security services provided to such clients,
and the countries in which such services are being or have been performed.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CLIENT COUNTRY FACILITY SERVICES PROVIDED
- ------ ------- -------- -----------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Anadarko Petroleum Algeria Major oil fields Expatriate security managers and
Corporation supervisors (1994 to date)
British Petroleum Colombia Exploration rigs Security coordination management
and liaison (1992 to date)
Continental Airlines Colombia Airline Passenger/baggage search; aircraft
guarding (1993 to date)
DeBeers Congo (former Zaire) Diamond mine Expatriate security supervisors (1984
to date)
European Commission Bosnia-Herzegovina -- Mine clearance training program for
the government of
Bosnia-Herzegovina (1997 to 1998)
Price Waterhouse Russia Offices Guards/investigations (1994 to date)
U.S. Department of Bahrain, Uganda, Embassies Expatriate-managed guard forces
State Congo, Ecuador, (1985 to date)
Angola
United Nations Former Republic of U.N. facilities Logistics, manpower and support to
Yugoslavia UNPROFOR (1992 to 1996)
</TABLE>
MARKETING AND DISTRIBUTION
LAW ENFORCEMENT AND SECURITY PRODUCTS
The Company believes that, as a result of its history of providing
high quality and reliable armor, less-than-lethal products and narcotic
identification and evidence equipment, it enjoys excellent name recognition
and a strong reputation in the security industry. The central element of the
Company's marketing strategy is to leverage its name recognition and
reputation by positioning the Company as a global provider of many of the
security products and services that the Company's customers may need. The
Company believes that, by positioning
33
<PAGE>
itself in this manner, it can capitalize on its existing customer base and its
extensive global distribution network, maximize the benefits of its long
history of supplying security-related products around the world and leverage
its leadership position in the security product and services markets. When
entering a foreign market, the Company seeks to penetrate the market by
offering the most comprehensive range of products and services available in
the security industry. The Company tailors its marketing strategy to each
geographic area of the world and will often tailor its product offering by
country. The Company believes that there are opportunities for cross-marketing
of military and law enforcement products which could strengthen the image of
each product group. The Company believes that its ability to cross-market its
security products and services will enhance the Company's position as an
integrated provider of an extensive assortment of security products and
services.
In addition, the Company has designed comprehensive training programs
to provide initial and continuing training to its customers in the proper use
of its various product lines. These training programs are typically conducted
by trained law enforcement and military personnel hired by the Company for
such purpose. The training programs may potentially reduce the Company's
liability for damages that the Company may incur from the use of its products.
Certain of the Company's training programs also contribute to the Company's
revenues. The Company's training programs are an integral part of the
Company's customer service offerings. Not only do the training programs
enhance customer satisfaction, but they also breed customer loyalty and brand
awareness, thereby enabling the Company to sell additional products to the
same customer.The Company's marketing effort is further augmented by its
involvement with and support of several important law enforcement
associations, including the National Tactical Officer's Association, the
International Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors, the American Society of
Law Enforcement Trainers and the International Association of Chiefs of
Police.
The Company's distribution strategy involves the utilization of a
worldwide distribution network of approximately 345 domestic distributors and
150 international agents, as well as 15 regional domestic sales managers who
promote the Company's products but refer customers to a local distributor for
purchasing. The Company further reinforces distributor loyalty by offering
price discounts to high volume distributors. The Company believes its
relationships with its distributors are strong. The distributors benefit from
their association with the Company due to the quality of the Company's
manufactured products, the scope of its product line, the high degree of
service provided by the Company and the distributor's opportunity to
participate profitably in the sale of the Company's products.
The Company is continually looking for ways to expand its
distribution network. As the Company identifies and acquires businesses that
fit strategically into its existing product and service portfolio, the Company
believes that it will maximize its distribution network by offering additional
products and services. The Company's recent acquisition of Supercraft has
opened new channels of global distribution to parts of the world not
previously penetrated by the Company. The Company believes that its
combination with DSL will allow the Company to take advantage of DSL's
extensive access to multi-national corporations, whose security service needs
in unstable countries may in the future require security products that
complement the services provided. The Company also believes that the addition
of these new distribution channels will allow the Company and its subsidiaries
to take advantage of each other's distribution networks by offering the
products of the other, thereby increasing operating efficiencies.
SPECIALIZED SECURITY SERVICES
The Company's experience has been that its most successful form of
marketing for its security services is client referrals generated by the
professional ability of its personnel. As a result, the Company spends minimal
amounts on direct unsolicited marketing for its security service business. The
Company does not, however, rely upon client referrals as its only strategy of
growth. While the Company will rarely enter a country without a
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<PAGE>
substantial contract for services already in place, the Company regularly
seeks out new areas which offer potential investment opportunities for
multi-national corporations and present serious security problems which make
such investment opportunities risky. In such cases, the Company will make
contact with organizations that are either currently investing or considering
an investment in such areas. Once established in a new country, the Company
employs qualified country project managers, who often speak the language
native to that country, to develop additional business.
The Company also seeks contracts with high visibility customers for
security services in the countries in which it operates. Examples of such
customers include United States embassies, the United Nations and its related
organizations, projects funded by the World Bank and the European Commission,
the International Committee for the Red Cross, the International Federation of
Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and large multi-national corporations.
The Company may accept a lower profit margin on these contracts because the
referral and advertising value of these contracts outweighs any reduced profit
that may result from such contracts. By providing services to such high
visibility customers, the Company believes that it will be able to increase
its market share of the security services required by large multi-national
companies operating in those countries.
MANUFACTURING AND RAW MATERIALS
The Company manufactures substantially all of its bullet, bomb and
projectile resistant garments and other ballistic protection devices and
assembles its portable narcotic identification kits at its Jacksonville,
Florida facility. The Company manufactures virtually all of its
less-than-lethal products, other than piece parts which are assembled and used
in the finished goods, at its Casper, Wyoming facilities. The Company
manufactures most of its military apparel, high visibility garments and some
ballistic resistant garments at its manufacturing facility in Westhoughton,
England, near Manchester, where Supercraft is located. The primary raw
materials used by Company in manufacturing ballistic resistance garments are
various ballistic fibers, including Kevlar(R), Twaron(R) and SpectraShield(R).
Kevlar(R), an aramid fiber, is a patented product of E.I. Du Pont de Nemours &
Co., Inc. ("Du Pont") and is only available from Du Pont and its European
licensee. The Company has begun to use SpectraShield(R), a high strength
polyethylene product of Allied Signal Corp., as an alternative ballistic
resistant fabric to reduce its dependence on Kevlar(R). SpectraShield(R) has
been used in combination with Kevlar(R) in approximately 20% of all vests sold
by the Company. SpectraShield(R) is not, however, expected to become a
complete substitute for Kevlar(R) in the near future due to the fabric's
physical characteristics. The Company also uses Twaron(R), an aramid fiber
product of Akzo-Nobel Fibers B.V. The Company does not purchase these fibers
directly from the manufacturers, but rather purchases fiber from weaving
companies who convert the raw fibers into cloth. In the opinion of management,
the Company enjoys a good relationship with these weaving companies and
believes that, if necessary, it could readily find replacement weavers. See
"Certain Transactions."
The raw materials used by the Company in the production of chemical
agents are supplied by several sources. The raw chemicals used in the
production of CS tear gas are readily obtainable with the exception of
Malononitrile, for which sources are limited. If the Company were unable to
obtain Malononitrile, its production of CS tear gas could be severely
curtailed. The remainder of the chemicals and piece parts used by the Company
are readily available from other suppliers. While it manufactures its armor on
a built-to-order basis, the Company does maintain reasonable inventories on
its less-than-lethal and anti-riot products.
The Company purchases other raw materials used in the manufacture of
its various products from a variety of sources, and it believes additional
sources of supply of these materials are readily available. The Company also
owns several molds which are used throughout its less-than-lethal product
line.
35
<PAGE>
The Company adheres to strict quality control standards and conducts
extensive product testing throughout its manufacturing process. Raw materials
supplied to the Company are also tested to ensure quality. The body armor
manufactured by the Company is ISO 9002 certified. ISO 9002 standards are
promulgated by the International Organization of Standardization and have been
adopted by more than 100 countries worldwide. The Company obtained ISO 9002
certification by successfully completing an audit certifying its compliance
with a comprehensive series of quality management and quality control
standards. The Company is one of only two corporations in the industry who
have earned this prestigious certification. The Company is in the process of
seeking ISO 9002 certification for its less-than-lethal products.
COMPETITION
The markets for the Company's products and services are highly
competitive. In the body armor business, the Company competes by attempting to
provide superior design and engineering and production expertise with respect
to its line of fully-integrated ballistic and blast protective wear. The
less-than-lethal product industry has become increasingly competitive and the
Company is one of many major manufacturers of such products. The Company
believes there are approximately 40 companies marketing less-than-lethal
products. The Company competes by attempting to provide a broad variety of
less-than-lethal products with unique features and formulations. There can be
no assurance, however, that the Company will be able to compete successfully
in the future. The principal competitive factors for all of the Company's
products are price, quality of engineering and design, production capability
and capacity, ability to meet delivery schedules and reputation in the
industry.
The security services industry is extremely competitive and highly
fragmented. Companies within the security services industry compete on the
basis of the quality of services provided, ability to provide national and
international services and range of services offered, as well as price and
reputation. The Company's security services also face a wide variety of
competition in different areas, although there is no single organization that
competes directly with DSL globally. The main competition in supplying
security services to the petrochemical and mining industries comes from local
security companies, in-house security programs and small consultancy
companies. In the embassy and international agency protection business, the
competition comes from local companies and from the largest manned guarding
companies including the Wackenhut Corporation, Pinkerton's, Inc., Group 4 and
ICTS International, N.V. As the countries within which DSL operates become
more mature and stable, competition is likely to increase.
PROPERTIES
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
The Company's principal facilities consist of the following:
LOCATION PRINCIPAL USE OWNED/LEASED APPROXIMATE SIZE
- -------- ------------- ------------ ----------------
<S> <C> <C>
Jacksonville, Florida Manufacturing, distribution, Owned 7 acres 70,000 square
corporate headquarters feet (1)
Casper, Wyoming Manufacturing, Warehouse, Office Owned/Leased (2) 60 acres 61,700 square
feet
Westhoughton, England Sales, Manufacturing, Warehouse Owned (3) 44,000 square feet
London, England Sales, Office Leased (4) 6,500 square feet
</TABLE>
- ----------
(1) The Company has the capacity to expand the building facility to
142,000 square feet.
36
<PAGE>
(2) Of the four properties at this location, three are owned by DTC. The
fourth property occupied by DTC consists of two buildings. DTC owns
one building and leases the other. The real property upon which these
two buildings are situated is also leased. The leased building and
the real property carry an annual rental of $26,400. The lease for
this property expires on September 1, 1998.
(3) AHL acquired the property from Bodycote International plc
("Bodycote") as part of the Company's acquisition of Supercraft.
Bodycote was determined to have imperfect title to the property. If
title to the property is not resolved by December 31, 1997, AHL will
receive (pound)536,500, which was placed in escrow at closing.
(4) DSL leases three floors and pays annual rent thereon in an amount
equal to(pound)96,000. The lease for this property expires in March
2002.
In addition, the Company also leases a 50,000 square foot facility in
Yulee, Florida, the Company's former manufacturing facility, which it has
subleased at full rental value until April 30, 1999, the expiration of the
lease. The annual rent for this property is $130,960 plus annual increases.
See Note 9 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
The Company believes its manufacturing, warehouse and office
facilities are suitable, adequate and have sufficient manufacturing capacity
for its current and anticipated requirements. The Company believes that it has
adequate insurance coverage for all of its properties and their contents.
EMPLOYEES
As of November 20, 1997, the Company had a total of approximately
3,500 employees, of which approximately 250 were employed in product
manufacturing and approximately 3,250 were employed in security services.
Approximately 45 employees employed by Supercraft are represented by the
General Municipal Boilermaker and Allied Trade Union. The collective
bargaining agreement currently in effect for these employees expires on
December 31, 1997. None of the Company's remaining employees are represented
by unions or covered by any collective bargaining agreements. The Company has
not experienced any work stoppages or employee related slowdowns and believes
that its relationship with its employees is good.
PATENTS AND TRADEMARKS
The Company currently has numerous issued U.S. and foreign patents
and pending patent applications relating to its product lines. The Company
also has several registered trademarks concerning its products. The trademarks
include Gold Series GSX(R), Def-Tec Products(R), Distraction Device(R), NIK(R)
and Identidrug(R). Although the Company does not believe that its ability to
compete in any of its product markets is dependent solely on its patents and
trademarks, the Company does believe that the protection afforded by its
intellectual property provides the Company with important technological and
marketing advantages over its competitors. Although the Company has protected
its technologies to the extent that it believes appropriate, there can be no
assurance that the Company's measures to protect its proprietary rights will
deter or prevent unauthorized use of the Company's technologies. In other
countries, the Company's proprietary rights may not be protected to the same
extent as in the United States.
ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS
The Company and its operations are subject to a number of federal,
state and local environmental laws, regulations and ordinances that govern
activities or operations that may have adverse environmental effects. Such
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<PAGE>
activities or operations include discharges to air and water, as well as
handling, storage and disposal practices regarding solid and hazardous
materials. Such laws and regulations may impose liability for the cost of
remediating sites of, and certain damages resulting from, past releases of
hazardous materials. Environmental laws continue to change rapidly, and it is
likely that the Company will be subject to increasingly stringent
environmental standards in the future. The Company uses CS and CN chemical
agents in connection with its production of tear gas. The chemicals are
hazardous, and if not handled and disposed of properly could cause
environmental damage. The Company believes that it currently conducts its
activities and operations in substantial compliance with applicable
environmental laws. The Company believes that its potential liability under
the environmental laws, if any, would not have a material adverse effect,
individually or in the aggregate, on its results of operations or financial
condition. There can be no assurance in this regard, however, nor can there be
any assurance that environmental laws will not become more stringent in the
future or that the Company will not incur significant costs in the future to
comply with such environmental laws.
LITIGATION
In November 1989, the Federal Trade Commission (the "FTC") conducted
an investigation into the accuracy of the Company's claims that body armor it
sold between 1988 and 1990 complied with testing and certification procedures
promulgated by the National Institute of Justice. On November 2, 1994, the
Company entered into a consent order voluntarily settling the FTC's charges
that the Company engaged in false advertising. Under the consent order, the
Company admitted no violations of law but agreed to establish a body armor
replacement program under which persons who had purchased body armor between
1988 and 1990 would be identified and offered the chance to buy new
replacement body armor at a reduced price. The consent order sets forth many
detailed requirements governing the conduct of the replacement program, the
retention of records and the avoidance of false or misleading advertising.
Failure to comply with the requirements could make the Company liable for
civil penalties. On January 4, 1995, the Company filed with the FTC a
comprehensive compliance report detailing the manner in which it was
performing the obligations imposed upon it by the consent order. In February
1997, the FTC asked for additional information, which the Company believes
will be the FTC's final request for information before closing the case.
On January 30, 1997, the Company commenced an action in the Supreme
Court of the State of New York, New York County, against DTCoA, the sole
stockholder of DTCoA and the President and Chief Executive Officer of DTCoA
(collectively, the "Defendants") claiming that the Defendants breached their
agreements relating to the sale of the DTCoA Assets to the Company. The relief
sought by the Company includes monetary damages of approximately $515,000,
plus accruals, and punitive damages. On April 3, 1997, the Defendants filed
with the court an answer and counterclaims to the Company's complaint. The
Defendants have denied each of the Company's allegations and have asserted
several affirmative defenses. Defendants have counterclaimed for, among other
things, breach of the terms of the asset purchase agreement and the authorized
distributor agreement entered into in connection with the Company's
acquisition of the DTCoA Assets. The Company believes that the counterclaims
asserted against it are without merit, and intends to vigorously defend such
counterclaims.
The Company and DTC, among other parties, have been named as
defendants in a product liability lawsuit claiming damages for wrongful death
resulting from the use by law enforcement officers of less-than-lethal
products sold by DTCoA. The Company's insurance carrier has assumed the
defense of this lawsuit, and the Company does not believe at this time that
the outcome of this lawsuit will have a material adverse effect on the
Company.
In addition to the above, the Company, in the normal course of its
business, is subject to claims and litigation in the areas of product and
general liability. The Company believes that it has adequate insurance
coverage for most claims that are incurred in the normal course of business.
In such cases, the effect on the Company's
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<PAGE>
financial statements is generally limited to the amount of its insurance
deductibles. Management does not believe at this time that any such claims
have a material impact on the Company's financial position, operations and
liquidity.
MANAGEMENT
DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
The following table sets forth the name, age and position of each of
the directors, executive officers and significant employees of the Company as
of November 20, 1997. Each director of the Company will hold office until the
next annual meeting of stockholders of the Company or until his or her
successor has been elected and qualified. The executive officers of the
Company are appointed by the Board of Directors of the Company and serve at
the discretion of the Board of Directors.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME AGE POSITION
---- --- --------
<S> <C> <C>
Warren B. Kanders.................................. 40 Chairman of the Board of Directors
Jonathan M. Spiller................................ 46 Director, President and Chief Executive Officer
Burtt R. Ehrlich................................... 58 Director
Nicholas Sokolow................................... 47 Director
Thomas W. Strauss.................................. 55 Director
Richard C. Bartlett................................ 62 Director
Alair A. Townsend.................................. 55 Director
J. Lawrence Battle................................. 46 President--Manufactured Products Division
Richard T. Bistrong................................ 35 Vice President--Sales and Marketing
Carol T. Burke..................................... 36 Vice President--Finance
Robert R. Schiller................................. 34 Vice President--Corporate Development
David W. Watson.................................... 45 Vice President--Chief Financial Officer, Secretary
and Treasurer
SIGNIFICANT EMPLOYEES:
Alastair G. A. Morrison............................ 54 Chairman, DSL Holdings
Hon. Richard N. Bethell............................ 46 Chief Executive Officer, DSL Holdings
</TABLE>
Warren B. Kanders has served as Chairman of the Board of the Company
since January 1996. From October 1992 to May 1996, Mr. Kanders served as Vice
Chairman of the Board of Directors of Benson Eyecare Corporation. From June
1992 to March 1993, Mr. Kanders was the President and a Director of Pembridge
Holdings, Inc.
Jonathan M. Spiller has served as President and as a Director of the
Company since July 1991 and as Chief Executive Officer since September 1993.
From June 1991 to September 1993, Mr. Spiller served as the Company's Chief
Operating Officer. Mr. Spiller is a chartered and certified public accountant
and was previously a partner in the international accounting firm of Deloitte
& Touche LLP, where he served for 18 years.
Burtt R. Ehrlich has served as a Director of the Company since
January 1996. Mr. Ehrlich served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of
Ehrlich Bober Financial Corp. from December 1986 until October 1992 and as a
Director of Benson Eyecare Corporation from October 1992 until November 1995.
39
<PAGE>
Nicholas Sokolow has served as a Director of the Company since
January 1996. Mr. Sokolow is a partner in the law firm of Sokolow, Dunaud,
Mercadier & Carreras. From June 1973 until October 1994, Mr. Sokolow was an
associate and partner in the law firm of Coudert Brothers. Mr. Sokolow is a
Director of Rexel, Inc.
Thomas W. Strauss has served as a Director of the Company since May
1996. Since 1995, Mr. Strauss has been a Principal with Ramius Capital Group,
a privately held investment management firm. From June 1993 until July 1995,
Mr. Strauss was Co-Chairman of Granite Capital International Group. From 1963
to 1991, Mr. Strauss served in various capacities with Salomon Brothers Inc
("Salomon"), including President and Vice-Chairman.
Richard C. Bartlett has served as a Director of the Company since May
1996. Mr. Bartlett has served as Vice Chairman of Mary Kay Holding Corporation
since January 1993 and served as President, Chief Operating Officer and
Director of Mary Kay Inc. from 1987 through 1992. Mr. Bartlett has served as
Chairman of the Board of Directors since 1995 and Chief Executive Officer from
1994 to 1995 of The Richmont Group, a holding company with portfolio
businesses including financial services, apparel, sporting goods and
restaurant chains.
Alair A. Townsend has served as a Director of the Company since
December 1996. Since February 1989, Ms. Townsend has been Publisher of Crain's
New York Business. Ms. Townsend currently serves as a Governor of the American
Stock Exchange. Ms. Townsend served as New York City's Deputy Mayor for
Finance and Economic Development from February 1985 to January 1989.
J. Lawrence Battle joined the Company on July 22, 1997 as President
of its Manufactured Products Division. From September 1996 until April 1997,
Mr. Battle served as Chief Development Officer of Physician Solutions, Inc.
From August 1994 to September 1996, Mr. Battle served as President and Chief
Operating Officer of Dayton Parts, Inc. From August 1992 to August 1994, Mr.
Battle served as President of Nutritional Support Services, L.P. From 1987 to
1991, Mr. Battle was Vice President and General Manager of the Automotive
Products Division of Ferodo America Inc., a subsidiary of T&N, plc.
Richard T. Bistrong has served as Vice President of Sales and
Marketing of the Company since February 1995. From 1993 to February 1995, Mr.
Bistrong held the position of Director of Retail Operations for Fechheimer
Brothers Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway. From 1986
to 1992, Mr. Bistrong was an Executive Vice President of Point Blank Body
Armor.
Carol T. Burke has served as Vice President of Finance of the Company
since January 1996. From March 1996 to October 1997, Ms. Burke served as
Secretary of the Company. Ms. Burke joined the Company as Controller in
January 1995. From 1990 to January 1995, Ms. Burke was a Senior Finance
Manager at the Walt Disney Company.
Robert R. Schiller has served as Vice President of Corporate
Development of the Company since July 1996. From 1994 to July 1996, Mr.
Schiller was a Principal in the merchant banking firm of Circadian Capital
Corporation and from 1993 to 1995 he was a Director of Corporate Finance for
Jonathan Foster & Co. L.P. From January 1995 to September 1995, Mr. Schiller
served as Chief Financial Officer of Troma, Inc., an independent film studio.
From 1991 to 1992, Mr. Schiller served as Vice President of the Special
Situation Investment Fund, an investment fund controlled by the Brooke Group.
David W. Watson joined the Company on August 25, 1997 as its Vice
President and Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Watson became Secretary and
Treasurer of the Company in October 1997. From May 1994 until
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<PAGE>
August 1997, Mr. Watson served as Vice President of Finance of TT Group
Industries, Inc., a $150 million subsidiary of a United Kingdom conglomerate.
From June 1986 to September 1993, Mr. Watson was with Monsanto Company, most
recently serving as Division Controller--Performance Products. Mr. Watson
previously served in various financial capacities with ITT Corporation and
Westinghouse Electric Corporation.
Alastair G. A. Morrison, OBE MC was one of four partners who founded
DSL Holdings in 1981. He served as Chief Executive of DSL Holdings from 1981
to 1995 and has served as a Director of DSL Holdings since 1981. Since 1995,
Mr. Morrison has served as Chairman of DSL Holdings. From 1961 to 1981, Mr.
Morrison was an officer in the Special Air Services of the British Army,
achieving the rank of Second in Command, 22 SAS Regiment.
The Hon. Richard N. Bethell, MBE has served as the Chief Executive
Officer of DSL Holdings since 1995. Mr. Bethell previously served as a
Director of DSL Holdings from 1991 to 1995. From 1988 to 1991, Mr. Bethell was
Director and Deputy Chief Executive of Leadership Trust, a leadership training
company for senior executives. From 1968 to 1988, Mr. Bethell served as a
Senior Officer in the Special Air Services of the British Army.
INVOLVEMENT IN CERTAIN LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
On December 3, 1992, without admitting or denying any liability, Mr.
Strauss consented to an order of the Commission under which he was suspended
from associating with any broker, dealer, municipal securities dealer,
investment company or investment advisor for a period of six months, and paid
a civil penalty of $75,000. The central claim in these proceedings was that,
as President of Salomon, Mr. Strauss delayed in reporting an unauthorized bid
by the head of Salomon's Government Trading Desk who reported to one of Mr.
Strauss' subordinates. Mr. Strauss has maintained that he reported the
unauthorized bid both to Salomon's Chief Executive Officer and General Counsel
immediately upon learning of the unauthorized bid.
Mr. Spiller was the President and Chief Executive Officer of the
Company at the time the Company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in
May 1992 through the confirmation on September 20, 1993 of the Company's Plan
of Reorganization.
COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors has standing Audit, Compensation, Nominating
and Option Committees. The purpose of the Compensation Committee is to
recommend to the Board of Directors the compensation and benefits of the
Company's executive officers and other key management. During fiscal 1996, the
Compensation Committee consisted of Messrs. Sokolow (Chairman), Kanders and
Ehrlich.
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
The non-employee directors of the Company participate in the Amended
and Restated 1996 Non-Employee Directors Stock Option Plan (the "1996
Directors Plan"). See "Option Plans." Messrs. Kanders, Ehrlich, Sokolow,
Strauss and Bartlett and Ms. Townsend are all non-employee directors of the
Company. During 1996 each non-employee director, except for Messrs. Kanders
and Bartlett, was granted options to purchase 75,000 shares of Common Stock at
an exercise price per share equal to the closing trading price of the Common
Stock on the date of the grant. No other compensation was paid to directors in
1996.
41
<PAGE>
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The following summary compensation table sets forth information
concerning the annual and long-term compensation earned by the Company's chief
executive officer and each of the other most highly compensated executive
officers of the Company whose annual salary and bonus during fiscal 1996
exceeded $100,000 (collectively, the "Named Executive Officers").
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ANNUAL LONG TERM
COMPENSATION (1) COMPENSATION
-------------------------------------- ----------------
SECURITIES
FISCAL ANNUAL UNDERLYING ALL OTHER
Name and Principal Position YEAR SALARY BONUS OPTIONS(#) COMPENSATION
- --------------------------- ---- ------ ------ ---------- ------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Jonathan M. Spiller............................. 1996 $160,000 $ 60,000 24,000 $ 5,775(2)
Chief Executive Officer and President 1995 160,000 21,000 18,000 --
1994 140,000 62,000 432,000 --
Richard T. Bistrong............................. 1996 120,000 107,000 50,000 --
Vice President--Sales and Marketing 1995 120,000 105,000 50,000 --
1994 -- -- -- --
Robert R. Schiller.............................. 1996 44,201(3) 45,000 150,000 17,500(4)
Vice President--Corporate Development 1995 -- -- -- --
1994 -- -- -- --
</TABLE>
- ----------------
(1) The Company has no long-term incentive compensation plan other than
the 1994 Incentive Stock Option Plan and the Amended and Restated
1996 Stock Option Plan and various individually granted options. The
Company does not award stock appreciation rights, restricted stock
awards or long term incentive plan payouts.
(2) Represents the dollar value of 7,500 stock award grants awarded to
Mr. Spiller in December 1995, which options became fully vested on
January 19, 1996. Does not include any amounts that Mr. Spiller may
receive with respect to 91,823 shares of Common Stock upon the
earlier to occur of (i) the sale by Kanders of at least 452,604
shares of Common Stock or (ii) January 18, 1999. See "Certain
Transactions."
(3) Mr. Schiller became an employee of the Company on July 24, 1996. He
was paid at an annual rate of salary of $120,000.
(4) Represents compensation earned by Mr. Schiller in his capacity as a
consultant to the Company prior to the execution of his employment
agreement.
42
<PAGE>
OPTIONS GRANTED IN FISCAL 1996
The following information is furnished for fiscal 1996 with respect
to the Company's Named Executive Officers for stock options granted during
such fiscal year. Stock options were granted without tandem stock appreciation
rights.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
POTENTIAL REALIZABLE VALUE AT
ASSUMED ANNUAL RATES OF STOCK
NUMBER OF % OF TOTAL PRICE APPRECIATION FOR
SECURITIES OPTIONS EXERCISE OPTION TERM
UNDERLYING GRANTED TO PRICE MARKET PRICE -----------------------------
OPTIONS EMPLOYEES IN PER PER SHARE ON EXPIRATION
NAME GRANTED(#)(1) FISCAL YEAR SHARE DATE OF GRANT(2) DATE 0%($) 5%($) 10%($)
- ---- ------------- ------------ --------- ---------------- ---------- --------- ---------- --------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Jonathan M. Spiller.. 24,000 5.1 $ 1.00 $4.125 1/19/2006 $ 75,000 $137,261 $ 232,781
Richard T. Bistrong.. 50,000 10.7 .97 3.8125 1/18/2006 142,125 262,008 445,932
Robert R. Schiller... 150,000 32.1 6.06 6.06 7/24/2006 0 571,665 1,448,712
</TABLE>
(1) All options granted to such officers (except those granted to Mr.
Schiller) have a term of ten years and were granted under the
Company's 1994 Incentive Stock Plan. The options granted to Mr.
Schiller have a term of ten years and were granted under the
Company's Amended and Restated 1996 Stock Option Plan.
(2) The market price on the date of grant shown for January 18, 1996 and
January 19, 1996 is the bid price of the Common Stock as listed on
the Bulletin Board on such date. The bid quotations represent
inter-dealer prices, and do not include mark-ups, mark-downs or
commissions, and may not necessarily represent actual transactions.
For this reason, and because of the low trading volume of the Common
Stock at that time, such bid quotations may not be an accurate
reflection of the fair value of the Common Stock on such dates.
Therefore, at the direction of the Board of Directors, the Company
obtained an independent valuation of the Common Stock during fourth
quarter 1995 which valued the Common Stock at $0.77 per share, and
the Company used this value in determining the exercise price per
share of the options granted on such dates. The market price on the
date of grant shown for July 24, 1996 for options granted to Mr.
Schiller is the average of the high and low sales prices of the
Common Stock on the AMEX on such date.
43
<PAGE>
AGGREGATED OPTION EXERCISES IN FISCAL 1996 AND FISCAL YEAR END OPTION VALUES
The following table contains certain information regarding options to
purchase Common Stock held as of December 28, 1996 by each of the Named
Executive Officers. None of the Named Executive Officers exercised any options
during fiscal 1996.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NUMBER OF SECURITIES VALUE OF
UNDERLYING UNEXERCISED UNEXERCISED IN-THE-MONEY
OPTIONS AT FISCAL YEAR END OPTIONS AT FISCAL YEAR END (1)
--------------------------------------- -------------------------------
Name Exercisable Unexercisable Exercisable UNEXERCISABLE
- ---- ----------- ------------- ----------- -------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Jonathan M. Spiller........... 474,000 0 $3,296,450 $ 0
Richard T. Bistrong........... 50,000 50,000 345,250 345,250
Robert R. Schiller............ 0 150,000 0 272,250
</TABLE>
- ----------------
(1) Calculated on the basis of $7.875 per share, the last reported sale
price of the Common Stock on the AMEX on December 28, 1996, less the
exercise price payable for such shares.
AGREEMENTS WITH KEY EMPLOYEES
The Company has entered into an employment agreement with Jonathan M.
Spiller which provides that he will serve as the President and Chief Executive
Officer of the Company for an initial term expiring January 17, 1999. The
agreement provides for a base salary of $200,000 effective January 1, 1997,
subject to increase by the Board of Directors, and for yearly bonuses based
upon the Company's net income. Mr. Spiller will also be entitled, at the
discretion of the Option Committee of the Board of Directors, to participate
in the Amended and Restated 1996 Stock Option Plan (the "1996 Option Plan")
and other bonus plans adopted by the Company based on his performance and the
Company's performance. Mr. Spiller's employment with the Company will
continue, unless earlier terminated by Mr. Spiller or by the Company or due to
Mr. Spiller's death or disability, for successive one year periods, on terms
to be mutually agreed upon by the Company and Mr. Spiller. See "Certain
Transactions" for a description of an agreement between Mr. Spiller and
Kanders pursuant to which Mr. Spiller, under certain circumstances, may either
purchase 91,823 shares of Common Stock from Kanders for $0.9302 per share or
receive the net proceeds of the sale by Kanders of 91,823 shares of Common
Stock reduced by $0.9302 per share.
The Company has entered into an employment agreement with Richard T.
Bistrong which agreement provides that he will serve as Vice President--Sales
and Marketing of the Company for an initial term expiring January 17, 1999.
The agreement provides for a base salary of $120,000 and for yearly bonuses.
In addition to his base salary and bonus, Mr. Bistrong received non-qualified
stock options to purchase 21,250 shares of Common Stock and incentive stock
options to purchase 28,750 shares of Common Stock, in each case at an exercise
price of $0.97 per share of Common Stock. These options are exercisable for a
period of eight years from the date of the grant, and all of such options vest
on January 18, 1999. The vesting of the options may be accelerated on a pro
rata basis upon the occurrence of certain events. Pursuant to his employment
agreement, Mr. Bistrong will be entitled, at the discretion of the Option
Committee of the Board of Directors, to participate in the 1996 Option Plan
and other bonus plans adopted by the Company based on his performance and the
Company's performance. Mr. Bistrong's employment with the Company will
continue, unless earlier terminated by Mr. Bistrong or by the Company or due
to Mr. Bistrong's death or disability, for successive one year periods, on
terms to be mutually agreed upon by the Company and Mr. Bistrong.
44
<PAGE>
The Company has entered into an employment agreement with Robert R.
Schiller which provides that he will serve as Vice President--Corporate
Development of the Company for an initial term expiring July 23, 1999, at a
base salary of $120,000 per year. Effective January 1, 1997, Mr. Schiller's
base salary was increased by the Company to $130,000 per year. Mr. Schiller
also received a one-time relocation bonus of $45,000. In addition to his base
salary, Mr. Schiller received options under the 1996 Option Plan to purchase
150,000 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price per share equal to $6.06,
the market price of the Common Stock on July 24, 1996, the date of the grant.
These options vest over a period of three years from the date of the grant,
and all of such options become exercisable on July 24, 1999. The vesting of
the options may be accelerated on a pro rata basis upon the occurrence of
certain events. Pursuant to his employment agreement, Mr. Schiller will be
entitled, at the discretion of the Option Committee of the Board of Directors,
to participate in the 1996 Option Plan and other bonus plans adopted by the
Company based on his performance and the Company's performance. Mr. Schiller's
employment with the Company will continue, unless earlier terminated by Mr.
Schiller or by the Company or due to Mr. Schiller's death or disability, for
successive one year periods, on terms to be mutually agreed upon by the
Company and Mr. Schiller.
OPTION PLANS
1994 Incentive Stock Plan
The purpose of the Armor Holdings, Inc. 1994 Incentive Stock Plan
(the "1994 Incentive Plan") is to attract, retain and motivate selected
employees and officers and to encourage such persons to devote their best
efforts to the business and financial success of the Company. The 1994
Incentive Plan was discontinued for the purpose of further stock option grants
on January 19, 1996.
The 1994 Incentive Plan was administered by the Option Committee of
the Board of Directors. The Option Committee determined which employees and
officers were granted awards pursuant to the 1994 Incentive Plan. The 1994
Incentive Plan provided for grants of stock options and for grants of stock
grant awards. The maximum number of shares of the Common Stock reserved and
available for grant pursuant to the 1994 Incentive Plan was 1,000,000 shares.
Stock options granted under the 1994 Incentive Plan are incentive stock
options or non-qualified stock options and have an exercise price equal to the
fair market value of the Common Stock at the date of the grant. Options
granted under the 1994 Incentive Plan are exercisable no more than ten years
from the date of grant at any time after the first six months after the date
of grant. Options are not transferable other than by will or by the laws of
descent or distribution. Full payment for shares purchased upon exercise of an
option must be made at the time of exercise. Stock grant awards entitle the
recipient to acquire shares of the Common Stock without payment at dates and
upon conditions determined by the Option Committee. Stock grant awards are not
transferable. The 1994 Incentive Plan also provided for the grant of loans to
recipients of awards under such plan at the discretion of the Option
Committee.
Amended and Restated 1996 Stock Option Plan
The purpose of the 1996 Option Plan is to afford key employees and
consultants of the Company and its subsidiaries who are responsible for the
continued growth of the Company an opportunity to acquire an ownership
interest in the Company, and thus create in such persons an increased interest
in and a greater concern for the welfare of the Company and its subsidiaries.
The 1996 Option Plan is administered by the Option Committee of the
Board of Directors. The Option Committee determines those individuals who will
receive options, the time period during which the options may be partially or
fully exercised and the number of shares of Common Stock that may be purchased
under each option.
45
<PAGE>
Options granted under the 1996 Option Plan may be incentive options or
non-qualified options. The Option Committee may determine the option exercise
price of options granted under the 1996 Option Plan, provided that incentive
options granted under the 1996 Option Plan may not have an exercise price of
an amount less than the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date of
the grant. Under certain conditions, the Board of Directors as a whole has the
power to grant options under the 1996 Option Plan.
Generally, options may be granted only to employees employed and
consultants engaged by the Company or of any subsidiary corporation or parent
corporation of the Company. Directors who are also employees of the Company
are also eligible to participate. Consultants are eligible to receive awards
of non-qualified options, but are not eligible to receive incentive stock
options. No person who owns, directly or indirectly, at the time of the
granting of an incentive stock option to him, 10% or more of the total
combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company will be eligible
to receive any incentive stock options under the 1996 Option Plan unless the
exercise price is at least 110% of the fair market value of the Common Stock
on the date of grant. Options granted under the 1996 Option Plan are not
transferable. Except under certain circumstances such as death, disability or
retirement and unless otherwise specified by the Board of Directors, options
granted under the 1996 Option Plan become null and void upon the termination
of an option holder's employment with the Company. Subject to certain limits,
the Board of Directors or the Option Committee may amend the 1996 Option Plan.
At the annual meeting of stockholders held on June 12, 1997, the
stockholders of the Company approved the following four amendments to the 1996
Option Plan: (i) the number of shares of Common Stock available for option
grants under the 1996 Option Plan was increased by 250,000 shares to 1,750,000
shares; (ii) the governing law of the 1996 Option Plan was changed from
Florida to Delaware; (iii) the 1996 Option Plan was restated to comport with
recent amendments to Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act; and (iv) a
schedule was adopted to permit the grant of options to employees of the
Company's United Kingdom subsidiaries.
Amended and Restated 1996 Non-Employee Directors Stock Option Plan
The purpose of the 1996 Directors Plan is to attract, retain and
compensate for service as directors of the Company highly qualified
individuals who are not current or former employees of the Company, by
permitting such directors to have a greater personal financial stake in the
Company through the ownership of Common Stock, in addition to underscoring
their common interest with stockholders in increasing the value of the Common
Stock in the long term.
The 1996 Directors Plan is a formula plan pursuant to which
non-qualified options to acquire 75,000 shares of Common Stock will
automatically be granted to each Non-Employee Director on the date of his or
her initial election or appointment to the Board of Directors in consideration
for service as a Director. There are 450,000 shares of Common Stock reserved
for issuance under the 1996 Directors Plan. Under the 1996 Directors Plan
formula, the exercise price for all 75,000 options granted to each
Non-Employee Director under the 1996 Director Plan will be the closing price
on the date of the grant of the Common Stock as quoted on the composite tape
of the American Stock Exchange, or on such exchange as the Common Stock may
then be trading. Of the 75,000 options granted to each Non-Employee Director,
options to acquire 25,000 shares become exercisable upon each of the first
three anniversary dates following the date of the grant and all 75,000 options
granted to each Non-Employee Director shall expire ten years from the date of
grant. The exercise price must be paid in cash. If, on the day of the grant,
counsel for the Company determines, in its sole discretion, that the Company
is in possession of material, undisclosed information that would prevent it
from issuing securities, then the grant of options to Non-Employee Directors
will be suspended until the second day after public dissemination of the
information (or the first trading day thereafter). The amount, pricing and
other terms of the grant will remain as set forth in the 1996 Directors
46
<PAGE>
Plan, with the exercise price of the option to be determined in accordance
with the formula on the date the option is finally granted.
Upon retirement, a Non-Employee Director's options will continue to
become exercisable and must be exercised by the earlier of (i) 36 months
following the date of retirement or (ii) the expiration of the applicable
option period, or such options shall be forfeited. Upon a Non-Employee
Director's disability or death, those options held by the Non-Employee
Director for at least one year prior to the date of death or the date of
cessation of service following disability shall become immediately
exercisable. The Non-Employee Director or his/her legal representatives or
heirs must exercise such options by the earlier of (i) six months or 36 months
from the date of cessation of service due to disability or death,
respectively, as the case may be, or (ii) the expiration of the applicable
option period, or such options shall be forfeited. Should an individual cease
to serve as a Non-Employee Director for any reason other than retirement,
disability, death or cause, he/she will have 90 days within which to exercise
only those options which were exercisable as of the date he/she ceased to
serve as a director.
At the annual meeting of stockholders held on June 12, 1997, the
stockholders of the Company approved two amendments to the 1996 Directors
Plan. As a result, the number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance
under the 1996 Directors Plan was increased by 150,000 shares to a total of
450,000 shares and certain adjustments were made to the 1996 Directors Plan to
comport with recent amendments to Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange
Act.
47
<PAGE>
PRINCIPAL AND SELLING STOCKHOLDERS
The following table sets forth certain information regarding the
beneficial ownership of Common Stock (a) as of November 20, 1997, and (b) as
adjusted to reflect the sale by the Selling Stockholders of the shares offered
hereby, assuming all of the shares offered hereby are sold, by (i) each person
who is known by the Company to own beneficially more than 5% of the
outstanding shares of the Common Stock; (ii) each director and Named Executive
Officer and (iii) all executive officers and directors as a group. An
aggregate of up to 858,524 shares of Common Stock may be offered by the
Selling Stockholders. The shares of Common Stock offered hereby constitute
approximately 5.4% of all shares of the Company's outstanding Common Stock,
without giving effect to the possible exercise of outstanding options, except
as noted. Unless otherwise indicated, each of the stockholders shown in the
table below has sole voting and investment power with respect to the shares
beneficially owned. Unless otherwise indicated, the address of each person
named in the table below is c/o Armor Holdings, Inc., 13386 International
Parkway, Jacksonville, Florida 32218.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
AMOUNT AND SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED
NATURE OF BENEFICIAL AFTER THE
OWNERSHIP(1) SHARES TO BE OFFERING(2)
NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, ------------------------ SOLD IN THE -------------------------
DIRECTORS OR 5% STOCKHOLDERS NUMBER PERCENT OFFERING NUMBER PERCENT
- ----------------------------- ------ ------- ------------ ------ -------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Warren B. Kanders and Kanders
Florida Holdings, Inc.(3).......................... 3,937,178 24.6% 0 3,937,178 24.6%
Nevis Capital Management, Inc.(4)................... 1,268,600 7.9 0 1,268,600 7.9
Jonathan M. Spiller(5).............................. 790,205 4.8 0 790,205 4.8
Richmont Capital Partners I, L.P.(6)................ 725,000 4.5 0 725,000 4.5
FS Partners, LLC(7)................................. 722,911 4.5 520,911 202,000 1.3
Scottish Eastern Investment Trust (8)............... 450,000 2.8 200,000 250,000 1.6
Burtt R. Ehrlich(9)................................. 264,100 1.6 0 264,100 1.6
Alastair G.A. Morrison(10)........................... 210,257 1.3 87,613 122,644 *
Nicholas Sokolow(11)................................ 180,000 1.1 0 180,000 1.1
Hon. Richard N. Bethell(12)......................... 140,159 * 0 140,159 *
Martin Currie North American Fund(13)............... 130,000 * 50,000 80,000 *
Martin Brayshaw(14)................................. 87,613 * 87,613 0 *
Thomas W. Strauss(15)............................... 75,000 * 0 75,000 *
Richard T. Bistrong(16)............................. 66,667 * 0 66,667 *
Alair A. Townsend(17)............................... 30,516 * 0 30,516 *
Carol T. Burke(18).................................. 25,000 * 0 25,000 *
Richard C. Bartlett(19)............................. 0 * 0 0 *
Robert R. Schiller(20).............................. 0 * 0 0 *
J. Lawrence Battle(21).............................. 0 * 0 0 *
David W. Watson(22)................................. 0 * 0 0 *
All executive officers and directors as a group
(14 persons)(23).................................. 5,719,082 33.6% 858,524 5,631,469 33.1%
</TABLE>
- ------------------------------------
* Less than 1%
48
<PAGE>
(1) As used in this table, a beneficial owner of a security includes any
person who, directly or indirectly, through contract, arrangement,
understanding, relationship or otherwise has or shares (i) the power to
vote, or direct the voting of, such security or (ii) investment power
which includes the power to dispose, or to direct the disposition of,
such security. In addition, a person is deemed to be the beneficial
owner of a security if that person has the right to acquire beneficial
ownership of such security within 60 days.
(2) Assumes that all the shares of Common Stock offered pursuant to this
prospectus will be sold.
(3) Of such shares, 3,637,178 shares are owned by Kanders Florida Holdings,
Inc., of which Mr. Kanders is the sole stockholder and sole director,
and 300,000 shares are owned by the Kanders Florida Holdings, Inc. 1996
Charitable Remainder Unitrust, of which Mr. Kanders is trustee. Mr.
Kanders disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares owned by the trust.
(4) All such shares are owned by Snowden Limited partnership of which Nevis
Capital Management, Inc. is the general partner. The address of Nevis
Capital Management, Inc. is 1119 St. Paul Street, Baltimore, Maryland
21202.
(5) Includes options to purchase 574,000 shares of Common Stock. Also
includes 43,541 shares owned by Mr. Spiller's children, of which Mr.
Spiller disclaims beneficial ownership. Does not include 91,823 shares
of which Mr. Spiller may be deemed to have a beneficial ownership
interest pursuant to an agreement with Kanders. See "Certain
Transactions."
(6) Includes options to purchase 200,000 shares of Common Stock. The address
of Richmont Capital Partners I, L.P. ("Richmont") is 4300 Westgrove
Drive, Dallas, Texas 75248.
(7) The address of FS Partners, LLC is 767 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York
10153.
(8) The address of Scottish Eastern Investment Trust is Saltire Court, 20
Castle Terrace, Edinburgh, EH1 2ES, United Kingdom.
(9) Includes options to purchase 50,000 shares of Common Stock. Also
includes 13,400 shares owned by Mr. Ehrlich's children and 25,600 held
in trust for the benefit of his children, of which Mr. Ehrlich's spouse
is trustee, of which he disclaims beneficial ownership. Also includes
400 shares owned by Mr. Ehrlich's spouse's individual retirement
account, of which Mr Ehrlich disclaims beneficial ownership.
(10) Mr. Morrison's address is 21 Embankment Gardens, Flat 6, London, SW3
4LW, United Kingdom. Mr. Morrison has granted a beneficial ownership
interest in 87,613 of the shares listed to Mr. Brayshaw, a former
employee of DSL, pursuant to that certain Option Deed dated April 14,
1997, between Messrs. Morrison and Brayshaw. Such shares are being
registered for resale hereunder. It is expected that Mr. Brayshaw will
exercise the option and sell the shares received by him following their
registration hereunder. Mr. Morrison will not be selling any shares of
Common Stock under this registration statement. Upon the exercise of the
option by Mr. Brayshaw, Mr. Morrison will beneficially own 122,644
shares of Common Stock. See footnote 14.
(11) Includes options to purchase 50,000 shares of Common Stock. Also
includes 100,000 shares owned by S.T. Investors Fund, LLC ("STIF"), a
limited liability company of which Mr. Sokolow is a member and 20,000
shares owned by Mr. Sokolow's children, of which he disclaims beneficial
ownership. Also includes 10,000 shares owned by Mr. Sokolow's profit
sharing plan.
(12) Mr. Bethell's address is 60 Bromfelde Road, London, SW4 6PR, United
Kingdom.
49
<PAGE>
(13) The address of Martin Currie North American Fund is Saltire Court, 20
Castle Terrace, Edinburgh, EH1 2ES, United Kingdom.
(14) Mr. Brayshaw's address is Redhall, 87 Main Street, Lyddington, Near
Uppingham, Rutland, LE15 9LS, United Kingdom. See footnote 10. The
87,613 shares listed for Mr. Brayshaw under the heading "Shares to be
Sold in the Offering" are the same shares listed for Mr. Morrison under
the same heading.
(15) Includes options to purchase 25,000 shares of Common Stock.
(16) Includes options to purchase 36,667 shares of Common Stock.
(17) Includes 5,516 shares of Common Stock and options to purchase 25,000
shares of Common Stock.
(18) Includes options to purchase 25,000 shares of Common Stock.
(19) Mr. Bartlett does not own any shares individually. Mr. Bartlett is
Chairman of The Richmont Group, whose affiliate, Richmont, is the
beneficial owner of 725,000 shares of Common Stock. Mr. Bartlett
disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares owned by Richmont.
(20) Mr. Schiller does not own any shares of Common Stock. Pursuant to the
terms of his employment agreement, Mr. Schiller was granted options to
purchase 150,000 shares of Common Stock on July 24, 1996 under the 1996
Option Plan at an exercise price of $6.06 per share, the market price of
the Common Stock on the date of the grant. The options vest over a
period of three years from the date of the grant, and all options become
exercisable on July 24, 1999.
(21) Mr. Battle does not own any shares of Common Stock. Pursuant to the
terms of his employment agreement, the Board of Directors granted to Mr.
Battle on October 29, 1997 options to purchase 75,000 shares of Common
Stock under the 1996 Option Plan as of September 2, 1997. The exercise
price per share is $10.4375, the market price of the Common Stock on
September 2, 1997, the date of the grant. The options vest over a period
of three years from July 21, 1997, and all options become exercisable on
July 21, 2000.
(22) Mr. Watson does not own any shares of Common Stock. Pursuant to the
terms of his employment agreement, the Board of Directors granted to Mr.
Watson on October 29, 1997 options to purchase 75,000 shares of Common
Stock under the 1996 Option Plan as of September 2, 1997. The exercise
price per share is $10.4375, the market price of the Common Stock on
September 2, 1997, the date of the grant. The options vest over a period
of three years from the date of the grant, and all options become
exercisable on September 2, 2000.
(23) See footnotes (3) and (5), (9-12), and (15-22).
Effective September 5, 1997, the Company, DSL and Martin Brayshaw
mutually agreed to terminate Mr.Brayshaw's employment with DSL. Mr. Brayshaw
was a Director and the Commercial Director of DSL.
Pursuant to the terms of a letter agreement dated October 1, 1997
between the Company, DSL and Mr. Brayshaw (the "Agreement"), the Company is
required to use its best efforts to register for sale under the Securities Act
87,613 shares owned by Alastair G.A. Morrison, Chairman of DSL Holdings, that
are subject to an option (the "Option") granted by Mr. Morrison to Mr. Brayshaw
(the "Brayshaw Shares"). Also pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, the
Company advanced to Mr. Brayshaw $50,000 (the "Advance").
50
<PAGE>
Pursuant to the provisions of the Agreement and an Irrevocable Power
of Attorney (the "Power of Attorney") granted by Mr. Brayshaw in favor of
Jonathan M. Spiller, the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company
(the "Attorney"), and following the effectiveness of this Registration
Statement, the Option will be exercised and the Brayshaw Shares will be sold
by Mr. Brayshaw in one or more transactions. Upon the sale of the Brayshaw
Shares, Mr. Brayshaw is required to pay to the Company, or direct the Attorney
to pay to the Company, the initial $50,000 of net proceeds received from the
sale of the Brayshaw Shares in repayment of the Advance. Thereafter, the next
$520,000 received from the sale of the Brayshaw Shares shall be retained by
Mr. Brayshaw. As consideration for the obligations of the Company under the
Agreement and of the release by the Company of Mr. Brayshaw from liability
under certain warranties given by Mr. Brayshaw in connection with the
Company's combination with DSL on April 16, 1997, Mr. Brayshaw agreed to pay
to the Company, or direct the Attorney to pay to the Company, an amount equal
to the net proceeds of the sale of the Brayshaw Shares in excess of $520,000
(including the Advance).
The foregoing description of the agreement and the transactions
contemplated thereby are not intended to be complete and are qualified in
their entirety by the complete text of the Agreement and the Power of
Attorney.
CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS
On May 15, 1996, the Company issued options to purchase 300,000
shares of Common Stock to Richmont Capital Partners I, L.P. ("Richmont"), at
an exercise price of $7.50 per share, subject to adjustment (the "Richmont
Options"). The Richmont Options and the underlying shares, whether vested or
unvested, are callable by the Company in the event that the closing price per
share of the Common Stock is equal to or greater than $10.00 for a period of
ten consecutive trading days after December 31, 1997, upon written notice to
Richmont given within 30 days of the conclusion of such ten consecutive
trading days during which the closing price per share of the Common Stock was
equal to or greater than $10.00. In such event, the Company may require
Richmont to exercise the Richmont Options in whole with respect to all such
shares within ten days of such notice to Richmont. In the event that Richmont
does not exercise the Richmont Options, the Richmont Options will lapse.
Richmont was also the holder of a Convertible Note in the principal
amount of $3.0 million. Richmont converted its Convertible Note into 600,000
shares of Common Stock pursuant to the terms of the Convertible Subordinated
Note Purchase Agreement on December 18, 1996. Including the 200,000 Richmont
Options which have fully vested and the shares into which Richmont's
Convertible Note were converted, Richmont is the beneficial owner of 6.6% of
the Company's outstanding Common Stock. Richard C. Bartlett, a Director of the
Company, is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of The Richmont Group, the
parent corporation of Richmont. Mr. Bartlett disclaims beneficial ownership of
any shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by Richmont.
Kanders and Mr. Spiller entered into an agreement, dated as of
January 18, 1996, pursuant to which Kanders granted to Mr. Spiller a
beneficial ownership interest in 316,823 shares of Common Stock owned by
Kanders. On July 25, 1997, such number of shares were reduced to 91,823 in
connection with the Company's public offering of 4,000,000 shares of its
Common Stock. As part of such offering, Kanders sold an aggregate of 525,000
shares of Common Stock as part of the underwriters' overallotment option, of
which Mr. Spiller received the net proceeds of 225,000 shares. Such agreement
provides that, in the event that Kanders sells at least 452,604 shares of
Common Stock in a single transaction, then Mr. Spiller will have the option to
either (i) pay to Kanders an amount equal to $0.9302 per share, in which event
Mr. Spiller will be entitled to receive stock certificates representing such
91,823 shares of Common Stock, or (ii) receive the net proceeds relating to
91,823 shares of Common Stock that are the subject of the sale by Kanders,
reduced by $0.9302 per share. In the event that Kanders does not sell at least
452,604 shares of Common Stock as described above, Mr. Spiller's rights to the
91,823 shares
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<PAGE>
of Common Stock will vest on January 18, 1999 so long as, at such time, Mr.
Spiller is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and his
employment agreement with the Company is in full force and effect and Mr.
Spiller is not in breach thereof. If Mr. Spiller's employment agreement with
the Company is terminated due to his death or disability, or without cause,
prior to January 18, 1999, however, a pro-rata portion of such 91,823 shares
of Common Stock, based upon the number of months elapsed from January 18, 1996
in relation to 36 months, will vest to Mr. Spiller. Unless sooner acquired by
Mr. Spiller, Mr. Spiller shall have the right to acquire any such vested
shares of Common Stock on January 18, 2001 upon payment by Mr. Spiller to
Kanders of $0.9302 per share relating to such shares.
Burtt R. Ehrlich, a Director of the Company, was the holder of a
Convertible Note in the principal amount of $250,000. Mr. Ehrlich converted
his Convertible Note into 50,000 shares of Common Stock pursuant to the terms
of the Convertible Subordinated Note Purchase Agreement on December 18, 1996.
Thomas W. Strauss, a Director of the Company, was the holder of a
Convertible Note in the principal amount of $200,000. Mr. Strauss converted
his Convertible Note into 40,000 shares of Common Stock pursuant to the terms
of the Convertible Subordinated Note Purchase Agreement on December 18, 1996.
The Jeanne Kanders Revocable Inter Vivos Trust and the Ralph F.
Kanders Revocable Inter Vivos Trust, named for the parents of Warren B.
Kanders, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company, were holders
of Convertible Notes in the principal amounts of $150,000 and $100,000,
respectively. The trusts converted their Convertible Notes into 30,000 and
20,000 shares of Common Stock, respectively, pursuant to the terms of the
Convertible Subordinated Note Purchase Agreement on December 18, 1996.
The Company historically has purchased substantially all of the
ballistic resistant fabric used in the manufacture of its products from Clark
Schwebel, Inc. ("Schwebel"), a subsidiary of Springs Industries, Inc. and a
former holder of 45.7% of the outstanding Common Stock. Kanders purchased all
of the capital stock of the Company owned by Schwebel on January 18, 1996. The
Company's purchases from Schwebel totaled approximately $3.4 million, $5.1
million and $5.0 million in fiscal 1994, fiscal 1995 and fiscal 1996,
respectively, and were made in the normal course of business at prices which
the Company believes were competitive with other available sources for such
materials.
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
GENERAL
The Company's authorized capital stock consists of 50 million shares
of Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share, and 5 million shares of preferred
stock, par value $0.01 per share (the "Preferred Stock"). As of November 20,
1997, the Company had 16,023,740 shares of Common Stock issued and
outstanding. The material terms of the Company's certificate of incorporation
(the "Charter") are discussed below.
COMMON STOCK
Holders of Common Stock are entitled to one vote per share in the
election of directors and on all other matters on which stockholders are
entitled or permitted to vote. Holders of Common Stock are not entitled to
vote cumulatively for the election of directors. Holders of Common Stock have
no redemption, conversion, preemptive or other subscription rights. There are
no sinking fund provisions relating to the Common Stock. Holders of Common
Stock are entitled to receive dividends when and as declared by the Board of
Directors of the Company out of funds legally available therefor. The Company
does not anticipate paying cash dividends on the Common
52
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Stock in the foreseeable future. See "Price Range of Common Stock and Dividend
Policy." In the event of the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the
Company, the holders of Common Stock will be entitled to share ratably in all
of the assets of the Company, if any, remaining after satisfaction of the
debts and liabilities of the Company. The outstanding shares of Common Stock
are, and the shares of Common Stock offered hereby by the Company will be,
upon payment therefor as contemplated herein, validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable.
PREFERRED STOCK
Under the Company's Charter, the Board of Directors is authorized,
subject to certain limitations prescribed by law, to issue the Preferred Stock
in one or more classes or series and to fix the designations, powers,
preferences and relative participation, option or other special rights and
qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, including the dividend
rate, conversion or exchange rights, redemption price and liquidation
preference, of any such class or series. In addition, the Board of Directors
may fix the number of shares constituting any such class or series, and
increase or decrease the number of shares of any such class or series, but not
below the number of outstanding shares of any such class or series. The rights
of the holders of Common Stock will be subject to, and may be adversely
affected by, the rights of the holders of any Preferred Stock that may be
issued in the future. The issuance of Preferred Stock, while providing
desirable flexibility in connection with possible acquisitions and other
corporate purposes, could have the effect of making it more difficult for a
third party to acquire a majority of the outstanding voting stock of the
Company. The Company has no current plans to issue shares of Preferred Stock.
CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF DELAWARE LAW
The Company is incorporated under the DGCL. The Company is subject to
Section 203 of the DGCL, which restricts certain transactions and "business
combinations" between a Delaware corporation and an "interested stockholder"
(in general, a stockholder owning 15% or more of the corporation's outstanding
voting stock) or an affiliate or associate of an interested stockholder, for a
period of three years from the date the stockholder becomes an interested
stockholder. A "business combination" includes mergers, asset sales and other
transactions resulting in a financial benefit to the interested stockholder.
Subject to certain exceptions, unless the transaction is approved by the Board
of Directors and the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding voting
stock of the corporation (excluding shares held by the interested
stockholder), Section 203 prohibits significant business transactions such as
a merger with, disposition of assets to or receipt of disproportionate
financial benefits by the interested stockholder, or any other transaction
that would increase the interested stockholder's proportionate ownership of
any class or series of the corporation's stock. The statutory ban does not
apply if, upon consummation of the transaction in which any person becomes an
interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owns at least 85% of the
outstanding voting stock of the corporation (excluding shares held by persons
who are both directors and officers or by certain employee stock plans). See
"Risk Factors--Effect of Certain Statutory Provisions."
The Charter contains certain provisions permitted under the DGCL
relating to the liability of directors. The Charter provides that, to the
fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, no director of the Company will be
personally liable to the Company or its stockholders for monetary damages for
breach of fiduciary duty as a director. The Charter also contains provisions
indemnifying the directors, officers and employees of the Company or
individuals serving at the request of the Company as directors, officers,
employees or agents of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust
or other enterprise generally and to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL.
Section 203 and certain provisions of the Charter described above may
make it more difficult for a third party to acquire, or discourage acquisition
bids for, the Company. Section 203 and these provisions could have the effect
of inhibiting attempts to change the membership of the Board of Directors of
the Company. In addition, the limited liability and indemnification provisions
in the Charter may discourage stockholders from bringing a lawsuit
53
<PAGE>
against directors for breach of their fiduciary duty (including breaches
resulting from grossly negligent conduct) and may have the effect of reducing
the likelihood of derivative litigation against directors and officers, even
though such an action, if successful, might otherwise have benefited the
Company and its stockholders. Furthermore, a stockholder's investment in the
Company may be adversely affected to the extent the Company pays the costs of
settlement and damage awards against directors and officers of the Company
pursuant to the indemnification provisions in the Charter. The limited
liability provisions in the Charter will not limit the liability of directors
under federal securities laws.
SHARES RESERVED FOR ISSUANCE
As of November 20, 1997, the Company had 358,000 shares of Common
Stock reserved for issuance upon the exercise of outstanding non-qualified
options and 589,666 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of
outstanding options under the 1994 Incentive Plan, 782,333 shares of Common
Stock reserved for the exercise of options issued pursuant to the 1996 Option
Plan and 300,000 shares of Common Stock reserved for the exercise of options
issued pursuant to the 1996 Directors Plan. As of November 20, 1997, options
for the purchase of 1,017,999 shares of Common Stock will be fully vested.
TRANSFER AGENT
The transfer agent and registrar for the Common Stock is American
Stock Transfer & Trust Company.
LISTING
The Common Stock is listed on the AMEX under the trading symbol "ABE."
DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN INDEBTEDNESS
On March 26, 1997, the Company entered into the Credit Facility with
Barnett Bank. The Credit Facility provides for a $20 million revolving line of
credit. In addition, the Credit Facility provides for a separate sublimit of
$5 million under an acceptance facility. The Credit Facility also provides for
issuance of letters of credit to the Company.
The Company's indebtedness under the Credit Facility bears interest,
at the Company's option, at a rate of either (i) Barnett Bank's prime rate
less .25% or (ii) an adjusted LIBOR rate equal to 2.25% per year over the
LIBOR rate.
54
<PAGE>
As of November 20, 1997 each of the Company's U.S. subsidiaries (the
"U.S. Subsidiaries"), other than American Body Armor & Equipment, Inc. ("ABA")
and U.S. Defense Systems, Inc. ("USDS"), is a guarantor of the Company's
obligations under the Credit Facility. The Credit Facility is secured by a
security interest in, among other things, inventory, accounts receivable,
equipment and general intangibles of the Company and each of the U.S.
Subsidiaries. In addition, as further collateral for the Credit Facility (i)
the Company entered into a Pledge Agreement with Barnett Bank pursuant to
which the Company pledged as further collateral for the Credit Facility, all
of the issued and outstanding capital stock of each of the U.S. Subsidiaries,
other than ABA and USDS, and (ii) NIK and DTC entered into a Collateral
Assignment with Barnett Bank (the "Collateral Assignment") pursuant to which
they each granted a security interest in the trademarks, patents and other
intellectual property owned by each entity. The Company agreed to cause any
newly formed or acquired subsidiaries to guarantee the Company's obligations
under the Credit Facility.
The Credit Facility contains certain restrictive covenants, including
limitations on the encumbrance and transfer of assets, the creation of
indebtedness and the maintenance of certain levels of tangible net worth and
working capital. In addition, the Credit Facility restricts the payment of
dividends. The Credit Facility matures on March 1, 1999, subject to extension
under certain circumstances.
SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE
As of November 20, 1997, the Company had 16,023,740 shares of Common
Stock outstanding. Of these shares, 10,565,325 shares will be freely tradable
under the Securities Act, by persons who are not "affiliates" of the Company
(in general, an "affiliate" is any person who has a control relationship with
the Company). The remaining 5,458,415 outstanding shares of Common Stock are
deemed to be "restricted securities" as that term is defined in Rule 144, all
of which are eligible for sale in the public market in compliance with Rule
144. The Company, its officers and directors and certain existing stockholders
of the Company (who in the aggregate beneficially own 7,890,516 shares of
Common Stock) have agreed, subject to certain exceptions, that they will not
offer, sell or otherwise dispose of any of the shares of Common Stock, or any
securities convertible into or exercisable for Common Stock, owned by them
until January 19, 1998 (the "180 Day Period") without the prior written
consent of SBC Warburg Dillon Read, as representative of the underwriters used
by the Company in connection with the Public Offering of 4,000,000 shares of
Common Stock in July 1997. Of such shares, approximately 4,304,000 are pledged
as security for loan obligations of certain stockholders. If such stockholders
were to default in their obligations and the bank were to foreclose on such
pledged shares, such shares could be subject to sale during the 180 Day
Period. Additionally, the Company has agreed that, during the 180 Day Period,
subject to certain exceptions, it will not issue, sell, offer or agree to
sell, grant any options for the sale of (other than employee stock options) or
otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of Common Stock or
any securities convertible into or exercisable for Common Stock, other than
pursuant to the Public Offering or in connection with future acquisitions.
In general, under Rule 144 as currently in effect any person (or
persons whose shares are aggregated) who has beneficially owned restricted
securities for at least one year is entitled to sell, within any three-month
period, a number of shares of Common Stock which does not exceed the greater
of 1% of the number of then-outstanding shares of the Common Stock (16,023,740
as of November 20, 1997) shares outstanding immediately after the Offering) or
the average weekly trading volume of the Common Stock during the four calendar
weeks preceding the date on which notice of the sale is filed with the
Commission. Sales under Rule 144 also may be subject to certain manner of sale
provisions, notice requirements and the availability of current public
information about the Company. Any person (or persons whose shares are
aggregated) who is not deemed to have been an affiliate of the Company at any
time during the three months preceding a sale, and who has beneficially owned
shares within the definition of "restricted securities" under Rule 144 for at
least two years, is entitled to sell such shares under
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<PAGE>
Rule 144(k) without regard to the volume limitation, manner of sale
provisions, public information requirements or notice requirements.
In connection with the DSL Transaction, the Company agreed to
register the shares of Common Stock issued by the Company in connection with
such transaction for sale under the Securities Act, pursuant to the terms of a
registration rights agreement between the Company and each of the holders of
such shares. Pursuant to the terms of the registration rights agreement, the
holders are entitled to one demand registration right. Such stockholders have
agreed, subject to certain exceptions, that they will not offer, sell,
contract to sell, transfer or otherwise encumber or dispose of any shares of
Common Stock, or securities convertible or exchangeable for shares of Common
Stock during the 180 Day Period without the prior written consent of SBC
Warburg Dillon Read.
The shares of Common Stock received by Richmont upon conversion of
the Convertible Notes have previously been registered. In addition, Richmont
also has certain piggyback registration rights with respect to such shares.
Shares held by certain of the Company's executive officers and
directors are subject to a three year lock-up agreement (each a "Kanders
Lockup") between such executives and Kanders. Pursuant to the terms of a
letter agreement, dated January 18, 1996, each of such executives agreed that
he or she will not, directly or indirectly, without the prior written consent
of Kanders, offer to sell, sell, grant any options for the sale of, assign,
transfer, pledge, hypothecate or otherwise encumber or dispose of certain of
his or her shares of Common Stock or securities convertible into, exercisable
or exchangeable for or evidencing any right to purchase or subscribe for, such
shares of Common Stock or dispose of any beneficial interest therein for a
period of three years from January 18, 1996, except as provided in such letter
agreement. Mr. Spiller, Mr. Ehrlich and S.T. Investors Fund, LLC have 746,664,
100,000 and 100,000 shares, respectively, subject to a Kanders Lockup. Mr.
Bistrong has 100,000 options subject to a Kanders Lockup and Ms. Burke has
45,000 options subject to a Kanders Lockup.
No prediction can be made as to the effect, if any, that market sales
of shares of Common Stock that are restricted securities, or the availability
of such shares, will have on the market price of the Common Stock prevailing
from time to time. Sales of substantial amounts of Common Stock, or the
perception that such sales could occur, could adversely affect prevailing
market prices for the Common Stock and could impair the Company's future
ability to raise capital through an offering of equity securities.
LEGAL MATTERS
The validity of the shares of Common Stock offered hereby has been
passed upon for the Company by Kane Kessler, P.C., 1350 Avenue of the
Americas, New York, New York 10019. Robert L. Lawrence, a member of Kane
Kessler, P.C., owns 5,000 shares of Common Stock.
EXPERTS
The Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company incorporated in
this prospectus by reference from the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB
for the year ended December 28, 1996 and from the Company's Registration
Statement No. 333-28879 on Form S-1 and the Supplemental Consolidated
Financial Statements of the Company incorporated in this prospectus by
reference from the Company's Registration Statement No. 333-28879 on Form S-1
have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent auditors, as stated in
their reports appearing thereon and have been so incorporated in reliance upon
such reports given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
56
<PAGE>
The Consolidated Financial Statements of DSL Group Limited and
Subsidiaries incorporated in this prospectus by reference from the Company's
Registration Statement No. 333-28879 on Form S-1 as of December 31, 1996 and
for the period from June 3, 1996 (date of incorporation) to December 31, 1996
and of DSL Holdings Limited and Subsidiaries as of March 31, 1996 and 1995 and
for the two years then ended have been audited by KPMG, as set forth in their
reports thereon, which are incorporated herein by reference and have been so
incorporated in reliance upon such reports, given on the authority of that
firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The Company is subject to the informational requirements of the
Exchange Act and in accordance therewith files reports, proxy statements and
other information with the Commission. Such reports, proxy statements and
other information filed by the Company can be inspected and copied at
prescribed rates at the public reference facilities maintained by the
Commission at 450 Fifth Street , N.W., Judiciary Plaza, 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. The Commission maintains a Web site (http://www.sec.gov) that
contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information
regarding registrants that file electronically with the Commission. Reports,
proxy and information statements and other information regarding the Company
may also be inspected at the offices of the AMEX, 86 Trinity Place, New York,
New York 10006.
The Company has filed with the Commission a Registration Statement on
Form S-3 under the Securities Act with respect to the Common Stock offered
hereby. This Prospectus does not contain all of the information set forth in
the Registration Statement and the exhibits and schedules thereto, certain
portions having been omitted in accordance with the rules and regulations of
the Commission. For further information with respect to the Company and the
Common Stock, reference is hereby made to such Registration Statement and the
exhibits and schedules thereto. Statements contained in this Prospectus as to
the contents of any contract or other document are not necessarily complete,
although the material terms thereof are described in this Prospectus, and, in
each instance, reference is made to the copy of such contract or document
filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. Each such statement is
qualified by such reference to such exhibits. A copy of the Registration
Statement may be inspected by anyone without charge at the Commission's
principal office in Washington D.C., at the regional offices of the Commission
located at 7 World Trade Center, New York, New York 10048 and 500 West Madison
Street, Suite 1400, Chicago, Illinois 60661 and through the Commission's
internet site at http://www.sec.gov. Copies of all or any part of the
Registration Statement may be obtained from the Public Reference Section of
the Commission, 450 Fifth Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20549, upon payment of
certain fees prescribed by the Commission.
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<PAGE>
No dealer, sales person or other person has been authorized to give
any information or to make any representation in connection with this offering
other than those contained in this Prospectus in connection with the offer
contained herein, and, if given or made, such information or representations
must not be relied upon as having been authorized by the Company or any
Underwriter. This Prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell or a
solicitation of an offer to buy the shares of Common Stock in any jurisdiction
to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation in
such jurisdiction or in which the person making such offer or solicitation is
not qualified to do so. Neither the delivery of this Prospectus nor any sale
made hereunder shall, under any circumstances, create an implication that
there has been no change in the affairs of the Company since the date hereof.
------------------------
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
----
Incorporation by Reference................................................2
Prospectus Summary........................................................4
Risk Factors..............................................................7
Significant Developments.................................................12
Use of Proceeds..........................................................13
Plan of Distribution.....................................................13
Price Range of Common Stock and
Dividend Policy........................................................15
Management's Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of
Operations.............................................................16
Industry Overview........................................................26
Business.................................................................28
Management...............................................................39
Principal and Selling Stockholders.......................................48
Certain Transactions.....................................................51
Description of Capital Stock.............................................52
Description of Certain Indebtedness......................................54
Shares Eligible for Future Sale..........................................55
Legal Matters............................................................56
Experts..................................................................56
Additional Information...................................................57
[LOGO]
ARMOR HOLDINGS, INC.
---------------
858,524 Shares
Common Stock
PROSPECTUS
___________ ___, 1997
---------------
<PAGE>
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
ITEM 14. OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION.
The Company's expenses in connection with the offering of the shares
of Common Stock described in this registration statement are set forth below.
No expenses will be borne by the Selling Stockholders. All amounts except the
Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee are estimated.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C>
Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee................$ 3,259.79
Blue Sky fees and expenses.........................................$ 1,500.00
Printing and engraving expenses....................................$ 5,000.00
Legal fees and expenses............................................$35,000.00
Accounting fees and expenses.......................................$35,000.00
Transfer agent fees and expenses...................................$ 2,500.00
Miscellaneous......................................................$ 3,000.00
----------
Total..............................................................$85,259.79
==========
</TABLE>
ITEM 15. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.
Section 145 of the DGCL makes provision for the indemnification of
officers and directors of corporations in terms sufficiently broad to
indemnify the officers and directors of the Company under certain
circumstances from liabilities (including reimbursement of expenses incurred)
arising under the Securities Act.
As permitted by the DGCL, the Company's Charter provides that, to the
fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, no director shall be liable to the
Company or to its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of his
fiduciary duty as a director. Delaware law does not permit the elimination of
liability (i) for any breach of the director's duty of loyalty to the Company
or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which
involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) in respect
of certain unlawful dividend payments or stock redemptions or repurchases or
(iv) for any transaction from which the director derives an improper personal
benefit. The effect of this provision in the Charter is to eliminate the
rights of the Company and its stockholders (through stockholders' derivative
suits on behalf to the Company) to recover monetary damages against a director
for breach of fiduciary duty as a director thereof (including breaches
resulting from negligent or grossly negligent behavior) except in the
situations described in clauses (i)-(iv), inclusive, above. These provisions
will not alter the liability of directors under federal securities laws.
The Company's Charter provides that the Company may indemnify any
person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any
threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil,
criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the
right of the Company) by reason of the fact that he is or was a director,
officer, employee or agent of the Company or is or was serving at the request
of the Company as a director, officer, employee or agent of another
corporation or enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys' fees),
judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably
incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if
such person acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be
in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company, and, with respect to
any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe such
person's conduct was unlawful.
II-1
<PAGE>
The Charter also provides that the Company may indemnify any person
who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened,
pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the Company to
procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that such person acted
in any of the capacities set forth above, against expenses (including
attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection
with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if such person acted
under similar standards, except that no indemnification may be made in respect
of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged
to be liable to the Company unless and only to the extent that the Court of
Chancery of the State of Delaware or the court in which such action or suit
was brought shall determine upon application that despite the adjudication of
liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is
fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Court
of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.
The Charter also provides that to the extent a director or officer of
the Company has been successful in the defense of any action, suit or
proceeding referred to in the previous paragraphs or in the defense of any
claim, issue, or matter therein, he shall be indemnified against expenses
(including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him in
connection therewith; that indemnification provided for in the Charter shall
not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which the indemnified party may
be entitled; and that the Company may purchase and maintain insurance on
behalf of a director or officer of the Company against any liability asserted
against him or incurred by him in any such capacity or arising out of his
status as such whether or not the Company would have the power to indemnify
him against such liabilities under the provisions of Section 145 of the DGCL.
ITEM 16. EXHIBITS.
EXHIBIT
NO. DESCRIPTION
- ------- -----------
2.1 Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated July 23, 1996, between American
Body Armor & Equipment, Inc., a Florida corporation, and the Company
(filed as Exhibit 2.1 to Form 8-K, Current Report of the Company,
dated September 3, 1996 and incorporated herein by reference).
2.2 Share Acquisition Agreement, dated as of April 7, 1997, between
Bodycote, AHL and the Company (filed as Exhibit 2.1 to Form 8-K,
Current Report of the Company, dated April 22, 1997 and incorporated
herein by reference).
2.3 Agreement for the Sale and Purchase of the Whole of the Issued Share
Capital of DSL, dated April 16, 1997, between the Company, AHL,
NatWest Ventures Nominees Limited and Others and Martin Brayshaw
(filed as Exhibit 2.2 to Form 8-K, Current Report of the Company,
dated April 22, 1997 and incorporated herein by reference).
2.4 Share Acquisition Agreement, dated as of June 9, 1997, between the
Company, Strontian Holdings Limited, Alpha-A Limited and Others
(filed as Exhibit 2.1 to Form 8-K, Current Report of the Company,
dated June 24, 1997 and incorporated herein by reference).
5.1 Opinion of Kane Kessler, P.C., including consent.*
10.1 Agreement dated October 1, 1997, between the Company, DSL and Martin
Brayshaw.**
10.2 Form of Irrevocable Power of Attorney granted by Martin Brayshaw in
favor of Jonathan M. Spiller.**
II-2
<PAGE>
23.1 Consent of Kane Kessler, P.C. (included in Exhibit 5.1).*
23.2 Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.*
23.3 Consent of KPMG.*
23.4 Consent of KPMG.*
24.1 Power of Attorney (included in signature page to registration
statement).**
*Filed herewith.
** Previously filed
ITEM 17. UNDERTAKINGS
The Company hereby undertakes
1. To file, during any period in which it offers or sales are being
made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the
Securities Act;
(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after
the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent
post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate,
represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the
registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or
decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of
securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any
deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may
be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to
Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no
more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in
the "Calculation of the Registration Fee" table in the effective registration
statement; and
(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan
of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any
material change to such information in the registration statement.
2. That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new
registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial
bona fide offering.
3. To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment
any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination
of the offering.
4. The Company hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining
any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the Company's annual
report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act that is
incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be
a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and
the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial
bona fide offering thereof.
II-3
<PAGE>
5. The Company hereby undertakes to deliver or cause to be delivered
with the prospectus, to each person to whom the prospectus is sent or given,
the latest annual report to security holders that is incorporated by reference
in the prospectus and furnished pursuant to and meeting the requirements of
Rule 14a-3 or Rule 14c-3 under the Exchange Act; and, where interim financial
information required to be presented by Article 3 of Regulation S-X are not
set forth in the prospectus, to deliver, or cause to be delivered to each
person to whom the prospectus is sent or given, the latest quarterly report
that is specifically incorporated by reference in the prospectus to provide
such interim financial information.
6. Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons
of the Company pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Company
has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is
against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore,
unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such
liabilities (other than the payment by the Company of expenses incurred or
paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Company in the
successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities
being registered, the Company will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the
matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of
appropriate jurisdiction the question of whether such indemnification by it is
against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed
by the final adjudication of such issue.
7. (i) For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities
Act, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this
registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of
prospectus filed by the Company pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h)
under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration
statement as of the time it was declared effective.
(ii) For the purpose of determining any liability under the
Securities Act, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of
prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the
securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time
shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
II-4
<PAGE>
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
Company certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has fully caused this
registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,
thereunto duly authorized, in City of New York, State of New York, on
November 21, 1997.
ARMOR HOLDINGS, INC.
By:/s/ Warren B. Kanders
-------------------------
Warren B. Kanders
Chairman of the Board of Directors
November 21, 1997
II-5
<PAGE>
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities indicated on November 21, 1997.
Signature Title
- --------- -----
/s/ Warren B. Kanders Chairman of the Board of Directors
- -------------------------
Warren B. Kanders
*
- ------------------------- President, Chief Executive Officer and
Jonathan M. Spiller Director (Principal Executive Officer)
* Vice President-Finance
- ------------------------- (Principal Accounting Officer)
Carol T. Burke
* Director
- -------------------------
Burtt R. Ehrlich
* Director
- -------------------------
Nicholas Sokolow
Director
- -------------------------
Thomas W. Strauss
* Director
- -------------------------
Richard C. Bartlett
* Director
- -------------------------
Alair A. Townsend
*By: /s/ Warren B. Kanders
------------------------------
Warren B. Kanders
As attorney-in-fact for each
of the persons indicated
II-6
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT INDEX
-------------
The following Exhibits are filed herewith:
Exhibit No. Description Page
----------- -----------
5.1 Opinion of Kane Kessler, P.C., including consent.
23.1 Consent of Kane Kessler, P.C. (included in Exhibit
5.1).
23.2 Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.
23.3 Consent of KPMG.
23.4 Consent of KPMG.
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 5.1
KANE KESSLER, P.C.
1350 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10019-4896
November 20, 1997
Armor Holdings, Inc.
13386 International Parkway
Jacksonville, FL 32218
Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel for Armor Holdings, Inc., a
Delaware corporation (the "Company") in connection with the Registration
Statement on Form S-3 (No. 333-38765), as amended (the "Registration
Statement"), under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act") filed by
the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Registration
Statement relates to the offer and sale of up to a maximum of 858,524 shares
of Common Stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Common Stock"), of the
Company, proposed to be sold by certain selling stockholders.
We have examined copies of the Certificate of Incorporation,
as amended, and Bylaws of the Company, the Registration Statement, records of
certain of the Company's corporate proceedings as reflected in the Company's
minute books and other records and documents that we have deemed necessary for
purposes of this opinion. We have also examined such other documents, papers,
authorities and statutes as we have deemed necessary to form the basis of the
opinion hereinafter set forth.
In our examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all
signatures and the conformity to original documents of all copies submitted to
us. As to various questions of fact material to our opinion, we have relied on
statements and certificates of officers and representatives of the Company and
public officials.
Based upon the foregoing and the statements contained
herein, it is our opinion that the Common
<PAGE>
Armor Holdings, Inc.
November 20, 1997
Page 2.
Stock proposed to be sold by the selling stockholders in accordance with the
terms of the Prospectus included as part of the Registration Statement have
been (assuming the payment of due consideration therefor) validly issued and
are fully paid and nonassessable.
We hereby consent to the use of this opinion as an exhibit
to the Registration Statement and to the reference to us under the heading
"Legal Matters" in the Prospectus which forms a part thereof. In giving this
consent, we do not admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent
is required under Section 7 of the Act or the rules and regulations of the
Securities and Exchange Commission promulgated thereunder.
We are qualified to practice law in the State of New York
and do not purport to be experts on, or to express any opinion herein
concerning any law, other than the laws of the State of New York and the
General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
Very truly yours,
KANE KESSLER, P.C.
By: /s/ Robert L. Lawrence
-----------------------
Robert L. Lawrence
Authorized Signatory
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 23.1
CONSENT OF KANE KESSLER, P.C.
INCLUDED IN EXHIBIT 5.1
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 23.2
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT
To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of Armor Holdings, Inc.:
We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Amendment No. 1 to
Registration Statement No. 333-38765 of Armor Holdings, Inc. on Form S-3 of
our report dated February 21, 1997 as to the Company's consolidated financial
statements appearing in both the Annual Report on Form 10-KSB of
Armor Holdings, Inc., for the year ended December 28, 1996 and in the
Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Number 333-28879), and our
report dated February 21, 1997 (except for the pooling of interests with DSL
as described in Note 1, for which the date is April 16, 1997) as to the
Company's supplemental consolidated financial statements appearing in the
Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Number 333-28879), and to the
reference to us under the heading "Experts" in the Prospectus, which is part
of this Registration Statement.
/s/Deloitte & Touche LLP
New York, New York
November 19, 1997
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 23.3
The Board of Directors
DSL Group Limited
We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Amendment No. 1 to
Registration Statement No. 333-38765 on Form S-3 of Armor Holdings, Inc. of
our report dated 15 April 1997, with respect to the consolidated balance sheet
of DSL Group Limited and subsidiaries as of 31 December 1996 and the related
consolidated profit and loss account and consolidated cash flow statement for
the period from 3 June 1996 to 31 December 1996, and of our report dated
29 July 1996, with respect to the consolidated balance sheets of DSL Holdings
Limited and subsidiaries as of 31 March 1996 and 1995 and the related
consolidated profit and loss accounts and consolidated cash flow statements
for each of the years then ended, which reports appear in the Form 8-K/A-1 of
Armor Holdings, Inc. dated 20 June 1997, and to the reference to our firm
under the heading "Experts" in the Prospectus which is part of this
Registration Statement.
/s/KPMG
KPMG
London, England
20 November 1997
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 23.4
The Board of Directors
Gorandel Trading Limited:
We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Amendment No. 1 to
Registration Statement No. 333-38765 on Form S-3 of Armor Holdings, Inc. of
our report dated 15 April 1997, with respect to the balance sheet of Gorandel
Trading Limited as of 31 December 1996 and the related profit and loss account
and cash flow statement for the period from 1 April 1996 to 31 December 1996,
and of our report dated 29 July 1996, with respect to the balance sheets of
Gorandel Trading Limited as of 31 March 1996 and 1995 and the related profit
and loss accounts and cash flow statements for each of the years then ended,
which reports appear in the Form 8-K/A-1 of Armor Holdings, Inc. dated
11 August 1997 and to the reference to our firm under the heading "Experts"
in the Prospectus which is part of this Registration Statement.
/s/KPMG
KPMG
London, England
20 November 1997
