As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 30, 1998
Registration No. 333-
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
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FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
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SENECA FOODS CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
New York 16-0733425
(State or other jurisdiction (I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation or organization) Identification No.)
1162 Pittsford-Victor Road
Pittsford, New York 14534
(716) 385-9500
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number,
including area code, of registrant's principal executive offices)
KRAIG H. KAYSER
President and Chief Executive Officer
1162 Pittsford-Victor Road
Pittsford, New York 14534
(716) 385-9500
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number,
including area code, of agent for service)
Copies to:
WILLIAM I. SCHAPIRO, Esq.
Jaeckle Fleischmann & Mugel, LLP
800 Fleet Bank Building
Twelve Fountain Plaza
Buffalo, New York 14202
(716) 856-0600
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: As soon as
practicable after the effective date of this Registration Statement.
If the only securities being registered on this form are being offered pursuant
to a dividend or interest reinvestment plan, 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 (the "Securities Act"), 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, check
the following box. [ ]
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
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Proposed Maximum Proposed Maximum
Title of Each Class of Securities Amount to be Offering Price Aggregate Amount of
to be Registered Registered Per Share (1) Offering Price Registration Fee
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<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Shares of Class A Common Stock,
par value $0.25 per share............... 346,570 $12.00 $4,158,840.00 $1,227.00
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<FN>
(1) Estimated solely for the purpose of determining the registration fee in
accordance with Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act on the basis of the
average of the high and low sales prices of the registrant's Class A Common
Stock, as reported by the NASDAQ National Market on September 24, 1998 which
was $12.00.
</FN>
</TABLE>
The registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or
dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall
file a further amendment which specifically states that this registration
statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with section 8(a) of
the Securities Act or until this registration statement shall become effective
on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said section 8(a), may
determine.
<PAGE>
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.
PROSPECTUS
346,570 Shares
SENECA FOODS CORPORATION
Class A Common Stock
All of the shares of Class A Common Stock, $0.25 par value per share
("Class A Common Stock") of Seneca Foods Corporation (the "Company") offered
hereby (the "Offering"), are being sold by The Pillsbury Company, a Delaware
corporation ("Pillsbury" or the "Selling Security Holder"). The shares of Class
A Common Stock are entitled to one-twentieth (1/20) of one vote per share
whereas the shares of the Company's Class B Common Stock, $0.25 par value per
share ("Class B Common Stock" and, together with the Class A Common Stock, the
"Common Stock") are entitled to one vote per share on all matters presented to
the Company's shareholders. See "Selling Security Holder" and "Risk Factors--The
Shares of Class A Common Stock Have Low Voting Power." The Company will receive
no portion of the proceeds of the Offering. The Company's Class A Common Stock
is traded in the over-the-counter market and quoted on the NASDAQ National
Market under the symbol "SENEA." On September 24, 1998, the average of the high
and low sales prices of the Class A Common Stock as reported by the NASDAQ
National Market was $12.00 per share.
See "Risk Factors" commencing on page 10 for certain factors and
considerations relevant to an investment in the Class A Common Stock offered
hereby.
NEITHER THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR
ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION HAS APPROVED OR
DISAPPROVED OF THESE SECURITIES OR PASSED UPON
THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS.
ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A
CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
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Price to Proceeds to
Public Selling Security Holder (1)
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<S> <C> <C>
Per Share..................................................... $12.00 $12.00
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Total......................................................$4,158,840 $4,158,840
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<FN>
(1) The Selling Security Holder will be responsible for the costs of
printing this Prospectus to the extent such costs exceed $2,500.
The Company will be responsible for all other expenses associated
with the Offering.
</FN>
</TABLE>
The date of this Prospectus is September____, 1998.
<PAGE>
No dealer, salesmen or other person has been authorized to give
any information or to make any representation not contained in this
Prospectus, and any information or representation not contained herein
must not be relied upon as having been authorized by the Company. This
Prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of any
offer to buy, any of the securities offered hereby in any jurisdiction to
any person whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation. Neither
the delivery of this Prospectus nor any sale made hereunder shall, under
any circumstances, create any implication that the information herein is
correct as of any date subsequent to the date hereof or that there has
been no change in the affairs of the Company since such date or, in the
case of information incorporated herein by reference, the date of filing
with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
AVAILABLE INFORMATION..................................................3
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE........................4
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY.....................................................5
RISK FACTORS..........................................................10
THE COMPANY...........................................................21
USE OF PROCEEDS.......................................................21
SELLING SECURITY HOLDER...............................................22
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION..................................................22
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK..........................................23
LEGAL MATTERS.........................................................29
EXPERTS...............................................................29
<PAGE>
AVAILABLE INFORMATION
The Company is subject to the informational requirements of the
Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and in
accordance therewith files reports, proxy statements and other information with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"). Such reports, proxy
statements and other information filed by the Company may be inspected at, and,
upon payment of the Commission's customary charges, copies obtained from, the
Public Reference Section of the Commission, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington,
DC 20549. Such reports, proxy statements and other information are also
available for inspection and copying at prescribed rates at the Commission's
regional offices in New York, New York (7 World Trade Center, 13th Floor, New
York, New York 10048) and in Chicago, Illinois (Suite 1400, Citicorp Center, 500
West Madison Street, Chicago, Illinois 60661-2511). The Commission maintains a
Web site (http://www.sec.gov) that also contains reports, proxy statements and
other information concerning the Company. In addition, the Class A Common Stock
is listed on the NASDAQ National Market under the symbol "SENEA" and information
can be inspected and copies made at the offices of the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc., 1735 K Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20006.
The Company has filed with the Commission a Registration Statement on
Form S-3 (the "Registration Statement") under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the "Securities Act"), and the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder, with respect to the Class A Common Stock offered hereby. This
Prospectus constitutes the Prospectus of the Company, filed as part of the
Registration Statement. As permitted by the rules and regulations of the
Commission, this Prospectus omits certain information contained in the
Registration Statement, and reference is made to the Registration Statement and
the exhibits listed therein, which can be inspected at the public reference
facilities of the Commission noted above, and copies of which can be obtained
from the Commission at prescribed rates as indicated above. Statements contained
in this Prospectus as to the contents of any contract or other documents are not
necessarily complete, 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 being qualified in all respects by such reference.
<PAGE>
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
Incorporated into this Prospectus by reference are the documents listed
below filed by the Company under the Exchange Act. Copies of any such documents,
other than exhibits to such documents, are available without charge to each
person to whom a copy of this Prospectus has been delivered upon written or oral
request of such person from the Company, 1162 Pittsford-Victor Road, Pittsford,
New York 14534, Attention: Philip G. Paras, telephone number (716) 385-9500.
The following documents are hereby incorporated into this Prospectus by
reference and are made a part hereof:
(1) The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March
31, 1998 (Commission File No. 0-1989).
(2) The Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
June 27, 1998 (Commission File No. 0-1989).
(3) The Company's Proxy Materials for its Annual Meeting of
Shareholders held on August 7, 1998 (Commission File No. 0-1989).
(4) The Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated July 2, 1998
(Commission File No. 0-1989).
(5) The Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated September 17, 1998
(Commission File No. 0-1989).
Each document filed by the Company subsequent to the date of this
Prospectus pursuant to Sections 13(a), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act and prior
to the termination of the offering of all shares of Class A Common Stock to
which this Prospectus relates shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in
this Prospectus and shall be part hereof from the date of filing of such
document. Any statement contained herein or 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 in this Prospectus (in the case of a previously filed document
incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein) or in any other
subsequently filed document that is also 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. Subject to the
foregoing, all information appearing in this Prospectus is qualified in its
entirety by the information appearing in the documents incorporated by
reference.
<PAGE>
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PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
The following summary is qualified in its entirety by the more detailed
information included elsewhere in this Prospectus. Unless the context otherwise
requires, all references in this Prospectus to the "Company" shall mean Seneca
Foods Corporation and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis. This Prospectus
contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the
Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. The Company's actual results
could differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.
See "Risk Factors" for a discussion of certain factors that might cause such a
difference.
The Company
The Company, which was founded in 1949, conducts its business almost
entirely in food processing, which currently accounts for approximately 99% of
the Company's sales. Canned and frozen vegetables represent approximately 78%
and fruit and fruit juice products approximately 22% of the Company's food
processing volume. Apple products contribute approximately 10% of the Company's
sales; the Company's Seneca(R) brand frozen apple concentrate is the
largest-selling brand of frozen apple concentrate in the United States. Of the
remaining sales in the fruit and fruit juice products, grape products account
for approximately 2%, and bottled, canned and frozen fruit juice drinks account
for approximately 10% of the Company's sales.
Approximately 19% of the Company's food products are packed under its
own brands including Seneca(R), Libby's(R) (under license), Aunt Nellie's Farm
Kitchen(R), Blue Boy(R) and TreeSweet(R). Approximately 30% of the processed
foods are packed under private labels, that is, under brand names owned or
controlled by the purchasers, and approximately 11% are sold to institutional
food distributors. The remainder, approximately 40%, carry Pillsbury's Green
Giant(R) brand name and are packed pursuant to a 20-year First Amended and
Restated Alliance Agreement dated December 8, 1994 as amended on February 10,
1995, February 25, 1997 and July 1, 1998 (the "Alliance Agreement") with
Pillsbury and Grand Metropolitan Incorporated ("GMI"), the parent of Pillsbury
(on those dates) and now a wholly-owned subsidiary of Diageo plc. See "Risk
Factors--Dependence on Alliance Agreement."
On August 17, 1998, the Company entered into a Letter of Intent to
sell the principal assets of its fruit and fruit juice business, excluding its
plants in Washington State, to Northland Cranberries, Inc. ("Northland") subject
to certain conditions which have not yet occurred. See "--Recent
Developments--Sale of Certain Juice Business Assets."
The Company's sole non-food division, Seneca Flight Operations,
provides air charter service primarily to industries located in upstate New York
and contributes approximately 1% to the Company's sales. The Company's principal
executive office is located at 1162 Pittsford-Victor Road, Pittsford, New York.
Its telephone number is (716) 385-9500 and it maintains a web site at
www.senecafoods.com.
<PAGE>
Recent Developments
Sale of Certain Juice Business Assets
The August 17, 1998 Letter of Intent (the "Letter") contemplates the
sale to Northland of the Company's principal juice bottling facilities and
warehouses (subject to the fulfillment of certain contingencies discussed below)
(the "Proposed Disposition"). The total purchase price for the Proposed
Disposition is estimated to be between $30 and $35 million of which $3 million
will be paid in Northland Class A common stock and the balance in cash.
Assets to Be Sold. The Letter provides that Northland will purchase the
following of the Company's plants: Dundee, New York; Jackson, Wisconsin
(excluding sauerkraut operations); Mountain Home, North Carolina; Eau Claire,
Michigan and Portland, New York (concord grape receiving station) together with
all related furniture, fixtures and equipment. Northland also will purchase the
intangibles related to that portion of the Company's juice business to be sold
in the Proposed Disposition (the "Juice Business"), including the trademarks
TreeSweet(R), Awake(R) and Orange Plus(R) and certain other trademarks, trade
names and intellectual property and all of the good will associated with the
Juice Business. Northland will not acquire the Seneca(R) brand name, but the
Company will license the Seneca(R) brand name to Northland on a royalty-free,
world-wide basis for a period of 99 years for exclusive use in connection with
juice, juice beverages, retail concentrates, cranberry sauce and dried
cranberries. Northland will also acquire the net working capital of the Juice
Business, including product inventories, raw materials and supplies and work in
process, less accruals and payables. The Company's fruit processing and juice
plants in the State of Washington are not included in the sale. After the
Proposed Disposition, the Company will continue to process and sell fruit chips,
fruit-based industrial flavorings and fruit juice (although the fruit juice will
not be sold under the Seneca brand name).
Contingencies. The completion of the Proposed Disposition is subject to
satisfaction of the following conditions: completion of a due diligence
investigation by Northland, the execution of a definitive purchase agreement
(which may contain additional conditions), the receipt of necessary governmental
approvals pursuant to the federal Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act
and the receipt of necessary consents and approvals from the parties' lenders.
Subject to fulfillment of these contingencies, the parties anticipate that the
Proposed Disposition will close no later than December 31, 1998. Owing to these
and other possible contingencies, there can be no assurance that the Proposed
Disposition will occur.
Use of Proceeds. The Company intends to use the proceeds of the
Proposed Disposition to reduce its current indebtedness and for other working
capital purposes.
Impact of the Proposed Disposition on the Company. The Juice Business
represented 8% of the Company's assets and 15% of its revenues as of the end of
the 1998 fiscal year.
<PAGE>
Equity Investment
The Rights Offering. On August 7, 1998, the Board of Directors of the
Company declared a distribution (the "Rights Offering") payable to the holders
of the Company's Common Stock, whereby each holder of Common Stock received a
right (the "Right") to purchase at a subscription price of $12.00 per share (the
"Subscription Price"), shares of Convertible Participating Preferred Stock,
$12.00 stated value per share (the "Convertible Participating Preferred Stock").
The shares of Convertible Participating Preferred Stock are immediately
convertible into shares of Class A Common Stock on a share-for-share basis. The
Company distributed one-half of a Right for each share of Common Stock held of
record as of July 13, 1998. Each whole Right entitled the holder thereof to
receive upon payment of the Subscription Price, one share of Convertible
Participating Preferred Stock. The Rights were evidenced by Subscription
Certificates transferable by the holders thereof. The Rights expired at 5:00
p.m., Eastern Daylight Time, on August 27, 1998. Holders of the Company's Common
Stock acquired 1,146,639 shares of Convertible Participating Preferred Stock
under the Rights Offering for a total investment of $13,759,668.
Stock Purchase Agreement and Shareholders Agreement. The Company
entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement dated June 22, 1998 (the "Stock Purchase
Agreement") with Carl Marks Strategic Investments, L.P., Carl Marks Strategic
Investments II, L.P. and Uranus Fund, Ltd. (the "Investors") whereby the
Investors agreed to purchase at $12.00 per share (i) 1.167 million shares of
Convertible Participating Preferred Stock, for total consideration of $14
million and (ii) up to 2.5 million shares of Convertible Participating Preferred
Stock which the Company's shareholders did not purchase in the subsequent Rights
Offering. The Company was not required to sell under the Stock Purchase
Agreement and the Rights Offering more than 4,166,667 shares of Convertible
Participating Preferred Stock at a total price of $50,000,004. The Investors
acquired a total of 3,019,895 shares of Convertible Participating Preferred
Stock for an aggregate purchase price of $36,238,740. The total investment
received by the Company as a result of the Rights Offering and investment by the
Investors was $49,998,408.
Concurrently with the Stock Purchase Agreement, the Company and certain
of its substantial shareholders, including the Investors, entered into a
Shareholders Agreement (the "Shareholders Agreement") whereby certain
substantial holders of the Company's stock, including members of the Wolcott and
Kayser families (the "Wolcott and Kayser Families" or the "Wolcott or Kayser
Families") who control the Company, agreed that they would not exercise, sell or
transfer the Rights to which they were entitled pursuant to the terms of the
Rights Offering. In a separate agreement, Pillsbury also agreed that it would
not exercise, sell or transfer the Rights to which it was entitled (as a
shareholder of the Company) pursuant to the Rights Offering. The investment made
pursuant to the Stock Purchase Agreement and the Rights Offering sometimes is
referred to herein as the "Equity Investment."
The foregoing transactions provided the Investors with the ability to
influence the management of the Company, subject to the approximately 40%
combined voting power of the Wolcott and Kayser Families (in an election of
directors). The Shareholders Agreement requires
<PAGE>
that the number of directors comprising the Company's Board of Directors be
increased from seven to nine members and requires the Company to fill the two
new director positions with persons designated by the Investors (the "Investor
Designees"). The Investor Designees will continue to be nominated for election
to the Board and certain substantial shareholders of the Company will continue
to vote for the Investor Designees until the Stock Purchase Agreement is
terminated or such time as the Investors no longer own, in the aggregate, at
least 10% of the Company's Class A Common Stock (assuming conversion of all
shares of Convertible Participating Preferred Stock into shares of Class A
Common Stock). At the Company's Annual Meeting of Shareholders held on August 7,
1998, the Company's shareholders elected the Investor Designees, Andrew M. Boas
and Arthur H. Baer, to serve as directors of the Company for terms expiring in
2001 and 2000, respectively, effective upon consummation of the Equity
Investment by the Investors which occurred on September 2, 1998. The
Shareholders Agreement also requires that, until such time as the Investors own,
in the aggregate, less than 10% of the Company's Class A Common Stock (assuming
conversion of all shares of Convertible Participating Preferred Stock into
shares of Class A Common Stock), the Investor Designees will comprise at least
22% of the members of each committee of the Company's Board of Directors. The
Company agreed to include in its Certificate of Incorporation a provision,
pursuant to Section 709 of the New York Business Corporation Law ("BCL"),
requiring unanimous approval of the Company's Board of Directors (excluding
directors who choose to abstain) for certain major corporate actions including
but not limited to certain sales of assets, business combinations and change in
accountants. The requirement of unanimous board approval (excluding directors
who choose to abstain) terminates when the Investors no longer own, in the
aggregate, at least 15% of the Company's Class A Common Stock (assuming
conversion of all shares of Convertible Participating Preferred Stock into
shares of Class A Common Stock).
The Charter Amendments. To accomplish the intent of the Stock Purchase
Agreement, the Company amended its Restated Certificate of Incorporation to (i)
increase the number of authorized shares of Class A Common Stock from 10,000,000
shares to 20,000,000 shares; (ii) increase the number of authorized shares of
Preferred Stock With $.025 Par Value Per Share, Class A from 4,000,000 shares to
8,200,000 shares; (iii) create a new series of Preferred Stock With $.025 Par
Value Per Share, Class A to be designated as Convertible Participating Preferred
Stock, $12.00 stated value per share, convertible at any time at the option of
the holder into Class A Common Stock of the Company; and (iv) require unanimous
approval of the Company's Board of Directors (excluding directors who choose to
abstain) to authorize the major corporate actions referred to above.
Purpose of the Equity Investment. The Company sought the Equity
Investment because it concluded that, since it has operated under the Alliance
Agreement, its ratio of debt to equity had been too high and had been adversely
affecting the operating results. The Company has applied the net proceeds of the
Equity Investment to the reduction of its indebtedness to its revolving credit
bank lenders.
<PAGE>
The Offering
All of the shares of Class A Common Stock offered hereby are being sold
by Pillsbury. Pillsbury acquired the Class A Common Stock upon the conversion of
certain indebtedness owed by the Company to Pillsbury. See "Selling Security
Holder."
<PAGE>
RISK FACTORS
An investment in the Class A Common Stock of the Company involves
various risks. Prospective purchasers should carefully consider the following
information in conjunction with the other information appearing elsewhere in
this Prospectus before making a decision to invest in the Class A Common Stock.
Industry Conditions and Price and Volume Fluctuations
The Company's financial performance and growth are related to
conditions in the food processing industry, primarily the vegetable processing
industry. The United States vegetable processing industry is a mature industry
with a relatively modest compounded annual growth rate of less than 1% from 1992
to 1996. The Company's net sales are a function of product availability and
market pricing. In the vegetable processing industry, product availability and
market prices tend to have an inverse relationship: market prices tend to
decrease as more product is available and to increase if less product is
available. Product availability is a direct result of plantings, growing
conditions, crop yields and inventories, all of which vary from year to year. In
addition, market prices can be affected by the planting, inventory level and
individual pricing decisions of the three or four largest processors in the
industry. Generally, market prices in the vegetable processing industry adjust
more quickly to variations in product availability than an individual processor
can adjust its cost structure; thus, in an oversupply situation, a processor's
margins likely will weaken. The Company typically has experienced lower margins
during times of industry oversupply.
In the last three fiscal years, the vegetable processing industry has
been characterized by excess capacity, with resulting pressure on the Company's
prices and profit margins. In these years many of the Company's competitors have
closed processing plants in response to the downward pressure on prices. There
can be no assurance that the Company's margins will improve in response to
favorable market conditions or that the Company will be able to operate
profitably during depressed market conditions. See "-- Recent Losses."
Dependence on Alliance Agreement
Pursuant to the Alliance Agreement and related agreements, the Company
processes and sells to Pillsbury or Pillsbury's designee, on a "cost plus"
basis, cases of shelf-stable vegetables and processes or partially processes
certain frozen vegetables and asparagus for Pillsbury or its designee.
<PAGE>
In a transaction concurrent with the Alliance Agreement, the Company
acquired from Pillsbury a substantial percentage of the tangible production
assets of Pillsbury's Green Giant brand of shelf-stable and frozen vegetable
products, including six plants located in the midwestern and northwestern United
States. Additional Green Giant production assets were acquired from Pillsbury
subsequent to February 1995. All Green Giant plants referred to in this
paragraph are collectively referred to as the "Alliance Plants." Five Green
Giant production plants were retained by Pillsbury of which four have been
closed. The total purchase price for the Alliance Plants was $93.7 million, in
payment of which the Company initially paid Pillsbury $13.1 million in cash and
issued to Pillsbury an 8% Secured Nonrecourse Subordinated Promissory Note due
September 30, 2009 (the "Pillsbury Note") for the unpaid principal amount of
$80,583,000. The Pillsbury Note requires the Company to pay annual installments
of principal on each October 20 and a final major principal payment on September
30, 2009. Interest on the Pillsbury Note is required to be paid quarterly on
each of the last days of March, June, September and December. As a result of
Pillsbury's conversion of two annual principal installments totaling $6 million
into Class A Common Stock, and the payment of an annual principal installment on
the Pillsbury Note on October 20, 1997, the outstanding principal balance at
March 31, 1998 was $71,583,000.
Inasmuch as Pillsbury sold to the Company or closed substantially all
of its Green Giant production facilities and hopes to benefit under the Alliance
Agreement by paying lower product costs than it might otherwise incur, the
Company, beginning in its fiscal year ended March 31, 1996, has been a major
supplier of Pillsbury's Green Giant vegetable products. Green Giant products
packed by the Company in the Company's fiscal years ended March 31, 1997 and
March 31, 1998 constituted approximately 54% and 40%, respectively, of the
Company's sales for such period. The Company expects that, in the foreseeable
future while the Alliance Agreement remains in effect, Green Giant vegetables
will be the largest single product line of the Company.
The Alliance Agreement has an initial term ending December 31, 2014,
and will be extended automatically for additional five year terms unless
terminated in accordance with the provisions of the Alliance Agreement. Upon
virtually all of the causes of termination enumerated in the Alliance Agreement,
Pillsbury will acquire legal title to the Alliance Plants and certain of the
other assets which the Company acquired from Pillsbury, and various financial
adjustments between the parties will occur. If Pillsbury terminates the Alliance
Agreement without cause, it must pay the Company a termination payment of $20
million. Pillsbury holds mortgage and security interests in the property
transferred to the Company and any replacement property to enforce its rights
under the Alliance Agreement and the Pillsbury Note. Pillsbury will look to that
property, and not to the other property of the Company, to satisfy its claims
under the Pillsbury Note (except for damages in particular circumstances, such
as the Company's fraud or intentional misconduct, its failure to turn over
insurance or condemnation proceeds of the secured property or to turn over the
property as required by the Pillsbury Note or comply with the termination
provisions of the Alliance Agreement or under certain provisions of the
Bankruptcy Code). The Pillsbury Note has extensive provisions defining the
remedies against the Company and the relative rights of Pillsbury and the
Company's long-term insurance lenders and revolving credit bank lenders in
certain circumstances, such as default by the Company.
<PAGE>
The Company's sales and financial performance under the Alliance
Agreement and its sales of Green Giant products depend to a significant extent
on the Company's success in producing quality Green Giant vegetables at
competitive costs and Pillsbury's success in marketing the products produced by
the Company. The ability of Pillsbury to successfully market these products will
depend upon Pillsbury's sales efforts, as well as the factors described above
under "--Industry Conditions and Price and Volume Fluctuations." The Company
cannot give assurance as to the volume of Pillsbury's sales and cannot control
many of the key factors affecting that volume. The Alliance Agreement contains
extensive covenants by the Company with respect to quality and delivery of
products, maintenance of the Alliance Plants and other standards related to
performance. If the Company were to fail in its performance of these covenants,
Pillsbury would be entitled to terminate the Alliance Agreement.
Termination of the Alliance Agreement will, in most cases, entitle the
Company's principal lenders, including long-term insurance lenders, revolving
credit bank lenders and other lenders whose loan agreements incorporate the
default provisions of the Company's revolving credit agreement, to declare a
default under the Company's loan agreements with them. The principal lenders
have a security interest in certain payments to be received by the Company from
Pillsbury on termination of the Alliance Agreement from Pillsbury or other
buyers of Green Giant inventory. Unless the Company were to enter into a new
substantial supply relationship with Pillsbury or another major vegetable
marketer and acquire substantial production capacity to replace the Alliance
Plants, any such termination would substantially reduce the Company's sales. If
termination were to occur while substantial indebtedness of the Company to its
long-term insurance lenders and revolving credit bank lenders were outstanding,
as is currently the case, a restructuring of the debt payment terms would likely
be necessary to avoid a payment default in addition to the default by reason of
the termination of the Alliance Agreement.
Recent Losses
Fiscal Year 1996. The Company's fiscal year ended March 31, 1996,
resulted in an after-tax loss of $10.147 million (loss of $1.81 per share ) for
the Company. The major causes of the losses were:
<PAGE>
(1) Reduced production in the 1995 pack season, particularly
in the Company's Eastern Division vegetable plants. The Company
experienced start-up problems during and after installation of new
equipment and relocation and modification of existing Pillsbury
equipment which was removed from closed Pillsbury plants and installed
in the Company's plants. The Company made aggregate capital
expenditures of approximately $68 million involving 37 separate
projects to prepare for a larger volume pursuant to the Alliance
Agreement. The magnitude of that capital program, which had to be
completed in approximately six months' time to be ready for the 1995
pack season, exceeded any prior capital program by the Company within a
comparable period of time. During the 1996 pack season (in fiscal year
1997), the Eastern Division plants, which had generated the greatest
problems in 1995, generally performed in accordance with the Company's
expectations.
(2) During the summer of 1995, operations in the Eastern
Division (New York plants) were adversely affected by the worst drought
in New York in 20 years, which further reduced Eastern Division
vegetable production.
The combination of these two factors resulted in a non-recurring charge of
approximately $15.1 million, before income tax benefit, for the 1996 fiscal
year.
The 1996 fiscal year was the first year of operation under the Alliance
Agreement. The Company did not receive orders from Pillsbury at the
originally-anticipated levels because of the existence of substantial Green
Giant vegetable inventories carried over from the prior year (pre-Alliance
Agreement). Consequently, the Company substantially increased its finished
inventory levels and had to defer the conversion of inventory to sales. This
adversely affected the Company's cash flow and income and necessitated a
modification of certain financial covenants in the Company's loan agreements
with its revolving credit bank lenders and its long-term insurance lenders, as
the Company could not have complied with the unmodified covenants.
Fiscal Year 1998. For the fiscal year ended March 31, 1998, the Company
reported a net loss of $5.144 million (loss of $0.87 per share) on sales of
$703.2 million as compared to fiscal year 1997 in which the Company reported
earnings of $7.5 million (earnings of $1.27 per share) on sales of $730.2
million.
The major causes for the losses were:
(1) Lower selling prices on vegetables due to an ongoing industry
oversupply due in part to an above-budget pack for the second consecutive year.
See "--Industry Conditions and Price and Volume Fluctuations."
(2) Declines in apple product prices which were greater than the decline
in apple product costs. See "--Trends Resulting in Fluctuating Prices in Apple
Products."
(3) Increased pressure on pricing for frozen apple concentrate as a result
of the decline in consumption of frozen concentrates. See "--Trends Resulting in
Fluctuating Prices in Apple Products."
<PAGE>
The losses in the 1998 fiscal year were attributable primarily to the
continued oversupply conditions in the vegetable industry and the pressure on
both vegetable and fruit product prices. The difficult competitive conditions
required a more costly selling program than in the preceding year, further
eroding margins.
Fiscal Year 1999. In fiscal year 1999's first quarter ended June 27,
1998, the Company reported an after tax loss of $ 2.7 million, as compared to a
profit of $ 200,000 in the first quarter of fiscal year 1998. These interim
results are unaudited and subject to year end adjustments. The loss in the first
quarter of fiscal year 1999 reflected primarily the continuation of the adverse
conditions which affected operations in fiscal 1998, including an oversupply of
vegetables and the adverse conditions affecting apple products discussed in the
following subsection.
Trends Resulting in Fluctuating Prices in Apple Products
The Company has been the leader in U.S. sales of frozen concentrate
apple juice in which its Seneca brand name has had strong consumer acceptance.
However, total sales of all brands in this product category have declined at an
annual rate of approximately 5% in recent years, as consumers have shown
preference for the non-concentrate, ready-to-drink juice products. The Company
expects this trend to continue. The Company's product is not the largest selling
brand in the ready-to-drink category and competes with a number of
well-established competitors with larger advertising budgets than the Company's.
In fiscal year 1998, the Company expended approximately $3.2 million converting
certain juice production lines to plastic bottles in its southern and midwestern
facilities. Competition from other drinks and juices and the limited amount of
available shelf space at the retailer level is also limiting the overall sales
of apple juice regardless of package type.
A substantial portion of the Company's apple juice supply is purchased
in the form of concentrate from world-wide sources. The cost of this commodity
has fluctuated during the Company's existence. During the two-year period ended
March 31, 1997, a shortage of apple juice concentrate increased the Company's
total costs. In the Company's experience, raising prices to maintain profit
margins on apple juice products has reduced consumer demand for the product, so
that the Company's profit margin has eroded in periods of high supply costs. In
the juice business, the apple industry is going through enormous structural
changes with increasing quantities of apple concentrate being imported into the
U.S. from overseas, primarily South America, China and Eastern Europe.
Therefore, the current cost of apple concentrate is lower than it had been in
the period from 1995 to 1997, but the Company expects that, at some undetermined
future date, the recent downward trend in costs will reverse itself.
Furthermore, the import of large quantities of apple concentrate is reducing the
amount of apples that the Company is processing at its plants located in New
York, North Carolina and Washington as the imports currently cost less than the
product produced in the Company's plants. In the Company's four apple-pressing
facilities, only one facility pressed any quantity of apples in the fiscal year
ended March 31, 1998. While the imported concentrate lowers the cost of goods
for products sold by the Company and its competitors, the Company, unlike
several competitors, must absorb the overhead burden of its under-utilized
domestic facilities.
<PAGE>
The Company has signed the Letter contemplating the Proposed
Distribution to Northland. Thus, the impact on the Company of the trends and
fluctuating prices described above should be diminished significantly. However,
because certain events and conditions must occur before the Proposed Disposition
can be accomplished, the Company cannot assure that the Proposed Disposition
will be affected. See "Prospectus Summary--Recent Developments--Sale of Certain
Juice Business Assets."
High Ratio of Debt to Equity
The purchase of the Alliance Plants, the cost of the substantial
capital improvements effected prior to the 1995 packing season and the
significant increase in the Company's working capital requirements to produce
and hold large inventories of products packed under the Alliance Agreement
resulted in an increase in both Company debt and the ratio of Company debt to
its assets. Historically, the Company's debt to equity ratio has ranged from 58%
(in 1994) to 256% (in more recent years). The Company concluded that a
continuation of this high debt to equity ratio would likely (i) limit the
Company's ability to withstand competitive pressures or a downturn in its
business or in the economy and to take advantage of market trends in the food
industry and (ii) impair the Company's ability to obtain additional financing.
The consummation of the Equity Investment significantly reduced the Company's
debt to equity ratio as evidenced by the following table which illustrates the
debt to equity ratio at the end of the most recent fiscal year (as if the $50
million Equity Investment as described above in "Prospectus Summary--Recent
Developments" had occurred).
Pro Forma
March 31,
1998
----
Total outstanding debt (000 omitted) $251,703
Current ratio
(current assets:current liabilities) 2.77:1.00
Ratio of total assets to total liabilities 1.41:1.00
Long-term debt/equity 164%
Total liabilities/equity 241%
The terms and conditions of the Company's revolving credit facility and
the other indebtedness of the Company currently impose limitations that
restrict, among other things, the ability of the Company to incur debt, create
liens, pay dividends, make acquisitions and make capital expenditures. Terms of
the Company's indebtedness also require it to satisfy certain financial
covenants on a quarterly basis. The ability of the Company to make cash payments
to satisfy its indebtedness and to comply with such financial or similar
covenants as may be contained in future agreements will depend upon its future
operating performance, which is subject to prevailing economic conditions and to
financial, business and growing conditions some of which are beyond the
Company's control.
The Company has improved its financial ratios as a result of the
approximately $50 million of Equity Investment completed in September 1998. If
the Company is able to consummate the Proposed Disposition, as to which no
assurance can be given (see "Prospectus Summary--Recent Developments--Sale of
Certain Juice Business Assets"), it expects to further reduce its line of credit
indebtedness.
Defaults as to Certain Loan Covenants
At March 31, 1998, the Company was in default of certain loan covenants
with certain of its short and long-term lenders which would entitle each lender
(at its option) to immediate prepayment. The short and long-term lenders
unconditionally waived the defaults as of March 31, 1998 and amended the
covenants effective in fiscal year 1999 so as to conform to financial results
which the Company believes to be achievable if it successfully executes its
fiscal 1999 business plan. At June 27, 1998, the Company was in compliance with
the loan covenants with its short and long-term lenders. The Company can give no
assurance that it will successfully execute all provisions of the 1999 business
plan, but it has accomplished a major objective of that plan, namely the $50
million Equity Investment.
Seasonality and Quarterly Fluctuations
The Company's operations are affected by the growing cycles of the
vegetables it processes. When the vegetables are ready to be picked, the Company
must harvest and process the vegetables or forego the opportunity to process
fresh picked vegetables for an entire year. Most of the Company's vegetables are
grown by farmers under contract to the Company. Consequently, the Company must
pay the contract grower for the vegetables even if the Company cannot or does
not harvest or process them. Most of the Company's production occurs during the
second quarter (July through September) of each fiscal year in which the growing
season ends for most of the vegetables processed by the Company in the northern
portions of the United States, and a majority of sales occur during the third
and fourth quarter of each fiscal year (due to seasonal consumption patterns for
its products). Accordingly, inventory levels are highest during the second and
third quarters, and accounts receivable levels are highest during the third and
fourth quarters. Net sales generated during the third and fourth quarters of
each fiscal year have a significant impact on the Company's results of
operations. Because of seasonal fluctuations, the results of any particular
quarter will not necessarily be indicative of results for the full year or for
future years.
<PAGE>
Some Characteristics of the Competition
All of the Company's products compete with those of other national,
major and smaller regional food processing companies under highly competitive
conditions. Some of the Company's major competitors in the vegetable business
are Del Monte Corporation, Dean Foods and Chiquita Brands International. The
Company also sells vegetable products which compete with Pillsbury products
manufactured by the Company under the Alliance Agreement. The Company's
competitors in the fruit juice and fruit products business include the Minute
Maid division of Coca-Cola Company, the Mott's product line of Cadbury-Schweppes
plc, Tropicana Products, Welch's, Ocean Spray, Tree Top and others.
Welch's, Ocean Spray and Tree Top are agricultural cooperatives. They
are able to obtain financing through cooperative banks, which generally provide
financing at lower costs and on more favorable terms than non-cooperatives such
as the Company are able to obtain from their lenders. Because cooperatives are
owned by the growers, they are able to pay the growers last (i.e., after
inventory has been sold) whereas the Company and other non-cooperatives are
required to pay the growers first regardless of whether the inventory has been
sold.
All but one of the competitors specifically identified in the two
preceding paragraphs have greater sales and assets than the Company.
The vegetable business in the last three years has undergone
consolidation as a result of adverse market conditions, and many smaller
vegetable processors have been acquired by the Company or its competitors.
Future acquisitions may increase the market strength of the Company's larger
competitors.
Accounting Effect on Earnings Per Share Allocable to Common Stock
The Company's recent sale of 4,166,534 shares of Convertible
Participating Preferred Stock to its shareholders and the Investors requires the
Company to treat the excess, if any, of the market price of the Class A Common
Stock over the $12 per share purchase price of the Convertible Participating
Preferred Stock as if it were a dividend to the holders of the Convertible
Participating Preferred Stock. This rule applies because the Convertible
Participating Preferred Stock may be converted at any time into Class A Common
Stock and was issued at an exercise price that was less than the current market
price for the Class A Common Stock. On the effective completion of the
transaction for purposes of measuring the dividend amount, the Class A Common
Stock had a market price of $12.25. Consequently, the aggregate market price
excess ($0.25 x 4,166,534 shares) of $1,041,634, or $0.17 per share of Common
Stock, will be charged against earnings per share in the 1999 fiscal year. This
adjustment to earnings per share does not require the Company to distribute any
of this adjustment amount to holders of the Convertible Participating Preferred
Stock, and the Company does not intend to make any such distribution.
<PAGE>
Priority of Convertible Participating Preferred Stock over Common Stock in the
Event of Liquidation
As a result of the Equity Investment and prior to the deduction of any
expenses, $49,998,408 of aggregate stated value of Convertible Participating
Preferred Stock has been added to the Company's total equity. In the event of a
liquidation or dissolution of the Company, the entire stated value of the
Convertible Participating Preferred Stock will have priority of payment over all
shares of Class A Common Stock (and Class B Common Stock). Each holder of
Convertible Participating Preferred Stock may, at the holder's option, convert
Convertible Participating Preferred Stock into Class A Common Stock on a share-
for-share basis at any time. The Company cannot predict whether, or to what
extent, holders of Convertible Participating Preferred Stock will convert to
Class A Common Stock.
The Shares of Class A Common Stock Have Low Voting Power
Each share of Class A Common Stock has one-twentieth (1/20) of one vote
on all matters requiring a shareholder vote, while each share of Class B Common
Stock, as well as each share of the Company's outstanding preferred stock has
one vote (other than the Convertible Participating Preferred Stock which have no
votes and the Six Percent (6%) Cumulative Voting Preferred Stock which are only
entitled to vote with respect to the election of directors). In the election of
directors and other matters which are not subject to a class vote, holders of
Class A Common Stock have substantially less voting power than holders of Class
B Common Stock proportionate to the relative market value of those two classes
of stock. See "Description of Capital Stock--Description of Class A Common Stock
and Class B Common Stock--Voting."
Concentration of Voting Power and Other Indicia of Influence on the Company
As of the date of this Prospectus, the Wolcott and Kayser Families
collectively exercise approximately 40% of the total voting power of the Company
(in an election of directors). The capital structure and the concentrated
ownership of the Wolcott and Kayser Families in the Class B Common Stock and the
Company's Preferred Stock are likely to limit substantially the possibility of
and chances of success for a hostile tender offer, which is usually at a premium
over the then-current market price of a target company's stock or other takeover
proposal or proxy contest which could remove directors if the Wolcott and Kayser
Families are opposed to such offer or proposal.
<PAGE>
As a result of the Equity Investment (and assuming conversion of the
Convertible Participating Preferred Stock), the Investors and certain of the
Company's existing shareholders that are related to the Investors through family
relationships and common ownership in certain business entities collectively
exercise approximately 16% of the total voting power of the Company (in an
election of directors). The terms of the Equity Investment provide other
opportunities for the Investors to exercise influence over the Company. One such
provision requires that the size of the Company's Board of Directors be
increased from seven to nine members and that the Investor Designees be elected
to fill the newly created positions. Another provision assures that the Investor
Designees will comprise at least 22% of the membership of each committee of the
Company's Board of Directors. The Investor Designees may be removed by the
Investors and the resulting vacancy shall be filled with persons designated by
the Investors. The Investors' right to have its designees nominated to the
Company's Board of Directors and serve on committees of the Board of Directors
continues until such time as the Investors, in the aggregate, own less than 10%
of the outstanding Class A Common Stock (assuming conversion of all shares of
Convertible Participating Preferred Stock into Class A Common Stock).
Furthermore, the Charter was amended to require that certain major
corporate actions including, but not limited to, certain sales of assets,
mergers and change in accountants will require unanimous approval of the
Company's Board of Directors (excluding directors who choose to abstain).
Therefore, any one director of the Company, including either of the Investor
Designees, will have the ability to prohibit any of these major decisions from
being approved.
Certain Anti-Takeover Provisions
Certain provisions of the Alliance Agreement and the Company's credit
facilities, the Company's Charter, and the Company's Bylaws, as amended (the
"Bylaws"), could have the effect of preventing or delaying a person from
acquiring or seeking to acquire a substantial equity interest in, or control of,
the Company. The Bylaws and Charter provide, among other things, for staggered
board of directors' terms. See "Description of Capital Stock--Restrictions on
Acquisition of the Company--Certain Charter and Bylaw Provisions." The Alliance
Agreement states that it may be terminated by Pillsbury if any person acquires
30% or more of the combined voting power of the Company's then outstanding
voting securities, or the shareholders of the Company approve certain specified
business transactions. The Company's long-term credit facility provides that
certain lenders may require the Company to prepay certain of its indebtedness if
(i) any person or group (other than the Wolcott or Kayser Families) acquires
shares of the Company representing 50% or more of the total number of votes
which the Company's shareholders shall be entitled to cast or (ii) the Wolcott
and Kayser Families shall cease to own, directly or indirectly, at least 25% of
the Company. The Company's revolving credit facility provides that an event of
default occurs if (i) any person or group, other than the Wolcott or Kayser
Families, acquires capital stock possessing either 30% or more of the total
number of votes which the Company's shareholders shall be entitled to cast or
the right to elect 30% or more of the Company's Board of Directors or (ii)
during any period of 12 consecutive months, the individuals who at the beginning
of such 12 month period were directors of the Company cease for any reason to
constitute a majority of the Board of Directors of the Company.
<PAGE>
No Dividends
The Company historically has not declared or paid any cash dividends on
its shares of Common Stock and does not anticipate paying such dividends in the
foreseeable future. Furthermore, the Company's multi-year credit facilities
require that, without lender permission, the Company pay dividends on Common
Stock only from consolidated net earnings available for distribution. At March
31, 1998, the Company did not have any consolidated net earnings available for
the payment of dividends. Future credit agreements may also restrict the payment
of dividends on Common Stock without lender permission. See "--High Ratio of
Debt to Equity."
Forward-Looking Statements
The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a "safe
harbor" for forward-looking statements. This Prospectus contains or will contain
forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities
Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. Such statements include information
relating to the effect of amendments to and dependence on the Alliance
Agreement, reduction or mitigation of debt to equity ratio, industry conditions
and price and volume fluctuations, recent losses, fluctuating apple concentrate
prices, seasonality and quarterly fluctuations, competition, future capital
expenditures, business development activities, financing sources and
competition. Such forward-looking information involves important risks and
uncertainties that could significantly affect anticipated results in the future,
and accordingly, such results may differ from those expressed in any
forward-looking statements contained in this Prospectus. These risks and
uncertainties include, but are not limited to, uncertainties affecting the food
processing industry, risks relating to the dependence on certain contractual
arrangements (including the Alliance Agreement) and risks relating to seasonal
fluctuations.
<PAGE>
THE COMPANY
General
The Company conducts its business almost entirely in food processing
which currently accounts for approximately 99% of the Company's sales. Canned
and frozen vegetables represent approximately 78% and fruit and fruit juice
products approximately 22% of the food processing volume. Apple products
contribute approximately 10% of all processed food sales; the Company's
Seneca(R) brand frozen apple concentrate is the largest-selling brand of frozen
apple concentrate in the United States. Of the remaining fruit and fruit juice
product sales, grape products account for approximately 2%, and bottled, canned
and frozen fruit juice drinks account for the remaining approximately 10%.
Approximately 19% of the Company's food products are packed under its
own brands including Seneca(R), Libby's(R) (under license), Aunt Nellie's Farm
Kitchen(R), Blue Boy(R) and TreeSweet(R). Approximately 30% of the processed
foods are packed under private labels and approximately 11% are sold to
institutional food distributors. The remaining approximately 40%, are sold under
the Alliance Agreement with Pillsbury. See "Risk Factors--Dependence on Alliance
Agreement."
The Company's sole non-food division, Seneca Flight Operations,
provides air charter service primarily to industries located in upstate New York
and contributes approximately 1% to the Company's sales.
The Company was organized in 1949 and incorporated under the laws of
the State of New York. The Company purchased six Green Giant vegetable plants
from Pillsbury effective February 1, 1995, resulting in vegetable products
becoming 78% of the Company's overall business. Consequently, the Company
changed its fiscal year-end from July 31 to March 31 to avoid overlapping pack
seasons between fiscal years. Therefore, fiscal year 1995 was an eight-month
transition period.
The Company's principal executive office is located at 1162
Pittsford-Victor Road, Pittsford, New York. Its telephone number is (716)
385-9500 and it maintains a Web site (http://www.senecafoods.com).
USE OF PROCEEDS
The Company will not receive any proceeds from the Offering.
<PAGE>
SELLING SECURITY HOLDER
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of Shares
Number of Shares Number of Shares of Class A Common
of Class A Common of Class A Stock Owned Assuming
Name of Selling Stock Owned as of Common Stock to Sale of Shares
Security Holder September 24, be Registered Registered Hereunder
1998
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
The Pillsbury Company 346,570 346,570 0
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
As of September 24, 1998, the Class A Common Stock offered hereby
constitutes approximately 10.9% of the outstanding Class A Common Stock of the
Company.
Pillsbury's Acquisition of the Offered Shares
The Class A Common Stock offered hereby is owned by Pillsbury and was
issued to Pillsbury by the Company on March 20, 1996, pursuant to Pillsbury's
exercise of an option granted to it on September 28, 1995, to convert $6.0
million principal amount of indebtedness owed by the Company on the Pillsbury
Note into Class A Common Stock. The option was exercised on December 21, 1995,
at an exercise price of $17.3125 per share. The indebtedness so converted
constituted the first two installments of principal, each installment in the sum
of $3.0 million. The two principal installments converted to Class A Common
Stock were originally due on October 20, 1995 and 1996, respectively.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
<PAGE>
The Class A Common Stock offered hereby is offered for the Selling
Security Holder or for the account of pledgees, donees, transferees or other
successors in interest of the Selling Security Holder. Such sales may be made on
the NASDAQ National Market at prices and terms then prevailing or at prices
related to the then-current market price, or in negotiated transactions. Such
transactions may include, but are not limited to, one or more of the following:
(i) a block trade in which the broker or dealer so engaged will attempt to sell
the Class A Common Stock offered hereby as an agent, but may position and resell
a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction; (ii)
purchases by a broker or dealer for its account pursuant to this Prospectus; or
(iii) ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker
solicits purchases. In effecting sales, brokers or dealers engaged by the
Selling Security Holder may arrange for other brokers or dealers to participate.
In the event of a transaction hereunder in which a broker or dealer acts as a
principal (other than to facilitate an installment sale transaction, or to a
market maker acting as such in routine transactions in the over-the-counter
market), this Prospectus will be supplemented to provide material facts with
respect to such transaction.
In order to comply with the securities laws of certain states, if
applicable, the securities will be sold in such jurisdictions only through
registered or licensed brokers or dealers. In addition, the securities may not
be sold in certain states unless they have been registered or qualified for sale
in the applicable state or an exemption from the registration or qualification
requirement is available and complied with.
Brokers or dealers involved in sales hereunder will receive commissions
or discounts from the Selling Security Holder in amounts to be negotiated
immediately prior to the sale. Such brokers or dealers and any other
participating brokers or dealers may be deemed to be "underwriters" within the
meaning of the Securities Act, in connection with such sales, and any profits or
commissions earned by them in such transactions may be deemed to be underwriting
discounts or commissions under the Securities Act. The Selling Security Holder
has been advised that it is subject to the applicable provisions of the Exchange
Act, including without limitation, Rules 10b-5, 10b-6 and 10b-7 thereunder.
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
The Company is authorized to issue 20,000,000 shares of Class A Common
Stock; 10,000,000 shares of Class B Common Stock; 200,000 shares of Six Percent
(6%) Voting Cumulative Preferred Stock, $0.25 par value per share ("6% Preferred
Stock"); 30,000 shares of Preferred Stock Without Par Value; 1,000,000 shares of
Ten Percent (10%) Cumulative Convertible Voting Preferred Stock - Series A
Preferred Stock, $0.25 stated value per share ("10% Series A Preferred Stock");
400,000 shares of Ten Percent (10%) Cumulative Convertible Voting Preferred
Stock - Series B Preferred Stock, $0.25 stated value per share ("10% Series B
Preferred Stock") (the 6% Preferred Stock, Preferred Stock Without Par Value,
10% Series A Preferred Stock and 10% Series B Preferred Stock are collectively
referred to as "Preferred Stock") and 4,166,667 shares of Convertible
Participating Preferred Stock. As of September 24, 1998, the Company had issued
and outstanding: 3,187,808 shares of Class A Common Stock; 2,796,555 shares of
Class B Common Stock; 200,000 shares of 6% Preferred Stock; 407,240 shares of
10% Series A Preferred Stock; 400,000 shares of 10% Series B Preferred Stock;
and 4,166,534 shares of Convertible Participating Preferred Stock.
Description of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock
<PAGE>
Voting. Under the Company's Charter, the holders of Class A Common
Stock and Class B Common Stock have the right to vote for the election of all
directors and on all other matters submitted to the shareholders of the Company.
Subject to the Class A Special Rights discussed in detail below, each share of
Class B Common Stock is entitled to one full vote on all matters on which
shareholders currently are entitled to vote, including the election of
directors. Each holder of Class A Common Stock is entitled to one-twentieth
(1/20) of one vote per share on all matters on which shareholders are entitled
to vote, including the election of directors. Cumulative voting is not
authorized for the holders of Common Stock. See "Risk Factors--The Shares of
Class A Common Stock Have Low Voting Power."
The holders of Class A Common Stock are entitled to vote as a separate
class on any proposal to amend the Charter to increase the authorized number of
shares of Class B Common Stock, unless the increased authorization does not
exceed the number of shares of Class B Common Stock which must be issued in a
proposed stock dividend with respect to Class B Common Stock and an equivalent
stock dividend of Class A Common Stock will be effected concurrently with
respect to Class A Common Stock.
In addition, Section 804 of the BCL confers upon the holders of Class
A Common Stock the right to vote as a class on any amendment to the Company's
Charter which would (i) exclude or limit the shareholders' right to vote on any
matter, except as such rights may be limited by voting rights given to new
shares then being authorized; (ii) change Class A Common Stock by (a) reducing
the par value, (b) changing the shares into a different number of the same class
or into a different or same number of shares of a different class, or (c)
fixing, changing or abolishing the designation of Class A Common Stock or any
series thereof or any of the relative rights, preferences, and limitations of
the shares; or (iii) subordinate their rights by authorizing shares having
preferences which would be in any respect superior to their rights. Other
provisions of the BCL would entitle holders of Class A Common Stock to vote as a
separate class for approval of any plan of merger, consolidation or exchange
which would effect any change in Class A Common Stock described in the preceding
sentence.
On proposals on which holders of Class A Common Stock are entitled to
vote as a separate class, the proposal must be approved by a majority of the
votes of all outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock. Consequently, holders
of Class A Common Stock, by withholding such approval, can defeat a proposal
notwithstanding that holders of a majority of Class B Common Stock vote in favor
of the proposal.
<PAGE>
Dividends and Other Distributions. Each share of Class A Common Stock
and Class B Common Stock is equal in respect to dividends and other
distributions in cash, stock or property except that (i) if declared, a dividend
or distribution in shares of the Company on Class A Common Stock will be paid
only in Class A Common Stock, and (ii) if declared, a dividend or distribution
in shares of the Company on Class B Common Stock will be paid only in Class B
Common Stock. The number of shares so paid as a dividend or distribution on each
share of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock shall be equal, although
the class of the shares so paid shall differ depending upon whether the
recipient of the dividend is a holder of Class A Common Stock or Class B Common
Stock.
Mergers and Consolidations. In the event of a merger, consolidation, or
combination of the Company with another entity (whether or not the Company is
the surviving entity) or in the event of dissolution of the Company, the holders
of Class A Common Stock will be entitled to receive the same per share
consideration as the per share consideration, if any, received by holders of
Class B Common Stock in that transaction. However, any shares of common stock
that holders of Class A Common Stock become entitled to receive in the
transaction may have terms substantially similar to the Class A Common Stock
themselves. Thus, the surviving entity in any such transaction could have a
dual-class capital structure like that of the Company and could, upon
consummation of the merger or consolidation, give full voting shares to the
holders of Class B Common Stock and one-twentieth (1/20) voting shares to the
holders of Class A Common Stock.
Class A Special Rights. The Company's Charter contains a two-pronged
"Class A Special Rights" provision which ensures that holders of Class A Common
Stock will not be unfairly treated in the event that a person attempts to gain
control of the Company.
First, the Class A Special Rights seek to prevent a person who has
crossed a certain ownership threshold from gaining control of the Company by
acquiring Class B Common Stock without buying Class A Common Stock. If any
person acquires more than 15% of the outstanding Class B Common Stock after
August 5, 1995 (the "Threshold Date"), and does not acquire after the Threshold
Date a percentage of the Class A Common Stock outstanding at least equal to the
percentage of Class B Common Stock that the person acquired in excess of the 15%
threshold, such person will not be allowed to vote shares of Class B Common
Stock acquired in excess of the 15% threshold. For example, if a person acquires
20% of the outstanding Class B Common Stock after the Threshold Date but
acquires no Class A Common Stock, that person would be unable to vote the 5% of
the Class B Common Stock acquired in excess of the 15% threshold. With respect
to persons who owned Common Stock of the Company on or prior to the Threshold
Date, only shares of Class B Common Stock acquired after the Threshold Date will
be counted in determining whether that shareholder has exceeded the 15%
threshold for acquisitions of Class B Common Stock and only acquisitions of
Class A Common Stock after the Threshold Date will be counted in determining
whether that shareholder's Class A Common Stock acquisitions have been at least
equal to the acquisition of Class B Common Stock in excess of the 15% threshold.
The inability of the person to vote the excess Class B Common Stock will
continue until such time as a sufficient number of shares of Class A Common
Stock have been acquired by the person to satisfy the requirements of the Class
A Special Rights.
<PAGE>
The second prong of the Class A Special Rights is an "Equitable Price"
requirement. It is intended to prevent a person seeking to acquire control of
the Company from paying a discounted price for the Class A Common Stock required
to be purchased by the acquiring person under the first prong of the Class A
Special Rights. These provisions provide that an Equitable Price has been paid
for shares of Class A Common Stock only when they have been acquired at a price
at least equal to the greater of (i) the highest per share price paid by the
acquiring person, in cash or in non-cash consideration, for any Class B Common
Stock acquired within the 60 day periods preceding and following the acquisition
of the Class A Common Stock or (ii) the highest closing market sale price of
Class B Common Stock during the 30 day periods preceding and following the
acquisition of the Class A Common Stock. The value of any non-cash consideration
will be determined by the Board of Directors of the Company acting in good
faith. The highest closing market sale price of a share of Class B Common Stock
will be the highest closing sale price reported by NASDAQ National Market or on
any such other securities exchange then constituting the principal trading
market for either class of the Common Stock. In the event that no quotations are
available, the highest closing market sale price will be the fair market value
during the 30 day periods preceding and following the acquisition of a share of
Class B Common Stock as determined by the Board of Directors of the Company
acting in good faith. The Equitable Price Provision is intended to require a
person seeking to acquire control of the Company to buy the Class B Common Stock
and the Class A Common Stock at virtually the same time and the same price, as
might occur in a tender offer, to ensure that the acquiring person would be able
to vote the Class B Common Stock acquired in excess of the 15% threshold.
Under the Class A Special Rights, an acquisition of Class B Common
Stock is deemed to include any shares that an acquiring Person acquires directly
or indirectly, in one transaction or a series of transactions, or with respect
to which that person acts or agrees to act in concert with any other person (an
"Acquisition"). As used in the preceding sentence, "Person" includes one or more
persons and entities who act or agree to act in concert with respect to the
Acquisition or disposition of Class B Common Stock or with respect to proposing
or effecting a plan or proposal to (a) a merger, reorganization or liquidation
of the Company or a sale of a material amount of its assets, (b) a change in the
Company's Board of Directors or management, including any plan or proposal to
fill vacancies on the Board of Directors or change the number or term of
Directors, (c) a material change in the business or corporate structure of the
Company, or (d) any material change in the capitalization or dividend policy of
the Company. Unless there are affirmative attributes of concerted action,
however, "acting or agreeing to act in concert with any other Person" does not
include acts or agreements to act by Persons pursuant to their official
capacities as directors or officers of the Company or because they are related
by blood or marriage.
<PAGE>
For purposes of calculating the 15% threshold, the following
Acquisitions and increases are excluded: (i) shares of Class B Common Stock held
by any Person on the Threshold Date, (ii) an increase in a holder's percentage
ownership of Class B Common Stock resulting solely from a change in the total
number of shares of Class B Common Stock outstanding as a result of a repurchase
of Class B Common Stock by the Company since the last date on which that holder
acquired Class B Common Stock, (iii) Acquisitions of Class B Common Stock (a)
made pursuant to contracts existing prior to the Threshold Date, including the
Acquisition of Class B Common Stock pursuant to the conversion provisions of
Class A Preferred Stock outstanding prior to the Threshold Date, (b) by bequest
or inheritance or by operation of law upon the death or incompetency of any
individual, and (c) by any other transfer made without valuable consideration,
in good faith and not for the purpose of circumventing the Class A Special
Rights. A gift made to any Person who is related to the donor by blood or
marriage, a gift made to a charitable organization qualified under Section
501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 or a successor provision and a
gift to a Person who is a fiduciary solely for the benefit of, or which is owned
entirely by, one or more persons or entities (a) who are related to the donor by
blood or marriage or (b) which is a tax-qualified charitable organization or (c)
both will be presumed to be made in good faith and not for purposes of
circumventing the restrictions imposed by the Class A Special Rights.
The Class A Special Rights also provide that, to the extent that the
voting power of any share of Class B Common Stock cannot be exercised pursuant
to the provision, that share will be excluded from the determination of the
total shares eligible to vote for any purpose for which a vote of shareholders
is taken.
Convertibility. The Class B Common Stock is convertible into Class A
Common Stock at any time on a share-for-share basis. The Class A Common Stock is
not convertible into shares of Class B Common Stock unless the number of
outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock falls below 5% of the aggregate
number of outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock and Class A Common Stock.
In that event, immediately upon the occurrence thereof, all of the outstanding
Class A Common Stock is converted automatically into Class B Common Stock on a
share-for-share basis and Class B Common Stock will no longer be convertible
into Class A Common Stock. For purposes of this provision, Class B Common Stock
or Class A Common Stock repurchased by the Company and not reissued is not
considered to be "outstanding" from and after the date of repurchase.
In the event of any such conversion of the Class A Common Stock,
certificates which formerly represented outstanding shares of Class A Common
Stock thereafter will be deemed to represent a like number of shares of Class B
Common Stock, and all common stock then authorized will be deemed to be Class B
Common Stock.
Preemptive Rights. Neither the Class A Common Stock nor the Class B
Common Stock carry any preemptive rights enabling a holder to subscribe for or
receive shares of the Company of any class or any other securities convertible
into any class of the Company's shares.
Transferability; Trading Market. The Class A Common Stock and the Class
B Common Stock are freely transferable and are listed for trading on the NASDAQ
National Market.
<PAGE>
Description of Preferred Stock and Convertible Participating Preferred Stock
None of the Company's Preferred Stock or Convertible Participating
Preferred Stock will be issued in the Offering. No dividends or other
distributions are payable on the Company's Common Stock unless such dividends or
distributions are first paid on the Preferred Stock. In the event of a
liquidation or dissolution of the Company, the outstanding shares of Preferred
Stock and Convertible Participating Preferred Stock (see "Risk Factors--
Priority of Convertible Participating Preferred Stock over Common Stock in the
Event of Liquidation") would have priority over the Common Stock in the
distribution of the remaining assets of the Company. The 10% Series A Preferred
Stock is convertible into shares of Common Stock on the basis of one share of
Class A Common Stock and one share of Class B Common Stock for every 20 shares
of 10% Series A Preferred Stock. The 10% Series B Preferred Stock is convertible
into Common Stock on the basis of one share of Class A Common Stock and one
share of Class B Common Stock for every 30 shares of 10% Series B Preferred
Stock. The Convertible Participating Preferred Stock is convertible on a
share-for-share basis into shares of Class A Common Stock.
Restrictions on Acquisition of the Company--Certain Charter and Bylaw Provisions
In addition to the restrictions imposed by the "Class A Special Rights"
provisions, the Charter contains two super-majority voting provisions. Paragraph
5 of the Charter provides that the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the shares
present and entitled to vote at the meeting is necessary to amend the Bylaws of
the Company. Paragraph 6 provides that a director may be removed regardless of
cause only upon the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the shares entitled to
vote for the election of that director. Both of these provisions reduce the
possibility of the shareholders receiving and accepting hostile takeover bids,
mergers, proxy contests, removal of current management, removal of directors or
other changes in control.
The Bylaws of the Company require the affirmative vote of two-thirds of
the shares present and entitled to vote to (i) effectuate an amendment to the
Bylaws of the Company and (ii) remove a director of the Company.
The Bylaws provide for the staggered voting of directors for
three-year terms so that shareholders desiring to replace the incumbent
directors and gain control of the Board would be required to win at least two
successive annual contests before their nominees constituted a majority of
directors. See "Risk Factors--Certain Anti-Takeover Provisions."
<PAGE>
Agreements Restricting Change in Control of the Company
The Alliance Agreement and certain significant agreements between the
Company and its lenders provide for penalties in the event of a change of
control of the Company as defined in the respective agreements.
LEGAL MATTERS
Jaeckle Fleischmann & Mugel, LLP, Buffalo, New York will pass upon
certain legal matters for the Company with respect to the shares of Class A
Common Stock offered hereby.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements and the related consolidated
financial statement schedule incorporated in this Prospectus by reference from
the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 1998 have
been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent auditors, as stated in their
reports, which are incorporated herein by reference, and have been so
incorporated in reliance upon the reports of such firm given upon their
authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
<PAGE>
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN THE PROSPECTUS
Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.
The following is a list of the expenses the Registrant expects to
pay in connection with the issuance and distribution of the shares
registered hereby. The Company will be responsible for the payment of
these expenses; provided, however, that Pillsbury will be responsible for
costs of printing to the extent such costs exceed $2,500.
Filing and Registration Fees.......................... $1,227.00
Legal Fees and Expenses*.............................. 25,000.00
Cost of Printing*..................................... 2,500.00
Accounting Fees and Expenses*......................... 0.00
Miscellaneous Expenses*............................... 7,273.00
Total............................................ $36,000.00
----------------
* Estimated
Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
The Company's Charter provides that the Company is required to
indemnify each and every officer or director of the Company, even those
whose term has expired, for any and all expenses actually and necessarily
incurred by such director or officer in connection with the defense of any
action, suit or proceeding in which he is made a party by reason of being
or having been a director or officer of the Company. The Company is not
required to indemnify a director or officer for matters as to which such
officer or director is adjudged to be liable for neglect or misconduct in
the performance of his duties as director or officer. Further, the rights
of the officers or directors to indemnification are not exclusive of any
other rights to which an officer or director of the Company is entitled.
II-1
<PAGE>
Under the Company's Bylaws, as amended (the "Bylaws"), the Company has
the authority to indemnify its directors and officers to the fullest extent
permitted by the New York Business Corporation Law (Sections 721-726) (the
"BCL"). The Bylaws, reflecting New York law, extend such protection to any
person made or threatened to be made a party to any action or proceeding,
including an action by or in the right of any other corporation, partnership,
joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, which any
director, officer or employee of the Company served in any capacity at the
request of the Company, by reason of the fact that such director or officer, his
testator or intestate, is or was a director or officer of the Company or is or
was serving such enterprise at the request of the Company. The Bylaws provide
that such indemnification may be authorized pursuant to the terms and conditions
of (i) a resolution of shareholders; (ii) a resolution of the Board of
Directors; (iii) an agreement providing for such indemnification or (iv) any
judicial or other legal authority which entitles the director, officer or
employee to such indemnification.
The BCL provides that, if successful on the merits or otherwise, an
officer or director is entitled to indemnification by the Company against
amounts paid in settlement and reasonable expenses, including attorneys' fees,
actually and necessarily incurred in connection with the defense of such action
or proceeding, or any appeal therein, if such director or officer acted in good
faith, for a purpose which he reasonably believed to be in, or at least not
opposed to, the best interests of the Company. The termination of any action or
proceeding by judgment, settlement, conviction or plea of nolo contendere, or
its equivalent, does not itself create the presumption that such director or
officer did not act, in good faith, for a purpose which he reasonably believed
to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the Company or that he had
reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.
If a corporation fails to provide indemnification to its directors or
officers, the BCL provides that despite any contrary resolution of the board of
directors or shareholders, indemnification may be awarded by application to the
appropriate judicial authority. Application for such court-ordered
indemnification may be made either in the civil action or proceeding in which
the expenses were incurred or other amounts were paid or to the supreme court in
a separate proceeding.
II-2
<PAGE>
Item 16. Exhibits.
Exhibit
Number Description
3(a)(1) The Company's Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as
amended (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the
Company's 10-Q/A filed August 1995 for the quarter ended July
1, 1995)
3(a)(2) An amendment to the Company's Restated Certificate of
Incorporation, as amended (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 3.1 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the fiscal year ended March 31, 1996)
3(a)(3) Certificate of Amendment to the Company's Restated Certificate
of Amendment, as amended (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 3(i)to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated
September 17, 1998)
The Company's Bylaws as amended (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 3.3 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q/A
filed August 1995)
4(a) Note Agreement related to the $75,000,000 note with The
Prudential Insurance Company of America (Incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 99 to the Company's 10-Q for the quarter
ended January 28, 1995)
(b) Note Agreement related to the $50,000 note with John Hancock
Mutual Life Insurance Company (Incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 99 to the Company's 10-Q for the quarter ended January
28, 1995)
5 Opinion of Jaeckle Fleischmann & Mugel, LLP regarding legality
of securities being registered (filed herewith)
23(a) Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP (filed herewith)
(b) Consent of Jaeckle Fleischmann & Mugel, LLP (contained in
Exhibit 5 above)
24 Powers of Attorney (filed herewith at pages II-6 and II-7)
II-3
<PAGE>
Item 17. Undertakings.
(a) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are
being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:
(i) To include any prospectus required by
Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (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 percent change in the maximum aggregate
offering price set forth in the "Calculation of 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;
provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the
registration statement is on Form S-3, Form S-8 or Form F-3, and the information
required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is
contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the
Registrant pursuant to Sections 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 that are incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement.
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under
the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a
new Registration Statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective
amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the
termination of the offering.
II-4
<PAGE>
(b) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the
Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that is incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new Registration Statement
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons
of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the
Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the 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 Registrant of expenses
incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant
in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public
policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final
adjudication of such issue.
II-5
<PAGE>
SIGNATURES AND POWER OF ATTORNEY
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, the Registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the
requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized in Pittsford, New York, on September 30, 1998.
SENECA FOODS CORPORATION
By:/s/ Kraig H. Kayser
--------------------
Kraig H. Kayser, President
and Chief Executive Officer
Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints
Kraig H. Kayser and Arthur S. Wolcott, and each of them, his or her true and
lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and
resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any
and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments to this Registration
Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents
in connection therewith, with the Commission, granting unto said
attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and authority to do and perform each and
every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the
premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in
person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and
agents, or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done
by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Registration
Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and
on the dates indicated.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Signature Title Date
<S> <C> <C>
/s/ Arthur S. Wolcott Chairman and Director September 30, 1998
- ------------------------
Arthur S. Wolcott
/s/ Kraig H. Kayser President, Chief Executive September 30, 1998
- ------------------------ Officer and Director
Kraig H. Kayser
II-6
/s/ Philip G. Paras Vice President-Finance September 30, 1998
- ------------------------
Philip G. Paras
/s/ Jeffrey L. Van Riper Controller and Secretary September 30, 1998
- ------------------------ (Principal Accounting Officer)
Jeffrey L. Van Riper
/s/ Arthur H. Baer Director September 30, 1998
- ------------------------
Arthur H. Baer
/s/ Andrew M. Boas Director September 30, 1998
- ------------------------
Andrew M. Boas
/s/Robert T. Brady Director September 30, 1998
- ------------------------
Robert T. Brady
/s/ David L. Call Director September 30, 1998
- ------------------------
David L. Call
/s/ Edward O. Gaylord Director September 30, 1998
- ------------------------
Edward O. Gaylord
/s/ G. Brymer Humphreys Director September 30, 1998
- ------------------------
G. Brymer Humphreys
/s/ Susan W. Stuart Director September 30, 1998
- ------------------------
Susan W. Stuart
II-7
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
Exhibit 5
JAECKLE FLEISCHMANN & MUGEL, LLP
A T T O R N E Y S A T L A W
FLEET BANK BUILDING TWELVE FOUNTAIN PLAZA BUFFALO, NEW YORK 14202-2292
TEL (716) 856-0600 FAX (716) 856-0432
September 30, 1998
Seneca Foods Corporation
1162 Pittsford-Victor Road
Pittsford, New York 14534
Re: Registration Statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act of
1933 (the "Registration Statement"); Covering 346,570 shares of
Class A Common Stock, with $0.25 par value per share ("Class A
Common Stock")
Ladies and Gentlemen:
As your counsel we have examined the Registration
Statement dated September 30, 1998 and we are familiar with the documents
referred to therein, as well as the Certificate of Incorporation and
By-Laws of Seneca Foods Corporation (the "Company"), each as amended to
date, such records of proceedings of the Company as we deemed material,
and such other proceedings of the Company as we deemed necessary for the
purpose of this opinion.
We have examined the proceedings heretofore taken and we
are informed as to the procedures followed by the Company in connection
with the authorization, issuance and sale of the shares of Class A
Common Stock. In our opinion the shares of Class A Common Stock issued
by the Company are duly authorized for issuance by all necessary
corporate action and are legally issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
We consent to the incorporation by reference of this
opinion letter as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to its
attachment as an exhibit to the Prospectus contained therein.
Very truly yours,
/s/JAECKLE FLEISCHMANN & MUGEL, LLP
Buffalo, New York o Rochester, New York
504004
<PAGE>
Exhibit 23(a)
Independent Auditors' Consent
We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration
Statement of Seneca Foods Corporation on Form S-3 of our reports dated May
22, 1998, appearing in and incorporated by reference in the Annual Report
on Form 10-K of Seneca Foods Corporation for the year ended March 31, 1998
and to the reference to us under the heading "Experts" in the Prospectus,
which is part of this Registration Statement.
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
Deloitte & Touche LLP
Rochester, New York
September 28, 1998
