BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES INC
S-3, 1998-08-21
HELP SUPPLY SERVICES
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                                                     Registration No. 333-
================================================================================


                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549
                          ----------------------------

                                    FORM S-3
                          REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                          ----------------------------

                         BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

               Maryland                                   52-0812977
    (State or other jurisdiction of            (IRS Employer Identification No.)
    incorporation or organization)

                            4724 S.W. Macadam Avenue
                             Portland, Oregon 97201
                            Telephone (503) 220-0988
          (Address and telephone number of principal executive offices)

                               WILLIAM W. SHERERTZ
                                    President
                         BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.
                            4724 S.W. Macadam Avenue
                             Portland, Oregon 97201
                            Telephone (503) 220-0988
           (Name, address, and telephone number of agent for service)
                          ----------------------------

                                   Copies to:
                    Miller, Nash, Wiener, Hager & Carlsen LLP
                              111 S.W. Fifth Avenue
                           Portland, Oregon 97204-3699
                              Attn: Mary Ann Frantz
                                 (503) 224-5858
                          ----------------------------

        APPROXIMATE  DATE OF COMMENCEMENT  OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC:  From
time  to time  after  the  effective  date of  this  registration  statement  as
determined    in   light   of   market    conditions    and    other    factors.

                          ----------------------------


<PAGE>


        If the only securities  being  registered on this Form are being offered
pursuant to dividend or interest  reinvestment plans, please check the following
box. [ ]

        If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered
on a delayed or continuous  basis  pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act
of 1933,  other than  securities  offered only in  connection  with  dividend or
interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. [X]

        If this form is filed to register additional  securities for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box
and list  the  Securities  Act  registration  statement  number  of the  earlier
effective registration statement for the same offering. [ ] --------------.

        If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c)
under the  Securities  Act,  check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration  statement number of the earlier effective  registration  statement
for the same offering. [ ] --------------.

        If delivery of the  prospectus  is expected to be made  pursuant to Rule
434, please check the following box. [ ]

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

<TABLE>
Title of Each
Class of                Amount      Proposed Maximum        Proposed
Securities to be         to be      Offering Price Per      Maximum               Amount of
Registered           Registered     Unit(1)                 Aggregate             Registration Fee
                                                            Offering Price(1)
=================== =============== ======================= ===================== ====================
<S>                    <C>                  <C>                  <C>                    <C>   
Common Stock,          894,642              $9.875               $8,834,590             $2,607
$.01 par value          shares
=================== =============== ======================= ===================== ====================
</TABLE>

(1) Estimated  solely for purposes of calculating the  registration fee pursuant
to Rule 457(c)  based upon the  average of the high and low sales  prices of the
Common Stock on The Nasdaq Stock Market on August 18, 1998.

                          ----------------------------

        THE REGISTRANT HEREBY AMENDS THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR
DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANT SHALL
FILE A FURTHER  AMENDMENT  WHICH  SPECIFICALLY  STATES  THAT  THIS  REGISTRATION
STATEMENT SHALL  THEREAFTER  BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(A) OF
THE SECURITIES  ACT OF 1933 OR UNTIL THIS  REGISTRATION  STATEMENT  SHALL BECOME
EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION,  ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(A),
MAY DETERMINE.

================================================================================


<PAGE>


        PROSPECTUS

                        BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.

                                 894,642 SHARES

                                  COMMON STOCK


        This Prospectus  covers 894,642 shares  ("Shares") of common stock, $.01
par value per share ("Common Stock"),  of Barrett Business  Services,  Inc. (the
"Company"),  which may be  offered  for sale  from  time to time by the  selling
stockholders  ("Selling  Stockholders")  identified under "Selling Stockholders"
herein.  The Company will receive no part of the proceeds of any such sales. All
sales commissions and similar expenses related to the sale of the Shares will be
paid by the Selling Stockholders.  By agreement, costs of registration are being
borne by the Company.

        The Shares offered hereby may be sold from time to time in  transactions
(which may include block  transactions) on The Nasdaq Stock Market at the market
prices then prevailing.  Sales of the Shares may also be made through negotiated
transactions or otherwise.  The Selling Stockholders and the brokers and dealers
through which sales of the Shares may be made may be deemed to be "underwriters"
within the  meaning set forth in the  Securities  Act of 1933,  as amended  (the
"Securities  Act"), and their  commissions and discounts and other  compensation
may be deemed to be underwriters' compensation. See "Plan of Distribution."

        The last reported sales price of the Common Stock on the National Market
tier of The Nasdaq  Stock  Market on August --,  1998,  was  $------  per share.
Prospective  purchasers should obtain current information  regarding the trading
price of the Common Stock.


================================================================================
THESE  SECURITIES  HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR  DISAPPROVED  BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE  COMMISSION OR ANY STATE  SECURITIES  COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES
AND  EXCHANGE  COMMISSION  OR ANY STATE  SECURITIES  COMMISSION  PASSED UPON THE
ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A
CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
================================================================================

                The date of this Prospectus is ----------, 1998.

                                      - 1 -
<PAGE>


                              AVAILABLE INFORMATION

        The  Company  files  annual,   quarterly  and  current  reports,   proxy
statements,  and other  information with the Securities and Exchange  Commission
(the  "SEC").  You  may  read  and  copy  any  reports,  statements,  and  other
information  we file at the  SEC's  public  reference  facilities  at 450  Fifth
Street,  N.W.,  Washington,  D.C.  20549;  and its regional  offices at 500 West
Madison Street, Chicago, Illinois 60661; and 7 World Trade Center, New York, New
York 10048.  Copies of these documents can be obtained from the Public Reference
Section  of the  SEC,  450  Fifth  Street,  N.W.,  Washington,  D.C.  20549,  at
prescribed  rates.  Our SEC filings are also  available to the public on the SEC
internet site (http://www.sec.gov).

        The Company has filed with the SEC a Registration  Statement on Form S-3
(the  "Registration  Statement")  under the  Securities  Act with respect to the
Shares offered  hereby.  This Prospectus does not contain all of the information
set forth in the Registration Statement or the exhibits thereto. As permitted by
the rules and regulations of the SEC, this Prospectus omits certain  information
contained  or  incorporated  by  reference in the  Registration  Statement.  For
further information,  reference is hereby made to the Registration Statement and
exhibits thereto, copies of which may be read or obtained as described above.

        The Company  furnishes Annual Reports to its  stockholders  that contain
financial statements which have been examined and reported upon, with an opinion
expressed by, its independent certified public accountants.

                      INFORMATION INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

        The  following  documents  filed by the Company with the SEC pursuant to
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") are incorporated herein
by reference:

        (1) Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended  December 31, 1997, as
            amended by Amendment No. 1 dated August 20, 1998;

        (2) Quarterly  Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1998,
            as amended by Amendment No. 1 dated August 20, 1998;

        (3) Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1998;

        (4) Current Report on Form 8-K dated April 13, 1998; and

        (5) Current Report on Form 8-K dated June 29, 1998.

        All  documents  filed by the Company  with the SEC  pursuant to Sections
13(a),  13(c),  14 or 15(d) of the  Exchange Act  subsequent  to the date hereof
shall hereby be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Prospectus and to
be a part  hereof  from the date of filing  of such  documents.  See  "Available
Information." Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated  herein by reference  shall be deemed to be modified or  superseded
for purposes of this Prospectus to the extent that a statement  contained herein
or in any  other  subsequently  filed  document  incorporated  or  deemed  to be
incorporated  herein by reference  modifies or supersedes  such  statement.  Any
statement  contained  herein  shall be 

                                      - 2 -
<PAGE>

deemed to be modified or  superseded  for  purposes  of this  Prospectus  to the
extent  that  a  statement   contained  in  any   subsequently   filed  document
incorporated  or  deemed to be  incorporated  herein by  reference  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.

        THIS  PROSPECTUS  INCORPORATES  DOCUMENTS  BY  REFERENCE  WHICH  ARE NOT
INCLUDED  HEREIN OR DELIVERED  HEREWITH.  COPIES OF THESE  DOCUMENTS  (EXCLUDING
EXHIBITS  UNLESS SUCH EXHIBITS ARE  SPECIFICALLY  INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE INTO
THE  INFORMATION  INCORPORATED  HEREIN)  WILL BE  PROVIDED  BY FIRST  CLASS MAIL
WITHOUT CHARGE TO EACH PERSON TO WHOM THIS PROSPECTUS IS DELIVERED, UPON WRITTEN
OR ORAL REQUEST BY SUCH PERSON TO THE  CONTROLLER,  BARRETT  BUSINESS  SERVICES,
INC., 4724 S.W. MACADAM AVENUE, PORTLAND, OREGON 97201, (503) 220-0988.

                                   THE COMPANY

        Barrett  Business  Services,  Inc. (the  "Company"),  is a leading human
resource  management  company.  The Company  provides  comprehensive  outsourced
solutions   addressing  the  costs  and   complexities   of  a  broad  array  of
employment-related issues for businesses of all sizes. Its range of services and
expertise  in human  resource  management  encompasses  five  major  categories:
payroll processing, employee benefits and administration,  workers' compensation
coverage,  aggressive risk management and workplace safety  programs,  and human
resource   administration,   which   includes   functions  such  as  recruiting,
interviewing,   drug  testing,  hiring,  placement,   training,  and  regulatory
compliance.   These  services  are  typically  provided  through  a  variety  of
contractual arrangements,  as part of either a traditional staffing service or a
professional  employer  organization ("PEO") service.  Staffing services include
on-demand or  short-term  staffing  assignments,  long-term  or  indefinite-term
contract   staffing,    and   comprehensive    on-site   personnel    management
responsibilities.  In a PEO  arrangement,  the Company enters into a contract to
become a  co-employer  of the client  company's  existing  workforce and assumes
responsibility   for   some   or   all   of  the   human   resource   management
responsibilities.  The Company provides services to a diverse array of customers
through a network  of 30  branch  offices  in  Oregon,  California,  Washington,
Maryland,  Delaware,  Idaho,  Michigan,  and  Arizona.  It also  has 21  smaller
recruiting  offices in its general  market areas under the direction of a branch
office.

        The Company  was  incorporated  in the state of  Maryland  in 1965.  The
Company's  principal  executive offices are located at 4724 S.W. Macadam Avenue,
Portland, Oregon 97201, and its telephone number is (503) 220-0988.

                              SELLING STOCKHOLDERS

        The following table sets forth the name of each Selling Stockholder, the
amount of Common Stock owned by such Selling Stockholder at August 21, 1998, the
number of Shares to be offered by such  Selling  Stockholder  and the amount and
percentage  of  Common  Stock  to be  owned by such  Selling  Stockholder  after
completion  of the offering  assuming  all the Shares are sold.  The Shares were
issued in  connection  with the  Company's  acquisition  of  Western  Industrial
Management,  Inc., and a related company,  Catch 55, Inc. (together,  "WIMI") on
June 29, 1998.

                                      - 3 -
<PAGE>


<TABLE>
                                                          Common Stock
                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
                                 Shares Presently         Shares to be        Shares to be Owned
            Name                    Owned (1)             Offered (1)           After Offering
            ----                    ---------             -----------           --------------
<S>                                  <C>                    <C>                       <C>
Patricia Otahal                       43,962                 43,962                  -0-

Rentschler Family Trust              850,680                850,680                  -0-
Dated January 10, 1994(2)
</TABLE>


- ----------------------------

(1) A total  of  89,464  Shares  are  subject  to  forfeiture  for  purposes  of
settlement  of certain  contingencies  specified in the  Acquisition  and Merger
Agreement  dated  June 29,  1998,  relating  to the  acquisition  of WIMI by the
Company, as follows:  Ms. Otahal, 4,396 shares; and the Rentschler Family Trust,
85,068  shares.  Such  risk of  forfeiture  shall  lapse as to a total of 56,004
Shares (62.6 percent of the total shares  subject to  forfeiture)  no later than
June 29, 1999.

(2) Shares of Common Stock  subject to employee  stock  options held by Keith N.
Rentschler, one of the trustees of the Rentschler Family Trust, are not included
in the table.

        None of the Selling  Stockholders has had a material  relationship  with
the  Company  within the past three  years,  other than in  connection  with the
acquisition  of  WIMI in an  arm's-length  transaction,  except  that  Keith  N.
Rentschler, one of the trustees of the Rentschler Family Trust, has entered into
an employment  agreement  with the Company  pursuant to which Mr.  Rentschler is
employed as an Area Vice President for the Company's Southern  California market
area and, in connection  therewith,  has been awarded  employee stock options to
purchase  50,000  shares of Common  Stock at an  exercise  price of $10.125  per
share.

                              PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

        Beginning  November 14, 1998, when certain  restrictions  arising out of
pooling-of-interests  accounting  lapse,  the Selling  Stockholders may sell the
Shares  in one or  more  transactions  (which  may  involve  one or  more  block
transactions)  on the  over-the-counter  market on Nasdaq  and upon  terms  then
prevailing or at prices related to the then current market price,  in separately
negotiated  transactions  or in a combination of such  transactions.  The Shares
offered  hereby  may be sold by one or more of the  following  methods,  without
limitation:  (a) a block  trade in which a broker  or  dealer  so  engaged  will
attempt to sell the Shares as agent but may position and resell a portion of the
block as principal to facilitate the  transaction;  (b) purchases by a broker or
dealer as principal and resale by such broker or dealer for its account pursuant
to this  Prospectus;  (c) ordinary  brokerage  transactions  and transactions in
which the broker solicits purchasers; (d) privately negotiated transactions; (e)
short sales;  and (f) face-to-face  transactions  between sellers and purchasers
without a  broker-dealer.  The  Selling  Stockholders  may also  sell  Shares in
accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act. The Selling  Stockholders may
be deemed to be  underwriters of the Shares offered hereby within the meaning of
the Securities Act.

                                      - 4 -
<PAGE>

        The Company has agreed to keep the  registration  of the Shares  offered
hereby  effective  until the date upon which all of the Shares have been sold or
until August --, 2001, whichever is earlier.

        In  effecting   sales,   brokers  or  dealers  engaged  by  the  Selling
Stockholders  may  arrange  for other  brokers or dealers to  participate.  Such
brokers or  dealers  may  receive  commissions  or  discounts  from the  Selling
Stockholders  in  amounts  to be  negotiated.  All other  expenses  incurred  in
connection  with this  offering,  other than fees of the  Selling  Stockholders'
counsel, if any, will be borne by the Company.  Such brokers and dealers and any
other  participating  brokers or dealers may, in connection  with such sales, be
deemed  to be  underwriters  within  the  meaning  of the  Securities  Act.  Any
discounts or  commissions  received by any such brokers or dealers may be deemed
to be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act.

                                  MISCELLANEOUS

        No person has been  authorized  to give any  information  or to make any
representations other than those contained in this Prospectus in connection with
this offering and, if given or made, such  information or  representations  must
not be relied  upon as having  been  authorized  by the  Company or any  Selling
Stockholder.  This  Prospectus  does  not  constitute  an  offer  to  sell  or a
solicitation  of an offer to purchase any of the Shares in any  jurisdiction  to
any person to whom such offer would be  unlawful.  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 time subsequent
to the date  hereof  or that  there has been no  change  in the  affairs  of the
Company since such date.


                                      - 5 -
<PAGE>


                                     PART II
                     INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

ITEM 14.  OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION.

The expenses of registration are being borne by the registrant as follows:

        Registration fee.............................................$ 2,607
        Accounting services............................................5,000*
        Legal services.................................................6,000*
        Miscellaneous................................................. 1,393*
        Total........................................................$15,000*

- --------------
*Estimated

ITEM 15.  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

        Indemnification

        Section  2-312 of the  Maryland  General  Corporation  Law  (the  "Act")
provides that any director held liable for an unlawful distribution in violation
of  Section  2-311  of the  Act or the  corporation's  charter  is  entitled  to
contribution  from (i)  every  other  director  who could be held  liable  under
Section 2-312 of the Act for the unlawful distribution and (ii) each stockholder
for the amount the stockholder  accepted  knowing the  distribution  was made in
violation of Section 2-311 of the Act or the corporation's charter.

        Under  Section  2-418  of the  Act,  a  person  who is made a party to a
proceeding because such person is or was an officer or director of a corporation
(an  "Indemnitee")   shall  be  indemnified  by  the  corporation   (unless  the
corporation's  charter provides  otherwise) against reasonable expenses incurred
by the  Indemnitee  in  connection  with the  proceeding  if the  Indemnitee  is
successful  on the merits or  otherwise  or if  ordered by a court of  competent
jurisdiction.  In  addition,  under said section a  corporation  is permitted to
indemnify an Indemnitee  against  liability  incurred in a proceeding unless (i)
the  Indemnitee's  act or omission was material to the matter giving rise to the
proceeding  and (a) was  committed  in bad faith or (b) was the result of active
and deliberate  dishonesty;  (ii) the Indemnitee  actually  received an improper
personal  benefit  in  money,  property,  or  services;  (iii)  in the case of a
criminal proceeding, the Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that the act
or  omission  was  unlawful;  (iv) the  Indemnitee  was  adjudged  liable to the
corporation  in a proceeding by or in the right of the  corporation;  or (v) the
Indemnitee was adjudged liable on the basis that he or she improperly received a
personal benefit.

        As  authorized  by the Act,  Article V of the  registrant's  Articles of
Amendment and  Restatement  (the "Charter")  provides that the registrant  shall
indemnify each of its officers and directors to the fullest  extent  permissible
under the Act,  as the same  exists or may  hereafter  be  amended,  against all
liabilities,  losses,  judgments,  penalties,  fines, settlements and reasonable
expenses (including attorney fees) incurred or suffered by such person by reason
of or arising from the fact that such person is or was an officer or director of
the  registrant  or is or was  serving

                                      II-1
<PAGE>


at the request of the  registrant  as a  director,  officer,  partner,  trustee,
employee or agent of another foreign or domestic corporation, partnership, joint
venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise.  Such indemnification
continues  as to a person who has  ceased to be a  director,  officer,  partner,
trustee,  employee  or agent and  inures  to the  benefit  of his or her  heirs,
executors, and administrators.

        The  registrant's  Charter  provides  that officers and directors of the
registrant  shall  not be  liable  to the  registrant  or its  stockholders  for
monetary  damages for conduct in their  capacities  as  officers  and  directors
except to the extent that  elimination  or  limitation  of officer and  director
liability is prohibited by Section 5-349 of the Courts and Judicial  Proceedings
Article  of the  Annotated  Code  of  Maryland,  which  provides  that  personal
liability  for  monetary  damages may not be limited if the  director or officer
actually  received an improper benefit or profit in money,  property or services
or in the event of active and  deliberate  dishonesty  that is  material  to the
cause of action and  results in a final  judgment  adverse  to the  director  or
officer.

        The registrant has entered into an  indemnification  agreement with each
of its  directors.  Each  such  agreement  provides  that  the  registrant  will
indemnify the director to the full extent  authorized or permitted by the Act or
any  other  applicable  statute  or the  registrant's  Charter  or Bylaws or any
amendment thereof against any obligation to pay a judgment, settlement, penalty,
fine or reasonable  expenses,  including attorney fees (any of the foregoing,  a
"Liability")  incurred  in  connection  with any  claim  (as  defined  therein),
including  a  claim  by or in the  right  of the  registrant;  provided  that no
indemnity  shall be paid by the  registrant  (i) if a final  decision by a court
having jurisdiction shall determine that such indemnification is unlawful,  (ii)
on account of acts or omissions by the  director  which are finally  adjudged to
have been not in good  faith or to have  involved  intentional  misconduct  or a
knowing  violation of law, or (iii) on account of Liability  under Section 16(b)
of the  Securities  Exchange Act of 1934 or any similar  provision of federal or
state statutory law.

        Insurance

        The registrant  maintains  directors' and officers'  liability insurance
under which the registrant's directors and officers are insured against loss (as
defined)  as a result of claims  brought  against  them based upon their acts or
omissions in such capacities,  including civil  liabilities under the Securities
Act of 1933.

ITEM 16.  EXHIBITS.

        The  exhibits  to the  registration  statement  required  by Item 601 of
Regulation S-K are listed in the index to exhibits at page II-7.

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:

                                      II-2
<PAGE>

                       (i)  To  include  any  prospectus   required  by  Section
               10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933 ("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;

                       (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
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 Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 ("Exchange  Act") 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.

        (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 15(d) of the Exchange
Act (and,  where  applicable,  each filing of an employee  benefit plan's annual
report  pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is  incorporated  by
reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration
statement relating to the securities  offered therein,  and the offering of such
securities  at that time shall be deemed to be the  initial  bona fide  offering
thereof.

        (h)  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  provisions  described in Item 15 above,  or
otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities
and  Exchange  Commission  such  indemnification  is  against  public  policy as
expressed in the 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. The
undertaking  of the  registrant  in the  preceding  sentence  does not  apply to
insurance against liability arising under the Securities Act.


                                      II-3
<PAGE>

                                   SIGNATURES

        Pursuant  to  the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act  of  1933,  the
registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration
statement  to be  signed  on its  behalf  by  the  undersigned,  thereunto  duly
authorized, in the city of Portland, state of Oregon, on the 21st day of August,
1998.

                                       BARRETT BUSINESS SERVICES, INC.
                                       (Registrant)


                                       By /s/ Michael D. Mulholland
                                          Michael D. Mulholland
                                          Vice President-Finance

        Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act  of  1933,  this
registration  statement  has  been  signed  by  the  following  persons  in  the
capacities indicated as of the 21st day of August, 1998.

<TABLE>
                   Signature                                             Title
                   ---------                                             -----

(1) Principal Executive Officer and Director:

<S>                                                  <C>
WILLIAM W. SHERERTZ*                                 President and Chief Executive Officer and
                                                     Director
</TABLE>

(2) Principal Financial Officer:

/s/ Michael D. Mulholland                            Vice President-Finance
Michael D. Mulholland


(3) Principal Accounting Officer:

JAMES D. MILLER*                                     Controller


(4) A majority of the Board of Directors:

        ROBERT R. AMES*                              Director
        HERBERT L. HOCHBERG*                         Director
        ANTHONY MEEKER*                              Director
        STANLEY G. RENECKER*                         Director
        NANCY B. SHERERTZ*                           Director

*By /s/ Michael D. Mulholland
        Michael D. Mulholland
        Attorney-in-fact


                                      II-4
<PAGE>


                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

EXHIBIT                       DESCRIPTION OF EXHIBIT
- -------                       ----------------------

4.1     Articles III, VI, VII and VIII of the registrant's  Charter, as amended.
        Incorporated  by  reference to Exhibit 3 to the  registrant's  Quarterly
        Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1994.

4.2     Article I,  Sections 2 and 10 of Article II,  Article VI and Article VII
        of the registrant's Bylaws.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to
        the registrant's  Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December
        31, 1996.

5       Opinion of Miller,  Nash, Wiener,  Hager & Carlsen LLP as to validity of
        securities.

23.1    Consent of independent public accountants.

23.2    Consent  of Miller,  Nash,  Wiener,  Hager & Carlsen  LLP  (included  in
        Exhibit 5).

24      Power of attorney of certain officers and directors.

                                      II-5



                    MILLER, NASH, WIENER, HAGER & CARLSEN LLP
                                Attorneys at Law
                        111 S.W. Fifth Avenue, Suite 3500
                           Portland, Oregon 97204-3699
                                 (503) 224-5858
                               (503) 224-0155 fax


                                 August 21, 1998


Barrett Business Services, Inc.
4724 S.W. Macadam Avenue
Portland, Oregon  97201



Gentlemen:

We have  acted as  counsel  to  Barrett  Business  Services,  Inc.,  a  Maryland
corporation (the "Company"),  in connection with the registration by the Company
of 894,642 outstanding shares (the "Shares") of the Company's common stock, $.01
par value per share (the  "Common  Stock").  This  opinion is being  rendered in
connection  with the filing of a  Registration  Statement  on Form S-3  covering
resales of the Shares with the  Securities and Exchange  Commission  pursuant to
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act").

As counsel  for the  Company,  we are  familiar  with the  actions  taken by the
stockholders  and  board  of  directors  of  the  Company  with  respect  to the
authorization and issuance of the Shares. We have examined  originals or copies,
certified  or  otherwise  identified  to our  satisfaction,  of  such  corporate
records, certificates of public officials, and other documents as we have deemed
necessary or relevant as a basis for the opinion set forth herein.

Based on the  foregoing,  it is our opinion  that the Shares  have been  legally
issued and are fully paid and nonassessable.

We consent to the use of this opinion in the  Registration  Statement and in any
amendments  thereto. In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are
in the  category of persons  whose  consent is required  under  Section 7 of the
Securities Act.

                                Very truly yours,



                                /s/ MILLER, NASH, WIENER, HAGER & CARLSEN LLP




                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS



We  hereby  consent  to  the   incorporation  by  reference  in  the  Prospectus
constituting part of the Registration  Statement on Form S-3 of our report dated
August 20,  1998  appearing  on page F-1 of Barrett  Business  Services,  Inc.'s
Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 1997.


/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Portland, Oregon
August 20, 1998

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE  PRESENTS that each person whose  signature  appears below
constitutes and appoints  William W. Sherertz and Michael D. Mulholland and each
of them, such person's true and lawful  attorneys-in-fact  and agents, with full
power of substitution and resubstitution, for such person and in his name, place
and  stead,  in any and all  such  person's  capacities  with  Barrett  Business
Services,   Inc.,  a  Maryland  corporation  (the  "Corporation"),   to  sign  a
registration  statement on Form S-3 relating to up to 900,000 outstanding shares
of the common stock,  $.01 par value per share, of the Corporation,  and any and
all amendments  (including  post-effective  amendments) thereto, and to file the
same, with all exhibits  thereto,  and other documents in connection  therewith,
with the  Securities and Exchange  Commission  under the Securities Act of 1933,
granting unto said  attorneys-in-fact  and agents,  and each of them, full power
and  authority  to do and  perform  each and every act and thing  requisite  and
necessary to be done,  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 substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  this power of attorney has been executed by the undersigned
as of this 15th day of June, 1998.

        Signature                                 Title
        ---------                                 -----


/s/ William W. Sherertz            President and Chief Executive Officer and
William W. Sherertz                 Director (Principal Executive Officer)


/s/ Michael D. Mulholland          Vice President-Finance
Michael D. Mulholland               (Principal Financial Officer)


/s/ James D. Miller                Controller (Principal Accounting Officer)
James D. Miller


/s/ Robert R. Ames                 Director
Robert R. Ames


/s/ Herbert L. Hochberg            Director
Herbert L. Hochberg


/s/ Anthony Meeker                 Director
Anthony Meeker

                                     - 1 -
<PAGE>


/s/ Stanley G. Renecker            Director
Stanley G. Renecker


/s/ Nancy B. Sherertz              Director
Nancy B. Sherertz


                                     - 2 -


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