<PAGE>
AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON AUGUST 19, 1997
REGISTRATION NO. 333-32141
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
------------------------
AMENDMENT NO. 1
TO
FORM S-4
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
------------------------
BIG FLOWER PRESS HOLDINGS, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
DELAWARE 13-376-8322
(State or Other Jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
Incorporation or Organization)
</TABLE>
------------------------
3 EAST 54TH STREET
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10022
(212) 521-1600
(Address, including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, including Area Code, of
Registrant's Principal Executive Offices)
------------------------------
MARK A. ANGELSON, ESQ.
EXECUTIVE PRESIDENT, GENERAL COUNSEL AND
SECRETARY OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
BIG FLOWER PRESS HOLDINGS, INC.
3 EAST 54TH STREET
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10022
(212) 521-1600
(Name, Address, including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, including Area Code,
of Agent for Service)
------------------------------
COPIES TO:
ROBERT E. BUCKHOLZ, JR., ESQ.
SULLIVAN & CROMWELL
125 BROAD STREET
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10004
(212) 558-4000
------------------------
APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC: As soon as
practicable after this Registration Statement becomes effective.
If the securities being registered on this form are being offered in
connection with the formation of a holding company and there is compliance with
General Instruction G, check the following box. / /
------------------------
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 THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL BECOME
EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION, ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(A),
MAY DETERMINE.
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- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
PROSPECTUS
<PAGE>
OFFER TO EXCHANGE
8 7/8% SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE JULY 1, 2007
FOR ALL OUTSTANDING 8 7/8% SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE JULY 1, 2007
[LOGO]
of
BIG FLOWER PRESS HOLDINGS, INC.
THE EXCHANGE OFFER WILL EXPIRE AT 5:00 P.M., NEW YORK CITY TIME ON SEPTEMBER
18, 1997 UNLESS EXTENDED.
Big Flower Press Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), is
hereby offering (the "Exchange Offer"), upon the terms and subject to the
conditions set forth in this Prospectus and the accompanying Letter of
Transmittal (the "Letter of Transmittal"), to exchange $1,000 principal amount
of its 8 7/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due July 1, 2007 (the "Exchange Notes"),
which exchange has been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
(the "Securities Act"), pursuant to a registration statement of which this
Prospectus is a part (the "Registration Statement"), for each $1,000 principal
amount of its outstanding 8 7/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due July 1, 2007 (the
"Private Notes"), of which $250,000,000 in aggregate principal amount was issued
on June 20, 1997 and is outstanding as of the date hereof. The form and terms of
the Exchange Notes are identical in all material respects to those of the
Private Notes, except for certain transfer restrictions and registration rights
relating to the Private Notes and except for certain interest provisions related
to such registration rights. The Exchange Notes will evidence the same
indebtedness as the Private Notes (which they replace) and will be entitled to
the benefits of an Indenture dated as of June 20, 1997 governing the Private
Notes and the Exchange Notes (the "Indenture"). The Private Notes and the
Exchange Notes are sometimes referred to herein collectively as the "Notes." See
"The Exchange Offer" and "Description of the Notes."
The Exchange Notes will not be redeemable prior to July 1, 2002. On or after
July 1, 2002, the Exchange Notes are redeemable at the option of the Company, in
whole or in part, at the redemption prices set forth herein plus accrued and
unpaid interest to the date of redemption. In addition, prior to July 1, 2000,
the Company may, at its option, redeem up to an aggregate of 35% of the
principal amount of Exchange Notes originally issued with the net proceeds from
issuances of Equity Interests (as defined) of the Company at the redemption
price set forth herein plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of
redemption; PROVIDED that at least $162.5 million in aggregate principal amount
of Exchange Notes remains outstanding after any such redemption.
Upon a Change of Control (as defined), (i) the Company will have the option,
at any time on or prior to July 1, 2002, to redeem the Exchange Notes, in whole
but not in part, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount
thereof plus the Applicable Premium (as defined), together with accrued and
unpaid interest to the date of redemption, and (ii) if the Company does not so
redeem the Exchange Notes or if such Change of Control occurs after July 1,
2002, the Company will be required to make an offer to repurchase the Exchange
Notes at a price equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and
unpaid interest to the date of repurchase. In addition, under certain
circumstances, the Company will be obligated to offer to repurchase the Exchange
Notes at 100% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest,
to the date of repurchase, with the proceeds of certain Asset Sales (as
defined). See "Description of the Notes."
The Exchange Notes will be unsecured, senior subordinated obligations of the
Company, will rank PARI PASSU in right of payment with the 10 3/4% Notes (as
defined) and will be junior in right of payment to all existing and future
Senior Indebtedness (as defined) of the Company (including borrowings under the
New Credit Facility, as defined). At June 30, 1997, on a PRO FORMA basis after
giving effect to the consummation of the Tender Offer (as defined), the Company
would have had approximately $223.5 million of Senior Indebtedness outstanding.
The Company is a holding company and, accordingly, the Exchange Notes will be
effectively subordinated to all liabilities of the Company's subsidiaries,
including trade payables. At June 30, 1997, on a PRO FORMA basis after giving
effect to the Tender Offer, the Company's subsidiaries would have had
approximately $430.2 million of liabilities (including trade payables and the
New Credit Facility).
SEE "RISK FACTORS", ON PAGES 17 TO 20, FOR A DISCUSSION OF CERTAIN FACTORS
THAT INVESTORS SHOULD CONSIDER IN CONNECTION WITH THE EXCHANGE OFFER AND AN
INVESTMENT IN THE EXCHANGE NOTES.
---------------------
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 August 21, 1997
<PAGE>
NOTICE TO INVESTORS
Based on interpretations by the staff of the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission") set forth in no-action letters issued to third
parties, the Company believes that the Exchange Notes issued pursuant to the
Exchange Offer in exchange for Private Notes may be offered for resale, resold
and otherwise transferred by a holder thereof without compliance with the
registration and prospectus delivery provisions of the Securities Act, PROVIDED
that the holder is acquiring the Exchange Notes in the ordinary course of its
business, is not participating and has no arrangement or understanding with any
person to participate in the distribution of the Exchange Notes and is not an
"affiliate" of the Company within the meaning of Rule 405 of the Securities Act.
Holders of Private Notes wishing to accept the Exchange Offer must represent to
the Company that such conditions have been met. Each broker-dealer who holds
Private Notes acquired for its own account as a result of market-making or other
trading activities and who receives Exchange Notes for its own account in
exchange for such Private Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer must acknowledge
that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such Exchange
Notes. The Company believes that none of the registered holders of the Private
Notes is an "affiliate" (as such term is defined in Rule 405 under the
Securities Act) of the Company.
This Prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may
be used by a broker-dealer in connection with resales of Exchange Notes received
in exchange for Private Notes acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of
market-making or other trading activities. The Letter of Transmittal states that
by acknowledging that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale
of such Exchange Notes, and by delivering a prospectus, a broker-dealer will not
be deemed to admit that it is an "underwriter" within the meaning of the
Securities Act. The Company has agreed to make this Prospectus (as it may be
amended or supplemented) available to any such broker-dealer that requests
copies of such Prospectus in the Letter of Transmittal for use in connection
with any such resale for a period of up to 180 days after the Expiration Date.
See "Plan of Distribution."
Prior to the Exchange Offer, there has been no public market for the
Exchange Notes. There can be no assurance as to the liquidity of any market that
may develop for the Exchange Notes, the ability of holders to sell the Exchange
Notes, or the price at which holders would be able to sell the Exchange Notes.
The National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD") has designated the
Private Notes as securities eligible for trading in the Private Offerings,
Resales and Trading through Automatic Linkages ("PORTAL") market of the NASD
(see "Price Range of the Private Notes") and the Company has been advised that
BT Securities Corporation, Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation and Goldman,
Sachs & Co. have heretofore acted as market makers for the Private Notes. The
Company has been advised by each of the aforesaid market makers that it
currently intends to make a market in the Exchange Notes. Future trading prices
of the Exchange Notes will depend on many factors, including among other things,
prevailing interest rates, the Company's operating results and the market for
similar securities. Historically, the market for securities similar to the
Exchange Notes, including non-investment grade debt, has been subject to
disruptions that have caused substantial volatility in the prices of such
securities. There can be no assurance that any market for the Exchange Notes, if
such market develops, will not be subject to similar disruptions. See "Risk
Factors-- Lack of Public Market for Securities."
The Company will not receive any proceeds from, and has agreed to bear the
expenses of, the Exchange Offer. No underwriter is being used in connection with
the Exchange Offer.
THE EXCHANGE OFFER IS NOT BEING MADE TO, NOR WILL THE COMPANY ACCEPT
SURRENDERS FOR EXCHANGE FROM, HOLDERS OF PRIVATE NOTES IN ANY JURISDICTION IN
WHICH THE EXCHANGE OFFER OR THE ACCEPTANCE THEREOF WOULD NOT BE IN COMPLIANCE
WITH THE SECURITIES OR BLUE SKY LAWS OF SUCH JURISDICTION.
2
<PAGE>
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
THIS PROSPECTUS INCORPORATES DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE WHICH ARE NOT PRESENTED
HEREIN OR DELIVERED HEREWITH. THESE DOCUMENTS ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST FROM
THE COMPANY, 3 EAST 54TH STREET, NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10022, ATTENTION: IRENE B.
FISHER, ESQ., TELEPHONE: (212) 521-1600. IN ORDER TO ENSURE TIMELY DELIVERY OF
THE DOCUMENTS, ANY REQUEST SHOULD BE MADE AT LEAST FIVE DAYS PRIOR TO THE
EXPIRATION DATE.
The following documents filed by the Company (File No. 1-4084) with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") pursuant to the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), are incorporated herein
by reference and are made a part hereof:
(i) The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for its fiscal year ended
December 31, 1996, filed with the Commission on March 26, 1997;
(ii) The Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
March 31, 1997, filed with the Commission on May 12, 1997;
(iii) The Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
June 30, 1997, filed with the Commission on August 13, 1997;
(iv) The Company's Proxy Statement, dated May 13, 1997, filed with the
Commission on May 13, 1997;
(v) The Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission
on June 16, 1997; and
(vi) The Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission
on July 14, 1997.
All documents filed by the Company pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or
15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date hereof and prior to the
termination of the offering made hereby shall be deemed to be incorporated
herein by reference and to be a part hereof on and from the respective date of
filing of such documents.
Any statement contained herein or in a document incorporated, or deemed to
be incorporated, by reference in this Prospectus shall be deemed to be modified
or superseded for purposes of this Prospectus to the extent that a statement
contained herein or incorporated herein by reference or in any other
subsequently filed document that also is or is deemed to be incorporated by
reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any statement so
modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded,
to constitute a part of this Prospectus.
As used herein, the terms "Prospectus" and "herein" mean this Prospectus
including the documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated herein by
reference, as the same may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from
time to time. Statements contained in this Prospectus as to the contents of any
contract or other document referred to herein do not purport to be complete, and
where reference is made to the particular provisions of such contract or other
document, such provisions are qualified in all respects by reference to all of
the provisions of such contract or other document. Copies of all documents
incorporated by reference, other than exhibits to such documents (unless such
exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference into such documents), will
be provided without charge to each person, including any beneficial owner, to
whom a copy of this Prospectus has been delivered upon the written or oral
request of such person.
3
<PAGE>
AVAILABLE INFORMATION
The Company is subject to the informational requirements of the Exchange
Act, and, in accordance therewith, is required to file reports, proxy statements
and other information with the Commission. Such reports, proxy statements and
other information can be inspected and copied at the Public Reference Section of
the Commission at Room 1024, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, and
at the Commission's regional offices at Citicorp Center, 500 West Madison
Street, Suite 1400, Chicago, Illinois 60661 and 7 World Trade Center, Suite
1300, New York, New York 10048. Copies of the reports, proxy statements and
other information can be obtained from the Public Reference Section of the
Commission, Washington, D.C. 20549, at prescribed rates. In addition, all
reports filed by the Company via the Commission's Electronic Data Gathering and
Retrieval System (EDGAR) can be obtained from the Commission's Internet web site
located at http:\\www.sec.gov. The Common Stock of the Company is traded on The
New York Stock Exchange, and such reports, proxy statements and other
information concerning the Company also can be inspected at the offices of The
New York Stock Exchange, Inc., 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005.
Big Flower was incorporated in Delaware in 1993. Big Flower's principal
executive offices are located at 3 East 54th Street, New York, New York 10022
and its telephone number is (212) 521-1600.
SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
THIS PROSPECTUS CONTAINS FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS WITHIN THE MEANING OF
SECTION 27A OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933. DISCUSSIONS CONTAINING SUCH
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS MAY BE FOUND IN "SUMMARY," "MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION
AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS" AND "BUSINESS,"
AS WELL AS WITHIN THIS PROSPECTUS GENERALLY. IN ADDITION, WHEN USED IN THIS
PROSPECTUS THE WORDS "BELIEVES," "ANTICIPATES," "EXPECTS" AND SIMILAR
EXPRESSIONS ARE INTENDED TO IDENTIFY FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS. SUCH STATEMENTS
ARE SUBJECT TO A NUMBER OF RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES. ACTUAL RESULTS IN THE FUTURE
COULD DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM THOSE DESCRIBED IN THE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
AS A RESULT OF MANY FACTORS OUTSIDE THE CONTROL OF THE COMPANY, INCLUDING
FLUCTUATIONS IN THE COST OF PAPER AND OTHER RAW MATERIALS USED BY THE COMPANY,
CHANGES IN THE ADVERTISING AND PRINTING MARKETS, THE FINANCIAL CONDITION OF THE
COMPANY'S CUSTOMERS, THE GENERAL CONDITION OF THE UNITED STATES ECONOMY, AND THE
MATTERS SET FORTH IN THIS PROSPECTUS GENERALLY. CONSEQUENTLY, SUCH FORWARD-
LOOKING STATEMENTS SHOULD BE REGARDED SOLELY AS THE COMPANY'S CURRENT PLANS,
ESTIMATES AND BELIEFS. THE COMPANY DOES NOT UNDERTAKE AND SPECIFICALLY DECLINES
ANY OBLIGATION TO PUBLICLY RELEASE ANY REVISIONS TO THESE FORWARD-LOOKING
STATEMENTS TO REFLECT ANY FUTURE EVENTS OR CIRCUMSTANCES AFTER THE DATE OF SUCH
STATEMENTS OR TO REFLECT THE OCCURRENCE OF ANTICIPATED OR UNANTICIPATED EVENTS.
4
<PAGE>
SUMMARY
THE FOLLOWING SUMMARY IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO THE MORE
DETAILED INFORMATION APPEARING ELSEWHERE IN THIS PROSPECTUS AND TO THE COMPANY'S
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, INCLUDING THE NOTES THERETO (THE
"CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS") INCORPORATED HEREIN BY REFERENCE. UNLESS
OTHERWISE INDICATED OR THE CONTEXT CLEARLY IMPLIES OTHERWISE, ALL REFERENCES IN
THE PROSPECTUS TO THE "COMPANY" OR "BIG FLOWER" REFER TO BIG FLOWER PRESS
HOLDINGS, INC. AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES.
THE COMPANY
Big Flower is a leading advertising and marketing services company which
provides integrated advertising solutions through its three principal operating
units: Treasure Chest Advertising Company, Inc. ("TC Advertising"), Webcraft
Technologies, Inc. ("Webcraft") and Laser Tech Color, Inc. ("Laser Tech"). The
Company and its subsidiaries are currently focused on the advertising insert,
direct mail and premedia sectors of the industry.
- TC ADVERTISING is a leading producer of advertising insert programs for
retailers, and produces TV listing magazines, Sunday comics, Sunday
magazines and special supplements for many of the most widely circulated
U.S. newspapers. In 1996, the Company produced more than 22 billion
advertising inserts, 1.6 billion Sunday comics, 140 million locally edited
Sunday magazines and 620 million TV listing guides. As the only
advertising insert producer offering a national network of both heatset
and cold web offset production facilities and one of the largest U.S.
consumers of newsprint and ink, TC Advertising can address the diverse
needs of its customers and achieve significant cost and distribution
advantages. The Company believes that the advertising inserts industry
sector generates revenues of $8 to $9 billion per year, with approximately
50% of the dollars spent on the production of inserts and the balance on
distribution of the product.
- WEBCRAFT is a market leader in producing highly customized direct mail and
specialty advertising products such as commercial games and fragrance
samplers. Webcraft derives the majority of its revenues from the
integrated production of personalized advertising mailings, a marketing
medium that has exceeded the annual growth rate for overall advertising
spending for the period 1991-1996. The Company believes that in the
individualized industry sector in which Webcraft operates, customized
direct mail expenditures account for $20.8 billion per year, with
approximately 33% going to the production of direct mail and the remainder
to other services, including agency services, data analysis and
manipulation and creative development.
- LASER TECH is a leading provider of outsourced, digital premedia and
content management services to retailers, advertising agencies, and
consumer products companies. Services and technologies offered by Laser
Tech include digital photography studios, leading-edge desktop publishing
and client/ server software and hardware, turnkey catalog and advertising
insert production, and digital image management systems for high speed
image retrieval. The Company believes that the premedia industry sector
exceeds $5.3 billion annually, and will continue to grow with the
emergence of new distribution technologies such as CD-ROM and the World
Wide Web that use digitized images.
BUSINESS STRATEGY
The Company's strategic objective is to enhance its position as an
integrated provider of a diverse range of advertising and marketing services
across a broad spectrum of media. Through internal growth and acquisitions, Big
Flower aims to broaden its technology and services in a manner that allows its
subsidiaries to interact dynamically to create both new services for existing
customers and new customers for its traditional products.
Marketers aim to reach target customers with the most effective message and
the greatest possible impact. Technological advancements increasingly allow
marketers to understand customer preferences and
5
<PAGE>
to differentiate and individualize advertising messages. Big Flower's strategy
is to assist its customers by providing a broad array of advertising and
marketing services which capitalize on these advancements. Key elements of this
strategy include the following:
PROVIDE INTEGRATED ADVERTISING SOLUTIONS FOR CUSTOMERS. The Company
believes that by combining the products and services of TC Advertising, Webcraft
and Laser Tech it can work with customers to develop cost-effective and
comprehensive solutions to their particular advertising and marketing needs. Big
Flower has the expertise to work with customers from inception of an advertising
concept through layout design and production, to targeting and distribution of
the printed product, thereby helping customers achieve their advertising goals
in a cost-effective manner. For example, for a recent store opening by a home
improvement retailer, Big Flower presented the customer with a five-piece plan
that combined TC Advertising's and Webcraft's capabilities. The campaign
involved two "teaser" direct mail items, followed by an individualized,
highly-customized direct mail package that included a pre-approved credit card
for the customer. The fourth piece was a 72-page advertising brochure
distributed through the local newspaper, followed by a large, glossy advertising
insert. The Company believes that by integrating its digital premedia services,
advertising insert capabilities, geographic and demographic insert targeting
programs and highly customized direct mail and specialty products, it offers its
customers certain solutions not offered by the Company's competitors.
DEVELOP TARGETED ADVERTISING PROGRAMS. The Company's customers are
increasingly targeting their advertising messages based on more detailed
knowledge of consumers and what they buy. Big Flower has responded to this trend
in all of its businesses:
- TC ADVERTISING'S Market Reach system enables the Company to attract new
categories of customers by providing them with tools to utilize the
targeted distribution capabilities of major market newspapers. Advertisers
can customize their advertising to match the demographic characteristics
and other targeting requirements of over 12,000 newspaper delivery zones
in the nation's top 150 designated market areas.
- WEBCRAFT'S highly individualized, multiple component direct mail campaigns
utilize information refined from customers' databases as well as
Webcraft's own expertise in direct mail personalization techniques.
- LASER TECH'S image management expertise allows customers' images to be
stored, archived, and retrieved to and from any remote location. Images
stored in Laser Tech's system can have multiple applications across a
variety of advertising media. For example, in addition to their use in
print media, images are readily accessible for use in Web sites and
inclusion in CD-ROMs. The Company's Digital Dimensions business unit also
provides consulting and development services to large clients, assisting
them in the development of high impact, commercially effective Web sites.
MAXIMIZE CROSS-SELLING OPPORTUNITIES. Currently, TC Advertising serves a
large customer base of regional and national retailers, while Webcraft's and
Laser Tech's customer base consists mainly of national manufacturers,
advertising agencies and marketing companies. Big Flower has established
employee incentive compensation programs to promote cross-selling of the entire
Big Flower products and services lines. For example, TC Advertising has begun
providing advertising insert programs to Webcraft's direct mail customers, while
Webcraft has begun to deliver targeted direct mail advertising on behalf of TC
Advertising's retail clients. TC Advertising also has begun to provide
Webcraft's commercial games products to its retail customers. In addition,
certain premedia functions previously performed by customers of TC Advertising
and Webcraft are now performed by Laser Tech under facilities management
agreements.
CAPITALIZE ON NATIONAL DIGITAL WORKFLOW PLATFORM. The Company continues to
optimize its nationwide digital network capability that employs
telecommunications technologies to connect TC Advertising's and Laser Tech's
facilities, enabling the Company and its customers to conceive, manipulate,
transmit, produce
6
<PAGE>
and distribute their advertising concepts seamlessly on a national scale. The
platform development is based on open-standard digital communications
technologies and is continuously refined to meet a customer's particular needs.
It currently connects customers and the production centers at all Laser Tech
facilities and 14 of the TC Advertising production facilities. Each TC
Advertising production facility is equipped to meet the rapid output
requirements of highly-versioned insert advertising programs, using efficient
state of the art, digital page processing systems.
PURSUE STRATEGIC ACQUISITIONS. Big Flower continues to review opportunities
to extend its businesses and markets in the advertising and marketing services
industry and to build its TC Advertising, Webcraft and Laser Tech business
units. In addition, Big Flower adds value to strategic acquisitions by
identifying operating synergies, effecting cost savings and improving
efficiency. Since its initial acquisitions of TC Advertising, Laser Tech and
Webcraft, Big Flower has expanded its products and services through a number of
strategic acquisitions that increased the span and scope of each of these
industry sectors, as summarized in the table below:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
BUSINESS UNIT BUSINESS ACQUIRED DATE STRATEGIC SIGNIFICANCE
- ----------------- -------------------- ------------ --------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
TC KTB Associates, April 1994 - Increased TC Advertising's capacity and broadened
Advertising Inc., and Retail its customer base in the advertising insert
Graphics Holding industry sector
Company
PrintCo., Inc. October 1996 - Added significant retail accounts and new
production capacity
Webcraft Scanforms, Inc. October 1996 - Expanded customer base among leading financial
services and publishing companies
- Added additional high-quality laser
personalization and short-run capabilities
Laser Tech Pacific Color October 1996 - Enhanced expertise in digital premedia services
Connection, Inc.
- Expanded presence in California
- Added internet production services
- Expanded product lines to include large format
advertising products
Designer Color December - Added capability to produce interactive multimedia
Systems, Ltd. 1996 systems for electronic catalogs and ordering
systems
Digital Dimensions, December - Enhanced digital imaging services platform
Inc. 1996
- Added capability to provide Web site design and
execution
</TABLE>
7
<PAGE>
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
On November 28, 1995, TC Advertising entered into a six year $350.0 million
revolving credit facility, which was amended on March 19, 1996 to add a $75.0
million term loan (the "Old Credit Facility"). On June 12, 1997, the Company (i)
entered into a new credit facility (as amended to date, the "New Credit
Facility") with a group of lenders providing up to $475.0 million of revolving
credit loans and (ii) terminated the Old Credit Facility and repaid its loans
thereunder. The New Credit Facility provides greater borrowing capacity on more
favorable terms, including lower interest rates, and covenant terms which the
Company believes provide greater financial flexibility. See "Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operation--Liquidity and Capital Resources."
On June 16, 1997, the Company announced the completion of a secondary
offering of 5,958,524 shares of its common stock. On July 15, 1997, a further
750,000 shares of the Company's common stock were sold pursuant to the
underwriters' over-allotment option. In the offering (including the
underwriters' over-allotment option), Apollo Big Flower Partners L.P. sold
4,470,922 shares, BT Investment Partners, Inc. sold 1,738,692 shares and certain
other stockholders who acquired their shares in connection with Big Flower's
acquisitions of their businesses sold 498,910 shares. Each of Apollo Big Flower
Partners L.P. and BT Investment Partners, Inc. sold its entire holding in this
offering. Neither the Company's Chairman of the Board, R. Theodore Ammon, nor
members of senior management sold any shares in the offering.
On June 24, 1997, the Company commenced a tender offer (the "Tender Offer")
for all of the Company's outstanding 10 3/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2003
(the "10 3/4% Notes"). The Tender Offer expired on July 23, 1997. An aggregate
principal amount of $126.7 million was tendered by holders of the 10 3/4% Notes
and accepted for payment by the Company, the funding for which came from
borrowings under the New Credit Facility.
8
<PAGE>
THE EXCHANGE OFFER
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
The Exchange Offer........................... The Company is hereby offering to exchange
$1,000 principal amount of Exchange Notes for
each $1,000 principal amount of Private Notes
that are properly tendered and accepted. The
Company will issue Exchange Notes on or as
promptly as practicable after the Expiration
Date. As of the date hereof, there is
$250,000,000 aggregate principal amount of
Private Notes outstanding. See "The Exchange
Offer."
Based on interpretations by the staff of the
Commission set forth in no-action letters
issued to third parties, the Company believes
that the Exchange Notes issued pursuant to
the Exchange Offer in exchange for Private
Notes may be offered for resale, resold and
otherwise transferred by a holder thereof
without compliance with the registration and
prospectus delivery provisions of the
Securities Act, PROVIDED that the holder is
acquiring Exchange Notes in the ordinary
course of its business, is not participating
and has no arrangement or understanding with
any person to participate in the distribution
of the Exchange Notes and is not an
"affiliate" of the Company within the meaning
of Rule 405 under the Securities Act. Each
broker-dealer who holds Private Notes
acquired for its own account as a result of
market-making or other trading activities and
who receives Exchange Notes pursuant to the
Exchange Offer for its own account in
exchange therefor must acknowledge that it
will deliver a prospectus in connection with
any resale of such Exchange Notes.
This Prospectus, as it may be amended or
supplemented from time to time, may be used
by a broker-dealer in connection with resales
of Exchange Notes received in exchange for
Private Notes acquired by such broker-dealer
as a result of market-making activities or
other trading activities. The Letter of
Transmittal that accompanies this Prospectus
states that by so acknowledging and by
delivering a prospectus, a broker-dealer will
not be deemed to admit that it is an
"underwriter" within the meaning of the
Securities Act. Any holder of Private Notes
who tenders in the Exchange Offer with the
intention to participate, or for the purpose
of participating, in a distribution of the
Exchange Notes could not rely on the
above-referenced position of the staff of the
Commission and, in the
</TABLE>
9
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<TABLE>
<S> <C>
absence of an exemption therefrom, would have
to comply with the registration and
prospectus delivery requirements of the
Securities Act in connection with any resale
transaction. Failure to comply with such
requirements in such instance could result in
such holder incurring liability under the
Securities Act for which the holder is not
indemnified by the Company. See "The Exchange
Offer--Resale of the Exchange Notes."
Registration Rights Agreement................ The Private Notes were sold by the Company on
June 20, 1997 to BT Securities Corporation,
Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation and
Goldman, Sachs & Co. (collectively, the
"Initial Purchasers") pursuant to a Purchase
Agreement, dated June 16, 1997, by and among
the Company and the Initial Purchasers (the
"Purchase Agreement"). Pursuant to the
Purchase Agreement, the Company and the
Initial Purchasers entered into a
Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of
June 20, 1997 (the "Registration Rights
Agreement"), which grants the holders of the
Private Notes certain exchange and
registration rights. The Exchange Offer is
intended to satisfy such rights, which will
terminate upon the consummation of the
Exchange Offer. The holders of the Exchange
Notes will not be entitled to any exchange or
registration rights with respect to the
Exchange Notes. See "The Exchange
Offer--Termination of Certain Rights." The
Company will not receive any proceeds from,
and has agreed to bear the expenses of, the
Exchange Offer.
Expiration Date.............................. The Exchange Offer will expire at 5:00 p.m.,
New York City time, on September 18, 1997,
unless the Exchange Offer is extended by the
Company in its sole discretion, in which case
the term "Expiration Date" shall mean the
latest date and time to which the Exchange
Offer is extended. See "The Exchange
Offer--Expiration Date; Extensions;
Amendments."
Procedures for Tendering Private Notes....... Each holder of Private Notes wishing to
accept the Exchange Offer must complete, sign
and date the Letter of Transmittal, or a
facsimile thereof, in accordance with the
instructions contained herein and therein,
and mail or otherwise deliver such Letter of
Transmittal, or such facsimile, together with
such Private Notes and any other required
documentation to State Street Bank and Trust
Company, as exchange agent (the "Exchange
Agent"), at the address set forth herein. By
</TABLE>
10
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
executing the Letter of Transmittal, the
holder will represent to and agree with the
Company that, among other things, (i) the
Exchange Notes to be acquired by such holder
of Private Notes in connection with the
Exchange Offer are being acquired by such
holder in the ordinary course of its
business, (ii) such holder has no arrangement
or understanding with any person to
participate in a distribution of the Exchange
Notes, and (iii) such holder is not an
"affiliate," as defined in Rule 405 under the
Securities Act, of the Company. If the holder
is a broker-dealer that will receive Exchange
Notes for its own account in exchange for
Private Notes that were acquired as a result
of market-making or other trading activities,
such holder will be required to acknowledge
in the Letter of Transmittal that such holder
will deliver a prospectus in connection with
any resale of such Exchange Notes; however,
by so acknowledging and by delivering a
prospectus, such holder will not be deemed to
admit that it is an "underwriter" within the
meaning of the Securities Act. See "The
Exchange Offer--Procedures for Tendering."
Special Procedures for Beneficial Owners..... Any beneficial owner whose Private Notes are
held through a broker, dealer, commercial
bank, trust company or other nominee and who
wishes to tender such Private Notes in the
Exchange Offer should contact such
intermediary promptly and instruct such
intermediary to tender on such beneficial
owner's behalf. See "The Exchange
Offer--Procedures for Tendering."
Guaranteed Delivery Procedures............... Holders of Private Notes who wish to tender
their Private Notes and whose Private Notes
are not immediately available or who cannot
deliver their Private Notes, the Letter of
Transmittal or any other documentation
required by the Letter of Transmittal to the
Exchange Agent prior to the Expiration Date
must tender their Private Notes according to
the guaranteed delivery procedures set forth
under "The Exchange Offer--Guaranteed
Delivery Procedures."
Acceptance of the Private Notes and Subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the
Delivery of the Exchange Notes............. conditions to the Exchange Offer, the Company
will accept for exchange any and all Private
Notes that are properly tendered in the
Exchange Offer prior to the Expiration Date.
The Exchange Notes issued pursuant to the
Exchange Offer will be delivered on the
earliest practicable date following the
</TABLE>
11
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Expiration Date. See "The Exchange
Offer--Terms of the Exchange Offer."
Withdrawal Rights............................ Tenders of Private Notes may be withdrawn at
any time prior to the Expiration Date. See
"The Exchange Offer--Withdrawal of Tenders."
Certain Federal Income Tax Considerations.... For a discussion of certain federal income
tax considerations relating to the exchange
of the Exchange Notes for the Private Notes,
see "Certain United States Federal Income Tax
Considerations."
Exchange Agent............................... State Street Bank and Trust Company is
serving as the Exchange Agent in connection
with the Exchange Offer. State Street Bank
and Trust Company also serves as trustee
under the Indenture.
</TABLE>
12
<PAGE>
THE NOTES
The Exchange Offer applies to $250,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the
Private Notes. The form and terms of the Exchange Notes are identical in all
material respects to the form and terms of the Private Notes except that the
exchange will have been registered under the Securities Act, and, therefore, the
Exchange Notes will not bear legends restricting the transfer thereof and
holders of the Exchange Notes will not be entitled to any of the registration
rights of holders of the Private Notes under the Registration Rights Agreement,
which rights will terminate upon consummation of the Exchange Offer. The
Exchange Notes will evidence the same indebtedness as the Private Notes (which
they replace) and will be issued under, and be entitled to the benefits of, the
Indenture. For further information and for definitions of certain capitalized
terms used below, see "Description of the Notes."
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Securities Offered........................... $250,000,000 principal amount of the
Company's 8 7/8% Senior Subordinated Notes
due 2007.
Maturity Date................................ July 1, 2007.
Interest Payment Dates....................... January 1 and July 1, commencing January 1,
1998.
Optional Redemption.......................... The Notes are not redeemable prior to July 1,
2002. Thereafter, the Notes will be
redeemable at the option of the Company, in
whole or in part, at the redemption prices
set forth herein plus accrued and unpaid
interest to the date of redemption. In
addition, prior to July 1, 2000, the Company
may, at its option, redeem up to an aggregate
of 35% of the principal amount of Notes
originally issued with the net proceeds from
issuances of Equity Interests (as defined) of
the Company at the redemption price set forth
herein plus accrued and unpaid interest to
the date of redemption; PROVIDED that at
least $162.5 million in aggregate principal
amount of Notes remains outstanding after any
such redemption.
Change of Control............................ Upon a Change of Control (as defined), (i)
the Company will have the option, at any time
on or prior to July 1, 2002, to redeem the
Notes, in whole but not in part, at a
redemption price equal to 100% of the
principal amount thereof plus the Applicable
Premium (as defined), together with accrued
and unpaid interest to the date of
redemption, and (ii) if the Company does not
so redeem the Notes or if such Change of
Control occurs after July 1, 2002, the
Company will be required to make an offer to
repurchase the Notes at a price equal to 101%
of the principal amount thereof plus accrued
and unpaid interest to the date of
repurchase. A Change of Control shall not be
deemed to have occurred if, after giving
effect to the transactions giving rise to the
events or circumstances which would trigger a
Change of Control, the Company's Fixed Charge
Coverage Ratio (as defined) is 3.0 to 1 or
greater.
</TABLE>
13
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Ranking...................................... The Notes are unsecured, senior subordinated
obligations of the Company and are junior in
right of payment to all existing and future
Senior Indebtedness (as defined) of the
Company (including borrowings under the New
Credit Facility). At June 30, 1997, on a PRO
FORMA basis, after giving effect to the
Tender Offer, the Company would have had
approximately $473.5 million of indebtedness,
$223.5 million of which would have been
Senior Indebtedness and $250.0 million of
which would have been subordinated
indebtedness. The Company is a holding
company and, accordingly, the Notes are
effectively subordinated to all liabilities
of the Company's subsidiaries, including
trade payables. At June 30, 1997, on a PRO
FORMA basis after giving effect to the Tender
Offer, the Company's subsidiaries would have
had approximately $430.2 million of
liabilities (including trade payables and the
New Credit Facility).
Offer to Repurchase.......................... The Company is required in certain
circumstances to make an offer to repurchase
Notes at a price equal to 100% of the
principal amount thereof, plus accrued and
unpaid interest to the date of repurchase,
with the net cash proceeds of certain Asset
Sales (as defined).
Restrictive Covenants........................ The Indenture contains covenants that, among
other things, limit the ability of the
Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (as
defined) to incur additional indebtedness,
pay certain dividends or make certain other
restricted payments and investments, create
liens, or enter into certain transactions
with affiliates, and limit the ability of the
Company to merge, consolidate or transfer
substantially all of its assets and to impose
restrictions on the ability of the Company's
Restricted Subsidiaries to pay dividends or
to make certain payments to the Company.
</TABLE>
RISK FACTORS
See "Risk Factors", beginning on page 17, for a discussion of certain
factors that should be considered in evaluating an investment in the Notes.
14
<PAGE>
SUMMARY FINANCIAL DATA
The following table sets forth summary financial data of predecessor TC
Advertising prior to its acquisition by Big Flower ("Predecessor TC
Advertising") and of Big Flower and its subsidiaries (including TC Advertising)
following Big Flower's acquisition of TC Advertising. On March 21, 1996, Big
Flower's Board of Directors elected to change the Company's fiscal year from a
12-month period ending June 30th to a calendar year, effective with the period
ended December 31, 1995. The summary financial data as of and for each of the
two fiscal years in the periods ended June 30, 1993 and for the 42 days ended
August 11, 1993 were derived from the audited consolidated financial statements
of Predecessor TC Advertising. The summary financial data of Big Flower as of
and for the 323 day period ended June 30, 1994, the fiscal year ended June 30,
1995, the six months ended December 31, 1995 and the year ended December 31,
1996 were derived from the audited financial statements of Big Flower, restated
for the merger with Scanforms, Inc. ("Scanforms"). The summary financial data
for the six-month periods ended June 30, 1996 and 1997 were derived from the
Company's unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements for such
periods. On October 4, 1996, Big Flower consummated the acquisition of Scanforms
in a transaction accounted for as a pooling of interests. Accordingly, the Big
Flower financial information has been restated for prior periods to include the
results of Scanforms for all periods presented. For additional information, see
the Consolidated Financial Statements and the notes thereto. The summary
financial data should also be read in conjunction with "Management's Discussion
and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations."
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PREDECESSOR TC ADVERTISING BIG FLOWER
--------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
SIX
SIX MONTH MONTHS
YEAR ENDED 42 DAYS 323 DAYS YEAR TRANSITION ENDED
JUNE 30, ENDED ENDED ENDED PERIOD ENDED YEAR JUNE 30,
-------------------- AUGUST 11, JUNE 30, JUNE 30, DECEMBER 31, DECEMBER 31, ---------
1992 1993 1993 1994 1995 1995 1996 1996
--------- --------- ----------- ----------- --------- ------------- ------------ ---------
<CAPTION>
(IN THOUSANDS)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
OPERATING DATA:
Net sales..................... $ 536,113 $ 555,013 $ 59,584 $ 587,630 $ 920,149 $ 546,840 $1,201,860 $ 531,038
Operating income.............. 23,475 22,436 665 25,488 50,712 39,739 69,343 21,354
Interest expense (a).......... 9,249 6,792 578 19,735 37,452 19,072 36,165 16,507
Income (loss) before income
taxes....................... 7,696 10,204 (228) (549) 5,268 12,694 4,998 (4,235)
Income (loss) before
extraordinary item.......... 4,196 4,685 (139) (3,277) (1,612) 6,491 (3,285) (1,867)
Extraordinary item, net (b)... -- -- -- -- -- (19,248) (2,078) (1,892)
Net income (loss)............. 4,196 4,685 (139) (3,277) (1,612) (12,757) (5,363) (3,759)
Average shares outstanding.... -- -- -- 11,294 12,458 13,919 18,315 18,305
Ratio of earnings to fixed
charges (c)................. 1.5x 1.7x --(d) --(d) 1.1x 1.5x 1.1x --(d)
OTHER DATA:
EBITDA(e)..................... $ 37,232 $ 34,560 $ 1,901 $ 54,238 $ 93,699 $ 58,372 $ 122,588 $ 44,840
Capital expenditures.......... 7,354 6,967 1,280 6,133 8,496 16,812 55,391 21,534
PRO FORMA DATA (F):
EBITDA........................ -- -- -- -- -- -- $ 142,338 $ 58,696
Interest expense.............. -- -- -- -- -- -- 38,203 --
Ratio of EBITDA to interest
expense..................... -- -- -- -- -- -- 3.7x --
BALANCE SHEET DATA (AT PERIOD
END):
Working capital............... $ 4,567 $ (3,597) -- $ 25,198 $ 34,173 $ 29,797 $(30,821)(g) $(42,814)(g)
Net property, plant and
equipment................... 84,238 62,850 -- 152,306 137,081 145,323 296,426 242,138
Total assets.................. 185,710 160,356 -- 521,461 502,939 573,393 749,742 674,305
Long-term debt, net of current
portion..................... 73,183 34,485 -- 331,940 301,935 274,161 430,766 387,272
Redeemable preferred stock of
a subsidiary................ -- -- -- 16,913 19,357 -- -- --
Common stockholders' equity... 27,595 32,663 -- 19,449 16,593 84,476 96,350 85,311
<CAPTION>
<S> <C>
1997
---------
<S> <C>
OPERATING DATA:
Net sales..................... $ 614,339
Operating income.............. 35,795
Interest expense (a).......... 19,504
Income (loss) before income
taxes....................... 11,680
Income (loss) before
extraordinary item.......... 6,074
Extraordinary item, net (b)... (2,959)
Net income (loss)............. 3,115
Average shares outstanding.... 19,332
Ratio of earnings to fixed
charges (c)................. 1.4x
OTHER DATA:
EBITDA(e)..................... $ 67,083
Capital expenditures.......... 35,088
PRO FORMA DATA (F):
EBITDA........................ $ 67,083
Interest expense.............. 19,512
Ratio of EBITDA to interest
expense..................... 3.9x
BALANCE SHEET DATA (AT PERIOD
END):
Working capital............... $ (18,301)(g)
Net property, plant and
equipment................... 306,260
Total assets.................. 756,231
Long-term debt, net of current
portion..................... 454,110
Redeemable preferred stock of
a subsidiary................ --
Common stockholders' equity... 97,098
</TABLE>
- ------------------------
(a) Interest expense excludes amortization of deferred financing fees for all
periods. Interest expense for the year ended December 31, 1996 includes the
amortization of interest rate swap fees of $1,200,000.
(b) Big Flower's net loss for the six months ended December 31, 1995 includes an
extraordinary loss, net of tax, of $19,248,000 on early extinguishment of
debt and termination of a swap agreement. Big Flower's net loss for the six
months ended June 30, 1996 includes an extraordinary loss, net of tax,
15
<PAGE>
of $1,892,000 on early extinguishment of debt and Big Flower's net loss for
the year ended December 31, 1996 includes an extraordinary loss, net of tax,
of $2,078,000 on early extinguishment of debt. Big Flower's net income for
the six months ended June 30, 1997 includes an extraordinary loss, net of
tax, of $2,959,000 on early extinguishment of debt.
(c) For purposes of this computation, fixed charges consist of interest expense
and amortization of deferred financing fees, capitalized interest and one-
third of rental expenses, representative of that portion of rental expenses
attributable to interest and preferred stock dividends. Earnings consist of
income before income taxes plus fixed charges (other than capitalized
interest, but including the amortization thereof).
(d) Earnings were inadequate to cover fixed charges by $0.2 million for
Predecessor TC Advertising for the 42 days ended August 11, 1993 and $0.8
million and $4.3 million for Big Flower for the 323 days ended June 30, 1994
and the six months ended June 30, 1996, respectively. Adjusted to eliminate
non-cash charges of depreciation and amortization of $28.8 million and $23.4
million for the 323 days ended June 30, 1994 and the six months ended June
30, 1996, respectively, such earnings would have exceeded fixed charges by
$27.9 million and $19.1 million, respectively.
(e) "EBITDA" represents the sum of operating income, depreciation, amortization
of intangibles and merger costs. EBITDA does not include expenses associated
with the A/R Securitization and is presented here to provide additional
information about the Company's ability to meet its future debt service,
capital expenditure and working capital requirements and should not be
construed as a better indicator of operating performance than income from
operations as determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles ("GAAP"), or a better indicator of liquidity than cash flow from
operating activities as determined in accordance with GAAP.
(f) Pro forma EBITDA for the periods presented reflect the 1996 Acquisitions (as
defined) as if they were consummated on January 1, 1996. See "Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations--Results of Operations." Pro forma interest expense reflects the
Tender Offer.
(g) On October 4, 1996, the Company entered into the A/R Securitization (as
defined). Between March 19, 1996 and October 4, 1996, the Company operated
under a bridge facility with similar terms and conditions as the A/R
Securitization and, accordingly, results for periods subsequent to March 19,
1996 reflect the effects of those facilities. See "Management's Discussion
and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations--Liquidity and
Capital Resources."
16
<PAGE>
RISK FACTORS
THE RISK FACTORS SET FORTH BELOW, AS WELL AS THE OTHER INFORMATION APPEARING
IN THIS PROSPECTUS SHOULD BE CAREFULLY CONSIDERED BEFORE DECIDING TO SURRENDER
THE PRIVATE NOTES IN EXCHANGE FOR EXCHANGE NOTES PURSUANT TO THE EXCHANGE OFFER.
LEVEL OF INDEBTEDNESS
At June 30, 1997, on a PRO FORMA basis after giving effect to the Tender
Offer, the Company would have had, on a consolidated basis, approximately $473.5
million of indebtedness, including capitalized lease obligations. The Company
may also borrow an additional amount of up to $97.8 million without restriction
under the New Credit Facility. In addition, subject to the restrictions in the
New Credit Facility and the Indenture, the Company may incur additional
indebtedness from time to time to finance acquisitions or capital expenditures
or for other purposes. In addition, at June 30, 1997, the Company had
significant commitments under operating leases and approximately $78.4 million
was outstanding under the A/R Securitization (as defined). See Notes 5 and 10 of
the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
The level of the Company's indebtedness could have important consequences to
holders of the Notes, including: (i) a significant portion of the Company's cash
flow from operations must be dedicated to debt service and will not be available
for other purposes; (ii) the Company's ability to obtain additional debt
financing in the future for working capital, capital expenditures or
acquisitions may be limited; and (iii) the Company's level of indebtedness could
limit its flexibility in reacting to changes in its industry and economic
conditions generally. Certain of the Company's competitors currently operate on
a less leveraged basis, and have significantly greater operating and financing
flexibility than the Company.
HOLDING COMPANY STRUCTURE
The Company is a holding company and, accordingly, its only material assets
consist of the outstanding shares of capital stock of its subsidiaries. The
Company is the sole obligor on the Notes, and the Notes are not guaranteed by
any subsidiary of the Company. Therefore, the Notes are structurally
subordinated to all indebtedness of subsidiaries of the Company. The Company
must rely on dividends and other advances and transfers of funds from its
subsidiaries to provide the funds necessary to meet its debt service obligations
under the Notes. The ability of such subsidiaries to pay such dividends and make
such advances and transfers will be subject to applicable state laws regulating
the payment of dividends. Claims of creditors of the Company's subsidiaries,
including general creditors, will generally have priority as to the assets of
such subsidiaries over the claims of the Company and the holders of the Notes.
At June 30, 1997, on a PRO FORMA basis after giving effect to the Tender Offer,
the Company's subsidiaries would have had approximately $430.2 million of
liabilities (including trade payables and the New Credit Facility). In addition,
at June 30, 1997, certain subsidiaries of the Company had significant
commitments under operating leases. See Note 10 of the Notes to the Consolidated
Financial Statements.
COMPETITION
The advertising and marketing services industry in the United States is
highly competitive in most product categories and geographic regions.
Competition is largely based on price, quality and servicing the specialized
needs of customers. During recent periods of economic downturn, excess
production capacity in the Company's business sectors has resulted in more
competitive pricing in such sectors.
RAW MATERIALS--PAPER
The cost of paper is a principal factor in the Company's pricing to certain
customers and consequently the cost of paper significantly affects the Company's
net sales. The Company is generally able to pass increases in the cost of paper
to its customers, while declines in paper costs generally result in lower prices
17
<PAGE>
to customers. Volatility in paper costs results in a corresponding volatility in
the Company's net sales, but generally has not affected volume or profits to any
significant extent. However, sharp increases in paper prices and related
reduction in print advertising programs are more likely to adversely affect
volumes and profits. To the extent that there are future paper cost increases
and the Company is not able to pass such increases to its customers or its
customers reduce the size of their print advertising programs, the Company's
results of operations (primarily those of TC Advertising) could be materially
adversely affected.
Capacity in the paper industry has remained relatively stable in recent
years. Increases or decreases in demand for paper have led to corresponding
pricing changes and, in periods of high demand, to limitations on the
availability of certain grades of paper, including grades utilized by the
Company. Any loss of the sources for paper supply or any disruption in such
sources' business or failure by them to meet the Company's product needs on a
timely basis could cause, at a minimum, temporary shortages in needed materials
which could have a material adverse effect on the Company's results of
operations. Although the Company actively manages its paper supply and has
established strong relationships with its suppliers, which include many of the
leading paper companies in North America, there can be no assurance that the
Company's sources of supply for its paper will be adequate or, in the event that
such sources are not adequate, that alternative sources can be developed in a
timely manner.
MANAGEMENT OF GROWTH
The Company's primary objective is to be the leading provider of marketing
and advertising services for retailers, national manufacturers and advertising
agencies, among others. One of the key elements of the Company's strategy
includes strategic acquisitions to expand and diversify the Company's products
and services in the advertising and marketing services industry. Over the past
four years, the Company has completed 11 acquisitions to increase its market
position. The Company continues to seek similar or complementary businesses and
intends to continue its acquisition program in the future. This program may
require significant management time and capital resources. Such acquisitions are
likely to require the incurrence and/or assumption of indebtedness and other
obligations, the issuance of equity securities or some combination thereof.
While the Company anticipates that its acquisitions will be beneficial, the
Company cannot predict if any such transactions will be consummated, the terms
or forms of consideration required in any such transactions, nor whether the
acquired businesses will be successfully integrated into the Company's
operations. Accordingly, no assurance can be made that such acquisitions will
not have a material adverse effect on the Company's performance.
CERTAIN FINANCIAL AND OPERATING RESTRICTIONS
The New Credit Facility and the Indenture impose certain operating and
financial restrictions on the Company, affecting, and in certain cases limiting,
among other activities, the ability of the Company to incur additional
indebtedness or create liens on its assets, pay dividends, sell assets, engage
in mergers or acquisitions or make investments. Failure to comply with any such
restrictions could limit the availability of borrowings or result in a default
under the terms of any such indebtedness, and there can be no assurance that the
Company will be able to comply with such restrictions. Moreover, these
restrictions could limit the Company's ability to engage in certain business
transactions which the Company may desire to consummate. The Company's inability
to consummate any such transaction could have an adverse effect on the Company's
operations and the ability of the Company and its subsidiaries to make principal
and interest payments on their outstanding debt, including the Notes.
LIMITATION ON A CHANGE OF CONTROL
Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, the Company is obligated to make
an offer to purchase all outstanding Notes at a price equal to 101% of the
principal amount of the Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon. The New
Credit Facility prohibits the Company from purchasing any Notes, and
18
<PAGE>
also provides that the occurrence of certain Change of Control events with
respect to the Company constitute a default thereunder. Therefore, in the event
of a Change of Control, the Company must offer to repay all borrowings under the
New Credit Facility or obtain the consent of its lenders under the New Credit
Facility to the purchase of Notes. If the Company does not obtain such a consent
or repay such borrowings, the Company will remain prohibited from purchasing
Notes. In such case, the Company's failure to purchase tendered Notes would
constitute a default under the Indenture, which, in turn, would constitute a
default under the New Credit Facility. There can be no assurance that the
Company will have the financial ability to purchase the Notes upon the
occurrence of a Change of Control. There can be no assurance that the Company
will be able to comply with all of its obligations under the New Credit
Facility, the Indenture and the other indebtedness upon the occurrence of a
Change of Control. See "Description of the Notes--Change of Control."
ENVIRONMENTAL AND OTHER GOVERNMENTAL REGULATIONS
The Company is subject to federal, state and local environmental laws,
regulations and ordinances relating to protection of the environment and human
health and safety, including those concerning the discharge, storage, handling
and disposal of hazardous or toxic waste and materials. Such laws, regulations
and ordinances provide for the imposition of significant fines and penalties and
may impose liability for the costs of cleaning up sites of past spills,
disposals or other releases of hazardous substances. From time to time,
operations of the Company have resulted or may result in noncompliance with or
liability for cleanup pursuant to such laws, regulations and ordinances. In
addition, TC Advertising and Webcraft have been identified as potentially
responsible parties under the federal Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended, and under certain analogous
state laws, for several sites to which TC Advertising or Webcraft, among others,
sent waste in the past. While the Company believes that any such noncompliance
or liability under current environmental laws will not have a material adverse
effect on its results of operations and financial condition, there can be no
assurances that such matters will not ultimately have such an effect and nor can
management predict what environmental laws will be enacted in the future, how
existing or future laws or regulations will be enforced, administered or
interpreted, or the amount of future expenditures which may be required in order
to comply with such laws. See "Business--Additional Company
Information--Governmental Regulations" and "Business-- Additional Company
Information--Environmental Matters."
RELIANCE ON KEY PERSONNEL
The efforts of a relatively small number of key management and operating
personnel will largely determine the Company's success. The loss of any of such
personnel could adversely affect the Company. The Company's success also depends
in part upon its ability to hire and retain highly skilled and qualified
operating, marketing, financial and technical personnel. There can be no
assurance that the Company will be able to hire or retain necessary personnel.
See "Management."
LACK OF PUBLIC MARKET FOR SECURITIES
The Exchange Notes are new securities for which there is currently no
market. The Company has been advised by each of the Initial Purchasers that it
currently intends to make a market in the Exchange Notes. However, there can be
no assurance as to the development or liquidity of any market for the Exchange
Notes. If a market for the Exchange Notes were to develop, the Exchange Notes
could trade at prices that may be higher or lower than their principal amount
depending upon many factors, including prevailing interest rates, the Company's
operating results and the markets for similar securities. Historically, the
market for non-investment grade debt has been subject to disruptions that have
caused substantial volatility in the prices of securities similar to the
Exchange Notes. There can be no assurance that, if a market for the Exchange
Notes were to develop, such a market would not be subject to similar
disruptions.
19
<PAGE>
FAILURE TO EXCHANGE PRIVATE NOTES
The Exchange Notes will be issued in exchange for Private Notes only after
timely receipt by the Exchange Agent of such Private Notes, a properly completed
and duly executed Letter of Transmittal and all other required documentation.
Therefore, holders of Private Notes desiring to tender such Private Notes in
exchange for Exchange Notes should allow sufficient time to ensure timely
delivery. Neither the Exchange Agent nor the Company is under any duty to give
notification of defects or irregularities with respect to tenders of Private
Notes for exchange. Private Notes that are not tendered or are tendered but not
accepted will, following consummation of the Exchange Offer, continue to be
subject to the existing restrictions upon transfer thereof. In addition, any
holder of Private Notes who tenders in the Exchange Offer for the purpose of
participating in a distribution of the Exchange Notes will be required to comply
with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act
in connection with any resale transaction. Each broker-dealer who holds Private
Notes acquired for its own account as a result of market-making or other trading
activities and who receives Exchange Notes for its own account in exchange for
such Private Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer, must acknowledge that it will
deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such Exchange Notes. To
the extent that Private Notes are tendered and accepted in the Exchange Offer,
the trading market for untendered and tendered but unaccepted Private Notes
could be adversely affected due to the limited amount, or "float," of the
Private Notes that are expected to remain outstanding following the Exchange
Offer. Generally, a lower "float" of a security could result in less demand to
purchase such security and could, therefore, result in lower prices for such
security. For the same reason, to the extent that a large amount of Private
Notes are not tendered or are tendered and not accepted in the Exchange Offer,
the trading market for the Exchange Notes could be adversely affected. See "Plan
of Distribution" and "The Exchange Offer."
NO CASH PROCEEDS TO THE COMPANY
This Exchange Offer is intended to satisfy certain obligations of the
Company under the Registration Rights Agreement. The Company will not receive
any proceeds from the issuance of the Exchange Notes offered hereby and has
agreed to pay the expenses of the Exchange Offer. In consideration for issuing
the Exchange Notes as contemplated in this Prospectus, the Company will receive,
in exchange, Private Notes in like principal amount. The form and terms of the
Exchange Notes are identical in all material respects to the form and terms of
the Private Notes, except as otherwise described herein under "The Exchange
Offer--Terms of the Exchange Offer." The Private Notes surrendered in exchange
for the Exchange Notes will be retired and cancelled and cannot be reissued.
Accordingly, issuance of the Exchange Notes will not result in any increase in
the outstanding debt of the Company.
20
<PAGE>
PRICE RANGE OF THE PRIVATE NOTES
The Private Notes were designated for trading in the PORTAL market of the
NASD effective June 17, 1997. The following table sets forth, for the periods
indicated, the range of reported high and low bid quotations for the Private
Notes as reported by BT Securities Corporation, a market maker for the Private
Notes:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
HIGH LOW
--------- ---------
<S> <C> <C>
Quarter Ending June 30, 1997 (beginning June 20, 1997 $ 980.00
and through June 30, 1997)................................................................ $ 990.00
Quarter Ending September 30, 1997 (beginning July 1, 1997 980.00
and through July 24, 1997)................................................................ 996.25
</TABLE>
Such reported quotations may not reflect actual transactions. On August 15,
1997, the closing bid quotation for the Private Notes was $985.00 per $1,000
principal amount (representing approximately 98.5% of principal amount). As of
August 15, 1997 there was 1 record holder of the Private Notes and 32
participants in the Global Notes deposited with the Depositary.
CAPITALIZATION
The following table sets forth the capitalization of the Company as of June
30, 1997, on a historical basis and as adjusted to give effect to the purchase
of $126.7 million principal amount of the 10 3/4% Notes at an aggregate price of
$137.0 million.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
JUNE 30, 1997
------------------------------------
ACTUAL ADJUSTMENTS PRO FORMA
---------- ----------- -----------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
(IN THOUSANDS)
Short-term debt:
Current portion of long-term debt...................................... $ 558 $ -- $ 558
---------- ----------- -----------
---------- ----------- -----------
Long-term debt:
New Credit Facility.................................................... $ 74,333 $ 144,101(a) $ 218,434
10 3/4% Notes, net of discount......................................... 125,242 (125,226)(a) 16
Private Notes.......................................................... 250,000 250,000
Other long-term debt................................................... 4,535 -- 4,535
---------- ----------- -----------
Total long-term debt(b)................................................ 454,110 18,875 472,985
Total stockholders' equity............................................... 97,098 (10,262)(c) 86,836
---------- ----------- -----------
Total capitalization................................................... $ 551,208 $ 8,613 $ 559,821
---------- ----------- -----------
---------- ----------- -----------
</TABLE>
- ------------------------
(a) Represents the purchase of $126.7 million principal amount of the 10 3/4%
Notes at an aggregate price of $137.0 million. Increase in New Credit
Facility includes amounts attributable to interest expense payable upon
repurchase of 10 3/4% Notes and transaction expenses.
(b) See Note 5 of the Notes to the December 31, 1996 Consolidated Financial
Statements.
(c) Includes the premium and fees related to the purchase of the 10 3/4% Notes
and the write-off of deferred financing fees, net of income tax benefit.
21
<PAGE>
THE EXCHANGE OFFER
PURPOSE OF THE EXCHANGE OFFER
The Private Notes were sold by the Company on June 20, 1997 (the "Issue
Date") to the Initial Purchasers pursuant to the Purchase Agreement. The Initial
Purchasers subsequently sold the Private Notes to "qualified institutional
buyers" ("QIBs"), as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act ("Rule
144A"), in reliance on Rule 144A. As a condition to the initial sale of the
Private Notes, the Company and the Initial Purchasers entered into the
Registration Rights Agreement on June 20, 1997. Pursuant to the Registration
Rights Agreement, the Company agreed that it would (i) file with the Commission
within 60 days after the Issue Date a registration statement under the
Securities Act with respect to the Exchange Notes and (ii) use its reasonable
best efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective under the
Securities Act within 120 days after the Issue Date. The Company agreed to issue
and exchange Exchange Notes for all Private Notes validly tendered and not
withdrawn before the expiration of the Exchange Offer. A copy of the
Registration Rights Agreement has been filed as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement of which this Prospectus is a part. The Registration Statement is
intended to satisfy certain of the Company's obligations under the Registration
Rights Agreement and the Purchase Agreement.
TERMS OF THE EXCHANGE OFFER
Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Prospectus
and in the Letter of Transmittal, the Company will accept any and all Private
Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn prior to the Expiration Date.
The Company will issue $1,000 principal amount of Exchange Notes in exchange
for each $1,000 principal amount of outstanding Private Notes validly tendered
pursuant to the Exchange Offer and not withdrawn prior to the Expiration Date.
Private Notes may be tendered only in integral multiples of $1,000.
The form and terms of the Exchange Notes are the same as the form and terms
of the Private Notes except that (i) the exchange will be registered under the
Securities Act and, therefore, the Exchange Notes will not bear legends
restricting the transfer thereof and (ii) holders of the Exchange Notes will not
be entitled to any of the registration rights of holders of Private Notes under
the Registration Rights Agreement, which rights will terminate upon the
consummation of the Exchange Offer. The Exchange Notes will evidence the same
indebtedness as the Private Notes (which they replace) and will be issued under,
and be entitled to the benefits of, the Indenture, which also authorized the
issuance of the Private Notes, such that both series of Notes will be treated as
a single class of debt securities under the Indenture.
As of the date of this Prospectus, $250,000,000 in aggregate principal
amount of the Private Notes is outstanding, all of which is registered in the
name of Cede & Co., as nominee for The Depository Trust Company (the
"Depositary"). Solely for reasons of administration, the Company has fixed the
close of business on July 25, 1997 as the record date for the Exchange Offer for
purposes of determining the persons to whom this Prospectus and the Letter of
Transmittal will be mailed initially. There will be no fixed record date for
determining holders of the Private Notes entitled to participate in the Exchange
Offer.
Holders of the Private Notes do not have any appraisal or dissenters' rights
under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware or the Indenture in
connection with the Exchange Offer. The Company intends to conduct the Exchange
Offer in accordance with the provisions of the Registration Rights Agreement and
the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations
of the Commission thereunder.
The Company shall be deemed to have accepted validly tendered Private Notes
when, and if, the Company has given oral or written notice thereof to the
Exchange Agent. The Exchange Agent will act as
22
<PAGE>
agent for the tendering holders of Private Notes for the purposes of receiving
the Exchange Notes from the Company.
Holders who tender Private Notes in the Exchange Offer will not be required
to pay brokerage commissions or fees or, subject to the instructions in the
Letter of Transmittal, transfer taxes with respect to the exchange of Private
Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer. The Company will pay all charges and
expenses, other than certain applicable taxes described below, in connection
with the Exchange Offer. See "--Fees and Expenses."
EXPIRATION DATE; EXTENSIONS; AMENDMENTS
The term "Expiration Date" shall mean 5:00 p.m., New York City time on
September 18, 1997, unless the Company, in its sole discretion, extends the
Exchange Offer, in which case the terms "Expiration Date" shall mean the latest
date and time to which the Exchange Offer is extended.
In order to extend the Exchange Offer, the Company will (i) notify the
Exchange Agent of any extension by oral or written notice and (ii) issue a press
release or other public announcement which shall include disclosure of the
approximate number of Private Notes deposited to date, each prior to 9:00 a.m.,
New York City time, on the next business day after the previously scheduled
Expiration Date.
The Company reserves the right, in its sole discretion, (i) to delay
accepting any Private Notes, (ii) to extend the Exchange Offer or (iii) if, in
the opinion of counsel for the Company, the consummation of the Exchange Offer
would violate any applicable law, rule or regulation or any applicable
interpretation of the staff of the Commission, to terminate or amend the
Exchange Offer by giving oral or written notice of such delay, extension,
termination or amendment to the Exchange Agent. Any such delay in acceptance,
extension, termination or amendment will be followed as promptly as practicable
by a press release or other public announcement thereof. If the Exchange Offer
is amended in a manner determined by the Company to constitute a material
change, the Company will promptly disclose such amendment by means of a
prospectus supplement that will be distributed to the holders, and the Company
will extend the Exchange Offer for a period of five to ten business days,
depending upon the significance of the amendment and the manner of disclosure to
the holders, if the Exchange Offer would otherwise expire during such five to
ten business day period.
Without limiting the manner in which the Company may choose to make a public
announcement of any delay, extension, amendment or termination of the Exchange
Offer, the Company shall have no obligation to publish, advertise, or otherwise
communicate any such public announcement, other than by making a timely release
to an appropriate news agency.
INTEREST ON THE EXCHANGE NOTES
The Notes will accrue cash interest at the rate of 8 7/8% per annum from
June 20, 1997, payable semi-annually in arrears on January 1 and July 1 of each
year, commencing January 1, 1998.
RESALE OF THE EXCHANGE NOTES
With respect to the Exchange Notes, based upon interpretations by the staff
of the Commission set forth in certain no-action letters issued to third
parties, the Company believes that a holder who exchanges Private Notes for
Exchange Notes in the ordinary course of business, who is not participating,
does not intend to participate, and has no arrangement with any person to
participate in a distribution of the Exchange Notes, and who is not an
"affiliate" of the Company within the meaning of Rule 405 of the Securities Act,
will be allowed to resell Exchange Notes to the public without further
registration under the Securities Act and without delivering to the purchasers
of the Exchange Notes a prospectus that satisfies the requirements of Section 10
of the Securities Act. However, if any holder acquires Exchange Notes in the
Exchange Offer for the purpose of distributing or participating in the
distribution of the Exchange
23
<PAGE>
Notes, such holder cannot rely on the position of the staff of the Commission
enumerated in such no-action letters issued to third parties and must comply
with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act
in connection with any resale transaction, unless an exemption from registration
is otherwise available. Each broker-dealer that receives Exchange Notes for its
own account in exchange for Private Notes acquired by such broker-dealer as a
result of market-making or other trading activities must acknowledge that it
will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such Exchange Notes.
The Letter of Transmittal states that by so acknowledging and by delivering a
prospectus, a broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an
"underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act. This Prospectus, as it
may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used by a broker-dealer
in connection with resales of any Exchange Notes received in exchange for
Private Notes acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of market-making or
other trading activities. Pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, the
Company has agreed to make this Prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented
from time to time, available to any such broker-dealer that requests copies of
such Prospectus in the Letter of Transmittal for use in connection with any such
resale for a period of up to 180 days after the Registration Statement is
declared effective. See "Plan of Distribution."
PROCEDURES FOR TENDERING
To tender in the Exchange Offer, a holder of Private Notes must complete,
sign and date the Letter of Transmittal, or facsimile thereof, have the
signatures thereon guaranteed if required by the Letter of Transmittal, and mail
or otherwise deliver such Letter of Transmittal or such facsimile to the
Exchange Agent at the address set forth below under "--Exchange Agent" for
receipt prior to the Expiration Date. In addition, either (i) certificates for
such Private Notes must be received by the Exchange Agent along with the Letter
of Transmittal, (ii) a timely confirmation of a book-entry transfer (a
"Book-Entry Confirmation") of such Private Notes into the Exchange Agent's
account at the Depositary pursuant to the procedure for book-entry transfer
described below, must be received by the Exchange Agent prior to the Expiration
Date or (iii) the holder must comply with the guaranteed delivery procedures
described below.
The tender by a holder that is not withdrawn prior to the Expiration Date
will constitute an agreement between such holder and the Company in accordance
with the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein and in the Letter
of Transmittal.
THE METHOD OF DELIVERY OF PRIVATE NOTES AND THE LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL AND
ALL OTHER REQUIRED DOCUMENTS TO THE EXCHANGE AGENT IS AT THE ELECTION AND RISK
OF THE HOLDER. INSTEAD OF DELIVERY BY MAIL, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT HOLDERS USE
AN OVERNIGHT OR HAND DELIVERY SERVICE, PROPERLY INSURED. IN ALL CASES,
SUFFICIENT TIME SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO ASSURE DELIVERY TO THE EXCHANGE AGENT
BEFORE THE EXPIRATION DATE. DO NOT SEND THE LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL OR ANY PRIVATE
NOTES TO THE COMPANY. HOLDERS MAY REQUEST THEIR RESPECTIVE BROKERS, DEALERS,
COMMERCIAL BANKS, TRUST COMPANIES OR NOMINEES TO EFFECT THE ABOVE TRANSACTIONS
FOR SUCH HOLDERS.
Any beneficial owner(s) of the Private Notes whose Private Notes are held
through a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee and
who wishes to tender should contact such intermediary promptly and instruct such
intermediary to tender on such beneficial owner's behalf.
Signatures on a Letter of Transmittal or a notice of withdrawal described
below (see "--Withdrawal of Tenders"), as the case may be, must be guaranteed by
an Eligible Institution (as defined below) unless the Private Notes tendered
pursuant thereto are tendered (i) by a registered holder who has not completed
the box titled "Special Delivery Instruction" on the Letter of Transmittal or
(ii) for the account of an Eligible Institution. In the event that signatures on
a Letter of Transmittal or a notice of withdrawal, as the case may be, are
required to be guaranteed, such guarantee must be made by a member firm of a
registered national securities exchange or of the NASD, a commercial bank or
trust company having an office or
24
<PAGE>
correspondent in the United States or an "eligible guarantor institution" within
the meaning of Rule 17Ad-15 under the Exchange Act which is a member of one of
the recognized signature guarantee programs identified in the Letter of
Transmittal (an "Eligible Institution").
If the Letter of Transmittal is signed by a person other than the registered
holder of any Private Notes listed therein, such Private Notes must be endorsed
or accompanied by a properly completed bond power, signed by such registered
holder exactly as such registered holder's name appears on such Private Notes.
In connection with any tender of Private Notes in definitive certificated
form, if the Letter of Transmittal or any Private Notes or bond powers are
signed by trustees, executors, administrators, guardians, attorneys-in-fact,
officers of corporations or others acting in a fiduciary or representative
capacity, such persons should so indicate when signing, and, unless waived by
the Company, evidence satisfactory to the Company of their authority to so act
must be submitted with the Letter of Transmittal.
The Exchange Agent and the Depositary have confirmed that any financial
institution that is a participant in the Depositary's system may utilize the
Depositary's Automated Tender Offer Program to tender Private Notes.
All questions as to the validity, form, eligibility (including time of
receipt), acceptance and withdrawal of tendered Private Notes will be determined
by the Company in his sole discretion, which determination will be final and
binding. The Company reserves the absolute right to reject any and all Private
Notes not properly tendered or any Private Notes the Company's acceptance of
which would, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, be unlawful. The Company
also reserves the right to waive any defects, irregularities or conditions of
tender as to particular Private Notes. The Company's interpretation of the terms
and conditions of the Exchange Offer (including the instructions in the Letter
of Transmittal) will be final and binding on all parties. Unless waived, any
defects or irregularities in connection with tenders of Private Notes must be
cured within such time as the Company shall determine. Although the Company
intends to notify holders of defects or irregularities in connection with
tenders of Private Notes, neither the Company, the Exchange Agent nor any other
person shall incur any liability for failure to give such notification. Tenders
of Private Notes will not be deemed to have been made until such defects or
irregularities have been cured or waived.
While the Company has no present plan to acquire any Private Notes that are
not tendered in the Exchange Offer or to file a registration statement to permit
resales of any Private Notes that are not tendered pursuant to the Exchange
Offer, the Company reserves the right in its sole discretion to purchase or make
offers for any Private Notes that remain outstanding subsequent to the
Expiration Date and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, purchase Private
Notes in the open market, in privately negotiated transactions or otherwise. The
terms of any such purchases or offers could differ from the terms of the
Exchange Offer.
By tendering Private Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer, each holder of
Private Notes will represent to the Company that, among other things, (i) the
Exchange Notes to be acquired by such holder of Private Notes in connection with
the Exchange Offer are being acquired by such holder in the ordinary course of
business of such holder, (ii) such holder has no arrangement or understanding
with any person to participate in the distribution of the Exchange Notes, (iii)
such holder acknowledges and agrees that any person who is a broker-dealer
registered under the Exchange Act or is participating in the Exchange Offer for
the purposes of distributing the Exchange Notes must comply with the
registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act in
connection with a secondary resale of the Exchange Notes acquired by such person
and cannot rely on the position of the staff of the Commission set forth in
certain no-action letters, (iv) such holder understands that a secondary resale
transaction described in clause (iii) above and any resales of Exchange Notes
obtained by such holder in exchange for Private Notes acquired by such holder
directly from the Company should be covered by an effective registration
statement containing the selling security holder information required by Item
507 or Item 508, as applicable, of Regulation S-K of the Commission and (v) such
holder is not an "affiliate", as defined in
25
<PAGE>
Rule 405 under the Securities Act, of the Company. If the holder is a
broker-dealer that will receive Exchange Notes for such holder's own account in
exchange for Private Notes that were acquired as a result of market-making
activities or other trading activities, such holder will be required to
acknowledge in the Letter of Transmittal that such holder will deliver a
prospectus in connection with any resale of such Exchange Notes; however, by so
acknowledging and by delivering a prospectus, such holder will not be deemed to
admit that it is an "underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act.
RETURN OF PRIVATE NOTES
If any tendered Private Notes are not accepted for any reason set forth in
the terms and conditions of the Exchange Offer or if Private Notes are withdrawn
or are submitted for a greater principal amount than the holders desire to
exchange, such unaccepted, withdrawn or nonexchanged Private Notes will be
returned without expense to the tendering holder thereof (or, in the case of
Private Notes tendered by book-entry transfer in to the Exchange Agent's account
at the Depositary pursuant to the book-entry transfer procedures described
below, such Private Notes will be credited to an account maintained with the
Depositary) as promptly as practicable.
BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER
The Exchange Agent will make a request to establish an account with respect
to the Private Notes at the Depositary for purposes of the Exchange Offer within
two business days after the date of this Prospectus, and any financial
institution that is a participant in the Depositary's systems may make book-
entry delivery of Private Notes by causing the Depositary to transfer such
Private Notes into the Exchange Agent's account at the Depositary in accordance
with the Depositary's procedures for transfer. However, although delivery of
Private Notes may be effected through book-entry transfer at the Depositary, the
Letter of Transmittal or facsimile thereof, with any required signature
guarantees and any other required documents, must, in any case, be transmitted
to and received by the Exchange Agent at the address set forth below under
"--Exchange Agent" on or prior to the Expiration Date or pursuant to the
guaranteed delivery procedures described below.
GUARANTEED DELIVERY PROCEDURES
Holders who wish to tender their Private Notes and (i) whose Private Notes
are not immediately available or (ii) who cannot deliver their Private Notes,
the Letter of Transmittal or any other required documents to the Exchange Agent
prior to the Expiration Date, may effect a tender if:
(a) The tender is made through an Eligible Institution;
(b) Prior to the Expiration Date, the Exchange Agent receives from such
Eligible Institution a properly completed and duly executed Notice of
Guaranteed Delivery substantially in the form provided by the Company (by
facsimile transmission, mail or hand delivery) setting forth the name and
address of the holder, the certificate number(s) of such Private Notes (if
applicable) and the principal amount of Private Notes tendered, stating that
the tender is being made thereby and guaranteeing that, within five New York
Stock Exchange trading days after the Expiration Date, the Letter of
Transmittal (or a facsimile thereof), together with the certificate(s)
representing the Private Notes in proper form for transfer or a Book-Entry
Confirmation, as the case may be, and any other documents required by the
Letter of Transmittal, will be deposited by the Eligible Institution with
the Exchange Agent; and
(c) Such properly executed Letter of Transmittal (or facsimile thereof),
as well as the certificate(s) representing all tendered Private Notes in
proper form for transfer or a Book-Entry Confirmation, as the case may be,
and all other documents required by the Letter of Transmittal are received
by the Exchange Agent within five New York Stock Exchange trading days after
the Expiration Date.
26
<PAGE>
Upon request to the Exchange Agent, a Notice of Guaranteed Delivery will be
sent to holders who wish to tender their Private Notes according to the
guaranteed delivery procedures set forth above.
WITHDRAWAL OF TENDERS
Except as otherwise provided herein, tenders of Private Notes may be
withdrawn at any time prior to the Expiration Date.
To withdraw a tender of Private Notes in the Exchange Offer, a written or
facsimile transmission notice of withdrawal must be received by the Exchange
Agent at its address set forth herein prior to the Expiration Date. Any such
notice of withdrawal must (i) specify the name of the person having deposited
the Private Notes to be withdrawn (the "Depositor"), (ii) identify the Private
Notes to be withdrawn (including the certificate number or numbers, if
applicable, and principal amount of such Private Notes) and (iii) be signed by
the holder in the same manner as the original signature on the Letter of
Transmittal by which such Private Notes were tendered (including any required
signature guarantees). All questions as to the validity, form and eligibility
(including time of receipt) of such notices will be determined by the Company,
in its sole discretion, whose determination shall be final and binding on all
parties. Any Private Notes so withdrawn will be deemed not to have been validly
tendered for purposes of the Exchange Offer, and no Exchange Notes will be
issued with respect thereto unless the Private Notes so withdrawn are validly
retendered. Properly withdrawn Private Notes may be retendered by following one
of the procedures described above under "--Procedures for Tendering" at any time
prior to the Expiration Date.
TERMINATION OF CERTAIN RIGHTS
All registration rights under the Registration Rights Agreement accorded to
holders of the Private Notes (and all rights to receive additional interest in
the event of a Registration Default as defined therein) will terminate upon
consummation of the Exchange Offer except with respect to the Company's
continuing obligation for a period of up to 180 days after the Registration
Statement is declared effective to keep the Registration Statement effective and
to provide copies of the latest version of the Prospectus to any broker-dealer
that requests copies of such Prospectus in the Letter of Transmittal for use in
connection with any resale by such broker-dealer of Exchange Notes received for
its own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer in exchange for Private Notes
acquired for its own account as a result of market-making or other trading
activities.
EXCHANGE AGENT
State Street Bank and Trust Company has been appointed as Exchange Agent for
the Exchange Offer. Questions and requests for assistance, requests for
additional copies of this Prospectus or of the Letter of Transmittal and
requests for Notice of Guaranteed Delivery should be directed to the Exchange
Agent addressed as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
BY MAIL: BY HAND/OVERNIGHT DELIVERY:
<S> <C>
State Street Bank and Trust Company State Street Bank and Trust Company
Corporate Trust Department Corporate Trust Deparmennt
P.O. Box 778 4th Floor
Boston, MA 02102-0078 Two International Place
Boston, MA 02110
Attn.: Sandra Szczsponik
Attn.: Sandra Szczsponik
(For Eligible Institutions Only)
Confirm by Telephone: By Facsimile:
(617) 664-5314 (617) 664-5739
</TABLE>
27
<PAGE>
State Street Bank and Trust Company also serves as Trustee under the Indenture.
FEES AND EXPENSES
The expenses of soliciting tenders will be borne by the Company. The
principal solicitation is being made by mail; however, additional solicitation
may be made by telegraph, facsimile transmission, telephone or in person by
officers and regular employees of the Company and its affiliates.
The Company has not retained any dealer-manager in connection with the
Exchange Offer and will not make any payments to brokers, dealers or others
soliciting acceptances of the Exchange Offer. The Company, however, will pay the
Exchange Agent reasonable and customary fees for its services and will reimburse
it for its reasonable, out-of-pocket expenses in connection therewith.
The expenses to be incurred in connection with the Exchange Offer, including
registration fees, fees and expenses of the Exchange Agent and the Trustee,
accounting and legal fees, and printing costs, will be paid by the Company.
The Company will pay all transfer taxes, if any, applicable to the exchange
of Private Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer. If, however, a transfer tax is
imposed for any reason other than the exchange of the Private Notes pursuant to
the Exchange Offer, then the amount of any such transfer taxes (whether imposed
on the registered holder or any other persons) will be payable by the tendering
holder. If satisfactory evidence of payment of such taxes or exemption therefrom
is not submitted with the Letter of Transmittal, the amount of such transfer
taxes will be billed directly to such tendering holder.
CONSEQUENCE OF FAILURE TO EXCHANGE
Participation in the Exchange Offer is voluntary. Holders of the Private
Notes are urged to consult their financial and tax advisors in making their own
decisions on what action to take.
Private Notes that are not exchanged for the Exchange Notes pursuant to the
Exchange Offer will remain "restricted securities" within the meaning of Rule
144(a)(3)(iv) of the Securities Act. Accordingly, such Private Notes may not be
offered, sold, pledged or otherwise transferred except (i) to a person whom the
seller reasonably believes is a "qualified institutional buyer" within the
meaning of Rule 144A under the Securities Act purchasing for its own account or
for the account of a qualified institutional buyer in a transaction meeting the
requirements of Rule 144A, (ii) in an offshore transaction complying with Rule
903 or Rule 904 of Regulation S under the Securities Act, (iii) pursuant to an
exemption from registration under the Securities Act provided by Rule 144
thereunder (if available), (iv) pursuant to an effective registration statement
under the Securities Act or (v) pursuant to another available exemption from the
registration requirements of the Securities Act, and, in each case, in
accordance with all other applicable securities laws.
ACCOUNTING TREATMENT
For accounting purposes, the Company will recognize no gain or loss as a
result of the Exchange Offer. The expenses of the Exchange Offer will be
amortized over the remaining term of the Notes.
28
<PAGE>
SELECTED HISTORICAL FINANCIAL AND
OTHER OPERATING DATA
The following table sets forth selected financial data of predecessor TC
Advertising prior to its acquisition by Big Flower ("Predecessor TC
Advertising") and of Big Flower and its subsidiaries (including TC Advertising)
following Big Flower's acquisition of TC Advertising. On March 21, 1996, Big
Flower's Board of Directors elected to change the Company's fiscal year from a
12-month period ending June 30th to a calendar year, effective with the period
ended December 31, 1995. The selected financial data as of and for each of the
two fiscal years in the periods ended June 30, 1993 and for the 42 days ended
August 11, 1993 were derived from the audited consolidated financial statements
of Predecessor TC Advertising. The selected financial data of Big Flower as of
and for the 323 day period ended June 30, 1994, the fiscal year ended June 30,
1995, the six months ended December 31, 1995 and the year ended December 31,
1996 were derived from the audited financial statements of Big Flower, restated
for the merger with Scanforms, Inc. ("Scanforms"). The selected financial data
for the six-month periods ended June 30, 1996 and 1997 were derived from the
Company's unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements for such
periods. On October 4, 1996, Big Flower consummated the acquisition of Scanforms
in a transaction accounted for as a pooling of interests. Accordingly, the Big
Flower financial information has been restated for prior periods to include the
results of Scanforms for all periods presented. For additional information, see
the Consolidated Financial Statements and the notes thereto. The selected
financial data should also be read in conjunction with "Management's Discussion
and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations."
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PREDECESSOR TC ADVERTISING BIG FLOWER
--------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
SIX MONTH
YEAR ENDED 42 DAYS 323 DAYS YEAR TRANSITION
JUNE 30, ENDED ENDED ENDED PERIOD ENDED YEAR
-------------------- AUGUST 11, JUNE 30, JUNE 30, DECEMBER 31, DECEMBER 31,
1992 1993 1993 1994 1995 1995 1996
--------- --------- ----------- ----------- --------- ------------- ------------
<CAPTION>
(IN THOUSANDS)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
OPERATING DATA:
Net sales........................... $ 536,113 $ 555,013 $ 59,584 $ 587,630 $ 920,149 $ 546,840 $1,201,860
Operating income.................... 23,475 22,436 665 25,488 50,712 39,739 69,343
Interest expense (a)................ 9,249 6,792 578 19,735 37,452 19,072 36,165
Income (loss) before income taxes... 7,696 10,204 (228) (549) 5,268 12,694 4,998
Income (loss) before extraordinary
item.............................. 4,196 4,685 (139) (3,277) (1,612) 6,491 (3,285)
Extraordinary item, net (b)......... -- -- -- -- -- (19,248) (2,078)
Net income (loss)................... 4,196 4,685 (139) (3,277) (1,612) (12,757) (5,363)
Average shares outstanding.......... -- -- -- 11,294 12,458 13,919 18,315
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges
(c)............................... 1.5x 1.7x --(d) --(d) 1.1x 1.5x 1.1x
OTHER DATA:
EBITDA(e)........................... $ 37,232 $ 34,560 $ 1,901 $ 54,238 $ 93,699 $ 58,372 $ 122,588
Capital expenditures................ 7,354 6,967 1,280 6,133 8,496 16,812 55,391
PRO FORMA DATA (F):
EBITDA.............................. -- -- -- -- -- -- $ 142,338
Interest expense.................... -- -- -- -- -- -- 38,203
Ratio of EBITDA to interest
expense........................... -- -- -- -- -- -- 3.7x
BALANCE SHEET DATA (AT PERIOD END):
Working capital..................... $ 4,567 $ (3,597) -- $ 25,198 $ 34,173 $ 29,797 $ (30,821)(g)
Net property, plant and equipment... 84,238 62,850 -- 152,306 137,081 145,323 296,426
Total assets........................ 185,710 160,356 -- 521,461 502,939 573,393 749,742
Long-term debt, net of current
portion........................... 73,183 34,485 -- 331,940 301,935 274,161 430,766
Redeemable preferred stock of a
subsidiary........................ -- -- -- 16,913 19,357 -- --
Common stockholders' equity......... 27,595 32,663 -- 19,449 16,593 84,476 96,350
<CAPTION>
<S> <C> <C>
SIX MONTHS ENDED
JUNE 30,
--------------------
1996 1997
--------- ---------
<S> <C> <C>
OPERATING DATA:
Net sales........................... $ 531,038 $ 614,339
Operating income.................... 21,354 35,795
Interest expense (a)................ 16,507 19,504
Income (loss) before income taxes... (4,235) 11,680
Income (loss) before extraordinary
item.............................. (1,867) 6,074
Extraordinary item, net (b)......... (1,892) (2,959)
Net income (loss)................... (3,759) 3,115
Average shares outstanding.......... 18,305 19,332
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges
(c)............................... --(d) 1.4x
OTHER DATA:
EBITDA(e)........................... $ 44,840 $ 67,083
Capital expenditures................ 21,534 35,088
PRO FORMA DATA (F):
EBITDA.............................. $ 58,696 $ 67,083
Interest expense.................... -- 19,512
Ratio of EBITDA to interest
expense........................... -- 3.9x
BALANCE SHEET DATA (AT PERIOD END):
Working capital..................... $ (42,814 (g) $ (18,301)(g)
Net property, plant and equipment... 242,138 306,260
Total assets........................ 674,305 756,231
Long-term debt, net of current
portion........................... 387,272 454,110
Redeemable preferred stock of a
subsidiary........................ -- --
Common stockholders' equity......... 85,311 97,098
</TABLE>
- ------------------------
(a) Interest expense excludes amortization of deferred financing fees for all
periods. Interest expense for the year ended December 31, 1996 includes the
amortization of interest rate swap fees of $1,200,000.
(b) Big Flower's net loss for the six months ended December 31, 1995 includes an
extraordinary loss, net of tax, of $19,248,000 on early extinguishment of
debt and termination of a swap agreement. Big Flower's net loss for the six
months ended June 30, 1996 includes an extraordinary loss, net of tax, of
$1,892,000 on early extinguishment of debt and Big Flower's net loss for the
year ended December 31, 1996 includes an extraordinary loss, net of tax, of
$2,078,000 on early extinguishment of debt. Big Flower's net income for the
six months ended June 30, 1997 includes an extraordinary loss, net of tax,
of $2,959,000 on early extinguishment of debt.
29
<PAGE>
(c) For purposes of this computation, fixed charges consist of interest expense
and amortization of deferred financing fees, capitalized interest and one-
third of rental expenses, representative of that portion of rental expenses
attributable to interest and preferred stock dividends. Earnings consist of
income before income taxes plus fixed charges (other than capitalized
interest, but including the amortization thereof).
(d) Earnings were inadequate to cover fixed charges by $0.2 million for
Predecessor TC Advertising for the 42 days ended August 11, 1993 and $0.8
million and $4.3 million for Big Flower for the 323 days ended June 30, 1994
and the six months ended June 30, 1996, respectively. Adjusted to eliminate
non-cash charges of depreciation and amortization of $28.8 million and $23.4
million for the 323 days ended June 30, 1994 and the six months ended June
30, 1996, respectively, such earnings would have exceeded fixed charges by
$27.9 million and $19.1 million, respectively.
(e) "EBITDA" represents the sum of operating income, depreciation, amortization
of intangibles and merger costs. EBITDA does not include expenses associated
with the A/R Securitization and is presented here to provide additional
information about the Company's ability to meet its future debt service,
capital expenditure and working capital requirements and should not be
construed as a better indicator of operating performance than income from
operations as determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles ("GAAP"), or a better indicator of liquidity than cash flow from
operating activities as determined in accordance with GAAP.
(f) Pro forma EBITDA for the periods presented reflect the 1996 Acquisitions (as
defined) as if they were consummated on January 1, 1996. See "Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations--Results of Operations." Pro forma interest expense reflects the
Tender Offer.
(g) On October 4, 1996, the Company entered into the A/R Securitization (as
defined). Between March 19, 1996 and October 4, 1996, the Company operated
under a bridge facility with similar terms and conditions as the A/R
Securitization and, accordingly, results for periods subsequent to March 19,
1996 reflect the effects of those facilities. See "Management's Discussion
and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations--Liquidity and
Capital Resources."
30
<PAGE>
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
INTRODUCTION
The discussion below relates to the consolidated financial condition and
results of operations of Big Flower for the six months ended December 31, 1994
and 1995, the year ended December 31, 1995 and 1996 and the six months ended
June 30, 1996 and 1997. All periods prior to October 1, 1996 have been restated
for the merger with Scanforms.
OPERATING DATA
(IN THOUSANDS)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SIX MONTHS ENDED YEAR ENDED SIX MONTHS ENDED
DECEMBER 31, DECEMBER 31, JUNE 30,
---------------------- ------------------------ ----------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
1994 1995 1995 1996 1996 1997
---------- ---------- ---------- ------------ ---------- ----------
Net sales............................. $ 468,943 $ 546,840 $ 998,046 $ 1,201,860 $ 531,038 $ 614,339
Operating expenses:
Costs of production................. 396,893 459,788 837,928 971,789 444,534 484,154
Selling, general and
administrative.................... 23,481 28,680 56,616 107,483 41,777 63,102
Depreciation........................ 10,576 10,533 20,826 34,756 15,036 23,000
Amortization of intangibles......... 11,125 8,100 19,093 17,003 8,337 8,288
Merger costs........................ -- -- -- 1,486 -- --
---------- ---------- ---------- ------------ ---------- ----------
442,075 507,101 934,463 1,132,517 509,684 578,544
---------- ---------- ---------- ------------ ---------- ----------
Operating income...................... 26,868 39,739 63,583 69,343 21,354 35,795
---------- ---------- ---------- ------------ ---------- ----------
Other expenses (income):
Interest expense.................... 18,314 19,072 38,209 34,965 16,507 19,504
Amortization of deferred financing
costs............................. 1,699 1,598 3,333 3,002 1,473 972
Interest income..................... (43) (442) (678) (712) (369) (222)
Loss on sale of Webcraft Games,
Inc............................... -- -- -- 14,277 -- --
Other, net.......................... 345 5,749 7,795 12,813 7,978 3,861
Preferred dividends of a
subsidiary........................ 1,166 1,068 2,346 -- -- --
---------- ---------- ---------- ------------ ---------- ----------
21,481 27,045 51,005 64,345 25,589 24,115
Income (loss) before income taxes..... 5,387 12,694 12,578 4,998 (4,235) 11,680
Income tax expense (benefit).......... 3,333 6,203 9,750 8,283 (2,368) 5,606
---------- ---------- ---------- ------------ ---------- ----------
Income (loss) before extraordinary
item................................ 2,054 6,491 2,828 (3,285) (1,867) 6,074
Extraordinary item, net............... -- (19,248) (19,248) (2,078) (1,892) (2,959)
---------- ---------- ---------- ------------ ---------- ----------
Net income (loss)..................... $ 2,054 $ (12,757) $ (16,420) $ (5,363) $ (3,759) $ 3,115
---------- ---------- ---------- ------------ ---------- ----------
---------- ---------- ---------- ------------ ---------- ----------
</TABLE>
31
<PAGE>
GENERAL
The cost of paper is a principal factor in the Company's pricing to certain
customers and consequently the cost of paper significantly affects net sales.
The Company is generally able to pass increases in the cost of paper to its
customers, while declines in paper costs generally result in lower prices to
customers. Volatility in paper costs results in a corresponding volatility in
the Company's net sales, but generally has not affected volume or profits to any
significant extent. In late July and early August of 1997 several newsprint
producers, including those used by the Company, announced an increase in the
price of newsprint of between $35 to $40 per metric ton, to take effect in the
fourth quarter of 1997. At this time, the Company does not anticipate this
increase to have a significant impact on its results of operations or financial
position for the remainder of 1997.
Capacity in the paper industry has remained relatively stable in recent
years. Increases or decreases in demand for paper have led to corresponding
pricing changes and, in periods of high demand, to limitations on the
availability of certain grades of paper, including grades utilized by the
Company. The Company believes that its strong relationships with major North
American paper suppliers should enable the Company to satisfy its paper
requirements on competitive terms even in periods of high demand.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
COMPARISON OF THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 1997 WITH THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE
30, 1996
Net sales increased to $614.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 1997
from $531.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 1996, an increase of $83.3
million or 15.7%. The increase resulted from the addition of the operations of
Webcraft, PrintCo., Inc. ("PrintCo"), Pacific Color Connection, Inc. ("Pacific
Color"), Designer Color Systems, Ltd. ("DCS") and Digital Dimensions, Inc.
("DDI") (collectively the "1996 Acquisitions"). In addition to the 1996
Acquisitions, higher volume at TC Advertising, new customer growth in pre-media
services and strong demand for direct mail products also contributed to the
increase in sales. The increase was offset by the sale of Webcraft Games, Inc.
in the fourth quarter of 1996, softness in catalog and commercial games printing
and by a decrease in TC Advertising's (excluding PrintCo) net sales as a result
of lower paper costs in 1997. Paper costs were 36.0% of the Company's net sales
for the six months ended June 30, 1997 as opposed to 46.1% of net sales for the
six months ended June 30, 1996.
Operating income for the six months ended June 30, 1997 was $35.8 million
compared to $21.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 1996, an increase of
$14.4 million or 67.6%. A net $12.2 million increase resulted from the inclusion
of the operations of the acquisitions made in 1996, offset by the sale of
Webcraft Games, Inc. Demand for the Company's higher margin products also
contributed to the increase in operating income. Costs of production as a
percent of sales decreased to 78.8% for the six months ended June 30, 1997 from
83.7% for the six months ended June 30, 1996, principally attributable to the
decrease in the cost of paper and the inclusion of the operations of the 1996
Acquisitions where paper is less of a component of costs. Selling, general and
administrative expenses increased to $63.1 million in the six months ended June
30, 1997 from $41.8 for the six months ended June 30, 1996, an increase of $21.3
million or 51.0% which is principally due to the 1996 Acquisitions. Depreciation
was $23.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 1997 compared to $15.0
million for the six months ended June 30, 1996, an increase of $8.0 million or
53.0%. The increase in depreciation was attributable to the 1996 Acquisitions
and increased capital expenditures throughout 1996 and 1997 at TC Advertising.
Net interest expense, including the amortization of deferred financing fees,
for the six months ended June 30, 1997 was $20.5 million compared to $18.0
million for the six months ended June 30, 1996. Interest expense increased due
to higher average debt levels in 1997 as a result of the 1996 Acquisitions.
Other, net, was $3.9 million in the six months ended June 30, 1997 compared
to $8.0 million in the comparable period in 1996, which prior period included
$5.0 million in non-recurring financing costs related to the acquisition of
Webcraft. For the six months ended June 30, 1997, other, net includes charges
32
<PAGE>
of $2.9 million related to the A/R Securitization compared to $1.4 million of
recurring costs for the six months ended June 30, 1996.
The extraordinary item, net of tax, of $1.9 million in 1996 was due to early
extinguishment of debt subsequent to the acquisition of Webcraft. The
extraordinary item, net of tax, of $3.0 million in 1997 was due to early
extinguishment of debt in connection with the Old Credit Facility.
The effective income tax rate for the six months ended June 30, 1997 and
1996 exceeded the federal statutory tax rate due primarily to amortization of
certain goodwill (which is not deductible for income tax purposes) and state
income taxes.
The Company will adopt Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No. 128,
"Earnings Per Share" ("SFAS 128") in the fourth quarter of 1997, as required.
The standard specifies the computation, presentation and disclosure requirements
for earnings per share.
COMPARISON OF THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996 WITH THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
1995
Net sales increased 20.4% or $203.8 million. The addition of the operations
of Laser Tech, Webcraft and their acquisitions for the year ended December 31,
1996 generated an increase of approximately $302.5 million. This increase was
offset by a net decrease in TC Advertising's net sales after the effect of the
fourth quarter 1996 acquisition of PrintCo which generated approximately $28.2
million in sales. Due to a soft retail advertising environment, TC Advertising's
volume was slightly below the prior year. In addition, paper costs, which
significantly affect net sales, were 42.2% of the Company's net sales for the
year ended December 31, 1996 compared to 49.8% of the Company's net sales for
the year ended December 31, 1995. The decrease in paper costs as a percent of
sales is attributable to lower paper prices and acquisitions where paper is less
of a component of costs.
Operating income increased to $69.3 million in the year ended December 31,
1996 from $63.6 million in the year ended December 31, 1995, an increase of $5.8
million or 9.1%. Costs of production as a percent of sales decreased from 84.0%
to 80.9%, principally attributable to the inclusion in 1996 of the operations of
Laser Tech, Webcraft and their acquisitions. In addition, the cost of paper had
an effect on cost of production as a percent of sales for TC Advertising.
Selling, general and administrative costs increased approximately $50.9 million
to $107.5 million for the year ended December 31, 1996 compared to $56.6 million
for the year ended December 31, 1995. The addition of Laser Tech, Webcraft and
their acquisitions increased selling, general and administrative costs by $53.5
million. Amortization of intangibles decreased by $2.1 million from $19.1
million for the year ended December 31, 1995 to $17.0 million for the year ended
December 31, 1996. Certain intangibles related to the acquisition of KTB and
Retail Graphics became fully amortized during the year ended December 31, 1995
offset by the amortization of the goodwill associated with the 1996
acquisitions. Costs of $1.5 million incurred in connection with the merger with
Scanforms also affected operating income in the year ended December 31, 1996.
Net interest expense for the year ended December 31, 1996 was $37.3 million
compared to $40.9 million for the year ended December 31, 1995. Amortization of
deferred financing costs decreased $1.5 million from $3.3 million for the year
ended December 31, 1995 to $1.8 million for the year ended December 31, 1996
(excluding the amortization of interest rate swap fees of $1.2 million). In
connection with the initial public offering of Big Flower (the "Equity
Offering") in November of 1995, the Company repurchased the remainder of its
13 1/2% senior discount notes due 2004 (the "13 1/2% Notes"), 11% debentures due
2005 ("11% Debentures") and a portion of the 10 3/4% Notes. Additional
borrowings in 1996 under the Company's revolving credit facility have been at
lower interest rates.
Other, net increased $5.0 million from $7.8 million for the year ended
December 31, 1995 to $12.8 million for the year ended December 31, 1996. The
increase principally reflects $5.2 million in non-recurring charges related to
the acquisition of Webcraft in March of 1996.
33
<PAGE>
During the fourth quarter of 1996, the Company recorded a $14.3 million loss
on the disposition of its lottery production division, Webcraft Games, Inc.
Management believes that the disposition will enable the Company to focus on
Webcraft's growth-oriented products such as customized direct mail.
The extraordinary item, net of tax, of $2.1 million was due to early
extinguishment of debt subsequent to the acquisitions of Webcraft and PrintCo.
The effective income tax rate for the year ended December 31, 1996 and 1995
exceeded the federal statutory tax rate due primarily to amortization of
goodwill (which is not deductible for income tax purposes), preferred dividends
of a subsidiary, state income taxes and, in 1996, the loss on the sale of
Webcraft Games, Inc.
Net income for the year ended December 31, 1996, adjusted for non-recurring
charges of (i) approximately $2.7 million of compensation expenses related to
the acquisition of DCS and DDI, (ii) $1.5 million of merger expenses associated
with the acquisition of Scanforms, (iii) a $14.3 million loss related to the
sale of Webcraft Games, Inc., (iv) $5.2 million of financing costs related to
the acquisition of Webcraft, and (v) a $2.1 million loss on debt extinguishment
subsequent to the acquisitions of Webcraft and PrintCo, would have been $14.4
million, or $0.78 cents per share.
COMPARISON OF THE SIX MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1995 WITH THE SIX MONTHS ENDED
DECEMBER 31, 1994
Net sales increased to $546.8 million for the six months ended December 31,
1995 from $468.9 million for the six months ended December 31, 1994, an increase
of $77.9 million or 16.6%. Volume increased approximately 1%. Paper costs, which
significantly affect net sales, were 51.9% of net sales for the six months ended
December 31, 1995, compared to 45.3% of net sales for the six months ended
December 31, 1994.
Operating income for the six months ended December 31, 1995 increased to
$39.7 million compared to $26.9 million for the six months ended December 31,
1994, an increase of $12.9 million or 47.9%. Despite higher paper costs, costs
of production as a percent of net sales decreased to 84.1% for the six months
ended December 31, 1995 from 84.6% for the six months ended December 31, 1994.
Variable costs (excluding paper and ink costs) were 6% lower for the six months
ended December 31, 1995 compared to the prior comparable period. These reduced
variable costs were the result of higher volume, efficiency improvements and
cost controls. The increase in operating income for the six months ended
December 31, 1995 was also favorably impacted by the addition of Laser Tech in
late November and improved operating performance at the facilities acquired with
KTB and Retail Graphics in April 1994. Amortization of intangibles for the six
months ended December 31, 1995 was $8.1 million compared to $11.1 million for
the six months ended December 31, 1994. Amortization of certain intangible
assets associated with the acquisitions of TC Advertising, KTB and Retail
Graphics was $3.4 million lower in the six months ended December 31, 1995
compared to the prior comparable period as several of these assets became fully
amortized. Offsetting the lower amortization of intangible assets in the six
months ended December 31, 1995 was an increase in the provision for doubtful
accounts of $1.6 million reflecting the higher volume and conditions in certain
sectors of the retail market and $2.7 million due to higher personnel and
related costs and the addition of Laser Tech operations since late November
1995.
Net interest expense for the six months ended December 31, 1995 was $20.2
million compared to $20.0 million for the six months ended December 31, 1994.
Amortization of deferred financing costs were $1.6 million for the six months
ended December 31, 1995 and $1.7 million for the six months ended December 31,
1994. Interest expense for the six months ended December 31, 1995 included $12.9
million in net interest on the 10 3/4% Notes and the 13 1/2% Notes, and $6.0
million in net interest on other debt, primarily under the credit agreement
entered into by TC Advertising in April 1994 (the "1994 TCA Credit Agreement").
Other, net for the six months ended December 31, 1995 was $5.7 million
compared to $0.3 million for the six months ended December 31, 1994. The other,
net, for the six months ended December 31, 1995
34
<PAGE>
included $1.6 million for the consolidation of two operating locations, and $3.7
million to complete the relocation of TC Advertising's corporate office to
Baltimore, Maryland from Glendora, California.
The extraordinary item, net of tax, of $19.2 million was due to early
extinguishment of debt as discussed in "--Liquidity and Capital Resources"
below.
The effective income tax rate for the six months ended December 31, 1995 and
1994 exceeded the federal statutory tax rate due primarily to amortization of
goodwill (which is not deductible for income tax purposes), preferred dividends
of a subsidiary and state income taxes.
Net income for the six months ended December 31, 1995 and December 31, 1994
on a pro forma basis, reflecting the impact of the Equity Offering of shares of
the Company's Common Stock and related transactions, would have been $10.1
million, or $0.56 cents per share, and $6.9 million, or $0.38 cents per share,
respectively. Excluding the effects of the second quarter charges for the
consolidation of two operating locations and to complete the relocation of TC
Advertising's corporate office, net income for the six months ended December 31,
1995 would have been $13.3 million, or $0.74 cents per share.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
The operations of the Company historically have been funded with
internally-generated funds, term loans and borrowings under revolving credit
facilities and proceeds from the Company's initial public offering in November
1995. The Company believes that internally-generated funds from operations, the
New Credit Facility and the A/R Securitization will be sufficient to meet its
operating requirements for the near future.
The Company's current liabilities exceeded current assets by $18.3 million
at June 30, 1997 compared with $30.8 million at December 31, 1996, an increase
in working capital of $12.5 million. Excluding the effects of the A/R
Securitization, working capital at June 30, 1997 and December 31, 1996 would
have been $60.1 million and $49.0 million, respectively. The ratio of current
assets to current liabilities as of June 30, 1997 was 0.89 to 1 (1.35 to 1
excluding the A/R Securitization), and as of December 31, 1996 was 0.84 to 1
(1.25 to 1 excluding the A/R Securitization).
Net cash provided by operating activities for the six months ended June 30,
1997 was $42.1 million, an increase of $20.7 million from the prior comparable
period in 1996 (excluding the proceeds from the sale of accounts receivable).
Net cash used in investing activities were financed primarily through borrowings
under the Old Credit Facility and the A/R Securitization.
On October 4, 1996, the Company entered into a six-year agreement (the "A/R
Securitization") pursuant to which it may sell fractional undivided beneficial
interests in a designated pool of certain eligible accounts receivable. The
maximum allowable amount of receivables to be sold is $150.0 million. The amount
outstanding at any measurement date varies based upon the level of eligible
receivables. Under the terms of the agreement, the Company has retained
substantially the same risk of credit loss as if the receivables had not been
sold and, accordingly, the full amount of the allowance for doubtful accounts
has been retained. At June 30, 1997, a $78.4 million interest had been sold
under the A/R Securitization and is reflected as a reduction of accounts
receivables. Fees of this program vary based on a Eurodollar rate plus an
average margin of 3/8% per annum on the amount of interest sold. This rate is
lower than the rate under the New Credit Facility.
On June 12, 1997, the Company (i) entered into the New Credit Facility with
a group of lenders providing for up to $475.0 million of revolving credit loans
and (ii) terminated the Old Credit Facility and repaid its loans thereunder. The
New Credit Facility provides greater borrowing capacity on more favorable terms,
including lower interest rates, and covenant terms which the Company believes
provide greater financial flexibility and will favorably impact interest expense
in the second half of 1997. The New Credit Facility will mature on June 12,
2002. Interest on revolving loans will be payable at the Company's option (a) at
a base rate plus a margin which ranges from 0.00% to 0.75% or (b) at a
Eurodollar-based rate
35
<PAGE>
plus a margin which ranges from 0.50% to 1.75%. The New Credit Facility also
contains covenant requirements and certain dividend restrictions which are
customary for such financings. See "Description of the New Credit Facility."
In June 1997, the Company issued $250 million of the 8 7/8% Notes. Interest
on the 8 7/8% Notes is payable semi-annually on January 1st and July 1st. In
connection with the issuance of 8 7/8% Notes, the Company commenced a tender
offer and consent solicitation for all of its outstanding 10 3/4% Notes. The
tender offer for the 10 3/4% Notes expired on July 23, 1997. On July 24, 1997,
the Company purchased substantially all the 10 3/4% Notes for approximately $137
million, which was funded through borrowings under the New Credit Facility.
Capital expenditures of $35.1 million and $21.5 million for the six months
ended June 30, 1997 and 1996, respectively, were financed by cash from
operations and borrowings under existing credit facilities.
The Company has grown through acquisitions and continues to seek similar or
complementary businesses. Such acquisitions are likely to require the incurrence
and/or assumption of indebtedness and other obligations, the issuance of equity
securities or some combination thereof. In addition, the Company may from time
to time determine to sell or otherwise dispose of certain of its existing
businesses. However, the Company cannot predict if any transactions will be
consummated, nor the terms or forms of consideration required in such
transactions. The Company's recent acquisitions are discussed in Note 2 of the
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
SEASONALITY
TC Advertising's advertising insert business is seasonal in nature, with
activity increasing prior to the following advertising periods: Easter (March
15-April 15); Memorial Day (April 15-May 15); Back to School (July 15-August
15); and Thanksgiving/Christmas (October 1-December 15). Sunday comics,
newspaper TV listing guides, other newspaper products and other publications are
not seasonal in nature. Net sales percentages for the Company by quarter for the
twelve months ended December 31, 1996 were 19%, 25%, 26% and 30% of total net
sales for the quarters ended March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31,
respectively. Based on its historical experience and projected operations, the
Company expects its operating results to be highest in the quarter ended
December 31 and weakest in the quarter ended March 31.
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BUSINESS
ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
The following chart sets forth the current organizational structure of Big
Flower. Big Flower directly or indirectly owns 100% of all of its subsidiaries.
Any reference to TC Advertising, Webcraft or Laser Tech includes their
respective subsidiaries unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
[LOGO]
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Products and
Services:
Advertising Inserts Personalized Direct Mail Digital Photography
TV Listing Magazines Fragrance Samplers Electronic Retouching
Sunday Comics Commercial Games Digital Image Scanning
Sunday Magazines Promotional Stamps Facilities Management
Special Supplements Non-Speciality Digital Asset Management
Premedia Services Commercial Printing Page Assembly
Electronic Image Output
Proofing
Packaging
</TABLE>
INTRODUCTION
The Company is a leading advertising and marketing services company which
provides integrated advertising solutions through its three principal operating
units: TC Advertising, Webcraft and Laser Tech. TC Advertising is a leading
producer of advertising insert programs for retailers, and produces TV listing
magazines, Sunday comics, Sunday magazines and special supplements for many of
the most widely circulated U.S. newspapers. Webcraft is a market leader in
producing highly customized direct mail and specialty advertising products such
as commercial games and fragrance samplers. Laser Tech is a leading provider of
outsourced, digital premedia and content management services to retailers,
advertising agencies, and consumer product companies. The Company and its
subsidiaries are currently focused on the advertising insert, direct mail and
premedia sectors of the industry.
INDUSTRY SECTORS
MARKET DATA USED THROUGHOUT THIS PROSPECTUS WAS OBTAINED FROM INDUSTRY
PUBLICATIONS AND INTERNAL COMPANY ESTIMATES. WHILE THE COMPANY BELIEVES SUCH
INFORMATION IS RELIABLE, THE ACCURACY OF SUCH INFORMATION HAS NOT BEEN
INDEPENDENTLY VERIFIED AND CANNOT BE GUARANTEED.
37
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ADVERTISING INSERTS. The Company believes that the advertising inserts
industry sector generates revenues of $8 to $9 billion per year, with
approximately 50% of the dollars for the production of inserts and the balance
for distribution of the product. The Company believes this industry sector will
continue to grow as non-traditional insert users have begun including inserts in
their media plans and traditional users such as retailers are spending more of
their advertising dollars in this medium.
The Company further believes advertising insert usage will expand as
advertisers require more versions of their inserts and targeted distribution
services for their messages. According to the Newspaper Association of America,
local retail advertising has changed to a greater reliance on inserts as
advertisers demand more targeting of their message, a distribution method that
run of press ("ROP") advertising is not capable of providing.
DIRECT MAIL. The Company believes that in the individualized industry
sector in which Big Flower operates, customized direct mail expenditures account
for $20.8 billion per year, with approximately 33% going to the production of
direct mail and the remainder to other services, including agency services, data
analysis and manipulation and creative development.
According to the 1996 Veronis, Suhler and Associates Communications Industry
Forecast, "More than three-quarters of U.S. companies use direct mail, and most
find it a powerful tool in meeting their marketing objectives. In addition to
generating sales directly, direct mail has proven to be effective in explaining
complex issues to consumers and business decision makers and in introducing a
new product or service."
PREMEDIA. The Company believes that the premedia industry sector exceeds
$5.3 billion annually, and will continue to grow with the emergence of new
distribution technologies such as CD-ROM and the World Wide Web that use
digitized images. The business, which includes the traditional preparation of
materials for print such as promotional items and advertising inserts, has
recently expanded to include the capture, storage and manipulation of image
management and the management of facilities which house these services. The
Company believes that as its customers require more versions of their
advertising inserts and other advertising and marketing messages, the demand for
easy retrieval and manipulation of images will grow. In addition, there is a
growing pattern of outsourcing of facilities management of premedia services
from which the Company has been benefitting and expects to continue to benefit.
BUSINESS STRATEGY
The Company's strategic objective is to enhance its position as an
integrated provider of a diverse range of advertising and marketing services
across a broad spectrum of media. Through internal growth and acquisitions, Big
Flower aims to broaden its technology and services in a manner that allows its
subsidiaries to interact dynamically to create both new services for existing
customers and new customers for its traditional products.
Marketers aim to reach target customers with the most effective message and
the greatest possible impact. Technological advancements increasingly allow
marketers to understand customer preferences and to differentiate and
individualize advertising messages. Big Flower's strategy is to assist its
customers by providing a broad array of advertising and marketing services which
capitalize on these advancements. Key elements of this strategy include the
following:
PROVIDE INTEGRATED ADVERTISING SOLUTIONS FOR CUSTOMERS. The Company
believes that by combining the products and services of TC Advertising, Webcraft
and Laser Tech it can work with customers to develop cost-effective and
comprehensive solutions to their particular advertising and marketing needs. Big
Flower has the expertise to work with customers from inception of an advertising
concept through layout design and production, to targeting and distribution of
the printed product, thereby helping customers achieve their advertising goals
in a cost-effective manner. For example, for a recent store opening by a home
improvement retailer, Big Flower presented the customer with a five-piece plan
that combined TC
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Advertising's and Webcraft's capabilities. The campaign involved two "teaser"
direct mail items, followed by an individualized, highly-customized direct mail
package that included a pre-approved credit card for the customer. The fourth
piece was a 72-page advertising brochure distributed through the local
newspaper, followed by a large, glossy advertising insert. The Company believes
that by integrating its digital premedia services, advertising insert
capabilities, geographic and demographic insert targeting programs and highly
customized direct mail and specialty products, it offers its customers certain
solutions not offered by the Company's competitors.
DEVELOP TARGETED ADVERTISING PROGRAMS. The Company's customers are
increasingly targeting their advertising messages based on more detailed
knowledge of consumers and what they buy. Big Flower has responded to this trend
in all of its businesses:
- TC ADVERTISING'S Market Reach system enables the Company to attract new
categories of customers by providing them with tools to utilize the
targeted distribution capabilities of major market newspapers. Advertisers
can customize their advertising to match the demographic characteristics
and other targeting requirements of over 12,000 newspaper delivery zones
in the nation's top 150 designated market areas.
- WEBCRAFT'S highly individualized, multiple component direct mail campaigns
utilize information refined from customers' databases as well as
Webcraft's own expertise in direct mail personalization techniques.
- LASER TECH'S image management expertise allows customers' images to be
stored, archived, and retrieved to and from any remote location. Images
stored in Laser Tech's system can have multiple applications across a
variety of advertising media. For example, in addition to their use in
print media, images are readily accessible for use in Web sites and
inclusion in CD-ROMs. The Company's Digital Dimensions business unit also
provides consulting and development services to large clients, assisting
them in the development of high impact, commercially effective Web sites.
MAXIMIZE CROSS-SELLING OPPORTUNITIES. Currently, TC Advertising serves a
large customer base of regional and national retailers, while Webcraft's and
Laser Tech's customer base consists mainly of national manufacturers,
advertising agencies and marketing companies. Big Flower has established
employee incentive compensation programs to promote cross-selling of the entire
Big Flower products and services lines. For example, TC Advertising has begun
providing advertising insert programs to Webcraft's direct mail customers, while
Webcraft has begun to deliver targeted direct mail advertising on behalf of TC
Advertising's retail clients. TC Advertising also has begun to provide
Webcrafts's commercial games to its retail customers. In addition, certain
premedia functions previously performed by customers of TC Advertising and
Webcraft are now performed by Laser Tech under facilities management agreements.
CAPITALIZE ON NATIONAL DIGITAL WORKFLOW PLATFORM. The Company continues to
optimize its nationwide digital network capability that employs
telecommunications technologies to connect TC Advertising's and Laser Tech's
facilities, enabling the Company and its customers to conceive, manipulate,
transmit, produce and distribute their advertising concepts seamlessly on a
national scale. The platform development is based on open-standard digital
communications technologies and is continuously refined to meet a customer's
particular needs. It currently connects customers and the production centers at
all Laser Tech facilities and 14 of the TC Advertising production facilities.
Each TC Advertising production facility is equipped to meet the rapid output
requirements of highly-versioned insert advertising programs, using efficient
state of the art, digital page processing systems.
PURSUE STRATEGIC ACQUISITIONS. Big Flower continues to review opportunities
to extend its businesses and markets in the advertising and marketing services
industry and to build its TC Advertising, Webcraft and Laser Tech business
units. In addition, Big Flower adds value to strategic acquisitions by
identifying operating synergies, effective cost savings and improving
efficiency. Since its initial acquisitions of TC
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Advertising, Laser Tech and Webcraft, Big Flower has expanded its products and
services through a number of strategic acquisitions that increased the span and
scope of each of these industry sectors.
- In April 1994, the Company acquired KTB and Retail Graphics, increasing TC
Advertising's capacity and broadening its customer base in the advertising
insert industry sector. In October 1996, the Company completed the
acquisition of PrintCo, a Michigan-based company specializing in
advertising insert programs and TV listing guides. This acquisition added
significant retail accounts to the Company's customer base and PrintCo's
new production lines brought needed capacity to TC Advertising's central
group. These additional production facilities will also enhance the
Company's ability to improve turnaround time and reduce delivery costs.
- In October 1996, the Company acquired Scanforms, a full-service direct
mail advertising company based in Bristol, Pennsylvania. With the
acquisition of Scanforms, the Company expanded its customer base among
leading financial service and publishing companies as well as added
additional high quality laser personalization and short-run to its line of
products and services. The addition of Scanforms enables the Company to
offer its customers fast-turnaround products ranging from specialty
applications in regional markets to longer-run direct mail for nationwide
targeted, customized mailings.
- In October 1996, the Company acquired Pacific Color, thereby enhancing its
expertise in digital premedia services as well as expanding its presence
in California. In the first half of 1996, Pacific Color launched two new
businesses, Innerlogic, specializing in internet production services, and
Big Color, a large format advertising products group that services the
outdoor advertising industry. In addition, Pacific Color's Pacific Display
division produces large format direct digital printing for banners, trade
show displays and billboards up to 16.6' x 96'. Furthermore, in December
1996, the Company acquired DCS and DDI, increasing its premedia presence
in the Midwest and enhancing its on-line digital imaging services. DDI's
software, which allows the Company's customers to store, browse, and
retrieve data and images from a centralized database and repository, will
enhance the Company's digital imaging services platform and support the
imaging needs of its customers. With the addition of DCS, the Company has
the capacity to design and produce interactive multimedia systems for
electronic catalogs and ordering systems as well as provide internet Web
Site design and execution. Furthermore, DCS's significant retail
advertising insert and catalog production expertise will enhance the
Company's ability to service its retail customer base.
ADVERTISING INSERT PROGRAMS AND NEWSPAPER PRODUCTS
The Company produces advertising insert programs for leading retailers and
produces Sunday magazines, TV listing guides and special supplements for some of
the most widely circulated U.S. newspapers. For the 1996 fiscal year, the
Company produced more than 22 billion advertising inserts, 1.6 billion Sunday
comics, 140 million locally edited Sunday magazines and 620 million TV listing
guides. The Company estimates that this represents 19%, 49%, 18% and 20%,
respectively, of the total advertising inserts, Sunday comics, Sunday magazines
and TV listing guides produced in the U.S. in 1996. The Company believes it is
the largest producer of advertising insert programs in the United States. TC
Advertising, the Company's operating unit in this industry sector, is
headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland and operates a national network of 18
production facilities.
PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
BACKGROUND.
The Company believes the advertising insert programs industry sector in the
U.S. has grown at a faster rate in recent years than overall newspaper
advertising expenditures and exceeded $8 billion in 1996. Industry research
indicates that more than 75% of consumers read advertising inserts appearing in
their
40
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Sunday newspaper. In addition, between 40% and 50% of adult readers use
advertising inserts for making their purchasing decisions in key retail
categories.
ADVERTISING INSERT PROGRAMS. Advertising inserts are stand-alone
advertisements, generally in color, and display a broad range of products sold
by a single retailer or manufacturer. The primary users of advertising insert
programs are general merchandisers, specialty retailers, grocery stores, home
improvement centers and drug stores. Advertising inserts are placed in
newspapers, mailed to consumers or distributed in stores. Advertising inserts
can be produced in color on better quality paper than the reproductions that
typically appear in ROP newspapers. Advertising insert programs also allow users
to vary layout, artwork, design, trim size, paper types, color and formats. TC
Advertising's mix of printing capabilities, which include both heatset and cold
web offset presses, enables it to provide a variety of formats and designs to
meet the diverse needs of its retailing customer base. TC Advertising produces
advertising insert programs for leading U.S. retailers such as American Drug
Stores; Circuit City; The Home Depot; J.C. Penney; Kmart; Lowe's Companies,
Inc.; Montgomery Ward; Safeway; Sears; Walgreens and Wal-Mart.
OTHER NEWSPAPER PRODUCTS AND OTHER PUBLICATIONS. The Company produces TV
listing magazines, Sunday comics, Sunday magazines and special supplements for
over 300 newspapers, including approximately two-thirds of the 50 most widely
circulated newspapers in the United States.
TC Advertising is the largest single producer of newspaper TV listing guides
in the United States. As of December 31, 1996, TC Advertising produced newspaper
TV listing guides for 26 newspapers including The Baltimore Sun, The Boston
Globe, The Los Angeles Times, The Newark Star-Ledger, Newsday, The New York
Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer and The San Francisco Chronicle.
TC Advertising is the largest producer of Sunday comics nationwide. As of
December 31, 1996, TC Advertising produced Sunday comics for approximately 275
newspapers, including The Atlanta Journal, The Baltimore Sun, The Denver Post,
The Los Angeles Times, The Miami Herald, The Newark Star-Ledger and The
Philadelphia Inquirer.
PREMEDIA SERVICES. In connection with its advertising insert programs and
other newspaper publications, the Company offers a number of premedia services
including creative and composition, digital photography, image management, film
output, digital file transfer and facilities management.
ADVERTISING INSERT SECTOR BUSINESS STRATEGY
The Company's business strategy for this industry sector is to maximize the
effectiveness of the advertising insert medium for its customers. Successful
application of this strategy will enable TC Advertising's customers to deliver
their advertising and marketing messages on a cost efficient basis, and will
drive profitability for the Company in its core business of producing
advertising insert programs and newspaper publications. The cornerstone of this
strategy is the continued development of an organization that focuses on
assisting customers in maximizing the effectiveness of their advertising
dollars. Key elements of this strategy include:
NATIONWIDE VERSIONING CAPABILITY. As the only advertising insert producer
offering a national network of both heatset and cold web offset production
facilities, TC Advertising is able to meet the diverse needs of its customers
and achieve significant cost and distribution advantages. TC Advertising
simultaneously produces major national advertising insert programs and other
products in multiple locations, thereby accelerating turnaround time and
reducing shipping costs to the customers' locations. Furthermore, this
nationwide network allows TC Advertising's customers to use a single advertising
insert producer to target specific distribution areas or distribute different
versions of an insert program in different targeted parts of the United States.
As the Company develops its national digital work-flow platform, TC Advertising
expects to improve efficiencies for insert versioning, improve the timeliness of
advertising inserts by
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reducing the production and distribution cycle time and enhance the cost
effectiveness of advertising inserts versus other advertising media.
TARGETED DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM. TC Advertising has developed a database
information system which enables advertisers to use insert programs to target
messages specifically to potential customers meeting the advertisers' desired
geographic, demographic and purchase pattern profiles, resulting in more cost-
effective advertising.
MEASURED MEDIA APPROACH. TC Advertising is marketing advertising insert
programs as a specific category of measured media, like radio or television. TC
Advertising believes that if insert programs are considered a specific measured
media category, TC Advertising may be in a better position to compete for
advertising budgets. To establish advertising insert programs as a specific
measured media category, TC Advertising has developed proprietary research that
positions the power of advertising inserts against other types of measured
media.
COMPETITIVE COST POSITION. TC Advertising maintains stringent cost controls
and has implemented programs to enhance efficiency and improve profitability in
recent years. These programs have resulted in increased press speeds, reduced
paper waste and improved capacity utilization. As one of the largest consumers
of newsprint and ink in the United States, TC Advertising believes it is able to
achieve significant purchasing economies under most market conditions.
PRODUCTION LOAD-LEVELING. TC Advertising has implemented programs which
target the newspaper, grocery and other industry groups whose production needs
are weekly in frequency. Printing services for these industry groups create a
more balanced, load-leveling production environment, allowing TC Advertising to
improve planning and utilization of its production capacity. In addition, TC
Advertising is constantly refining its pressline configurations to optimize
equipment utilization, to improve operating efficiencies and to improve service
and flexibility to meet the changing needs of its customers.
SALES AND CUSTOMERS
The Company's sales force in this industry sector is organized into
geographic business groups. Its four regional geographic groups in this industry
sector cover the eastern, central and western United States and with the
acquisition of PrintCo, TC Advertising has added coverage of the upper Midwest
U.S. These sales professionals draw upon their industry expertise, knowledge of
retailing and the Company's production capabilities to help customers achieve
their advertising objectives on a cost-effective basis. The Company's top ten
customers in this industry sector, which accounted for 39% of the Company's
sales in this industry sector in 1996, were American Drug Stores; Circuit City;
The Home Depot; Kmart; Lowe's Companies, Inc.; Montgomery Ward; Sears;
Walgreens; Wal-Mart and Western Colorprint. No single customer represented more
than 6.3% of such sales in 1996. As of December 31, 1996, the average length of
the Company's relationship with such top ten customers was approximately 12
years. Consistent with industry practice, TC Advertising generally does not have
long-term contracts with its customers requiring them to use its products or
services. The Company does not believe that the loss of any single customer of
TC Advertising would have a material adverse effect on the Company's
consolidated financial condition or results of operations.
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The following table presents the sales by type of customer as a percentage
of total TC Advertising sales:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PERCENTAGE OF
TC ADVERTISING
CUSTOMER TYPE SALES IN 1996
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------
<S> <C>
General merchandisers................................................................... 23.6%
Grocery stores.......................................................................... 15.8
Specialty retail and furniture.......................................................... 15.3
Home improvement centers................................................................ 14.7
Drug stores............................................................................. 11.2
Non-retail products..................................................................... 3.6
---------------
Total advertising inserts......................................................... 84.2
Sunday comics........................................................................... 6.0
Newspaper TV listing guides............................................................. 5.9
Other newspaper products and other publications......................................... 3.9
Total............................................................................. 100.0%
---------------
---------------
</TABLE>
COMPETITION
This industry sector is highly fragmented, and TC Advertising competes with
numerous regional and local companies for the production of advertising insert
programs. TC Advertising also competes for national accounts with several large
producers, some of which have greater resources than the Company. TC Advertising
believes that it and four other companies account for approximately 50% of the
advertising insert market in the United States, with more than 140 regional and
local producers accounting for the balance. In addition, TC Advertising's
products compete with television, radio and other forms of print media. TC
Advertising's main independent competitor in the production of Sunday newspaper
comics is Sullivan Graphics, a division of Sullivan Communications, Inc.,
although some newspapers print their own comics and others could do so. TC
Advertising's newspaper TV listing guides, Sunday magazine and newspaper
supplement operations also face strong competition both from other printers and
newspapers. TC Advertising's major competitors in these areas are R.R. Donnelley
& Sons Company, Quebecor, Inc. and Sullivan Communications, Inc. Although
commercial printing in the United States remains highly fragmented, recent
technological developments and over-capacity in the printing industry have
increased industry consolidation and competitive pressures. The principal
methods of competition in these businesses are pricing, quality, timeliness of
delivery and customer service. Pricing is dependent in large part upon the
prices of paper and ink, which are the major components of TC Advertising's
products. Pricing is also influenced by shipping costs, operating efficiencies
and the ability to control costs. TC Advertising believes that the introduction
of new technologies and continued excess capacity in this industry sector,
combined with the cost pressures facing its customers resulting from among other
things, the cost of paper and postal rates, have resulted in downward pricing
pressures and increased competition in its core businesses. See "--Additional
Company Information--Raw Materials."
DIRECT MAIL AND OTHER ADVERTISING SERVICES
The Company produces highly-customized direct mail, fragrance samplers,
promotional stamps and commercial games. In addition, the Company produces
non-specialty products such as enhanced envelopes and government forms. The
Company's operating unit in this industry sector, Webcraft, is headquartered in
Horsham, Pennsylvania and has production facilities in Bristol and Chalfont,
Pennsylvania, Newark and North Brunswick, New Jersey and Salisbury, Maryland.
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PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
BACKGROUND
The Company believes that in the individualized direct mail industry sector
in which Webcraft operates, customized direct mail expenditures account for
$20.8 billion per year, with approximately 33% going to the production of direct
mail and the remainder to other services, including agency services, data
analysis and manipulation, and creative development. Media expenditures for
direct mail advertising grew at an average annual rate of 7.1% for the period
1991-1996, compared to an average annual growth rate for overall advertising
spending of 6.5% for the period 1991-1996 according to the 1996 DMA/WEFA Group
Study -- "Economic Impact: U.S. Direct Marketing Today." The Company believes
more advertisers will use personalized direct mail techniques as mailing list
databases grow in both volume of information stored and sophistication.
SPECIALTY PRODUCTION
PERSONALIZED DIRECT MAIL. The majority of the Company's revenues in this
industry sector are derived from the in-line production of personalized
advertising mailings which are produced by ink-jet, laser and electropress
systems, integrated with an advanced data processing capability. Personalized
direct mail enables consumer goods and other marketers to communicate with their
customers on an individual-by-individual basis rather than relying on the broad
non-personalized mailings which typically generate lower response rates. The
Company can process and manipulate databases to enable its customers to target
direct mail recipients based on a combination of more than a dozen attributes,
including the recipient's age, gender, address, spending habits, such as type of
car owned, or whether the recipient is a pet owner. Personalized direct mail is
frequently used in conjunction with larger print, radio or television
promotional campaigns.
The primary users of the Company's personalized direct mail products are
consumer goods and financial services companies and non-profit institutions.
Major customers include Chrysler Corp.; Dean Witter; Publishers Clearing House;
Reader's Digest Association, Inc.; RJR Nabisco Holdings Corp. and U.S. Sales.
FRAGRANCE SAMPLERS. Fragrance samplers are product samples, typically of
perfume, which are distributed to potential purchasers of the fragrance through
magazine inserts or as billing statement stuffers for major department stores.
Webcraft is a leading producer of highly specialized fragrance samplers because
of its ability to produce an accurate rendition of the perfume being marketed
and its technological expertise in the microencapsulation of the fragrance.
Webcraft recently patented technology that allows for multiple uses of a single
magazine scent strip. Webcraft's customers in fragrance samplers include Calvin
Klein, Inc.; Elizabeth Arden, Co. and Estee Lauder, Inc.
COMMERCIAL GAMES. Commercial games are typically used to increase traffic
to retail establishments by offering customers an opportunity to win various
prizes. For example, fast food restaurants give customers scratch-off tickets
which offer prizes ranging from a soft drink to cash. There are no significant
recurring customers in this area of Webcraft's business since commercial games
are used in specific promotional campaigns.
STAMPS. Webcraft's stamp products include booklets and sheets of gummed,
round-hole perforated stamps. Webcraft produces stamps using special in-line
grinders that create the same quality of perforation found in U.S. postage
stamps. Webcraft believes that certain technologies it employs in producing
stamps, such as the ability to generate letters with attached stamp sheets, give
Webcraft a special advantage. Significant customers include The American Lung
Association; National Wildlife Federation; Publishers Clearing House and
Reader's Digest Association, Inc.
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NON-SPECIALTY PRODUCTION
OTHER PRODUCTS AND SERVICES. A significant portion of Webcraft's
non-specialty production involves the production of enhanced envelopes, which
are essentially simple printed products involving the formation of an envelope
such as catalog order forms, film mailers and airline ticket jackets. Webcraft
also produces specialty chemicals, adhesives and coatings. The Company believes
that in 1997, approximately 87% of these products will be sold to industry
customers and the remainder will be used internally.
DIRECT MAIL SECTOR BUSINESS STRATEGY
The Company's business strategy in this industry sector is to increase
revenues and maximize profitability in its core business of direct mail products
and customized advertising products. The cornerstone of this strategy is to
improve the effectiveness of its customers' advertising products by developing
customized formats and offering complex personalization capabilities designed to
increase response rates. The key elements of this strategy include:
TECHNOLOGICAL EXPERTISE. Webcraft believes that the continued development
of its production processes enables it to consistently provide high quality
products and services at competitive prices. Webcraft's technological focus is
on its in-line finishing process that combines the personalizing, folding,
cutting and collecting of several multi-color pieces into a formed envelope in
one step, shortening the time needed to produce complex finished products.
Additionally, its unique combination of format design, multi-stage
personalization and outer wrap (envelope) configurations often provides
customers with superior response rates to their direct marketing programs. These
same processes also enable Webcraft to provide its products more rapidly than
many of its competitors. Webcraft believes that these capabilities are becoming
increasingly important as lead time becomes more compressed and customers demand
faster turn around times to respond to time-sensitive market opportunities. In
addition, with the acquisition of Scanforms, Webcraft's ink-jet technology is
now complemented by Scanforms' laser imaging process. Furthermore, the
conversion of new customers from the more traditional method of laser imaging of
Scanforms to Webcraft's in-line method is made easier because Webcraft will
initially be able to provide services to these new customers in the laser
process they are familiar with before they are converted to Webcraft's in-line
method.
NEW PRODUCTS. Webcraft will continue to work with its customers to develop
new products to meet their advertising needs. Webcraft's in-line process,
coupled with advanced design and personalization capabilities, gives Webcraft an
advantage versus its competitors in improving the effectiveness of its
customers' direct mail products. In addition, with the acquisition of Scanforms,
Webcraft now offers short-run direct mail capabilities.
ENTER NEW MARKETS. Webcraft will also continue to develop new customers and
will work with Laser Tech and TC Advertising to target the retail industry.
LEVERAGE DATABASE EXPERTISE. Webcraft intends to use its expertise in
managing database information to work with its customers to design more
cost-effective campaigns.
COST CONTROL AND PRODUCTIVITY IMPROVEMENTS. Webcraft has developed a cost
control program which focuses on minimizing waste, reducing labor-intensive
processes and making its selling effort more efficient. In addition, management
has implemented several programs to improve profitability, including
reorganizing its management information systems and business acquisitions
systems, which allow Webcraft to utilize press time more effectively. Webcraft
has implemented a new order confirmation system that strengthens its
relationships with its customers, by providing accurate and detailed job
specifications and electronic templates for ease of customer formatting.
Webcraft has also instituted a new make-ready program, resulting in significant
reduction of make-ready time. This has resulted in lowering set-up costs and
increasing total production capacity of the installed base of equipment.
Furthermore, the recent
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acquisition of Scanforms strengthens Webcraft's position in the financial
services market because it greatly expands capacity for magnetic ink readable
code checks products.
SALES AND CUSTOMERS
The Company employs 46 sales representatives in this industry sector. They
are based in 14 U.S. sales offices in 11 states and the District of Columbia.
While the majority of these sales are made directly to end users, the Company
also sells its direct mail products and services through advertising agencies,
brokers and other agents. The Company's principal customer groups include
consumer goods manufacturers, mail order and catalog publishers, fragrance
marketers, financial institutions, non-profit organizations and other government
agencies. The Company's ten largest customers in this industry sector (including
Calvin Klein, Inc.; Publishers Clearing House; RJR Nabisco Holdings Corp. and
U.S. Sales), accounted for approximately 32% of its sales in this industry
sector in 1996. On average, these customers had over a nine year relationship
with the Company.
Webcraft has a contract with the United States Postal Service to supply
Express Mail labels through September 1997. This contract provides for a pass
through of paper cost changes over the length of the contract through a formula
provided in the contract.
The balance of Webcraft's sales are typically covered by purchase orders
from the client and signed sales confirmations from Webcraft. These documents
detail the terms and conditions of sale. Prices typically vary from project to
project because each job is unique with its own variables, including run
quantity, dimensions of the printed piece, personalization, special materials
such as scratch off, die cuts and a number of other criteria. The Company does
not believe that the loss of any single customer of Webcraft would have a
material adverse effect on the Company's consolidated financial condition or
results of operations.
COMPETITION
In this industry sector, the Company competes with a number of different
firms in each of its principal lines of direct mail business. The primary
competitive factors in its specialty markets are quality, flexibility, service,
timeliness of delivery and price. However, in certain non-specialty markets,
such as the enhanced envelope and government printing markets, price is often
the dominant factor. In the personalized direct mail product category, the
Company's major competitors are Banta Direct Marketing Group, a division of
Banta Corporation; Moore Response Marketing Services, a division of Moore
Business Forms, Inc.; Communicolor, a division of Standard Register Company; and
World Color Press, Inc. In the fragrance sampler line of business, the Company
believes that its major competitor is Arcade, Inc. The Company's primary
competitor in commercial games products and services is Dittler Brothers, Inc.
In the production of stamps, the Company's major competitors are Fleming-Potter
Co., Connecticut Color, Inc. and Cyril-Scott Company. In the non-specialty
category, the products produced do not have the same complexity as products
produced in Webcraft's specialty printing services. Because of this lack of
complexity, there are a number of printers capable of competing with the Company
in this area. Major competitors in the non-specialty market include Cyril-Scott
Company and Double Envelope Corp. (Convertagraphics). Increases in printing
press capacity in this segment have led to over-capacity in recent years, with
resulting pricing pressures. Webcraft's management has responded to these
pressures by lowering its cost structure for producing non-specialty products.
SALE OF LOTTERY BUSINESS
In December 1996, Webcraft sold the stock of Webcraft Games, Inc., its
lottery production subsidiary. This sale will enable Webcraft's management to
better focus on its core businesses. In addition, the sale has provided
expansion capability for direct mail production at Webcraft's North Brunswick
facility, a portion of which was previously used for lottery production. See
"Management's Discussion and Analysis of
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Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and Note 4 of the Notes to the
December 31, 1996 Consolidated Financial Statements.
PREMEDIA SERVICES
The Company provides a full line of digital premedia services for the
advertising, retail catalog and packaging industries. Services and technology
include digital photography studios, leading-edge desktop publishing and
client/server software and hardware, turnkey catalog and advertising insert
production, electronic retouching systems, large film output, Cyrel photopolymer
platemaking, and digital image management systems for high speed image
retrieval. The Company's operating unit in the premedia sector, Laser Tech, is
headquartered in Irving, Texas and has eleven production facilities in the U.S.
and manages four facilities at client locations.
PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
BACKGROUND. The Company believes that premedia products and services exceed
$5.3 billion annually, with compound annual growth rates approaching 5% over the
past three years. Laser Tech believes that the digital premedia sector will
continue to grow with the emergence of new distribution technologies such as
CD-ROM and the World Wide Web that use digitized images. Furthermore, the
acceleration of digital technologies used in premedia services has necessitated
greater data processing expertise and comparatively greater capital expenditure,
leading many businesses to outsource their premedia requirements.
ELECTRONIC PREMEDIA ("EPM") OPERATIONS. EPM involves the electronic
capture of black and white or full color pictures and image retouching
combined with text and graphics into a page layout suitable for distribution
in a print or new media format such as CD-ROM or the World Wide Web. The
Company's comprehensive line of EPM services include the following:
DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY. The Company operates eight fully equipped digital
photography studios capable of capturing images greater than 100 megabytes
for an output print size of up to 20" x 30".
ELECTRONIC RETOUCHING. The Company offers its customers high-end
facilities for electronic creation or retouching of visual images. The
resulting digital image can be output as color transparency or offset film
or distributed for Internet or CD-ROM publication.
DIGITAL IMAGE SCANNING. The Company scans and color corrects
transparencies, photo prints or illustrations, then outputs the digital
image file to a variety of media for print or electronic distribution.
PAGE ASSEMBLY. The Company places digital image files into customer
page layouts to form finished printable advertising materials. These same
digital files can be re-formatted for output to digital media such as
Internet or multi-media. The Company utilizes MacIntosh-TM- and Windows
NT-TM- desktop publishing technologies as well as UNIX-based-TM-
client/server technologies from Silicon Graphics, Inc., Sun Microsystems,
Inc., Digital Equipment Corporation, Inc. and others.
ELECTRONIC OUTPUT. The Company outputs completed digital image files to
a variety of output media, including regular and oversize lithographic
films, color transparency, digital printing plate, digital new media such as
the Internet or CD-ROM as well as direct digital color display graphics.
PROOFING. For each digital image file produced, the Company offers a
variety of color proofing methods from direct digital methods in which the
digital file is output to a color proof prior to final media output, to
conventional analog proofs in which lithographic films are exposed onto
color proofing materials. The Company operates low cost remote digital
proofing facilities at many customer locations to provide the customer
virtually instantaneous access to final digital files.
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PACKAGING. The Company offers full service specialized services to
packaging customers in image capture, art production, page assembly,
proofing and photopolymer platemaking tailored for both lithographic and
flexographic packaging products. Packaging products require different skill
sets and capabilities than advertising materials due to the varied
manufacturing technologies peculiar to consumer packaging reproduction.
FACILITIES MANAGEMENT. Laser Tech's Facilities Management division
specializes in providing on-site digital premedia services to agencies,
corporate advertisers or printers. Services may include only one or all of
Laser Tech's service offerings. Facilities Management sites typically
involve long-term contracts and minimum annual revenue commitments.
DIGITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT. The digital files that produce printed
advertising materials or digital new media materials must be organized,
stored and made available for re-use. The "file rooms" of yesterday are
giving way to electronic digital asset libraries for storage, retrieval and
reuse of digital files. Laser Tech has developed MAXCESS-TM- (Media Access)
application software to provide a turnkey technology solution to advertisers
who desire to manage their digital assets for re-use or re-sale to third
parties. Laser Tech's Image Technology Group is developing additional
enhancements to MAXCESS-TM- to add advertising production capabilities to
the original storage and retrieval platform. The acquisition of DDI brought
Vision Bank to the Laser Tech asset management offering. Vision Bank is a
low entry cost, scaleable enterprise software solution for digital asset
management.
PREMEDIA SECTOR BUSINESS STRATEGY
The Company's objective in this industry sector is to become the leading
provider of outsourced, digital premedia and content management services to
retailers, advertising agencies, and consumer product companies. Key elements of
this strategy include:
DEVELOP DIGITAL IMAGE MANAGEMENT NETWORKS. Laser Tech continues to develop
systems to provide its customers with greater access to and control over their
advertising images. Accordingly, it has formed the Image Technology Group to
develop an interactive image management system which links advertisers and
graphic designers with a database of images. The database enables them to avoid
re-creation costs and streamline production flows by creating, storing,
retrieving, and editing their advertisements through on-line connections from
their offices. Laser Tech continues to work with TC Advertising to integrate its
digital premedia communications network with TC Advertising's production
facilities.
ENTER NEW MEDIA MARKETS. Laser Tech is leveraging its electronic premedia
services into the emerging technology markets of electronic distribution of
information via the World Wide Web, CD-ROM and other electronic delivery
methods. Laser Tech's traditional customer base is actively seeking to exploit
these emerging media distribution channels. Laser Tech believes that these new
distribution methods, combined with an increasing need for digital archiving and
retrieval of digital images, present significant growth opportunities for Laser
Tech.
EXPAND OUTSOURCING FACILITIES. Laser Tech maintains multiple facilities in
major markets across the country as well as "outsourced services" sites on
customers' premises and at various TC Advertising production sites. Electronic
imaging hubs are being developed to service Laser Tech's regional and national
customer base. These hubs will provide first-line and overflow imaging
manufacturing support for regional and national sales efforts.
LEVERAGE EXISTING MARKETS. In conjunction with TC Advertising, Laser Tech
is focusing on providing services to the substantial retail customer base of TC
Advertising, including electronic premedia services, image storage and retrieval
services, and customized application software for increased production
efficiency for both print and new media distribution channels. Furthermore, the
acquisition of DCS
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enhanced Laser Tech's ability to service its retail customer base with DCS's
significant retail advertising insert and catalog production expertise.
SALES AND CUSTOMERS
The Company's premedia sales force is organized into four market categories
with 55 sales representatives in 13 offices. The Company's principal customer
groups in the premedia sector include magazine, retail catalog and advertising
insert producers, consumer product packaging manufacturers, advertising
agencies, and consumer goods manufacturers and retailers. The largest of these
customers include DDB Needham Worldwide; Kmart; Office Depot; RJR Nabisco
Holdings Corp.; Tyson Foods, Inc. and Wal-Mart. The Company does not believe
that the loss of any single customer of Laser Tech would have a material adverse
effect on the Company's consolidated financial condition or results of
operations.
COMPETITION
The premedia industry sector is highly fragmented and undergoing a period of
consolidation. The Company's major competitors in this sector are Applied
Graphics Technologies, Inc., Wace USA and Schawk, Inc. The major competitive
factors in the premedia business are price, quality of finished products,
distribution capabilities, ongoing customer service and availability of time on
equipment which is appropriate in size and function for a given project. The
consolidation of customers within certain of the Company's premedia businesses
provides both greater competitive pricing pressures and opportunities for
increased volume solicitation.
ADDITIONAL COMPANY INFORMATION
RAW MATERIALS
In 1996, Big Flower spent approximately $610 million on raw materials. The
primary raw materials required in the Company's printing operation are paper,
ink, plates and adhesives and in its premedia operations are film, chemicals,
computer supplies and proofing materials. The Company believes that there are
adequate sources of supply for its primary raw materials and that its
relationships with its suppliers yield improved quality, pricing and overall
service to its customers. Although there can be no assurance that the Company's
sources of supply for its paper will be adequate in all circumstances, in the
event that such sources are not adequate, the Company believes that alternative
sources can be developed in a timely manner.
The Company's results of operations depend to a large extent on the cost of
paper and the ability of the Company to pass along to its customers any
increases in these costs and remain competitive when there are decreases. In
recent years, the Company has substantially reduced the number of its suppliers
of paper and has formed stronger commercial relationships with such suppliers,
resulting in its ability to negotiate favorable price discounts and achieve more
assured sourcing of high quality paper that meets the Company's specifications.
In connection with its acquisition by Big Flower, TC Advertising entered
into a long-term ink supply agreement with a single supplier, effective July 31,
1993, pursuant to which it is obligated to purchase from such supplier a
substantial portion of its annual requirements for ink. The terms of this
agreement are confidential.
Webcraft also has an ink supply agreement with a supplier pursuant to which
Webcraft is obligated until August 1998 to purchase from such supplier not less
than 80% of Webcraft's annual requirements for ink for heatset and flexographic
inks at all plants operated by Webcraft. Price is determined on a price per
pound basis that is subject to adjustments based on competitive pricing. In
addition, Webcraft enjoys an incentive program based on annual purchase levels.
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The Company internally produces most of the adhesives needed for its
printing operations, through its adhesives and coatings subsidiary, Webcraft
Chemicals, Inc. ("Webcraft Chemicals"), but believes that there are other ready
sources for these products. This subsidiary also supplies a variety of specialty
chemicals for unusual format applications. Webcraft Chemicals is currently
working with other Big Flower companies to increase sales of adhesives, coatings
and other specialty chemicals to these potential customers.
TRADE NAMES, TRADEMARKS AND PATENTS
The Company owns certain trade names, trademarks and patents used in its
business. The loss of any such trade name, trademark or patent would not have a
material adverse effect on the Company's consolidated financial condition or
results of operations.
SEASONALITY
TC Advertising's advertising insert business is seasonal in nature, with
activity increasing prior to the following advertising periods: Easter (March
15-April 15); Memorial Day (April 15-May 15); Back to School (July 15-August
15); and Thanksgiving/Christmas (October 1-December 15). Sunday comics,
newspaper TV listing guides, other newspaper products and other publications are
not seasonal in nature. Net sales percentages for the Company by quarter for the
twelve months ended December 31, 1996 were 19%, 25%, 26% and 30% of total net
sales for the quarters ended March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31,
respectively. Based on its historical experience and projected operations, the
Company expects its operating results to be highest in the quarter ended
December 31 and weakest in the quarter ended March 31.
GOVERNMENTAL REGULATIONS
The Company's business is subject to a variety of federal, state and local
laws, rules and regulations. The Company's production facilities are governed by
laws and regulations relating to workplace safety and worker health, primarily
the Occupational Safety and Health Act ("OSHA") and the regulations promulgated
thereunder. Except as described herein, the Company is not aware of any pending
legislation that in its view is likely to affect significantly the operations of
the Company's business. The Company believes that the operations of its
subsidiaries comply substantially with all applicable governmental rules and
regulations.
ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS
Certain of the Company's operations are subject to federal, state and local
environmental laws and regulations concerning the discharge, storage, handling
and disposal of hazardous or toxic substances. Such laws and regulations provide
for significant fines, penalties and liabilities, in certain cases without
regard to whether the owner or operator of the property knew of, or was
responsible for, the release or presence of such hazardous or toxic substances.
In addition, third parties may make claims against owners or operators of
properties for personal injuries and property damage associated with releases of
hazardous or toxic substances. The Company cannot predict what environmental
legislation or regulations will be enacted in the future or how existing or
future laws or regulations will be administered or interpreted. The Company
therefore cannot predict the amount of future expenditures which may be required
in order to comply with any environmental laws or regulations or to satisfy any
such claims. Based on currently available information, the Company believes that
its operations comply substantially with all applicable environmental laws and
regulations.
The Company's acquisition of Webcraft resulted in certain obligations under
the New Jersey Industrial Site Recovery Act, formerly known as the Environmental
Cleanup Responsibility Act (together, "ISRA"), which is triggered by the
transfer of industrial property. For the four New Jersey sites, the New
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Jersey Department of Environmental Protection ("NJDEP") approved the transfer of
Webcraft's facilities without requiring any further investigatory or cleanup
work under ISRA. At two sites, Webcraft and the NJDEP agreed that Webcraft would
continue to maintain financial guarantees that were previously established
pursuant to ISRA (in the amounts of $30,000 and $1,000,000), continue site
investigations that were already underway, and institute remediation measures as
appropriate, based on its investigations. At the third site, Webcraft
established a nominal financial guarantee which the Company believes will be
sufficient to cover the costs of investigating and remediating contamination
discovered there. At the fourth site, no financial guarantee was required by the
NJDEP, which has subsequently issued a letter confirming that the ISRA matter is
complete. The Company has obtained an indemnification from the selling
shareholders of Webcraft for certain costs resulting from pre-existing
conditions pertaining to Webcraft, including but not limited to environmental
matters. This indemnification is subject to certain limitations, including
threshold requirements and a maximum liability cap of $4.8 million. With respect
to Webcraft's ISRA obligations, the Company believes, based on the
indemnification agreement, as well as potential contribution from a third party
for contamination at one such site, and existing cost estimates for all such
sites, that its liability for such matters will not have a material adverse
effect on the Company's consolidated financial position or results of
operations. However, there can be no assurance that such matters will not
ultimately have such an effect.
TC Advertising and Webcraft have been identified as potentially responsible
parties ("PRPs") for the cleanup of contamination resulting from disposals of
hazardous waste pursuant to the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended ("CERCLA" or "Superfund")
and analogous state laws. Courts have interpreted CERCLA to impose strict, joint
and several liability upon all persons liable for response costs at a cleanup
site if the harm at the site is indivisible. This generally means that each
responsible party could be held liable for the entire costs of the necessary
response actions at a Superfund site. As a practical matter, however, at sites
where there are multiple PRPs for a cleanup, the costs of cleanup typically are
allocated, according to a volumetric or other standard, among the parties.
CERCLA also provides that responsible parties generally may seek contribution
for the costs of cleaning up a site from other responsible parties. Thus, if one
party is required to clean up an entire site, that party can seek reimbursement
or recovery of such costs from other responsible parties.
TC Advertising has been identified as a PRP at two sites pursuant to CERCLA,
and one additional site pursuant to analogous state environmental laws and
regulations, to which sites TC Advertising, among others, sent waste in the
past. TC Advertising believes that, with respect to one site, its liability will
not be material, and the Company has established a nominal reserve to cover any
such liability. With respect to the other two sites, TC Advertising believes
that it is, or may be responsible for a very minor portion, if any, of the total
cleanup costs at each such site. As a result, based on a review of the data
available to the Company regarding each such site, including the number and
viability of other PRPs, the minor volumes of waste which TC Advertising is
alleged to have contributed, the range of likely cleanup costs, and a comparison
of TC Advertising's alleged liability at each such site to settlements
previously reached by TC Advertising in similar cases, the Company believes that
such matters will not result in liabilities or expenditures that will have a
material adverse effect on the Company's consolidated financial position or
results of operations. Nonetheless, because neither the final total cleanup
costs at each of the remaining sites have been ascertained nor TC Advertising's
final proportionate share determined, there can be no assurance that such
matters, or any similar liabilities that arise in the future, will not
ultimately have such an effect.
Webcraft has been identified as a PRP at two sites pursuant to CERCLA and/or
analogous state law, to which site Webcraft, among others, sent waste in the
past. Based on the minor volumes of waste which Webcraft is alleged to have
contributed, the range of likely cleanup costs, and the indemnification
agreement between the Company and the selling shareholders of Webcraft, the
Company believes that this matter will not result in liabilities or expenditures
that will have a material adverse effect on the Company's
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consolidated financial position or results of operations. However, because
neither the final total cleanup costs at these sites have been ascertained nor
Webcraft's final proportionate share determined, there can be no assurance that
such matters, or any similar liabilities that arise in the future, will not
ultimately have such an effect.
In addition, in 1990, the United States Environmental Protection Agency
("EPA") identified Webcraft, among others, as a PRP pursuant to CERCLA for
regional groundwater contamination in the vicinity of Webcraft's Chalfont,
Pennsylvania facility. Webcraft responded to the EPA notice disclaiming any
responsibility for such contamination. As of the present time, Webcraft has
heard nothing further from the EPA regarding this matter. Based on an
indemnification agreement with the prior site owner, as well as the
indemnification agreement with the selling shareholders of Webcraft, the Company
believes that its liability, if any, at this site will not have a material
adverse effect on the Company's consolidated financial position or results of
operations. However, because the nature of the claim has not been ascertained,
there can be no assurance that such matter will not ultimately have such an
effect.
EMPLOYEES
As of May 1, 1997, the Company had approximately 6,419 employees, of which
approximately 1,233 were salaried and 5,186 were hourly. Most of Webcraft's
hourly employees at its North Brunswick and Newark, New Jersey facilities are
represented by the United Paper Workers International Union, AFL-CIO. Webcraft
entered into a new three-year contract with this union on February 1, 1995.
Under this agreement, represented employees will receive an hourly base rate
increase of 3% in 1997. The Company believes it has satisfactory employee and
labor relations.
PROPERTIES
The Company maintains a large number of diverse properties. Management
believes that these properties, taken as a whole, are generally well maintained
and are adequate for current and foreseeable business needs. The majority of
these properties are leased. Substantially all of the Company's materially
important physical properties are being fully utilized. The Company's properties
are covered by all-risk and liability insurance which the Company believes is
customary for the industry.
EXECUTIVE OFFICES
Big Flower, TC Advertising, Webcraft and Laser Tech each lease their
executive offices in New York City, New York; Baltimore, Maryland; Horsham,
Pennsylvania and Irving, Texas, respectively. The lease terms for Big Flower's,
Webcraft's and Laser Tech's facilities expire in November 2006, February 1998
and September 1999, respectively. TC Advertising occupies its executive offices
pursuant to two leases that expire in December 2000 and December 2005,
respectively.
PRODUCTION FACILITIES
As of May 1, 1997, the Company owned 11 and leased 23 production facilities,
with lease terms expiring from September 30, 1997 to May 30, 2006, as set forth
below:
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<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
APPROXIMATE LAND TITLE; IF LEASED,
TC ADVERTISING LOCATIONS SQUARE FOOTAGE LEASE TERM EXPIRATION
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------- ----------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Atlanta, GA............................................................... 100,057 Fee Ownership
Charlotte, NC............................................................. 105,400 December 31, 2002
City of Industry, CA...................................................... 103,000 September 30, 2001
Columbus, OH.............................................................. 141,185 December 31, 2004
Dallas, TX................................................................ 90,000 September 30, 2002
East Longmeadow, MA....................................................... 159,241 February 3, 2006
Elk Grove Village, IL..................................................... 80,665 August 31, 2002
Greenville, MI............................................................ 130,000 Fee Ownership
Lenexa, KS................................................................ 90,000 Fee Ownership
Manassas, VA.............................................................. 108,120 February 28, 2003
Niles, MI................................................................. 90,000 Fee Ownership
Pomona, CA................................................................ 144,542 May 31, 2006
Portland, OR.............................................................. 125,250 October 31, 2002
Sacramento, CA............................................................ 57,483 Fee Ownership
Salt Lake City, UT........................................................ 55,000 October 31, 1997
San Antonio, TX........................................................... 67,900 Fee Ownership
Saugerties, NY(1)......................................................... 209,000 Fee Ownership
Tampa, FL................................................................. 72,418 October 31, 1999
WEBCRAFT LOCATIONS
Bristol, PA............................................................... 132,000 Fee Ownership
Chalfont, PA.............................................................. 320,000 Fee Ownership
Newark, NJ................................................................ 23,000 Fee Ownership
Newark, NJ................................................................ 22,692 June 30, 1998
North Brunswick, NJ....................................................... 296,000 Fee Ownership
Salisbury, MD............................................................. 66,000 July 7, 1999
LASER TECH LOCATIONS
Atlanta, GA............................................................... 15,588 February, 2001
Carlsbad, CA.............................................................. 8,500 December 1, 1998
Dallas, TX................................................................ 15,000 September 30, 1997
Delray Beach, FL.......................................................... 2,500 February 28, 1998
Irvine, CA................................................................ 13,000 October 9, 1998
Irving, TX................................................................ 62,687 September 1, 1999
Mobile, AL................................................................ 4,200 June 30, 2000
Salt Lake City, UT(2)..................................................... 840 --
San Antonio, TX........................................................... 7,927 October 31, 1997
San Francisco, CA......................................................... 5,260 May 31, 2000
St. Louis, MO(1).......................................................... 38,000 May 30, 2006
</TABLE>
SALES OFFICES AND OTHER FACILITIES
As of May 1, 1997, the Company had 42 sales offices and five other
facilities. All of the sales offices and other facilities are leased, with lease
terms expiring from July 31, 1997 to June 30, 2006, with the exception of one
office which is owned.
- ------------------------
(1) Comprised of two adjacent facilities.
(2) Located within TC Advertising's Salt Lake City facility.
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LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
Certain claims, suits and complaints which arise in the ordinary course of
the Company's business have been filed or are pending against the Company. The
Company believes that all such matters either are adequately reserved for, are
covered by insurance, or would not, after taking into account the reserves
established and/or insurance in place, have a material adverse effect on the
Company's consolidated financial condition or results of operations, if
adversely determined against the Company.
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MANAGEMENT
The following table sets forth certain information regarding the directors
and executive officers of the Company, all of whom are U.S. citizens.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME AGE POSITIONS
- ------------------------------------------ --- ------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
R. Theodore Ammon......................... 47 Class III Director; Chairman of the Board
Peter G. Diamandis........................ 65 Class II Director
Robert M. Kimmitt......................... 49 Class I Director
Joan D. Manley............................ 64 Class II Director
Newton N. Minow........................... 71 Class I Director
Edward T. Reilly.......................... 50 Class III Director; President and Chief Executive Officer
Mark A. Angelson.......................... 46 Executive Vice President and General Counsel and Secretary
of the Board of Directors
Richard L. Ritchie........................ 50 Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
</TABLE>
Certain information regarding each person listed above, including such
person's principal occupation during the past five years and current
directorships, is set forth below. Unless indicated otherwise, all directors and
executive officers have had the indicated principal occupations for the past
five years.
R. THEODORE AMMON has been the Chairman of the Board of Big Flower since its
inception and was Chief Executive Officer from that date until April 1997. Mr.
Ammon was a General Partner of Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. (a New York and San
Francisco-based investment firm) from 1990 to 1992, and an executive of such
firm prior to 1990. Mr. Ammon is also a member of the Board of Directors of Host
Marriott Corporation, Culligan Water Technologies, Inc. and Samsonite
Corporation. In addition, Mr. Ammon serves on the Board of Directors of the New
York YMCA, Jazz @ Lincoln Center and the Institute of International Education,
and on the Board of Trustees of Bucknell University.
PETER G. DIAMANDIS has been a Director of Big Flower since September 1994.
Mr. Diamandis was Vice Chairman of Donnelley Marketing, Inc., a marketing
company, from 1991 through 1996. He has also been the Chairman of TVSM, Inc., a
magazine publishing company, since 1991. From 1988 to 1991, Mr. Diamandis served
as President and Chief Executive Officer of Hachette Publications, which
purchased Diamandis Communications Inc. in 1988. From 1987 to 1988, Mr.
Diamandis served as Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Diamandis
Communications Inc., a publisher of special interest magazines. In 1982, Mr.
Diamandis joined CBS Magazines ("CBS") as Vice President, Group Publisher,
Women's Day, and served as President of CBS from September 1983 to 1987. Mr.
Diamandis is a former Chairman of Magazine Publishers of America. Mr. Diamandis
serves on the Board of Trustees of Bucknell University.
ROBERT M. KIMMITT has been a Director of Big Flower since November 1996.
Since May 1997, he has been a partner in the law firm of Wilmer, Cutler &
Pickering. From 1993 to May 1997, Mr. Kimmitt was a managing director of Lehman
Brothers and head of its Washington office. Prior to joining Lehman Brothers,
Mr. Kimmitt served from 1991 to 1993 as American Ambassador to Germany, and from
1989 to 1991 as Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs. He was a partner
in the Washington office of Sidley & Austin from 1987 to 1989. Mr. Kimmitt
served as a member of the National Security Council staff at the White House
from 1978 to 1985 and General Counsel of the Department of the Treasury from
1985 to 1987. Mr. Kimmitt serves on the board of Mannesmann Corporation of
Duesseldorf, Germany, a global industrial, automotive, and telecommunications
company, and on the U.S. Group Council of BMW Corporation of Munich, Germany. He
is also on the Board of the German Marshall Fund.
JOAN D. MANLEY has been a Director of Big Flower since September 1994. Ms.
Manley retired from Time Incorporated in 1984, where she had held numerous
positions since 1960. At the time of her retirement, Ms. Manley was Group Vice
President and a director of Time Incorporated. Ms. Manley serves on the Board of
Directors of Aon Corporation, Sara Lee Corporation and Viking Office Products,
Inc. and is a Trustee of the Keystone Center.
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NEWTON N. MINOW has been a Director of Big Flower since September 1996.
Since 1991, Mr. Minow has been counsel to the law firm of Sidley & Austin, where
he served as Partner from 1965 to 1991. He also served as Chairman of the
Federal Communications Commission from 1961 to 1963. He is a director of Sara
Lee Corporation, Aon Corporation and Manpower, Inc. Mr. Minow is former Chairman
of the Carnegie Corporation of New York, a Trustee and former Chairman of the
Board of Trustees of The RAND Corporation, and former Chairman of the Board of
Governors of the Public Broadcasting Service. Mr. Minow is also a Life Trustee
of the University of Notre Dame and a Life Trustee of Northwestern University.
EDWARD T. REILLY has been Chief Executive Officer of the Company since April
1997, President of Big Flower since March 1996 and a Director of the Company
since June 1996. He was also the Chief Operating Officer of Big Flower from
March 1996 until April 1997. He is also a director of TC Advertising, Laser Tech
and Webcraft. Prior to joining Big Flower, Mr. Reilly held a variety of
executive positions with McGraw-Hill, Inc., a publishing and communications
company, in their Broadcast and Publication groups from 1968 to 1996, and served
as President of McGraw-Hill Broadcasting from 1987 to 1996. Mr. Reilly has been
active in television industry affairs, having served as the Chairman of the
Television Bureau of Advertising, a member of the Board of Directors of the Ad
Council and a member of the Board of Directors of the National Association of
Broadcasters. Mr. Reilly is also a Trustee of Lynchburg College.
MARK A. ANGELSON has been Executive Vice President and General Counsel and
Secretary of the Board of Directors of Big Flower since March 1996. He is also a
director of TC Advertising, Laser Tech and Webcraft. Prior to joining Big
Flower, Mr. Angelson practiced law with Sidley & Austin from 1982 to 1996. Mr.
Angelson was Co-Chair of Sidley's international operations, founder of the
firm's English law practice and manager of the firm's offices in Singapore, New
York and London. Mr. Angelson is admitted to practice law in the State of New
York, and as a solicitor in England and Wales. He is also a Trustee of American
School in London Foundation, Inc., a Fellow of Royal Society of Arts, a member
of the Advisory Board of Jobs for the Future, Inc. and a member of the Pilgrims
of Great Britain.
RICHARD L. RITCHIE has been Executive Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer of Big Flower since January 1997. Prior to joining Big Flower, Mr.
Ritchie served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of
Harte-Hanks Communications, Inc. from 1986 to 1996.
The directors of the Company are divided into three classes, designated
Class I, Class II and Class III. Each class consists, as nearly as possible, of
one third of the total number of directors constituting the entire Board of
Directors. Currently, the Class I directors are Messrs. Kimmitt and Minow; the
Class II directors are Mr. Diamandis and Ms. Manley; and the Class III directors
are Messrs. Ammon and Reilly. The Class I directors were initially elected, in
the case of Mr. Kimmitt, and reelected, in the case of Mr. Minow, at the 1996
Annual Meeting of Stockholders to hold office until the date of the 1999 Annual
Meeting of Stockholders; the initial Class II directors were elected to hold
office until the date of the 1997 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, and were
reelected for a three-year term at that time; and the initial Class III
directors were elected to hold office until the date of the 1998 Annual Meeting
of Stockholders and, in each case, until his or her successor is elected and
qualified and subject to his or her prior death, resignation, retirement,
disqualification or removal. At each annual meeting of stockholders, successors
to the class of directors whose term expires at that annual meeting shall be
elected for a three-year term. If the number of directors is changed, any
increase or decrease shall be apportioned among the classes so as to maintain
the number of directors in each class as nearly equal as possible, and any
additional directors of any class elected to fill a vacancy resulting from an
increase in such class shall hold office for a term that shall coincide with the
remaining term of that class, but in no case will a decrease in the number of
directors shorten the term of any incumbent director. The term of office of each
executive officer is until the organizational meeting of the Board of Directors
of the Company following the next annual meeting of the Company's stockholders
and until his successor is elected and qualified or until his prior death,
resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal.
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<PAGE>
PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS
The following table sets forth the beneficial ownership as of July 15, 1997
by each person known by the Company to be the beneficial owner of more than 5%
of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (constituting the only class of voting
stock of the Company), each director of the Company, each Named Executive
Officer, and all directors and current executive officers as a group.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED
-----------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
NAME AND ADDRESS OF AMOUNT AND NATURE OF
BENEFICIAL OWNER (A) OWNERSHIP (B) PERCENTAGE OF CLASS
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------- -------------------
R. Theodore Ammon (c).................................................. 2,317,144 12.5%
c/o Big Flower Press Holdings, Inc.
3 East 54th Street
New York, New York 10022
FMR Corp............................................................... 2,217,100 12.0%
82 Devonshire Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02109
EnTrust Capital Inc.................................................... 3,187,438 17.2%
650 Madison Avenue
New York, New York 10022
Peter G. Diamandis (d)................................................. 20,660 *
700 Canal Street
Stamford, Connecticut 06902
Robert M. Kimmitt (d).................................................. 19,561 *
c/o Wilmer, Cutler & Pickering
2445 M Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20037-1420
Joan D. Manley (e)..................................................... 15,965 *
P.O. Box 1353
Dillon, Colorado 80435
Newton N. Minow (f).................................................... 29,561 *
c/o Sidley & Austin
One First National Plaza
Suite 4800
Chicago, Illinois 60603
Edward T. Reilly (g)................................................... 47,800 *
c/o Big Flower Press Holdings, Inc.
3 East 54th Street
New York, New York 10022
</TABLE>
57
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED
-----------------------------------------
NAME AND ADDRESS OF AMOUNT AND NATURE OF
BENEFICIAL OWNER (A) OWNERSHIP (B) PERCENTAGE OF CLASS
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------- -------------------
<S> <C> <C>
(TABLE CONTINUED FROM PRECEDING PAGE)
Mark A. Angelson (h)................................................... 42,700 *
c/o Big Flower Press Holdings, Inc.
3 East 54th Street
New York, New York 10022
Richard L. Ritchie..................................................... -- --
c/o Big Flower Press Holdings, Inc.
3 East 54th Street
New York, New York 10022
All directors and current executive officers as a group (i)............ 2,493,391 13.47%
</TABLE>
- ------------------------
* Less than one percent.
(a) The Company also understands from Goldman, Sachs & Co. that as of such date,
that firm and its affiliates beneficially owned in excess of 5% of the
Common Stock in a combination of market making and investment advisory
capacities, and that its market making positions represented less than 5% of
the Common Stock.
(b) This column includes shares which directors and executive officers have the
right to acquire within 60 days. Except as otherwise indicated, each person
and entity has sole voting and dispositive power with respect to the shares
set forth in the table.
(c) Includes (x) 6,000 shares held by Mr. Ammon as general partner of a
partnership in which certain family members are the limited partners and
have 99% of the economic interests, (y) options to purchase 100,000 shares
of Common Stock which are presently exercisable and (z) 200 shares owned by
Mr. Ammon's minor children, as to which Mr. Ammon disclaims beneficial
ownership. Additionally, Mr. Ammon holds unvested options to purchase
200,000 shares of Common Stock, subject to vesting ratably in November 1997
and November 1998.
(d) Represents options to purchase shares of Common Stock which are presently
exercisable.
(e) Includes options to purchase 14,400 shares of Common Stock which are
presently exercisable.
(f) Includes options to purchase 19,561 shares of Common Stock which are
presently exercisable.
(g) Includes options to purchase 40,000 shares of Common Stock which are
presently exercisable.
(h) Includes options to purchase 37,500 shares of Common Stock which are
presently exercisable.
(i) Includes options to purchase 251,682 shares of Common Stock which are
presently exercisable.
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
On June 16, 1997, the Company announced the completion of a secondary
offering of 5,958,524 shares of its Common Stock. A further 750,000 shares were
sold on July 15, 1997 pursuant to the underwriters' over-allotment option. On
June 20, 1997, the Company announced the completion of the offering of the
Private Notes. Goldman, Sachs & Co. was one of the underwriters in both of these
transactions, and received total compensation of $3,250,000 in the secondary
offering and $1,040,000 in the Private Notes Offering. On June 24, 1997, the
Company commenced the Tender Offer, which expired on July 23, 1997. Goldman,
Sachs & Co. was a dealer manager and solicitation agent in the Tender Offer and
received compensation of $105,570.
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<PAGE>
DESCRIPTION OF THE NOTES
GENERAL
The Private Notes were, and the Exchange Notes will be, issued under an
indenture (the "Indenture") dated as of June 20, 1997 between the Company and
Fleet National Bank, as trustee (the "Trustee"). The following description of
the material provisions of the Indenture is a summary only, does not purport to
be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to all of the
provisions of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the "TIA"), and the
Indenture and the Notes issued thereunder, including the definitions therein of
certain terms. Prospective purchasers of the Notes are referred to the Indenture
and the TIA for a statement of such provisions. Capitalized terms used herein
and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings given to them in the
Indenture. For definitions of certain terms used in this section, see "--Certain
Definitions" below. References in this section to the "Company" include only Big
Flower Press Holdings, Inc. and not its Subsidiaries.
The Notes and the Exchange Notes will be considered collectively to be a
single class for all purposes under the Indenture, including, without
limitation, waivers, amendments, redemptions and Offers to Purchase.
PRINCIPAL, MATURITY AND INTEREST
The Notes are general unsecured obligations of the Company limited to $350.0
million in aggregate principal amount, of which $250.0 million were issued in
the offering of the Private Notes. Additional amounts may be issued in one or
more series from time to time, subject to the limitations set forth under
"--Certain Covenants--Limitation on Additional Indebtedness." The Notes will be
issued only in fully registered form without coupons in denominations of $1,000
and any integral multiple thereof.
The Notes will mature on July 1, 2007. The Notes bear interest at the rate
of 8 7/8% per annum from the date of issuance, payable semiannually on January 1
and July 1 of each year, commencing January 1, 1998, to the registered holders
of the Notes (the "Holders") at the close of business on the December 15 or June
15 immediately preceding such Interest Payment Date.
Principal, premium, if any, and interest on each of the Notes will be
payable, and the Notes may be presented for registration of transfer or
exchange, at the corporate trust office of the Trustee or such other office or
agency of the Company as may be designated by the Company for such purpose. At
the option of the Company, payment of interest may be made by check mailed to
the Holders at the addresses set forth on the registry books maintained by the
Trustee, who will initially act as registrar for the Notes.
OPTIONAL REDEMPTION
The Notes are not redeemable at the Company's option prior to July 1, 2002
(other than out of the net proceeds of certain issuances of Equity Interests of
the Company or upon a Change of Control as described below). The Notes will be
subject to redemption at the option of the Company, in whole or in part, upon
not less than 30 nor more than 60 days' notice, at the redemption prices
(expressed as percentages of the principal amount) set forth in the table below,
plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the applicable redemption date, if
redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning July 1 of the years indicated
in the table below:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR PERCENTAGE
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------
<S> <C>
2002.............................................................................. 104.438%
2003.............................................................................. 102.958%
2004.............................................................................. 101.479%
2005 and thereafter............................................................... 100.000%
</TABLE>
59
<PAGE>
Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any time prior to July 1, 2000, the
Company may also redeem up to 35% of the principal amount of the Notes
originally issued with the net proceeds from issuances of Equity Interests of
the Company (other than Redeemable Stock) at a redemption price equal to
108.875% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest to
the redemption date; PROVIDED that at least $162.5 million in aggregate
principal amount of the Notes must remain outstanding after each such
redemption. Any such redemption will be required to occur on or prior to 180
days after the receipt of the proceeds of such issuances of Equity Interests.
In addition, at any time on or prior to July 1, 2002, upon the occurrence of
a Change of Control that has been approved by a majority of the Board of
Directors of the Company as such Board of Directors was constituted immediately
prior to the transaction giving rise to such Change of Control, the Company may
redeem the Notes, in whole but not in part, at a redemption price equal to the
principal amount thereof plus the Applicable Premium plus accrued and unpaid
interest, if any, to the date of redemption. Notice of redemption of the Notes
pursuant to this paragraph shall be mailed to holders of the Notes not more than
30 days following the occurrence of a Change of Control. The Company may not
redeem Notes pursuant to this paragraph if it has made an offer to repurchase
the Notes with respect to such Change of Control.
"Applicable Premium" means, with respect to a Note, the greater of (i)
4.438% of the then outstanding principal amount of such Note and (ii)(a) the
present value of all remaining required interest and principal payments due on
such Note and all premium payments relating thereto assuming a redemption date
of July 1, 2002, computed using a discount rate equal to the Treasury Rate plus
75 basis points minus (b) the then outstanding principal amount of such Note
minus (c) accrued interest paid on the redemption date.
"Treasury Rate" means the yield to maturity at the time of computation of
United States Treasury securities with a constant maturity (as compiled and
published in the most recent Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15(519) which
has become publicly available at least two business days prior to the date fixed
for redemption (or, if such Statistical Release is no longer published, any
publicly available source of similar market data)) most nearly equal to the then
remaining term to July 1, 2002; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if the then remaining
term to July 1, 2002 is not equal to the constant maturity of a United States
Treasury security for which a weekly average yield is given, the Treasury Rate
shall be obtained by linear interpolation (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth
of a year) from the weekly average yields of United States Treasury securities
for which such yields are given, except that if the then remaining term to July
1, 2002 is less than one year, the weekly average yield on actually traded
United States Treasury securities adjusted to a constant maturity of one year
shall be used.
SELECTION AND NOTICE
In case of a partial redemption, selection of the Notes or portions thereof
for redemption shall be made by the Trustee by lot, pro rata or in such manner
as it shall deem appropriate and fair and in such manner as complies with any
applicable legal requirements. Notes may be redeemed in part in multiples of
$1,000 principal amount only. Notice of redemption will be sent, by first class
mail, postage prepaid, at least 30 days and not more than 60 days prior to the
date fixed for redemption to each Holder whose Notes are to be redeemed at the
last address for such Holder then shown on the registry books. If any Note is to
be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption that relates to such Note
shall state the portion of the principal amount thereof to be redeemed. A new
Note in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion thereof will be issued
in the name of the Holder thereof upon cancellation of the original Note. On and
after any Redemption Date, interest will cease to accrue on the Notes or part
thereof called for redemption as long as the Company has deposited with the
Paying Agent funds in satisfaction of the redemption price pursuant to the
Indenture.
60
<PAGE>
CHANGE OF CONTROL
In the event of a Change of Control (the date of such occurrence being the
"Change of Control Date"), if either (i) the Company does not redeem the Notes
as described under "--Optional Redemption" or (ii) such Change of Control occurs
after July 1, 2002, the Company shall notify the Holders in writing of such
occurrence and shall make an offer to purchase (the "Change of Control Offer"),
on a business day (the "Change of Control Payment Date") not later than 60 days
following the Change of Control Date, all Notes then outstanding at a purchase
price (the "Change of Control Purchase Price") equal to 101% of the principal
amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the Change of
Control Payment Date. Notice of a Change of Control Offer shall be mailed by the
Company not less than 30 days nor more than 45 days before the Change of Control
Payment Date. The Change of Control Offer is required to remain open from the
time of mailing for at least 20 business days and until the close of business on
the third business day prior to the Change of Control Payment Date. (For the
definition of Change of Control, see "--Certain Definitions--Change of Control"
below.)
If a Change of Control Offer is made, there can be no assurance that the
Company will have available funds sufficient to pay the Change of Control
Purchase Price for all of the Notes that might be delivered by Holders seeking
to accept the Change of Control Offer. In the event the Company is required to
purchase outstanding Notes pursuant to a Change of Control Offer, the Company
expects that it would seek third party financing to the extent it does not have
available funds to meet its purchase obligations. However, there can be no
assurance that the Company would be able to obtain such financing. The Company
shall not be required to make a Change of Control Offer upon a Change of Control
if a third party makes the Change of Control Offer in the manner, at the times
and otherwise in compliance with the requirements applicable to a Change of
Control Offer made by the Company and purchases all Notes validly tendered and
not withdrawn under such Change of Control Offer.
The Company will comply, to the extent applicable, with the requirements of
Section 14(e) under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws or
regulations (including Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act) in connection with the
repurchase of the Notes pursuant to a Change of Control Offer. To the extent
that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the
"CHANGE OF CONTROL" provisions of the Indenture, the Company shall comply with
the applicable securities laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to have
breached its obligations under the "CHANGE OF CONTROL" provisions of the
Indenture by virtue thereof.
Neither the Board of Directors of the Company nor the Trustee may waive the
covenant relating to a Holder's right to redemption upon a Change of Control.
Restrictions in the Indenture described herein on the ability of the Company and
its Restricted Subsidiaries to incur additional Indebtedness, to grant liens on
its property, to make Restricted Payments and to make Asset Sales may also make
more difficult or discourage a takeover of the Company whether favored or
opposed by the management of the Company. Consummation of any such transaction
in certain circumstances may require redemption or repurchase of the Notes, and
there can be no assurance that the Company or the acquiring party will have
sufficient financial resources to effect such redemption or repurchase. Such
restrictions and the restrictions on transactions with Affiliates may, in
certain circumstances, make more difficult or discourage any leveraged buyout of
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries by the management of the Company. While
such restrictions cover a wide variety of arrangements which have traditionally
been used to effect highly leveraged transactions, the Indenture may not afford
the Holders of Notes protection in all circumstances from the adverse aspects of
a highly leveraged transaction, reorganization, restructuring, merger or similar
transaction.
SUBORDINATION
The payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes
is subordinated in right of payment, as set forth in the Indenture, to the prior
payment in full in cash or cash equivalents of all Senior
61
<PAGE>
Indebtedness, whether outstanding on the Issue Date or thereafter incurred,
including any interest accruing subsequent to a bankruptcy or other similar
proceeding whether or not such interest is an allowed claim enforceable against
the Company in a bankruptcy case under Title 11 of the United States Code.
Upon any distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character,
whether in cash, property or securities upon any dissolution, winding up, total
or partial liquidation or reorganization of the Company (including, without
limitation, in bankruptcy, insolvency, or receivership proceedings or upon any
assignment for the benefit of creditors or any other marshalling of the
Company's assets and liabilities), the holders of Senior Indebtedness shall
first be entitled to receive payment in full in cash or cash equivalents of all
amounts payable under Senior Indebtedness (including interest after the
commencement of any such proceeding at the rate specified in the applicable
Senior Indebtedness whether or not interest is an allowed claim enforceable
against the Company in any such proceeding) before the Holders will be entitled
to receive any payment with respect to the Notes, and until all Obligations with
respect to Senior Indebtedness are paid in full in cash or cash equivalents, any
distribution to which the Holders would be entitled shall be made to the holders
of Senior Indebtedness.
No direct or indirect payment by or on behalf of the Company of principal
of, premium, if any, or interest on the Notes whether pursuant to the terms of
the Notes or upon acceleration or otherwise shall be made if, at the time of
such payment, there exists a default in the payment of all or any portion of
principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Senior Indebtedness, and such
default shall not have been cured or waived or the benefits of this sentence
waived by or on behalf of the holders of Senior Indebtedness. In addition,
during the continuance of any other event of default with respect to any
Designated Senior Indebtedness pursuant to which the maturity thereof may be
accelerated, upon the occurrence of (a) receipt by the Trustee of written notice
from the holders of a majority of the outstanding principal amount of the
Designated Senior Indebtedness or their representative, or (b) if such event of
default results from the acceleration of the Notes, the date of such
acceleration, no such payment may be made by the Company upon or in respect of
the Notes for a period ("Payment Blockage Period") commencing on the earlier of
the date of receipt of such notice or the date of such acceleration and ending
179 days thereafter (unless such Payment Blockage Period shall be terminated by
written notice to the Trustee from the holders of a majority of the outstanding
principal amount of such Designated Senior Indebtedness or their representative
who delivered such notice). Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in
no event will a Payment Blockage Period extend beyond 179 days from the date on
which such Payment Blockage Period was commenced. Not more than one Payment
Blockage Period may be commenced with respect to the Notes during any period of
360 consecutive days. For all purposes of this paragraph, no event of default
which existed or was continuing on the date of the commencement of any Payment
Blockage Period with respect to the Designated Senior Indebtedness initiating
such Payment Blockage Period shall be, or be made, the basis for the
commencement of a second Payment Blockage Period by the holders of such
Designated Senior Indebtedness or their representative whether or not within a
period of 360 consecutive days unless such event of default shall have been
cured or waived for a period of not less than 90 consecutive days.
In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment or
distribution of assets or securities of the Company of any kind or character,
whether in cash, property or securities, shall be received by the Trustee or the
Holders or any Paying Agent (or, if the Company is acting as its own Paying
Agent, money for any such payment or distribution shall be segregated or held in
trust) on account of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the Notes
before all Senior Indebtedness is paid in full in cash or cash equivalents, such
payment or distribution shall be received and held in trust by the Trustee or
such Holder or Paying Agent for the benefit of the holders of the Senior
Indebtedness, or their respective representative, ratably according to the
respective amounts of Senior Indebtedness held or represented by each, and shall
be paid over or delivered to the holders of the Senior Indebtedness remaining
unpaid to the extent necessary to make payment in full of all Senior
Indebtedness remaining unpaid after giving effect to all concurrent payments and
distributions to or for the holders of such Senior Indebtedness.
62
<PAGE>
As a result of the subordination provisions described above, in the event of
a liquidation or insolvency, Holders may recover less ratably than creditors of
the Company who are holders of Senior Indebtedness. The Indenture will limit,
subject to certain financial tests and specific exceptions, the amount of
additional Indebtedness, including Senior Indebtedness, that the Company and its
Subsidiaries can incur. See "-- Certain Covenants--Limitation on Additional
Indebtedness."
The Notes are structurally subordinated to all liabilities, including trade
payables and capitalized lease obligations of the Company's Subsidiaries. Any
right of the Company to receive assets of any Subsidiary upon such Subsidiary's
liquidation or reorganization (and the consequent right of the Holders to
participate in those assets) structurally subordinated to the claims of such
Subsidiary's creditors, except to the extent that the Company is itself
recognized as a creditor of such Subsidiary, in which case the claims of the
Company would still be subject to any security interests in the assets of such
Subsidiary and any liabilities of such Subsidiary senior to that held by the
Company and may otherwise be challenged in a liquidation or reorganization
proceeding. At June 30, 1997, on a PRO FORMA basis after giving effect to the
Tender Offer, the Company and its Subsidiaries would have had, on a consolidated
basis, approximately $473.5 million of indebtedness (including capitalized lease
obligations) and the aggregate amount of liabilities (including trade payables
and the New Credit Facility) of the Company's Subsidiaries that effectively
ranked senior to the Notes would have been approximately $430.2 million. In
addition, at June 30, 1997, certain Subsidiaries of the Company had significant
commitments under operating leases and approximately $78.4 million was
outstanding under the A/R Securitization. See Notes 5 and 10 of the Notes to
Consolidated Financial Statements. The Notes will rank PARI PASSU in right of
payment with the 10 3/4% Notes.
CERTAIN COVENANTS
LIMITATION ON RESTRICTED PAYMENTS.
The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, (i) declare or pay any dividend or make
any distribution on account of the Company's Capital Stock or other Equity
Interests (other than dividends or distributions payable in Equity Interests
(other than Redeemable Stock) of the Company), (ii) purchase, redeem or
otherwise acquire or retire for value any Equity Interests of the Company or
(iii) make any Investment (other than a Permitted Investment) (the foregoing
actions set forth in clauses (i) through (iii) being referred to as "Restricted
Payments"), if:
(a) a Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing
at the time of such Restricted Payment or shall occur immediately after
giving effect thereto; or
(b) immediately after such Restricted Payment and after giving effect
thereto on a PRO FORMA basis, the Company could not incur at least $1.00 of
additional Indebtedness pursuant to the first paragraph of the "LIMITATION
ON ADDITIONAL INDEBTEDNESS" covenant (without giving effect to clauses (i)
through (xvi) of the second paragraph thereof); or
(c) such Restricted Payment, together with the aggregate of all other
Restricted Payments made after the Issue Date, exceeds the sum of (1) 50% of
the amount of the Adjusted Consolidated Net Income of the Company for the
period (taken as one accounting period) from January 1, 1997 through the end
of the Company's fiscal quarter ending immediately prior to the time of such
Restricted Payment (or, if Adjusted Consolidated Net Income for such period
is a deficit, 100% of such deficit) plus (2) 100% of the aggregate amounts
contributed to the capital of the Company from and after the Issue Date plus
(3) 100% of the aggregate net cash proceeds and the fair market value, as
determined in good faith by the Board of Directors, of property other than
cash received by the Company from and after the Issue Date from the issue or
sale of Equity Interests of the Company (other than such Equity Interests
issued or sold to a Restricted Subsidiary and other than Redeemable Stock)
or any Indebtedness or security convertible into or exchangeable for any
such Equity Interest that has been so converted or exchanged (excluding the
net cash proceeds from issuances and sales of
63
<PAGE>
Equity Interests financed, directly or indirectly, using borrowed funds from
the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary until and to the extent such
borrowing is repaid) plus (4) $75.0 million.
The foregoing provisions will not prohibit (i) the payment of any dividend
within 60 days after the date of declaration thereof, if at the date of
declaration thereof such payment would have complied with the provisions of the
Indenture; (ii) (A) the retirement of any Equity Interests of the Company (the
"Retired Equity Interests") either in exchange for or out of the net proceeds of
the substantially concurrent sale (other than to a Restricted Subsidiary) of
other Equity Interests of the Company (the "Refunding Equity Interests") other
than any Redeemable Stock and (B) if the Retired Equity Interest constituted
Qualified Preferred Stock, the declaration and payment of dividends on the
Refunding Equity Interest in an aggregate amount per year no greater than the
aggregate amount of dividends per year that was declarable and payable on such
Retired Equity Interest immediately prior to such retirement to the extent such
Refunding Equity Interest is designated to be Qualified Preferred Stock by the
Company at the time of its issuance; (iii) the repurchase, redemption or other
acquisition or retirement for value of any Equity Interests of the Company
issued to employees, officers or directors of the Company and its Subsidiaries
pursuant to agreements containing provisions for the repurchase of such Equity
Interests upon death, disability or termination of employment or directorship of
such persons, or in accordance with the Company's insider trading policy, not to
exceed $5.0 million in any fiscal year plus the aggregate cash proceeds from any
reissuance during such fiscal year of Equity Interests by the Company to
employees, officers or directors of the Company and its Subsidiaries plus the
aggregate cash proceeds from any payments on life insurance policies with
respect to any employees, officers or directors of the Company and its
Subsidiaries which proceeds are used to purchase the Equity Interests of the
Company held by any such employees, officers or directors; (iv) the declaration
and payment of dividends to holders of any class or series of the Company's
preferred stock issued after the Issue Date (including, without limitation, the
declaration and payment of dividends on Refunding Equity Interests in excess of
the dividends declarable and payable thereon pursuant to clause (ii) of this
paragraph); PROVIDED that at the time of such issuance the Company's Fixed
Charge Coverage Ratio for the four full fiscal quarters ending immediately prior
to the date of such issuance would have been at least 1.25 to 1, determined on a
PRO FORMA basis as if such issuance was at the beginning of such four-quarter
period, and at the time of issuance, such preferred stock is designated by the
Company to be Qualified Preferred Stock; and (v) an Investment in any
Unrestricted Subsidiary either in exchange for Equity Interests of the Company
(other than Redeemable Stock) or out of the proceeds of the sale (other than to
a Restricted Subsidiary) of Equity Interests of the Company (other than
Redeemable Stock) received by the Company not more than 12 months prior to the
date of such Investment (to the extent such sale of Equity Interests has not
previously been included in any calculation under clause (c) above for purposes
of permitting a Restricted Payment); PROVIDED that in the cases of clauses (iii)
(other than with respect to the repurchase of Equity Interests with insurance
proceeds), (iv) and (v), so long as no Default or Event of Default shall have
occurred and be continuing at the time of such Restricted Payment or shall occur
immediately after giving effect thereto.
In determining the aggregate amount expended for Restricted Payments in
accordance with clause (c) above, (1) no amounts expended under clause (iii)
(only with respect to the use of insurance proceeds to repurchase Equity
Interests) of the immediately preceding paragraph shall be included and (2) 100%
of the amounts expended under clauses (i), (ii), (iii) (other than with respect
to the repurchase of Equity Interests with insurance proceeds), (iv) and (v) of
the immediately preceding paragraph shall be included.
LIMITATION ON ADDITIONAL INDEBTEDNESS. The Company will not, and will not
permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create,
incur, issue, assume, guarantee or otherwise become directly or indirectly
liable with respect to any Indebtedness unless the Company's Fixed Charge
Coverage Ratio for its four full fiscal quarters ending immediately prior to the
date such additional Indebtedness is created, incurred, issued, assumed or
guaranteed would have been at least 2.25 to 1, determined on a PRO FORMA basis
(including a PRO FORMA application of the net proceeds of such Indebtedness) as
if the additional
64
<PAGE>
Indebtedness had been created, incurred, issued, assumed or guaranteed at the
beginning of such four-quarter period.
The foregoing limitations will not apply to the incurrence of (i)
Indebtedness pursuant to the New Credit Facility in an amount equal to $475.0
million; (ii) Existing Indebtedness; (iii) Indebtedness represented by the
Private Notes and the Exchange Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to
$250.0 million; (iv) Capital Lease Obligations; (v) Indebtedness constituting
purchase money obligations for property acquired in the ordinary course of
business or other similar financing transactions; (vi) Indebtedness incurred in
connection with capital expenditures not to exceed 6% of net sales of the
Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in any fiscal year; (vii) Indebtedness
constituting reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit,
including, without limitation, letters of credit in respect of workers'
compensation claims, issued for the account of the Company or a Restricted
Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business, or other Indebtedness with
respect to reimbursement-type obligations regarding workers' compensation
claims; (viii) additional Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount up to
$45.0 million at any one time outstanding for the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries; (ix) Indebtedness created, incurred, issued, assumed or given in
exchange for, or the proceeds of which are used, to extend, refinance, renew,
replace, substitute or refund any Indebtedness permitted under the Indenture or
any Indebtedness issued to so extend, refinance, renew, replace, substitute or
refund such Indebtedness, including any additional Indebtedness incurred to pay
premiums and fees in connection therewith (the "Refinancing Indebtedness");
PROVIDED that (A) the principal amount of such Refinancing Indebtedness shall
not exceed the outstanding principal amount of Indebtedness (including unused
commitments) so extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, substituted or refunded
plus any amounts incurred to pay premiums and fees in connection therewith, (B)
in the case of Refinancing Indebtedness for Indebtedness permitted under clause
(ii) of this paragraph (other than Senior Indebtedness), the Refinancing
Indebtedness shall have an Average Life equal to or greater than the Average
Life of the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced,
substituted or refunded and (C) to the extent such Refinancing Indebtedness
refinances Indebtedness subordinated to the Notes, such Refinancing Indebtedness
is subordinated to the Notes at least to the same extent as the Indebtedness
being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, substituted or refunded; (x)
intercompany Indebtedness incurred in connection with Investments in
Unrestricted Subsidiaries; PROVIDED that such Investments are permitted by the
"LIMITATION ON RESTRICTED PAYMENTS" covenant; (xi) Indebtedness under Raw
Material Hedge Agreements; (xii) Indebtedness under Currency Agreements and
Interest Rate Agreements; PROVIDED that in the case of Currency Agreements which
relate to other Indebtedness, such Currency Agreements do not increase the
Indebtedness of the Company outstanding other than as a result of fluctuations
in foreign currency exchange rates; (xiii) Indebtedness arising from the
honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft or similar
instrument inadvertently drawn against insufficient funds in the ordinary course
of business; (xiv) Indebtedness between the Company and any Restricted
Subsidiary or between Restricted Subsidiaries; (xv) guarantees by Restricted
Subsidiaries of Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary if the
Indebtedness so guaranteed is permitted under the Indenture; and (xvi) the
Company's obligations arising from the repurchase, redemption or other
acquisitions of Equity Interests from employees, officers and directors of the
Company and its Subsidiaries to the extent permitted by the "LIMITATION ON
RESTRICTED PAYMENTS" covenant.
Notwithstanding anything in the Indenture to the contrary, the consummation
of the transactions contemplated by the A/R Securitization shall not be deemed
to be incurrence of Indebtedness by the Company or by any Restricted Subsidiary.
DIVIDENDS AND PAYMENT RESTRICTIONS. The Company shall not, and shall not
permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create or
otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become effective any encumbrance or
restriction on the ability of any Restricted Subsidiary to (i) pay dividends or
make any other distributions on its Capital Stock, or any other interest or
participation in, or measured by, its profits, owned by the Company or any of
its Restricted Subsidiaries, or pay any Indebtedness owed to the
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Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, (ii) make loans or advances to
the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or (iii) transfer any of its
properties or assets to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries,
except for such encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of: (A)
the terms (as in effect on the Issue Date) of Existing Indebtedness, (B) the
terms (as in effect on the Issue Date) of the New Credit Facility, (C) the terms
of Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries incurred in
accordance with the "LIMITATION ON ADDITIONAL INDEBTEDNESS" covenant; PROVIDED
that the terms of any such Indebtedness constitute no greater encumbrance or
restriction on the ability of any Restricted Subsidiary to pay dividends or make
distributions, make loans or advances or transfer properties or assets than the
encumbrances or restrictions imposed by the terms of the New Credit Facility as
in effect on the Issue Date, (D) the [terms of the indentures governing the
10 3/4% Notes, the 10 3/4% Notes, the] Indenture and the Notes, (E) applicable
law, (F) customary non-assignment provisions entered into in the ordinary course
of business and consistent with past practices, (G) the terms of purchase money
obligations for property acquired in the ordinary course of business, but only
to the extent that such purchase money obligations restrict or prohibit the
transfer of the property so acquired, (H) any encumbrance or restriction with
respect to a Restricted Subsidiary that was not a Restricted Subsidiary on the
Issue Date, which encumbrance or restriction is in existence at the time such
person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary or is created on the date it becomes a
Restricted Subsidiary, (I) any encumbrance or restriction with respect to a
Restricted Subsidiary imposed pursuant to an agreement which has been entered
into for the sale or disposition of all or substantially all the Capital Stock
or assets of such Restricted Subsidiary, (J) the terms of the A/R Securitization
or (K) any encumbrance or restriction existing under any amendment to, and any
agreement which refinances or replaces, the agreements described in clauses (A),
(B), (C), (D), (H) and (J); PROVIDED that the terms and conditions of any such
encumbrances or restrictions contained in any such amendment or agreement as
determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company constitute no
greater encumbrance or restriction on the ability of any Restricted Subsidiary
to pay dividends or make distributions, make loans or advances or transfer
properties or assets than those under or pursuant to the agreement evidencing
the Indebtedness or obligations as amended, refinanced or replaced. Nothing
contained in this covenant shall prevent the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary
from entering into any agreement permitting or providing for the incurrence of
Liens otherwise permitted by the "LIMITATION ON LIENS" covenant.
LIMITATION ON LIENS. The Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, assume or
suffer to exist any Lien (other than Permitted Liens) upon any asset now owned
or hereafter acquired by it, or any income or profits therefrom or assign or
convey any right to receive income therefrom. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
Company or any Restricted Subsidiary may create or assume any Lien upon its
properties or assets if the Company shall cause the Notes to be equally and
ratably secured with all other Indebtedness secured by such Lien for so long as
such other Indebtedness shall be so secured.
LIMITATION ON ASSET SALES. The Company shall not, and shall not permit any
of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, consummate any Asset
Sale that results in Net Proceeds in excess of $1.5 million (including the sale
of any of the Capital Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary) unless such Asset Sale
is for fair market value as determined by the Board of Directors of the Company
acting reasonably and in good faith and the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary
applies the Net Proceeds from such Asset Sale to one or more of the following in
such combination as it shall choose: (a) an investment in assets (including
Capital Stock or other securities purchased in connection with the acquisition
of Capital Stock or property of another person) used or useful in businesses
similar or ancillary to the business of the Company or its Restricted
Subsidiaries as conducted at the time of such Asset Sale; PROVIDED that such
investment occurs on or prior to the 366th day following the date of such Asset
Sale (the "Asset Sale Payment Date"); (b) a Net Proceeds Offer (as defined
below) expiring on or prior to the Asset Sale Payment Date; or (c) in the case
of an Asset Sale by the Company, the purchase, redemption or other prepayment or
repayment of outstanding Senior Indebtedness on or prior to the Asset Sale
Payment Date and, in the case of an Asset Sale by any Restricted Subsidiary, the
purchase, redemption or other prepayment or repayment of any
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Indebtedness of such Restricted Subsidiary on or prior to the Asset Sale Payment
Date; PROVIDED that any prepayment or repayment of amounts outstanding under the
New Credit Facility in excess of $20 million in the aggregate after the Issue
Date shall be a permanent reduction in the commitment thereunder.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event such Net Proceeds, after giving
effect to any investment or payment permitted by clause (a) or (c) above (the
"Excess Proceeds"), are less than $15.0 million, the application of the Excess
Proceeds to a Net Proceeds Offer may be deferred until such time as the Excess
Proceeds, plus the aggregate amount of any subsequent Net Proceeds not otherwise
invested or applied to repay amounts outstanding under the Senior Indebtedness
of the Company or under the Indebtedness of any Restricted Subsidiary, as the
case may be, as permitted by clause (a) or (c) above, are at least equal to
$15.0 million, at which time the Company shall apply all the Excess Proceeds to
a Net Proceeds Offer. Upon completion of a Net Proceeds Offer, the amount of
Excess Proceeds shall be reset at zero.
For purposes of clause (b) of the preceding paragraph, the Company will
apply that portion of the Net Proceeds of the Asset Sale required to make a
tender offer in accordance with applicable law (a "Net Proceeds Offer") to
repurchase Notes at a price not less than 100% of the principal amount thereof
plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of repurchase which date shall be
no earlier than 30 days nor later than 45 days after the date of mailing of the
Net Proceeds Offer (the "Net Proceeds Payment Date"). The Company may, at its
option, receive credit against any Net Proceeds Offer for the principal amount
of Notes acquired by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and surrendered for
cancellation within six months prior to or at any time after the date of such
Asset Sale relating to such Net Proceeds Offer and before the Net Proceeds
Payment Date. Any Net Proceeds Offer will be made by the Company only if and to
the extent permitted under, and subject to prior compliance with, the terms of
any agreement governing Senior Indebtedness of the Company or Indebtedness of a
Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be. If the Company commences a Net
Proceeds Offer and securities of the Company ranking PARI PASSU in right of
payment with the Notes are outstanding at the commencement of such Net Proceeds
Offer and the terms of such securities provide that a similar offer must be made
with respect thereto, then the Net Proceeds Offer for the Notes shall be made
concurrently with such other offer and securities of each issue will be accepted
PRO RATA in proportion to the aggregate principal amount of securities of each
issue which the holders of securities of such issue elect to have purchased.
After the last date on which Holders are permitted to tender their Notes in a
Net Proceeds Offer, the Company will not be restricted under the "LIMITATION ON
ASSET SALES" covenant of the Indenture as to its use of any remaining Net
Proceeds available to make such Net Proceeds Offer but not used to redeem Notes
pursuant thereto.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if, at the time of an Asset Sale by the
Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, the Company's Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio
for the four fiscal quarter period ending immediately prior to the date of such
Asset Sale would have been at least 2.75 to 1, determined on a PRO FORMA basis
as if such Asset Sale occurred at the beginning of such four-quarter period,
then any Net Proceeds received will not be subject to the "LIMITATION ON ASSET
SALES" covenant.
Each Net Proceeds Offer will be mailed to the record Holders within 15 days
following the determination by the Company to make such a Net Proceeds Offer and
shall comply with the procedures set forth in the Indenture. The Company will
provide the Trustee with written notice of such determination as soon as such
determination is made by the Company. Upon receiving notice of the Net Proceeds
Offer, Holders may elect to tender their Notes in whole or in part in integral
multiples of $1,000 in exchange for cash. To the extent Holders properly tender
Notes in an amount exceeding the Holders' PRO RATA share of the Net Proceeds,
Notes of tendering Holders will be repurchased on a PRO RATA basis (with such
adjustments as may be deemed appropriate by the Company so that only Notes in
denominations of $1,000 or integral multiples of $1,000 shall be acquired). A
Net Proceeds Offer shall remain open from the time of mailing for at least 20
business days and until the close of business on the third business day prior to
the Net Proceeds Payment Date.
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The Company will comply, to the extent applicable, with the requirements of
Section 14(e) under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws or
regulations (including Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act) in connection with the
repurchase of Notes pursuant to a Net Proceeds Offer. To the extent that the
provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the "LIMITATION
ON ASSET SALES" provision of the Indenture, the Company shall comply with the
applicable securities laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to have
breached its obligations under the "LIMITATION ON ASSET SALES" provisions of the
Indenture by virtue thereof.
TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES. The Company shall not, and shall not permit
any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, enter into any
transaction (including, without limitation, the purchase, sale, lease or
exchange of any property or the rendering of any service) with any Affiliate,
except for (i) transactions (including any investments, loans or advances by or
to any Affiliate) the terms of which in good faith are fair and reasonable to
the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, and are at least
as favorable as the terms that could be obtained by the Company or such
Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, in a comparable transaction made on
an arms-length basis between unaffiliated parties (as determined by the Board of
Directors of the Company acting reasonably and in good faith, as evidenced by a
resolution of the Board Of Directors); PROVIDED that, in the case of any
transaction with an Affiliate involving aggregate consideration in excess of
$10.0 million, either (A) such transaction is entered into in the ordinary
course of the business of the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries, (B) a
majority of the directors of the Company unaffiliated with such Affiliate or, if
there are no such directors, a majority of the directors of the Company approve
such transaction or (C) the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case
may be, delivers to the Trustee and the Holders a written opinion of a
nationally recognized investment banking firm stating that such transaction is
fair to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary from a financial point of
view, (ii) payments by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries made
pursuant to any financial advisory, financing, underwriting or placement
agreement; PROVIDED that the terms of any such arrangement or agreement shall be
on terms which in good faith are fair and reasonable to the Company or such
Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be (as determined by the Board of
Directors of the Company acting reasonably and in good faith, as evidenced by a
resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company), (iii) any Restricted
Payment not otherwise prohibited under the "LIMITATION ON RESTRICTED PAYMENTS"
covenant, (iv) the payment of reasonable and customary regular fees to directors
of the Company and its Subsidiaries who are not employees of the Company or its
Subsidiaries, (v) advances or loans to employees, officers and directors of the
Company and its Subsidiaries permitted by clauses (iii) and (iv) of the
definition of Permitted Investments and (vi) transactions between or among any
of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries.
LIMITATION ON MERGERS, CONSOLIDATIONS OR SALES OF ASSETS. The Company shall
not in a single transaction or a series of related transactions consolidate
with, or merge with or into another person, or directly or indirectly sell,
transfer, lease or convey substantially all of its properties and assets, to
another person (except any Restricted Subsidiary; PROVIDED that in connection
with any merger of the Company with any such Restricted Subsidiary, no
consideration (other than common stock in the surviving corporation or the
Company) shall be issued or distributed to the stockholders of the Company), or
permit any person to merge with or into it unless: (i) the Company shall be the
continuing person, or the person (if other than the Company) formed by such
consolidation or into which the Company is merged or to which the properties and
assets of the Company are transferred shall be a corporation or partnership
organized and existing under the laws of the United States or any State thereof
or the District of Columbia and shall expressly assume, by a supplemental
indenture, executed and delivered to the Trustee, in form reasonably
satisfactory to the Trustee, all of the obligations of the Company under the
Notes and the Indenture; (ii) immediately before and immediately after giving
effect to such transaction or series of transactions, no Default or Event of
Default under the Indenture shall have occurred and be continuing; and (iii)
immediately before and immediately after giving effect to such transaction or
series of transactions on a PRO FORMA basis (including, without limitation, any
Indebtedness incurred or assumed in anticipation of or
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in connection with such transaction or series of transactions), the Company
could incur $1.00 of additional Indebtedness under the first paragraph of the
"LIMITATION ON ADDITIONAL INDEBTEDNESS" covenant described above (without giving
effect to clauses (i) through (xvi) of the second paragraph thereof).
LIMITATION ON CREATION OF SENIOR SUBORDINATED DEBT. The Indenture will
provide that the Company shall not incur, create, issue, assume, guarantee or
otherwise become liable for any Indebtedness that is expressly by its terms
subordinate or junior in right of payment to any Senior Indebtedness and senior
in any respect in right of payment to the Notes.
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES
The Indenture permits the Company and the Trustee, without notice to or the
consent of the Holders, to enter into one or more indentures supplemental
thereto for certain specified purposes, including, without limitation, (i) to
cure ambiguities, defects or inconsistencies; (ii) to add additional covenants
for the benefit of the Holders or to surrender any right or power conferred upon
the Company in the Indenture or to make any other change that does not adversely
affect the rights of any Holder; PROVIDED that in making such change, the
Trustee may rely upon an Opinion of Counsel stating that such change does not
adversely affect the rights of any Holder; (iii) to provide for collateral for
the Notes; (iv) to evidence the succession of another person to the Company and
the assumption by any such successor of the obligations of the Company in
accordance with Article V of the Indenture and the Notes; (v) to provide for
uncertificated Notes; and (vi) to effect or maintain the qualification of the
Indenture under the TIA. Subject to the absolute and unconditional right of
Holders to receive principal, premium, if any, and interest, other
modifications, amendments or supplements to the Indenture or the Notes may be
made with the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the then outstanding Notes, and such modifications,
amendments or supplemental indentures will be binding on every Holder whether or
not such Holder has consented thereto; PROVIDED that no such modification,
amendment or supplemental indenture shall, without the consent of Holders of
each outstanding Note affected thereby, among other things, (i) reduce the
percentage of principal amount of Notes whose Holders must consent to an
amendment, supplement or waiver of any provision of the Indenture or the Notes;
(ii) reduce the rate or extend the time for payment of interest on any Note;
(iii) reduce the principal amount of any Note or reduce the redemption or
repurchase price of any Note; (iv) change the Maturity Date, the Net Proceeds
Payment Date or the Change of Control Payment Date; (v) alter the purchase price
in connection with any repurchase of Notes described in the "LIMITATION ON ASSET
SALES" covenant or under the "CHANGE OF CONTROL" provisions in any manner
adverse to any Holder; (vi) make any changes in the provisions concerning
waivers of Defaults or Events of Default by Holders or the rights of Holders to
recover the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, or redemption
payment with respect to, any Note; (vii) make any changes relating to (a) the
right of the Trustee to file proof of claim in any bankruptcy or similar
proceeding or (b) the limitation on the right of Holders to direct the Trustee
to institute legal proceedings with respect to the Indenture or to such
provision; (viii) waive a Default or Event of Default in the payment of
principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the Notes or that resulted from
a failure to make the payments required by the "LIMITATION ON ASSET SALES"
covenant or the "CHANGE OF CONTROL" provisions; (ix) make the principal of, or
the interest on, any Note payable with anything or in any manner other than as
provided for in the Indenture and the Notes as in effect on the Issue Date; or
(x) make any change in the subordination provisions of the Indenture and the
Notes in a manner that adversely affects the Holders.
EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES
Events of Default under the Indenture include the following: (a) default in
the payment of interest on any Notes when the same shall become due and payable
and the continuance of such default for a period of 30 days; (b) default in the
payment of all or any part of the principal of, or premium, if any, on, any
Notes when and as the same shall become due and payable at maturity, or upon
acceleration, redemption
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or otherwise, including default in the payment of the purchase price required to
be offered in a Net Proceeds Offer or a Change of Control Offer; (c) a failure
by the Company and its Subsidiaries to comply with any of the other agreements
or covenants in or provisions of the Notes or the Indenture which failure
continues for a period of 45 days after written notice specifying such failure
and demanding that the Company remedy the same has been given to the Company by
the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by Holders of at least 25% in
aggregate principal amount of Notes then outstanding; (d) default under any
mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there may be issued or evidenced
any Indebtedness for borrowed money by the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries (or the payment of which is guaranteed by the Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries) whether such Indebtedness or guarantee is now existing
or hereafter created if either (x) such default results from the failure to pay
the final scheduled principal installment in an amount of at least $15.0 million
in respect of any such Indebtedness on the stated maturity date thereof (after
giving effect to any applicable grace periods) or (y) as a result of such
default the maturity of such Indebtedness has been accelerated prior to its
express maturity, and the principal amount of such Indebtedness, together with
the principal amount of any other such Indebtedness with respect to which the
principal amount remains unpaid upon its final maturity (after giving effect to
any extension of such maturity date by the holder of such Indebtedness and the
expiration of any applicable grace period) or the maturity of which has been so
accelerated, aggregates $15.0 million or more; (e) a final judgment or final
judgments for the payment of money, or the issuance of any warrant of attachment
against any portion of the property or the assets of the Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries, that in the aggregate, equal or exceed $15.0 million at
any one time shall be entered against the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries and such judgment or judgments or warrant of attachment shall not
be discharged, satisfied, stayed, annulled or rescinded within 60 days of being
entered, or in the case of any final judgment which provides for payment over
time, from any applicable payment date; or (f) certain events of bankruptcy,
insolvency or reorganization with respect to the Company or a Significant
Restricted Subsidiary.
If a Default or an Event of Default occurs and is continuing and if it is
known to the Trustee, the Trustee shall mail to each Holder a notice of the
Default or Event of Default within 30 days after it occurs or, if later, within
10 days after such Default or Event of Default becomes known to the Trustee,
unless such Default or Event of Default has been cured. Except in the case of a
Default or Event of Default in the payment of principal of, premium, if any, or
interest on, any Note, the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as a
committee of its trust officers in good faith determines that withholding the
notice is in the interest of the Holders.
If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default described in clause
(f) of the second preceding paragraph with respect to the Company) shall occur
and be continuing, then, and in every such case, unless the principal of all the
Notes shall have already become due and payable, either the Trustee or the
Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the then
outstanding Notes, by notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if
given by Holders) may declare all of the unpaid principal of, premium, if any,
and accrued interest thereon to be due and payable immediately. In the event of
a declaration of acceleration because of an Event of Default described in clause
(d) of the second preceding paragraph has occurred and is continuing, such
declaration of acceleration shall be automatically annulled if such payment
default is cured or waived or the holders of the Indebtedness which is the
subject of such Event of Default have rescinded their declaration of
acceleration in respect of such Indebtedness within 60 days thereof and the
Trustee has received written notice of such cure, waiver or rescission and no
other Event of Default described in clause (d) of the second preceding paragraph
has occurred that has not been cured or waived within 60 days of the declaration
of such acceleration in respect thereof and if (i) the repayment of Indebtedness
or annulment of such acceleration, as the case may be, would not conflict with
any judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction and (ii) all
existing Events of Default, except non-payment of principal or interest which
have become due solely due to such acceleration, have been cured or waived. If
an Event of Default specified in clause (f) of the second preceding paragraph
with respect to the Company occurs, all unpaid principal of, premium, if any,
applicable to, and accrued interest due and payable on all
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the outstanding Notes shall become immediately due and payable without any
declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holder.
The provisions described in the preceding paragraphs, however, are subject
to the condition that if, at any time after a declaration of acceleration has
been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been
obtained, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then
outstanding Notes, by written notice to the Company and the Trustee, may waive,
on behalf of all Holders, a Default or an Event of Default if: (a) the Company
has paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay (i) all overdue
interest on all Notes, (ii) the principal of and premium, if any, applicable to
any Notes which would become due otherwise than by such declaration of
acceleration, and interest thereon at the rate borne by the Notes, (iii) to the
extent that payment of such interest is lawful, interest on overdue interest at
the rate borne by the Notes and (iv) all sums paid or advanced by the Trustee
under the Indenture and the compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances
of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and (b) all Events of Default, other
than the nonpayment of the principal of the Notes which have become due solely
by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived. Notwithstanding
the previous sentence, no waiver shall be effective for any Default or Event of
Default in the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any
Note held by a nonconsenting Holder or any Default or Event of Default with
respect to any covenant or provision which cannot be modified or amended without
the consent of the Holder of each then outstanding Note, unless all such
affected Holders agree, in writing, to waive such Default or Event of Default.
No such waiver shall cure or waive any subsequent default or impair any right
consequent thereon.
Prior to the declaration of acceleration of the maturity of the Notes, the
Holder or Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of
the Notes at the time outstanding by written notice to the Company and the
Trustee may waive on behalf of all the Holders any past default under the
Indenture and its consequence, except a default in the payment of principal of,
premium, if any, or interest on any Note or a default with respect to any
covenant or provision which cannot be modified or amended without the consent of
the Holder of each outstanding Note affected. The Trustee is under no obligation
to exercise any of its rights or powers under the Indenture at the request,
order or direction of any of the Holders unless such Holders have offered to the
Trustee reasonable security or indemnity. Subject to all the provisions of the
Indenture and applicable law, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal
amount of the Notes at the time outstanding have the right to direct the time,
method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the
Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee.
The Company is required to furnish the Trustee, forthwith upon becoming
aware of any Default or Event of Default under the Indenture, an Officers'
Certificate specifying such default and within 120 days after the end of each
fiscal year, an Officers' Certificate to the effect that the officers executing
the same have conducted, or supervised, a review of the activities of the
Company and its Subsidiaries and of performance under the Indenture and that, to
such officers' knowledge, based on their review, the Company has fulfilled all
of its obligations under the Indenture, or, if there has been a failure to
comply with such obligations, describing such failure with particularity.
LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE
The Company may, at its option and at any time, elect to have its
obligations discharged with respect to the outstanding Notes ("Legal
Defeasance"). Such Legal Defeasance means that the Company shall be deemed to
have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness represented by the outstanding
Notes, except for (i) the rights of Holders to receive payments in respect of
the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes when and to the
extent such payments are due, (ii) the Company's obligations with respect to the
Notes concerning issuing temporary Notes, registration of Notes, mutilated,
destroyed, lost or stolen Notes and the maintenance of an office or agency for
payments, (iii) the rights, powers, trust, duties and immunities of the Trustee
and the Company's obligations in connection therewith and (iv) the Legal
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Defeasance provisions of the Indenture. In addition, the Company may, at its
option and at any time, elect to have the obligations of the Company released
with respect to certain covenants that are described in the Indenture ("Covenant
Defeasance") and thereafter any omission to comply with such obligations shall
not constitute a Default or Event of Default with respect to the Notes. In the
event Covenant Defeasance occurs, certain events (not including non-payment,
bankruptcy, receivership, reorganization and insolvency events) described under
"Events of Default and Remedies" will no longer constitute an Event of Default
with respect to the Notes.
In order to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance, (i) the
Company must irrevocably deposit with the Trustee, in trust, for the benefit of
the Holders cash in U.S. dollars, non-callable U.S. government obligations, or a
combination thereof, in such amounts as will be sufficient, in the opinion of a
nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants, to pay the
principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes on the stated date for
payment thereof or on the applicable redemption date, as the case may be; (ii)
in the case of Legal Defeasance, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee
an opinion of counsel in the United States reasonably acceptable to the Trustee
confirming that (A) the Company has received from, or there has been published
by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling or (B) since the date of the
Indenture, there has been a change in the applicable federal income tax law, in
either case to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion of counsel shall
confirm that, the Holders will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal
income tax purposes as a result of such Legal Defeasance and will be subject to
federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times
as would have been the case if such Legal Defeasance had not occurred; (iii) in
the case of Covenant Defeasance, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee
an opinion of counsel in the United States reasonably acceptable to the Trustee
confirming that the Holders will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal
income tax purposes as a result of such Covenant Defeasance and will be subject
to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same
times as would have been the case if such Covenant Defeasance had not occurred;
(iv) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on the
date of such deposit or insofar as Events of Default from bankruptcy or
insolvency events are concerned, at any time in the period ending on the 91st
day after the date of deposit; (v) such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance
shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under the
Indenture or any other material agreement or instrument to which the Company or
any of its Restricted Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of
its Restricted Subsidiaries is bound; (vi) the Company shall have delivered to
the Trustee an officers' certificate stating that the deposit was not made by
the Company with the intent of preferring the Holders over any other creditors
of the Company or with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or
defrauding any other creditors of the Company or others; (vii) the Company shall
have delivered to the Trustee an officers' certificate and an opinion of
counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent provided for or relating to
the Legal Defeasance or the Covenant Defeasance have been complied with; (viii)
the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an opinion of counsel to the
effect that (A) the trust funds will not be subject to any rights of holders of
Senior Indebtedness, including, without limitation, those arising under the
Indenture and (B) after the 91st day following the deposit, the trust funds will
not be subject to the effect of any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally; and (ix)
certain other customary conditions precedent are satisfied. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the opinion of counsel required by clause (ii) above need not be
delivered if all Notes not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation
(x) have become due and payable, (y) will become due and payable on the maturity
date within one year or (z) are to be called for redemption within one year
under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of
redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Company.
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE
The Indenture will be discharged and will cease to be of further effect
(except as to surviving rights or registration of transfer or exchange of the
Notes, as expressly provided for in the Indenture) as to all
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outstanding Notes when (i) either (a) all the Notes theretofore authenticated
and delivered (except lost, stolen or destroyed Notes which have been replaced
or paid and Notes for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in
trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company and thereafter repaid to
the Company or discharged from such trust) have been delivered to the Trustee
for cancellation or (b) all Notes not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for
cancellation have become due and payable and the Company has irrevocably
deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee funds in an amount
sufficient to pay and discharge the entire Indebtedness on the Notes not
theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal of,
premium, if any, and interest on the Notes to the date of deposit together with
irrevocable instructions from the Company directing the Trustee to apply such
funds to the payment thereof at maturity or redemption, as the case may be; (ii)
the Company has paid all other sums payable under the Indenture by the Company;
and (iii) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an officers' certificate and
an opinion of counsel stating that all conditions precedent under the Indenture
relating to the satisfaction and discharge of the Indenture have been complied
with.
NO PERSONAL LIABILITY OF DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES AND STOCKHOLDERS
No past, present or future director, officer, employee, incorporator or
stockholder of the Company, as such, shall have any liability for any
obligations of the Company under the Indenture or the Notes or for any claim
based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation.
Each Holder of the Notes by accepting a Note waives and releases all such
liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of
the Notes. Such waiver may not be effective to waive liabilities under the
federal securities laws and it is the view of the Commission that such a waiver
is against public policy.
TRANSFER AND EXCHANGE
A Holder may transfer or exchange Notes in accordance with the Indenture.
The Registrar and the Trustee may require a Holder, among other things, to
furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents, and the Company may
require a Holder to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the
Indenture. The Company is not required to transfer or exchange any Note selected
for redemption. Also, the Company is not required to transfer or exchange any
Note for a period of 15 days before a selection of Notes to be redeemed. See
"Book Entry; Delivery and Form."
The registered Holder of a Note will be treated as the owner of it for all
purposes.
CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE
The Indenture contains certain limitations on the rights of the Trustee,
should it become a creditor of the Company, to obtain payment of claims in
certain cases, or to realize on certain property received in respect of any such
claim as security or otherwise. The Trustee will be permitted to engage in other
transactions; however, if it acquires any conflicting interest, it must
eliminate such conflict within ninety days, apply to the Commission for
permission to continue, or resign.
The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes
will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any
proceeding for exercising any remedy available to the Trustee, subject to
certain exceptions. The Indenture provides that in case an Event of Default
shall occur (which shall not be cured), the Trustee will be required, in the
exercise of its power, to use the degree of care of a prudent person in the
conduct of his or her own affairs. Subject to such provisions, the Trustee will
be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the
Indenture at the request of any of the Holders, unless they shall have offered
to the Trustee security and indemnity satisfactory to it against any loss,
liability or expense.
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The Indenture provides that the Company will deliver to the Trustee within
15 days after the filing of the same with the Commission, copies of the
quarterly and annual report and of the information, documents and other reports,
if any, which the Company is required to file with the Commission pursuant to
Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act. The Indenture further provides that,
notwithstanding that the Company may not be subject to the reporting
requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the Company will file
with the Commission, to the extent permitted, and provide the Trustee and
Holders with such annual reports and such information, documents and other
reports specified in Sections 13 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act. The Company will
also comply with the other provisions of TIA Section 314(a).
CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
"ADJUSTED CONSOLIDATED NET INCOME" means, with respect to any person for any
period, (i) the Consolidated Net Income of such person for such period plus (ii)
in the case of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, (A) all cash
received during such period by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary from its
Unrestricted Subsidiaries but only to the extent that the Company elects to so
include such cash payments (in whole or in part) in Adjusted Consolidated Net
Income and not as a reduction in the carrying value of the Investment in such
Unrestricted Subsidiary (whether or not in accordance with GAAP), such election
to be made prior to the making of a Restricted Payment based upon such cash
received and (B) amortization, depreciation and other non-cash charges relating
to acquisitions by the Company since its formation, including goodwill,
non-compete agreements, the stepped-up basis on assets acquired and deferred
financing costs, in each case to the extent such items reduced Consolidated Net
Income. Each item of Adjusted Consolidated Net Income will be determined in
conformity with GAAP, except as set forth in this definition and except that,
for purposes of the application of Accounting Principles Board Opinions Nos. 16
and 17, such person may select an amortization practice allowable by GAAP up to
40 years, notwithstanding the use of a different amortization in such person's
consolidated financial statements. Any designation of a Subsidiary of the
Company as a Restricted Subsidiary or Unrestricted Subsidiary at or prior to the
time of the calculation of Adjusted Consolidated Net Income of a Subsidiary will
be treated as if it had occurred at the beginning of the applicable period.
"AFFILIATE" of any specified person means any other person directly or
indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common
control with such specified person. A person shall be deemed to "control"
(including the correlative meanings, the terms "controlling," "controlled by,"
and "under common control with") another person if the controlling person
possesses, directly or indirectly, the power to direct or cause the direction of
the management or policies, of the controlled person, whether through ownership
of voting securities, by agreement or otherwise.
"A/R SECURITIZATION" means the receivables facility in effect on the Issue
Date in the amount of $150 million, pursuant to which (x) the Company's
Subsidiaries from time to time sell or otherwise transfer accounts receivable
and related assets to a special-purpose corporation (the "Receivables
Subsidiary") and (y) the Receivables Subsidiary sells or otherwise transfers
accounts receivable and related assets (or interests therein) to the purchasers,
as the same may be amended, modified, supplemented, extended, renewed, refunded,
refinanced, restructured or replaced from time to time (including, without
limitation, any extension of maturity thereof, or the inclusion of additional
purchasers thereunder).
"ASSET SALE" means, with respect to any person, in one or a series of
related transactions, the sale, lease, conveyance, disposition or other transfer
by the referent person of any of its assets (including by way of sale and
leaseback and including the sale or other transfer or issuance of any of the
Capital Stock of any Subsidiary of the referent person); PROVIDED that
notwithstanding the foregoing, the term "Asset Sale" shall not include the sale,
lease, conveyance, disposition or other transfer of (i) all or substantially all
of the
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assets of the Company, as permitted pursuant to the "LIMITATION ON MERGERS,
CONSOLIDATIONS OR SALES OF ASSETS" covenant, (ii) any assets between the Company
and any Restricted Subsidiary, (iii) (A) cash and cash equivalents, (B)
inventory and (C) any other tangible or intangible asset, in each case in the
ordinary course of business of the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries, (iv)
the sale of accounts receivable pursuant to the A/R Securitization or (v) the
sale or discount, in each case without recourse, of accounts receivable arising
in the ordinary course of business, but only in connection with the compromise
or collection thereof.
"AVERAGE LIFE" means, as of the date of determination, with respect to any
security or instrument, the quotient obtained by dividing (i) the sum of the
products of the numbers of years from the date of determination to the dates of
each successive scheduled principal payment or, in the case of Redeemable Stock,
each successive scheduled mandatory redemption payment of such security or
instrument multiplied by the amount of such principal payment or, in the case of
Redeemable Stock, mandatory redemption payment by (ii) the sum of all such
principal payments or, in the case of Redeemable Stock, mandatory redemption
payment.
"CAPITAL LEASE OBLIGATION" means, with respect to any person, at the time
any determination thereof is to be made, the amount of the liability in respect
of a capital lease which would at such time be required to be capitalized on the
balance sheet of such person in accordance with GAAP.
"CAPITAL STOCK" means any and all shares, interests, participations, rights
or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock.
"CHANGE OF CONTROL" means (i) an event or series of events by which any
Person (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) is
or becomes the beneficial owner (as defined under Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange
Act) directly or indirectly of more than 50% of the combined voting power of the
then outstanding securities of the Company ordinarily (and apart from rights
accruing under certain circumstances) having the right to vote in the election
of directors or (ii) the replacement of a majority of the Board of Directors of
the Company over a one-year period from the directors who constituted the Board
of Directors at the beginning of such period, which replacement shall not have
been approved by the Board of Directors as so constituted at the beginning of
such period or (a) by directors whose nomination for election by the
stockholders of the Company was approved by such Board of Directors or (b) by
directors elected by such Board of Directors or (c) by directors approved in the
same manner as (a) or (b) above that were nominated or elected by directors
approved as set forth in (a) or (b) above. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a
Change of Control shall not be deemed to have occurred if one or more of the
above events occurs or circumstances exist and, after giving effect to the
transaction giving rise to such events or circumstances, the Company's Fixed
Charge Coverage Ratio is 3.0 to 1 or greater.
"CONSOLIDATED EBITDA" means, with respect to any person for any period and
without duplication, the Adjusted Consolidated Net Income of such person for
such period plus (a) provision for taxes based on income or profits to the
extent such provision for taxes was included in computing Adjusted Consolidated
Net Income, plus (b) consolidated Interest Expense, whether paid or accrued, to
the extent such expense was deducted in computing Adjusted Consolidated Net
Income (including amortization of original issue discount and non-cash interest
payments), plus (c) depreciation, amortization and other non-cash charges to the
extent such depreciation, amortization and other non-cash charges were deducted
in computing Adjusted Consolidated Net Income (including amortization of
goodwill and other intangibles).
"CONSOLIDATED FIXED CHARGES" means, with respect to any person for any
period, the (a) consolidated Interest Expense, whether paid or accrued, to the
extent such expense was deducted in computing Adjusted Consolidated Net Income
(including amortization of original issue discount and non-cash interest
payments) and (b) aggregate amount of all dividends paid or accumulated by such
person during
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such period on Qualified Preferred Stock and all cash dividend payments by such
person during such period on all series of other preferred stock of such person
and its Subsidiaries, other than dividends paid by such person during such
period on preferred stock of Unrestricted Subsidiaries dividends paid to such
person or its Subsidiaries (other than in the case of the Company and its
Restricted Subsidiaries, Unrestricted Subsidiaries) times a fraction, the
numerator of which is one and the denominator of which is one minus the then
Current Effective Consolidated Tax Rate of such person during such period.
"CONSOLIDATED NET INCOME" means, with respect to any person for any period,
the aggregate net income (or loss) of such person and its Subsidiaries (other
than, in the case of the Company and its Subsidiaries, Unrestricted
Subsidiaries) for such period, on a consolidated basis, determined in accordance
with GAAP; PROVIDED that (i) the net income (or loss) of any person which is not
a Subsidiary of the referent person or is accounted for by the equity method of
accounting by such referent person shall be included only to the extent of the
amount of cash dividends or distributions (including tax sharing payments) paid
to the referent person during such period or a Subsidiary of the referent person
(other than, in the case of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries,
Unrestricted Subsidiaries), (ii) except to the extent includible pursuant to the
foregoing clause (i), the income (or loss) of any person accrued prior to the
date it becomes a Subsidiary of such person or is merged into or consolidated
with such person or any of its Subsidiaries or that person's assets are acquired
by such person or any of its Subsidiaries shall be excluded, (iii) any gains or
losses of such person for such period attributable to Asset Sales net of related
tax costs or tax benefits, as the case may be, shall be excluded and (iv) all
extraordinary gains or losses of such person for such period shall be excluded.
"CONSOLIDATED NET WORTH" means, with respect to any person, at any date of
determination, the sum of the Capital Stock and additional paid-in capital plus
retained earnings (or minus accumulated deficit) of such person and its
Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, less amounts attributable to Redeemable
Stock of such person, each item to be determined in conformity with GAAP
(excluding the effects of (i) foreign currency exchange adjustments under
Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement of Financial Accounting Standards
No. 52 and (ii) the application of Accounting Principles Board Opinions Nos. 16
and 17 and related interpretations).
"CONSOLIDATED TANGIBLE ASSETS" means, with respect to any person, at any
time, the total consolidated assets of such person less the consolidated assets
of such person which constitute goodwill, in each case as set forth on such
person's most recent balance sheet.
"CURRENCY AGREEMENT" means the obligations of any person pursuant to any
foreign exchange contract, currency swap agreement or other similar agreement or
arrangement designed to protect such person or any of its Subsidiaries against
fluctuations in currency values.
"CURRENT EFFECTIVE CONSOLIDATED TAX RATE" means, with respect to any person
for any period, cash income taxes paid or payable by such person for such period
DIVIDED by the amount of income used in determining the amount of such cash
income taxes paid or payable, in each case without giving effect to any gains on
Asset Sales.
"DESIGNATED SENIOR INDEBTEDNESS" means (i) all Senior Indebtedness under the
New Credit Facility and (ii) any Senior Indebtedness permitted under the
Indenture having a principal amount of at least $15.0 million that is designated
as "Designated Senior Indebtedness" by written notice from the Company to the
Trustee.
"EQUITY INTERESTS" means Capital Stock, warrants, options or other rights to
acquire Capital Stock (but excluding any debt security which is convertible
into, or exchangeable for, Capital Stock).
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"EXISTING INDEBTEDNESS" means Indebtedness of the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries (other than Indebtedness under the New Credit Facility) in
existence on the Issue Date.
"FIXED CHARGE COVERAGE RATIO" means, with respect to any person for any
period, the ratio of Consolidated EBITDA for such person for such period to
Consolidated Fixed Charges for such person for such period. For purposes of the
foregoing computation, in calculating Consolidated EBITDA and Consolidated Fixed
Charges, (a) the transaction giving rise to the need to calculate the Fixed
Charge Coverage Ratio shall be assumed to have occurred on the first day of the
four-quarter period for which the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is being
determined (the "Reference Period"), (b) any acquisition or divestiture of
assets or the Capital Stock of any Subsidiary of such person (Restricted
Subsidiary, in the case of the Company) which occurred during the Reference
Period or subsequent to the Reference Period and prior to the date of the
transaction referenced in clause (a) above (the "Transaction Date") shall be
assumed to have occurred on the first day of the Reference Period, excluding, in
the case of an acquisition of assets or Capital Stock, any operating expense or
cost reduction of such person or the person to be acquired which, in the good
faith estimate of management, will be eliminated or realized, as the case may
be, as a result of such acquisition, as if such acquisition of assets or Capital
Stock (including the incurrence of any Indebtedness in connection with any such
acquisition and the application of the proceeds thereof) took place on the first
day of the Reference Period and as if the elimination of such operating expense
and the realization of such cost reductions were achieved on the first day of
the Reference Period; PROVIDED that the foregoing eliminations of operating
expenses and realizations of cost reductions shall be of the types permitted to
be given effect to in accordance with Article 11 of Regulation S-X under the
Exchange Act as in effect on the Issue Date, (c) the incurrence of any
Indebtedness during the Reference Period or subsequent to the Reference Period
and on or prior to the Transaction Date and the application of the proceeds
therefrom shall be assumed to have occurred on the first day of the Reference
Period, (d) Consolidated Fixed Charges attributable to any Indebtedness (whether
existing or being incurred) computed on a pro forma basis and bearing a floating
interest rate shall be computed as if the rate in effect on the Transaction Date
had been the applicable rate for the entire period, unless such person or any of
its Subsidiaries (Restricted Subsidiaries, in the case of the Company) is party
to an Interest Rate Agreement which will remain in effect for the twelve-month
period after the Transaction Date and which has the effect of fixing the
interest rate on the date of computation, in which case such rate (whether
higher or lower) shall be used and (e) there shall be excluded from Consolidated
Fixed Charges any portion of such Consolidated Fixed Charges related to any
amount of Indebtedness that was outstanding during or subsequent to the
Reference Period but is not outstanding on the Transaction Date, except for
Consolidated Fixed Charges actually incurred with respect to Indebtedness
borrowed (as adjusted pursuant to clause (d)) under a revolving credit or
similar arrangement to the extent the commitment thereunder remains in effect on
the Transaction Date.
"GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles set forth in the
opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American
Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of
the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") or in such other statements by
such other entity as approved by a significant segment of the accounting
profession which are in effect in the United States at the time and for the
period as to which such accounting principles are to be applied; PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, that for purposes of determining compliance with covenants in the
Indenture, "GAAP" means such generally accepted accounting principles as in
effect as of the Issue Date.
"HOLDER" means a person in whose name a Note is registered. The Holder of a
Note will be treated as the owner of such Note for all purposes.
"INDEBTEDNESS" means, with respect to any person, any indebtedness, in
respect of borrowed money (whether or not the recourse of the lender is to the
whole of the assets of such person or only to a portion
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thereof), or evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments or
letters of credit (or reimbursement obligations with respect thereto) or
representing the balance deferred and unpaid of the purchase price of any
property (including pursuant to financing leases), if and to the extent any of
the foregoing indebtedness would appear as a liability upon a balance sheet of
such person prepared in accordance with GAAP (except that any such balance that
constitutes a trade payable and/or an accrued liability arising in the ordinary
course of business shall not be considered Indebtedness), and shall also
include, to the extent not otherwise included, any Capital Lease Obligations,
the maximum fixed repurchase price of any Redeemable Stock or preferred stock of
any Subsidiary (Restricted Subsidiary, in the case of the Company) of such
person (except, with respect to the Company, to the extent such Restricted
Subsidiary guarantees the obligations under the Notes), indebtedness secured by
a Lien to which the property or assets owned or held by such person are subject,
whether or not the obligations secured thereby shall have been assumed, and
guarantees of items that would be included within this definition to the extent
of such guarantees (exclusive of whether such items would appear upon such
balance sheet). For purposes of the preceding sentence, the maximum fixed
repurchase price of any Redeemable Stock or preferred stock of any Restricted
Subsidiary of such person which does not have a fixed repurchase price shall be
calculated in accordance with the terms of such Redeemable Stock or such
preferred stock as if such Redeemable Stock or such preferred stock were
repurchased on any date on which Indebtedness shall be required to be determined
pursuant to the Indenture; PROVIDED that if such Redeemable Stock or such
preferred stock is not then permitted to be repurchased, the repurchase price
shall be the book value of such Redeemable Stock or such preferred stock. The
amount of Indebtedness of any person at any date shall be, in the case of
Indebtedness of others secured by a Lien to which the property or assets owned
or held by such person are subject, the lesser of the fair market value at such
date of any asset subject to a Lien securing the Indebtedness of others and the
amount of the Indebtedness secured.
"INDEPENDENT FINANCIAL ADVISOR" means an accounting, appraisal, investment
banking or consulting firm of nationally recognized standing that is, in the
reasonable and good faith judgment of the board of directors of the Company,
qualified to perform the task for which such firm has been engaged and
disinterested and independent with respect to the Company and its Affiliates.
"INTEREST EXPENSE" means, with respect to any person, for any period, the
aggregate amount of interest in respect of Indebtedness (including all
commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed with respect to letters
of credit and bankers' acceptance financing and the net cost (benefit)
associated with Interest Rate Agreements, and excluding amortization of deferred
finance fees) and all but the principal component of rentals in respect of
Capital Lease Obligations, paid, accrued or scheduled to be paid or accrued by
such person during such period.
"INTEREST RATE AGREEMENTS" means the obligations of any person pursuant to
any interest rate swap agreement, interest rate collar agreement or other
similar agreement or arrangement designed to protect such person or any of its
Subsidiaries against fluctuations in interest rates.
"INVESTMENT" means any direct or indirect advance, loan (other than advances
to customers in the ordinary course of business, which are recorded as accounts
receivable on the balance sheet of any person or its Subsidiaries) or other
extension of credit or capital contribution to (by means of any transfer of cash
or other property to others or any payment for property or services for the
account or use of others), or any purchase or acquisition of Capital Stock,
bonds, notes, debentures or other securities issued by any other person; in each
case, other than as result of the issuance of Capital Stock of such person or
the delivery of Capital Stock of such person's direct or indirect parent. For
the purposes of the "LIMITATION ON RESTRICTED PAYMENTS" covenant, (i)
"Investment" shall include and be valued at the fair market value of the net
assets of any Restricted Subsidiary at the time that such Restricted Subsidiary
is designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary and shall exclude the fair market value
of the net assets of any Unrestricted Subsidiary at the time that such
Unrestricted Subsidiary is designated a Restricted Subsidiary and (ii) the
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amount of any Investment shall be the original cost of such Investment plus the
cost of all additional Investments by the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries, without any adjustments for increases or decreases in value, or
write-ups, write-downs or write-offs with respect to such Investment, reduced by
the payment of dividends or distributions (including tax sharing payments) in
connection with such Investment to the extent such distribution constitutes a
return on capital in accordance with GAAP; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that in the case
of an Investment in an Unrestricted Subsidiary, the Company may elect to include
such cash payments (in whole or in part) in Adjusted Consolidated Net Income and
not as a reduction in the carrying value of the Investment in such Unrestricted
Subsidiary (whether or not in accordance with GAAP), such election to be made
prior to the making of a Restricted Payment based upon such dividend or
distribution.
"ISSUE DATE" means the date of first issuance of the Notes under the
Indenture.
"LIEN" means any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest or
encumbrance of any kind, whether or not filed, recorded or otherwise perfected
under applicable law (including any conditional sale or other title retention
agreement, any lease in the nature thereof, any option or other agreement to
sell or give any security interest in and any filing or other agreement to give
any financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code (or equivalent
statutes) of any jurisdiction).
"MATURITY DATE" means, when used with respect to any Note, the date
specified in such Note as the fixed date on which the final installment of
principal of such Note is due and payable (in the absence of any acceleration
thereof pursuant to provisions of the Indenture regarding acceleration of
Indebtedness or any Net Proceeds Offer or Change of Control Offer).
"NET PROCEEDS" means, with respect to any Asset Sale, the aggregate amount
of U.S. Legal Tender (including any cash received by way of deferred payment
pursuant to a note receivable issued in connection with such Asset Sale, other
than the portion of such deferred payment constituting interest, and including
any amounts received as disbursements or withdrawals from any escrow or similar
account established in connection with any such Asset Sale, but, in each such
case, only as and when so received) received by the Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of such Asset Sale, net of (i) the cash
expenses of such sale (including, without limitation, the payment of principal,
premium, if any, and interest on Indebtedness required to be paid as a result of
such Asset Sale (other than pursuant to the "LIMITATION ON ASSET SALE" covenant)
and legal, accounting and investment banking fees and sales commissions), (ii)
taxes paid or payable as a result thereof, (iii) any portion of cash proceeds
which the Company determines in good faith should be reserved for post-closing
adjustments, it being understood and agreed that on the day that all such
post-closing adjustments have been determined, the amount (if any) by which the
reserved amount in respect of such Asset Sale exceeds the actual post-closing
adjustments payable by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries shall constitute
Net Proceeds on such date and (iv) any relocation expenses and pension,
severance and shutdown costs incurred as a result thereof.
"NEW CREDIT FACILITY" means that certain credit agreement dated as of June
12, 1997, by and among the Company, certain financial institutions parties
thereto and Bankers Trust Company and Credit Suisse First Boston, as agents,
initially providing for up to a $475.0 million revolving credit facility,
including any related notes, guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and
agreements executed in connection therewith, and in each case as amended,
modified, supplemented, extended, renewed, refunded, refinanced, restructured or
replaced from time to time (including, without limitation, any extension of
maturity thereof, or the inclusion of additional borrowers or guarantors
thereunder), in each case in whole or in part, whether by the same or any other
lender or group of lenders.
"OBLIGATIONS" means any principal, interest, penalties, fees,
indemnifications, reimbursements, damages and other liabilities payable under
the documentation governing any Indebtedness.
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"PERMITTED INVESTMENTS" means (i) cash or Cash Equivalents, (ii) Investments
that are in persons (including Unrestricted Subsidiaries) who derive substantial
revenues from operations similar or ancillary to the business of the Company or
its Restricted Subsidiaries as conducted at the time of such Investment and that
have the purpose of furthering the operations of the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries; PROVIDED that Investments of the type described in this clause
(ii) shall not exceed $25.0 million at any one time outstanding in the case of
persons which are not Restricted Subsidiaries or which do not in connection with
such Investment become a Restricted Subsidiary, (iii) advances to employees and
officers of the Company and its Subsidiaries not in excess of $1.0 million at
any one time outstanding, (iv) loans to employees, officers and directors of the
Company and its Subsidiaries to finance the purchase of Equity Interests in the
Company, (v) accounts receivable created or acquired in the ordinary course of
business, (vi) obligations or shares of Capital Stock received in connection
with any good faith settlement or bankruptcy proceeding involving a claim
relating to a Permitted Investment, (vii) Currency Agreements and Interest Rate
Agreements and other similar agreements designed to hedge against fluctuations
in foreign exchange rates and interest rates entered into in the ordinary course
of business in connection with the operation of the Company's or its Restricted
Subsidiaries' businesses and (viii) agreements designed to hedge against
fluctuations in the cost of raw materials entered into in the ordinary course of
business in connection with the operation of the Company's and its Restricted
Subsidiaries' business ("Raw Material Hedge Agreements").
"PERMITTED LIEN" means (i) Liens for taxes, assessments, governmental
charges or claims not yet due or which are being contested in good faith by
appropriate proceedings promptly instituted and diligently conducted and if a
reserve or other appropriate provision, if any, as shall be required in
conformity with GAAP shall have been made therefor; (ii) statutory Liens of
landlords and carriers', warehousemen's, mechanics', suppliers', materialmen's,
repairmen's or other like Liens arising in the ordinary course of business,
deposits made to obtain the release of such Liens, and with respect to amounts
not yet delinquent for a period of more than 60 days or being contested in good
faith by appropriate proceedings, if a reserve or other appropriate provision,
if any, as shall be required in conformity with GAAP shall have been made
therefor; (iii) Liens incurred or deposits made in the ordinary course of
business in connection with workers' compensation, unemployment insurance and
other types of social security; (iv) Liens incurred or deposits made to secure
the performance of tenders, bids, leases, statutory obligations, surety and
appeal bonds, government contracts, performance and return of money bonds and
other obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business
(exclusive of obligations for the payment of borrowed money); (v) easements,
rights-of-way, zoning or other restrictions, minor defects or irregularities in
title and other similar charges or encumbrances not interfering in any material
respect with the business of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries
incurred in the ordinary course of business; (vi) Liens (including extensions,
renewals and replacements thereof) upon real or tangible personal property
acquired after the date of the Indenture whether or not such Lien existed on the
date of acquisition of such property; PROVIDED that (a) any such Lien is created
solely for the purpose of securing Indebtedness representing, or incurred to
finance, refinance or refund, the cost (including the cost of construction) of
the item of property subject thereto, (b) the principal amount of the
Indebtedness secured by such Lien does not exceed 100% of such cost, (c) such
Lien does not extend to or cover any other property other than such item of
property and any improvements on such item and (d) the incurrence of such
Indebtedness is permitted by the "LIMITATION ON ADDITIONAL INDEBTEDNESS"
covenant; (vii) Liens securing reimbursement obligations with respect to letters
of credit which encumber documents and other property relating to such letters
of credit and the products and proceeds thereof; (viii) Liens in favor of
customs and revenue authorities arising as a matter of law to secure payment of
customs duties in connection with the importation of goods; (ix) judgment and
attachment Liens not giving rise to an Event of Default; (x) leases or subleases
granted to others not interfering in any material respect with the business of
the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; (xi) Liens encumbering
customary initial deposits and margin deposits, and other Liens incurred in the
ordinary course of business and which are within the general parameters
customary in the industry, in each case securing Indebtedness under Interest
Rate Agreements, Currency
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Agreements and Raw Material Hedge Agreements; (xii) Liens encumbering deposits
made to secure obligations arising from statutory, regulatory, contractual or
warranty requirements of the Company or its Subsidiaries; (xiii) Liens arising
out of consignment or similar arrangements for the sale of goods entered into by
the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of
business of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries; (xiv) any interest or
title of a lessor in the property subject to any Capital Lease Obligations or
operating lease; (xv) Liens arising from filing Uniform Commercial Code
financing statements regarding leases; (xvi) Liens permitted or required by the
New Credit Facility as in effect on the Issue Date; (xvii) Liens securing Senior
Indebtedness and Liens on assets of Restricted Subsidiaries securing
Indebtedness of such Restricted Subsidiaries; (xviii) Liens between the Company
and any Restricted Subsidiary or between Restricted Subsidiaries; (xix) Liens on
assets of Restricted Subsidiaries securing letters of credit issued in the
ordinary course of business of such Restricted Subsidiaries; (xx) additional
Liens at any one time outstanding with respect to assets of the Company and its
Restricted Subsidiaries the fair market value of which does not exceed $15.0
million on the date of determination; (xxi) Liens existing on the Issue Date and
any extensions, renewals or replacements thereof; (xxii) Liens deemed to arise
from the A/R Securitization; and (xxiii) the Lien granted to the Trustee under
the Indenture and any substantially equivalent Lien granted to any trustee or
similar institution under any indenture for Indebtedness permitted by the terms
of the Indenture.
"QUALIFIED PREFERRED STOCK" means preferred stock of the Company that is
designated as such pursuant to clause (ii) or (v) of the second paragraph of the
"LIMITATION ON RESTRICTED PAYMENTS" covenant.
"REDEEMABLE STOCK" means any Equity Interest which, by its terms (or by
terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is
exchangeable before the stated maturity of the Notes), or upon the happening of
any event, matures or is mandatorily redeemable (other than for Capital Stock
not constituting Redeemable Stock), in whole or in part, prior to the Maturity
Date, or is, by its terms or upon the happening of any event, redeemable at the
option of the holder thereof, in whole or in part, at any time prior to the
Maturity Date, except for Equity Interests of the Company issued to employees,
officers and directors of the Company and its Subsidiaries pursuant to
agreements containing provisions for the repurchase of such Equity Interest upon
death, disability or termination of employment or directorship of such persons;
PROVIDED that any Equity Interest that is considered to be Redeemable Stock
solely because it is redeemable upon the occurrence of the same events that
would require a redemption or repurchase of the Notes shall not be deemed to be
Redeemable Stock; PROVIDED, FURTHER, that such Equity Interest is not
convertible or exchangeable into debt.
"RESTRICTED SUBSIDIARY" means any Subsidiary of the Company which at the
time of determination is not an Unrestricted Subsidiary. The Board of Directors
of the Company may designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted
Subsidiary only if, immediately after giving effect to such designation, the
Company could incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the
first paragraph of the "LIMITATION ON ADDITIONAL INDEBTEDNESS" covenant (without
giving effect to clauses (i) through (xvi) of the second paragraph thereof), on
a pro forma basis taking into account such designation.
"SENIOR INDEBTEDNESS" means any Indebtedness permitted to be incurred under
the terms of the Indenture, unless the instrument under which such Indebtedness
is incurred expressly provides that it is on a parity with or subordinated in
right of payment to the Notes. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the
foregoing, Senior Indebtedness shall not include (a) Indebtedness that is
expressly subordinate or junior in right of payment to any Indebtedness of the
Company, (b) Indebtedness that is represented by Redeemable Stock, (c) any
liability for Federal, state, local or other taxes owed or owing by the Company,
(d) Indebtedness of the Company to any Subsidiary of the Company, (e) trade
payables and (f) Indebtedness that is incurred in violation of the Indenture
(but, as to any such Indebtedness, no such violation shall be deemed to exist
for purposes of this definition if the holder(s) of such obligation or their
representative or the Company shall have furnished to the Trustee an opinion of
counsel unqualified in all
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material respects, addressed to the Trustee (which legal counsel may, as to
matters of fact, rely upon an officers' certificate of the Company) to the
effect that the incurrence of such Indebtedness does not violate the provisions
of the Indenture).
"SIGNIFICANT RESTRICTED SUBSIDIARY" means any Restricted Subsidiary which
accounted for more than 10% of the Company's Consolidated Tangible Assets or
more than 10% of the Company's consolidated revenues or more than 10% of the
Company's Consolidated EBITDA, in each case as of the end of the Company's most
recent fiscal year.
"SUBSIDIARY" with respect to any person, means (i) any corporation of which
the outstanding Capital Stock having at least a majority of the votes entitled
to be cast in the election of directors under ordinary circumstances shall at
the time be owned, directly or indirectly, by such person or (ii) any other
person of which at least a majority of the voting interest under ordinary
circumstances is at such time, directly or indirectly, owned by such person.
"UNRESTRICTED SUBSIDIARY" means (i) any Subsidiary of the Company which at
the time of determination is an Unrestricted Subsidiary (as designated by the
Board of Directors of the Company, as provided below) and (ii) any Subsidiary of
an Unrestricted Subsidiary. The Board of Directors of the Company may designate
any Subsidiary of the Company (including any newly acquired or newly formed
Subsidiary) to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary, unless such Subsidiary owns any
Capital Stock of, or owns, or holds any Lien on, any property of, any other
Subsidiary of the Company which is not a Subsidiary of the Subsidiary to be so
designated; PROVIDED that (a) the Company certifies that such designation
complies with the "LIMITATION ON RESTRICTED PAYMENTS" covenant and (b) each
Subsidiary to be so designated and each of its Subsidiaries has not at the time
of designation, and does not thereafter, create, incur, issue, assume, guarantee
or otherwise become directly or indirectly liable with respect to any
Indebtedness pursuant to which the lender has recourse to any of the assets of
the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries. The Board of Directors of the
Company may designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary
only if, immediately after giving effect to such designation, the Company could
incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the first paragraph
of the "LIMITATION ON ADDITIONAL INDEBTEDNESS" covenant (without giving effect
to clauses (i) through (xvi) of the second paragraph thereof) on a PRO FORMA
basis taking into account such designation.
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BOOK-ENTRY; DELIVERY AND FORM
The Exchange Notes will be represented by one or more fully registered
global notes (collectively, the "Global Notes"), and will be deposited upon
issuance with the Depositary and registered in the name of the Depositary or a
nominee of the Depositary. Except as set forth below, the Global Notes may be
transferred, in whole and not in part, only to another nominee of the Depositary
or to a successor of the Depositary or its nominee.
THE GLOBAL NOTES. The Company expects that pursuant to procedures
established by DTC (i) upon the issuance of the Global Notes, DTC or its
custodian will credit, on its internal system, the principal amount of Exchange
Notes of the individual beneficial interests represented by such Global Notes to
the respective accounts of persons who have accounts with such depositary and
(ii) ownership of beneficial interests in the Global Notes will be shown on, and
the transfer of such ownership will be effected only through, records maintained
by DTC or its nominee (with respect to interests of participants) and the
records of participants (with respect to interests of persons other than
participants). Ownership of beneficial interests in the Global Notes will be
limited to persons who have accounts with DTC ("participants") or persons who
hold the interests through participants.
So long as DTC, or its nominee, is the registered owner or holder of the
Exchange Notes, DTC or such nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the
sole owner or holder of the Notes represented by such Global Notes for all
purposes under the Indenture. No beneficial owner of an interest in the Global
Notes will be able to transfer that interest except in accordance with DTC's
procedures, in addition to those provided for under the Indenture with respect
to the Exchange Notes.
Payments of the principal of, premium (if any), and interest on, the Global
Notes will be made to DTC or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered
owner thereof. None of the Company, the Trustee or any Paying Agent will have
any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or
payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in the Global Notes
or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such
beneficial ownership interest.
The Company expects that DTC or its nominee, upon receipt of any payment of
principal, premium, if any, interest on the Global Notes, will credit
participants' accounts with payments in amounts proportionate to their
respective beneficial interests in the principal amount of the Global Notes as
shown on the records of DTC or its nominee. The Company also expects that
payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in the Global Notes
held through such participants will be governed by standing instructions and
customary practice, as is the case with securities held for the accounts of
customers registered in the names of nominees for such customers. Such payments
will be the responsibility of such participants.
Transfers between participants in DTC will be effected in the ordinary way
through DTC's same-day funds system in accordance with DTC rules and will be
settled in the same day funds.
DTC has advised the Company that it will take any action permitted to be
taken by a holder of Exchange Notes only at the direction of one or more
participants to whose account the DTC interests in the Global Notes are credited
and only in respect of such portion of the aggregate principal amount of
Exchange Notes as to which such participant or participants has or have given
such direction. However, if there is an Event of Default under the Indenture,
DTC will exchange the Global Notes for certificated securities, which it will
distribute to its participants.
DTC has advised the Company as follows: DTC is a limited purpose trust
company organized under the laws of the State of New York, a member of the
Federal Reserve System, a "clearing corporation" within the meaning of the
Uniform Commercial Code and a "Clearing Agency" registered pursuant to the
provisions of Section 17A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
(the "Exchange Act"). DTC was created to hold securities for its participants
and facilitate the clearance and settlement of securities transactions between
participants through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of its
participants,
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thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates. Participants
include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies and clearing
corporations and certain other organizations. Indirect access to the DTC system
is available to others such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that
clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a participant, either
directly or indirectly ("indirect participants").
Although DTC has agreed to the foregoing procedures in order to facilitate
transfers of interests in the Global Notes among participants of DTC, it is
under no obligation to perform such procedures, and such procedures may be
discontinued at any time. Neither the Company nor the Trustee will have any
responsibility for the performance by DTC or its participants or indirect
participants of their respective obligations under the rules and procedures
governing their operations.
CERTIFICATED SECURITIES. If DTC is at any time unwilling or unable to
continue as a depositary for the Global Notes and a successor depositary is not
appointed by the Company within 90 days, Certificated Securities will be issued
in exchange for the Global Notes.
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DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CREDIT FACILITY
On June 12, 1997, the Company entered into a Credit Agreement (as amended to
date, the " New Credit Facility") with a syndicate of banks and Bankers Trust
Company as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent and Credit Suisse First
Boston as Documentation Agent pursuant to which the Company may borrow, subject
to certain conditions, up to $475.0 million on a revolving credit basis, of
which up to $25.0 million is available as swingline loans and up to $45.0
million is available as letters of credit. The Company's initial borrowing under
the New Credit Facility in the amount of $321.8 million was made on June 12,
1997 and was used to repay the outstanding borrowings under the Old Credit
Facility which was terminated upon closing of the New Credit Facility.
Borrowings under the New Credit Facility are available for general corporate
purposes, permitted acquisitions and investments.
The New Credit Facility provides that the revolving credit facility
terminates and all loans thereunder must be repaid on June 12, 2002. Under the
New Credit Facility, outstanding loans (other than swingline loans) bear
interest at the Applicable Margin described below over, at the Company's option,
(i) Base Rate or (ii) LIBOR. Base Rate is defined as the higher of (x) 1/2 of 1%
in excess of the Federal Funds Rate (as defined in the New Credit Facility) and
(y) the prime lending rate of Bankers Trust Company in effect from time to time.
The Applicable Margin varies depending on the Company's leverage ratio, as
tested on a rolling four quarter basis, and defined generally as the ratio of
debt to earnings, less interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (the
"Leverage Ratio"). The Applicable Margin for LIBOR loans ranges from 0.50% to
1.75%. For Base Rate loans the Applicable Margin varies from 0.00% to 0.75%.
Swingline loans bear interest at the Applicable Margin over Base Rate and letter
of credit fees are charged at a rate, varying with the Leverage Ratio, from
0.50% to 1.75%.
The Company may voluntarily terminate the banks' commitments under the New
Credit Facility at any time, subject to three Business Days' notice. The New
Credit Facility also provides for mandatory reductions of the banks' commitments
in the event the Company incurs debt or issues preferred stock (other than
certain permitted debt or preferred stock).
The Company's obligations under the New Credit Facility are guaranteed by
each domestic subsidiary of the Company and are secured by a first priority
security interest in all capital stock and intercompany notes owned by the
Company and its subsidiaries, with certain exceptions.
The New Credit Facility contains restrictions that include limitations on
the Company and its subsidiaries with respect to (i) the incurrence, creation
and maintenance of liens (other than permitted liens), (ii) the incurrence and
maintenance of additional debt, subject to certain exceptions and an available
basket amount, (iii) mergers, acquisitions, purchases and sales of assets,
subject to certain exceptions and an available basket amount, (iv) sale and
leaseback transactions, (v) changes in business conducted and (vi) dividends and
other restricted payments (subject to available baskets). In addition, the New
Credit Facility contains a Leverage Ratio requirement of no greater than 4.25 to
1.0 until December 31, 1999 and thereafter no greater than 4.00 to 1.0. The
minimum net interest coverage ratio is 2.25 to 1.0.
The New Credit Facility contains customary events of default, including (i)
failure by the Company to make principal payments or interest and fee payments
within certain grace periods, (ii) inaccuracy of representations and warranties
in any material respects when made, (iii) breach of covenants (in certain cases,
subject to grace periods), (iv) failure by the Company to make payments in
respect of certain indebtedness, (v) bankruptcy, insolvency or similar events
with respect to the Company or its significant subsidiaries, (vi) certain ERISA
defaults, (vii) material judgments that remain unsatisfied or unstayed for
certain time periods or (viii) a change in control (as defined in the New Credit
Facility) of the Company.
CERTAIN UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
The exchange of Private Notes for Exchange Notes should not be treated as a
taxable transaction for United States Federal income tax purposes because the
Exchange Notes will not be considered to differ
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materially in kind or in extent from the Private Notes. Rather, the Exchange
Notes received by a holder of Private Notes should be treated as a continuation
of such holder's investment in the Private Notes. As a result, there should be
no material United States Federal income tax consequences to holders exchanging
Private Notes for Exchange Notes.
PERSONS CONSIDERING THE EXCHANGE OF THE PRIVATE NOTES FOR EXCHANGE NOTES
SHOULD CONSULT THEIR OWN TAX ADVISORS CONCERNING THE TAX CONSEQUENCES ARISING
UNDER STATE, LOCAL, OR FOREIGN LAWS OF SUCH AN EXCHANGE.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
This Prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may
be used by a broker-dealer in connection with resales of any Exchange Notes
received in exchange for Private Notes acquired by such broker-dealer as a
result of market-making or other trading activities. Each such broker-dealer
that receives Exchange Notes for its own account in exchange for such Private
Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a
prospectus in connection with any resale of such Exchange Notes. The Company has
agreed that for a period of up to 180 days after the Registration Statement is
declared effective, it will make this Prospectus, as amended or supplemented,
available to any such broker-dealer that requests copies of this Prospectus in
the Letter of Transmittal for use in connection with any such resale.
The Company will not receive any proceeds from any sale of Exchange Notes by
broker-dealers or any other persons. Exchange Notes received by broker-dealers
for their own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer may be sold from time to
time in one or more transactions in the over-the-counter market, in negotiated
transactions or through the writing of options on the Exchange Notes, or a
combination of such methods of resale, at market prices prevailing at the time
of resale or negotiated prices. Any such resale may be made directly to
purchasers or to or through brokers or dealers who may receive compensation in
the form of commissions or concessions from any such broker-dealer and/or the
purchasers of any such Exchange Notes. Any broker-dealer that resells Exchange
Notes that were received by it for its own account pursuant to the Exchange
Offer in exchange for Private Notes acquired by such broker-dealer as a result
of market-making or other trading activities and any broker-dealer that
participates in a distribution of such Exchange Notes may be deemed to be an
"underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act and any profit on any
such resale of Exchange Notes and any commissions or concessions received by any
such persons may be deemed to be underwriting compensation under the Securities
Act. The Letter of Transmittal states that by acknowledging that it will deliver
and by delivering a prospectus, a broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that
it is an "underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act.
The Company has agreed to pay all expenses incident to the Company's
performance of, or compliance with, the Registration Rights Agreement and will
indemnify the holders of Private Notes (including any broker-dealers), and
certain parties related to such holders, against certain liabilities, including
liabilities under the Securities Act.
VALIDITY OF THE EXCHANGE NOTES
The validity of the Exchange Notes offered hereby will be passed upon for
the Company by Sullivan & Cromwell, New York, New York.
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
The consolidated financial statements of the Company as of December 31, 1996
and 1995 and for the year ended December 31, 1996, the six months ended December
31, 1995, the year ended June 30, 1995 and the 323 days ended June 30, 1994
incorporated by reference in this Prospectus have been audited by Deloitte &
Touche LLP, independent auditors, as stated in their reports, which are
incorporated by reference.
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NO PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED IN CONNECTION WITH THE EXCHANGE OFFER TO GIVE ANY
INFORMATION OR MAKE ANY REPRESENTATION NOT CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS, AND, IF
GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATION MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS
HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED BY THE COMPANY. NEITHER THE MAKING OF THE EXCHANGE OFFER
PURSUANT TO THIS PROSPECTUS NOR THE ACCEPTANCE OF PRIVATE NOTES FOR SURRENDER
FOR EXCHANGE PURSUANT THERETO SHALL UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES CREATE ANY
IMPLICATION THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE IN THE AFFAIRS OF THE COMPANY SINCE
THE DATE HEREOF OR THAT THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS CORRECT AS OF ANY
TIME SUBSEQUENT TO THE DATE HEREOF.
------------------------
TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PAGE
---------
<S> <C>
Notice to Investors............................. 2
Incorporation of Certain Documents by
Reference..................................... 3
Available Information........................... 4
Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking
Statements.................................... 4
Summary......................................... 5
Risk Factors.................................... 17
No Cash Proceeds to the Company................. 20
Price Range of the Private Notes................ 21
Capitalization.................................. 21
The Exchange Offer.............................. 22
Selected Historical Financial and Other
Operating Data................................ 29
Management's Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of
Operations.................................... 31
Business........................................ 37
Management...................................... 55
Principal Stockholders.......................... 57
Certain Relationships and Related
Transactions.................................. 58
Description of the Notes........................ 59
Book-Entry; Delivery and Form................... 83
Description of the New Credit Facility.......... 85
Certain United States Federal Income Tax
Considerations................................ 85
Plan of Distribution............................ 86
Validity of the Exchange Notes.................. 86
Independent Auditors............................ 86
</TABLE>
BIG FLOWER PRESS
HOLDINGS, INC.
OFFER TO EXCHANGE
8 7/8% SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES
DUE JULY 1, 2007
FOR ALL OUTSTANDING
8 7/8% SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES
DUE JULY 1, 2007
[LOGO]
August 21, 1997
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<PAGE>
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
ITEM 20. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware empowers
a Delaware corporation to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is
threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action,
suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative
(other than an action by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the
fact that such person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of such
corporation or is or was serving at the request of such corporation as a
director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint
venture, trust or other enterprise. The indemnity may include expenses
(including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement
actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action,
suit or proceeding, provided that such person acted in good faith and in a
manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best
interests of the corporation and, with respect to any criminal action or
proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe such person's conduct was
unlawful. A Delaware corporation may indemnify directors, officers, employees
and other agents of such corporation in an action by or in the right of the
corporation under the same conditions, except that no indemnification is
permitted without judicial approval if the person to be indemnified has been
adjudged to be liable to the corporation. Where a director, officer, employee or
agent of the corporation is successful on the merits or otherwise in the defense
of any action, suit or proceeding referred to above or in defense of any claim,
issue or matter therein, the corporation must indemnify such person against the
expenses (including attorneys' fees) which he or she actually and reasonably
incurred in connection therewith.
The Bylaws contain provisions that provide for indemnification of officers
and directors and their heirs and distributees to the fullest extent permitted
by, and in the manner permissible under, the General Corporation Law of the
State of Delaware.
As permitted by Section 102(b)(7) of the General Corporation Law of the
State of Delaware, the Company's Certificate contains a provision eliminating
the personal liability of a director to the Company or its stockholders for
monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, subject to certain
exceptions.
The Company maintains policies insuring its officers and directors against
certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.
Pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, the Company has agreed to
indemnify holders of registrable Notes against certain liabilities. Also
pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, the Company and certain
broker-dealers, including certain persons associated with such broker-dealers,
have agreed to indemnify each other against certain liabilities.
II-1
<PAGE>
ITEM 21. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL SCHEDULES
<TABLE>
<C> <S>
(a) Exhibits
*4.1 Form of Exchange Note (included in Exhibit 4.2)
*4.2 Indenture, dated as of June 20, 1997 (the "Indenture"), between Big Flower Press
Holdings, Inc., as Issuer, and State Street Bank and Trust Company (formerly Fleet
National Bank), as Trustee.
*4.3 Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of June 20, 1997, between the Company and BT
Securities Corporation, Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation and Goldman, Sachs and
Co.
4.4 First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of August 14, 1997, to the Indenture.
5.1 Opinion of Sullivan & Cromwell regarding the validity of the Exchange Notes.
23.1 Consent of Sullivan & Cromwell (included in Exhibit 5.1)
23.2 Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP
*24.1 Power of Attorney
25.1 Statement of Eligibility of State Street Bank and Trust Company, as Trustee
99.1 Form of Letter of Transmittal
99.2 Form of Notice of Guaranteed Delivery
99.3 Form of Exchange Agent Agreement
</TABLE>
ITEM 22. UNDERTAKINGS
1. The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the
registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an
employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the
Securities 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.
2. Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act of 1933 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 Securities and Exchange Commission
such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the 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, suite or proceeding) is asserted by such
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
offered, 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 Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of
such issue.
3. The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes to respond to requests for
information that is incorporated by reference into the prospectus pursuant to
Item 4, 10(b), 11 or 13 of this Form, within one business day of receipt of such
request, and to send the incorporated documents by first class mail or other
equally prompt means. This includes information contained in documents filed
subsequent to the effective date of the registration statement through the date
of responding to the request.
4. The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(i) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a
post-effective amendment to this registration statement to include any material
information with respect to the plan of distribution not
II-2
<PAGE>
previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to
such information in the registration statement;
(ii) That, for the purposes of determining any liability under the
Securities Act of 1933, 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;
(iii) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any
of the securities being registered which remain unexchanged at the termination
of the offering.
- ------------------------
* Previously filed.
II-3
<PAGE>
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, the registrant has duly
caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of New York, State of New
York, on August 19, 1997.
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
BIG FLOWER PRESS HOLDINGS, INC.
By: /s/ R. THEODORE AMMON
--------------------------------------
R. Theodore Ammon
Chairman
</TABLE>
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.
SIGNATURE TITLE DATE
- ------------------------------ --------------------------- -------------------
/s/ R. THEODORE AMMON Chairman and Director
- ------------------------------ (Principal Executive August 19, 1997
R. Theodore Ammon Officer)
* President, Chief Executive
- ------------------------------ Officer and Director August 19, 1997
Edward T. Reilly
Executive Vice President
* and
- ------------------------------ Chief Financial Officer August 19, 1997
Richard L. Ritchie (Principal Financial and
Accounting Officer)
* Director
- ------------------------------ August 19, 1997
Peter G. Diamandis
* Director
- ------------------------------ August 19, 1997
Robert M. Kimmitt
* Director
- ------------------------------ August 19, 1997
Joan D. Manley
- ------------------------
*By: /s/ R. THEODORE AMMON
-------------------------
R. Theodore Ammon
Attorney-in-Fact
II-4
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT INDEX
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT PAGE
NO. DESCRIPTION NO.
- ----------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------
<C> <S> <C>
*4.1 Form of Exchange Note (included in Exhibit 4.2)
*4.2 Indenture, dated as of June 20, 1997, between Big Flower Press Holdings, Inc., as Issuer, and
State Street Bank and Trust Company (formerly Fleet National Bank), as Trustee.
*4.3 Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of June 20, 1997, between the Company and BT Securities
Corporation, Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation and Goldman, Sachs and Co.
4.4 First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of August 14, 1997, to the Indenture
5.1 Opinion of Sullivan & Cromwell regarding the validity of the Exchange Notes.
23.1 Consent of Sullivan & Cromwell (included in Exhibit 5.1)
23.2 Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP
*24.1 Power of Attorney
25.1 Statement of Eligibility of State Street Bank and Trust Company, as Trustee
99.1 Form of Letter of Transmittal
99.2 Form of Notice of Guaranteed Delivery
99.3 Form of Exchange Agent Agreement
</TABLE>
- ------------------------
* Previously filed.
<PAGE>
Exhibit 4.4
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BIG FLOWER PRESS HOLDINGS, INC.,
ISSUER
AND
STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY,
TRUSTEE
______________
FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE
DATED AS OF AUGUST 14, 1997
TO
INDENTURE
DATED AS OF JUNE 20, 1997
______________
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, dated as of August 14, 1997, between Big
Flower Press Holdings, Inc., a corporation duly organized and existing under the
laws of the State of Delaware (herein called the "Company"), and State Street
Bank and Trust Company (as successor in interest to Fleet National Bank), a
Massachusetts Trust Company, as Trustee (herein called the "Trustee").
RECITALS OF THE COMPANY
The Company has duly heretofore executed and delivered to the Trustee
an Indenture, dated as of June 20, 1997 (the "Indenture"), providing for the
issuance of up to $350,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company's 8
7/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2007 (the "Securities"). All terms used in
this First Supplemental Indenture which are defined in the Indenture shall have
the same meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.
Section 9.1(b) of the Indenture provides that, without the consent of
any Holders, the Company, when authorized by a resolution of its Board of
Directors, and the Trustee, may amend or supplement the Indenture or the
Securities to, among other things, surrender any right or power conferred by the
Indenture on the Company.
The Company has determined to surrender any right that it may from
time to time have to redeem Securities, pursuant to the third paragraph of
Section 5 on the reverse of the Securities, at any price that is less than
104.438% of their principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to
the date of redemption.
All things necessary to make this First Supplemental Indenture a valid
agreement of the Company, and a valid supplement to the Indenture, have been
done.
NOW, THEREFORE, THIS FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE WITNESSETH:
For and in consideration of the premises, it is mutually agreed, for
the equal and proportionate benefit of all Holders of the Securities or of any
series thereof, as follows:
1. The definition of "Applicable Premium" set forth in Section 5 on
the reverse of the Securities (as set forth in Exhibit A-1 and in Exhibit
A-2 to the Indenture) is amended by deleting, from clause (i), the number
"1.0%" and inserting, in place thereof, the number "4.438%".
2. This First Supplemental Indenture shall be construed in accordance
with the laws of the State of New York without reference to its conflict of
law
-2-
<PAGE>
provisions, and the obligations, rights and remedies of the parties
hereunder shall be determined in accordance with such laws.
3. The Trustee shall not be responsible in any manner whatsoever for
or in respect of the validity or sufficiency of this First Supplemental
Indenture or for or in respect of the recitals contained herein, all of
which recitals are made solely by the Company.
This instrument may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of
which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts
shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this First
Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed, and their respective corporate seals
to be hereunto affixed and attested, all as of the day and year first above
written.
BIG FLOWER PRESS HOLDINGS, INC.
By /s/ Mark A. Angelson
-------------------------------
Mark A. Angelson
Executive Vice President
Attest:
.....................
STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST
COMPANY, as Trustee
By /s/ Kathy A. Larimore
-------------------------------
Kathy A. Larimore
Assistant Vice President
Attest:
.....................
-3-
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 5.1
August 19, 1997
Big Flower Press Holdings, Inc.,
3 East 54th Street, 17th Floor,
New York, NY 10022.
Dear Sirs:
In connection with the registration under the Securities Act of
1933 (the "Act") of $250 million aggregate principal amount of 8-7/8% Senior
Subordinated Notes due 2007 (the "Exchange Notes") of Big Flower Press
Holdings, Inc. (the "Company") to be issued in exchange for the Company's
outstanding 8-7/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2007 pursuant to (i) the
Indenture, dated as of June 20, 1997, between the Company and State Street
Bank and Trust Company (as successor in interest to Fleet National Bank), as
trustee (the "Trustee"), as amended to date (the "Indenture") and (ii) the
Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of June 20, 1997 (the "Registration
Rights Agreement"), by and among the Company and BT Securities Corporation,
Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation and
<PAGE>
Big Flower Press Holdings, Inc. -2-
Goldman, Sachs & Co., we, as your special counsel, have examined such
corporate records, certificates and other documents, and such questions of
law, as we have considered necessary or appropriate for the purposes of this
opinion. Upon the basis of such examination, we advise you that, in our
opinion, the Exchange Notes have been duly authorized by the Company; and
when the Securities and Exchange Commission declares the Company's
Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-32141) effective and the
Exchange Notes have been duly executed, authenticated, issued and delivered
in accordance with the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement and the
Indenture, the Exchange Notes will constitute valid and legally binding
obligations of the Company enforceable in accordance with their terms,
subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization,
moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting
creditors' rights and to general equity principles.
The foregoing opinion is limited to the Federal laws of the United
States, the laws of the State of New York and the General Corporation Law of
the State of Delaware, and we are expressing no opinion as to the effect of
the laws of any other jurisdiction.
<PAGE>
Big Flower Press Holdings, Inc. -3-
In connection with the foregoing, we have assumed that at the time
of the issuance and delivery of the Exchange Notes there will not have
occurred any change in law affecting the validity, legally binding character
or enforceability of the Exchange Notes and that the issuance and delivery of
the Exchange Notes, all of the terms of the Exchange Notes and the
performance by the Company of its obligations thereunder will comply with
applicable law and with each requirement or restriction imposed by any court
or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company and will not result
in a default under or a breach of any agreement or instrument then binding
upon the Company.
In rendering the foregoing opinion, we have relied as to certain
matters on information obtained from public officials, officers of the
Company and other sources believed by us to be responsible, and we have
assumed (i) that the Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by the Trustee, (ii) that the Exchange Notes will conform to the
specimens thereof examined by us, (iii) that the Trustee's certificates of
authentication of the Exchange Notes will be manually signed by one of the
Trustee's authorized officers and (iv) that the signatures on all documents
examined by us are genuine, assumptions which we have not independently
verified.
<PAGE>
Big Flower Press Holdings, Inc. -4-
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to
the Registration Statement and to the reference to us under the heading
"Validity of the Exchange Notes" in the Prospectus. In giving such consent,
we do not hereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent
is required under Section 7 of the Act.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Sullivan & Cromwell
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 23.2
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT
We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Amendment No. 1 to the
Registration Statement (No. 333-32141) of Big Flower Press Holdings, Inc. on
Form S-4 of our reports dated February 14, 1997 appearing in the Annual Report
on Form 10-K of Big Flower Press Holdings, Inc. for the year ended December 31,
1996 and to the reference to us under the heading "Independent Auditors" in the
Prospectus, which is part of this Registration Statement.
DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
Baltimore, Maryland
August 18, 1997
<PAGE>
Exhibit 25.1
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM T-1
-----------------------
STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY UNDER THE
TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939 OF A
CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE
Check if an Application to Determine Eligibility
of a Trustee Pursuant to Section 305(b)(2) __
STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY
(Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)
Massachusetts 04-1867445
(Jurisdiction of incorporation or (I.R.S. Employer
organization if not a U.S. national bank) Identification No.)
225 Franklin Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02110
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
John R. Towers, Esq. Executive Vice President and General Counsel
225 Franklin Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02110
(617) 654-3253
(Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)
-----------------------
BIG FLOWER PRESS HOLDINGS, INC.
(Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)
DELAWARE 13-3768322
(State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization) Identification No.)
3 EAST 54TH STREET,
17TH FLOOR
NEW YORK, NY 10022
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
--------------------------
8 7/8% SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE 2007
(Title of indenture securities)
<PAGE>
GENERAL
ITEM 1. GENERAL INFORMATION.
FURNISH THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION AS TO THE TRUSTEE:
(A) NAME AND ADDRESS OF EACH EXAMINING OR SUPERVISORY AUTHORITY TO WHICH
IT IS SUBJECT.
Department of Banking and Insurance of The Commonwealth of
Massachusetts, 100 Cambridge Street, Boston, Massachusetts.
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Washington, D.C.,
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Washington, D.C.
(B) WHETHER IT IS AUTHORIZED TO EXERCISE CORPORATE TRUST POWERS.
Trustee is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.
ITEM 2. AFFILIATIONS WITH OBLIGOR.
IF THE OBLIGOR IS AN AFFILIATE OF THE TRUSTEE, DESCRIBE EACH SUCH
AFFILIATION.
The obligor is not an affiliate of the trustee or of its parent, State
Street Boston Corporation.
(See notes on page 3.)
ITEM 3. THROUGH ITEM 15. NOT APPLICABLE.
ITEM 16. LIST OF EXHIBITS.
LIST BELOW ALL EXHIBITS FILED AS PART OF THIS STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY.
1. A COPY OF THE ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION OF THE TRUSTEE AS NOW IN EFFECT.
A copy of the Articles of Association of the trustee, as now in
effect, is on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission as Exhibit 1
to Amendment No. 1 to the Statement of Eligibility and Qualification of
Trustee (Form T-1) filed with the Registration Statement of Morse Shoe,
Inc. (File No. 22-17940) and is incorporated herein by reference thereto.
2. A COPY OF THE CERTIFICATE OF AUTHORITY OF THE TRUSTEE TO COMMENCE
BUSINESS, IF NOT CONTAINED IN THE ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION.
A copy of a Statement from the Commissioner of Banks of Massachusetts
that no certificate of authority for the trustee to commence business was
necessary or issued is on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission
as Exhibit 2 to Amendment No. 1 to the Statement of Eligibility and
Qualification of Trustee (Form T-1) filed with the Registration Statement
of Morse Shoe, Inc. (File No. 22-17940) and is incorporated herein by
reference thereto.
3. A COPY OF THE AUTHORIZATION OF THE TRUSTEE TO EXERCISE CORPORATE TRUST
POWERS, IF SUCH AUTHORIZATION IS NOT CONTAINED IN THE DOCUMENTS SPECIFIED IN
PARAGRAPH (1) OR (2), ABOVE.
A copy of the authorization of the trustee to exercise corporate trust
powers is on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission as Exhibit 3
to Amendment No. 1 to the Statement of Eligibility and Qualification of
Trustee (Form T-1) filed with the Registration
-2-
<PAGE>
Statement of Morse Shoe, Inc. (File No. 22-17940) and is incorporated
herein by reference thereto.
4. A COPY OF THE EXISTING BY-LAWS OF THE TRUSTEE, OR INSTRUMENTS
CORRESPONDING THERETO.
A copy of the by-laws of the trustee, as now in effect, is on file
with the Securities and Exchange Commission as Exhibit 4 to the Statement
of Eligibility and Qualification of Trustee (Form T-1) filed with the
Registration Statement of Eastern Edison Company (File No. 33-37823) and is
incorporated herein by reference thereto.
5. A COPY OF EACH INDENTURE REFERRED TO IN ITEM 4. IF THE OBLIGOR IS IN
DEFAULT.
Not applicable.
6. THE CONSENTS OF UNITED STATES INSTITUTIONAL TRUSTEES REQUIRED BY
SECTION 321(B) OF THE ACT.
The consent of the trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Act is
annexed hereto as Exhibit 6 and made a part hereof.
7. A COPY OF THE LATEST REPORT OF CONDITION OF THE TRUSTEE PUBLISHED
PURSUANT TO LAW OR THE REQUIREMENTS OF ITS SUPERVISING OR EXAMINING AUTHORITY.
A copy of the latest report of condition of the trustee published
pursuant to law or the requirements of its supervising or examining
authority is annexed hereto as Exhibit 7 and made a part hereof.
NOTES
In answering any item of this Statement of Eligibility which relates to
matters peculiarly within the knowledge of the obligor or any underwriter for
the obligor, the trustee has relied upon information furnished to it by the
obligor and the underwriters, and the trustee disclaims responsibility for the
accuracy or completeness of such information.
The answer furnished to Item 2. of this statement will be amended, if
necessary, to reflect any facts which differ from those stated and which would
have been required to be stated if known at the date hereof.
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as
amended, the trustee, State Street Bank and Trust Company, a corporation
organized and existing under the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, has
duly caused this statement of eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in the City of Boston and The
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, on the 22nd day of July, 1997.
STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY
By: /s/ Kathy A. Larimore
-------------------------------------
Name: Kathy A. Larimore
Title: Assistant Vice President
-3-
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 6
CONSENT OF THE TRUSTEE
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act
of 1939, as amended, in connection with the proposed issuance by BIG FLOWER
PRESS HOLDINGS, INC. of its 8 7/8% SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE 2007, we
hereby consent that reports of examination by Federal, State, Territorial or
District authorities may be furnished by such authorities to the Securities and
Exchange Commission upon request therefor.
STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY
By: /s/ Kathy A. Larimore
--------------------------------------
Name: Kathy A. Larimore
Title: Assistant Vice President
Dated: July 22, 1997
-4-
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 7
Consolidated Report of Condition of State Street Bank and Trust Company,
Massachusetts and foreign and domestic subsidiaries, a state banking institution
organized and operating under the banking laws of this commonwealth and a member
of the Federal Reserve System, at the close of business MARCH 31, 1997,
published in accordance with a call made by the Federal Reserve Bank of this
District pursuant to the provisions of the Federal Reserve Act and in accordance
with a call made by the Commissioner of Banks under General Laws, Chapter 172,
Section 22(a).
Thousands of
ASSETS Dollars
Cash and balances due from depository institutions:
Noninterest-bearing balances and currency and coin 1,665,142
Interest-bearing balances 8,193,292
Securities 10,238,113
Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to
resell in domestic offices of the bank and its Edge subsidiary 5,853,144
Loans and lease financing receivables:
Loans and leases, net of unearned income 4,936,454
Allowance for loan and lease losses 70,307
Allocated transfer risk reserve 0
Loans and leases, net of unearned income and allowances 4,866,147
Assets held in trading accounts 957,478
Premises and fixed assets 380,117
Other real estate owned 884
Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries 25,835
Customers' liability to this bank on acceptances outstanding 45,548
Intangible assets 158,080
Other assets 1,066,957
----------
Total assets 33,450,737
----------
----------
LIABILITIES
Deposits:
In domestic offices 8,270,845
Noninterest-bearing 6,318,360
Interest-bearing 1,952,485
In foreign offices and Edge subsidiary 12,760,086
Noninterest-bearing 53,052
Interest-bearing 12,707,034
Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements
to repurchase in domestic offices of the bank and of its Edge
subsidiary 8,216,641
Demand notes issued to the U.S. Treasury and Trading Liabilities 926,821
Other borrowed money 671,164
Subordinated notes and debentures 0
Bank's liability on acceptances executed and outstanding 46,137
Other liabilities 745,529
Total liabilities 31,637,223
----------
-5-
<PAGE>
EQUITY CAPITAL
Perpetual preferred stock and related surplus 0
Common stock 29,931
Surplus 360,717
Undivided profits and capital reserves/Net unrealized holding
gains (losses) 1,426,881
Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustments (4,015)
Total equity capital 1,813,514
-----------
Total liabilities and equity capital 33,450,737
-----------
-----------
-6-
<PAGE>
I, Rex S. Schuette, Senior Vice President and Comptroller of the above named
bank do hereby declare that this Report of Condition has been prepared in
conformance with the instructions issued by the Board of Governors of the
Federal Reserve System and is true to the best of my knowledge and belief.
Rex S. Schuette
We, the undersigned directors, attest to the correctness of this Report of
Condition and declare that it has been examined by us and to the best of our
knowledge and belief has been prepared in conformance with the instructions
issued by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and is true and
correct.
David A. Spina
Marshall N. Carter
Charles F. Kaye
-7-
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 99.1
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL
FOR
8 7/8% SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES
OF
BIG FLOWER PRESS HOLDINGS, INC.
PURSUANT TO THE
EXCHANGE OFFER
IN RESPECT OF
ALL OF ITS OUTSTANDING 8 7/8% SENIOR SUBORDINATED
NOTES DUE JULY 1, 2007
FOR
8 7/8% SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE JULY 1, 2007
---------------------
PURSUANT TO THE PROSPECTUS DATED AUGUST 21, 1997
THE EXCHANGE OFFER WILL EXPIRE AT 5:00 P.M., NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON
SEPTEMBER 18, 1997 UNLESS THE EXCHANGE OFFER IS EXTENDED (THE "EXPIRATION
DATE"). TENDERS OF PRIVATE NOTES MAY BE WITHDRAWN AT ANY TIME PRIOR
TO THE EXPIRATION DATE.
TO: STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY, EXCHANGE AGENT
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
By Facsimile:
(For Eligible
By Mail: Institutions Only) By Hand or Overnight Courier:
<S> <C> <C>
State Street Bank and Trust (617) 664-5232 State Street Bank and Trust
Company Confirm by Telephone: Company
Corporate Trust Department (617) 664-5314 Corporate Trust Department
P.O. Box 778 4th Floor
Boston, MA 02102-0078 Two International Place
Attention: Sandra Szczsponik Boston, MA 02110
Attention: Sandra Szczsponik
</TABLE>
DELIVERY OF THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL TO AN ADDRESS, OR TRANSMISSION VIA
TELEGRAM, TELEX OR FACSIMILE, OTHER THAN AS SET FORTH ABOVE WILL NOT CONSTITUTE
A VALID DELIVERY. THE INSTRUCTIONS CONTAINED HEREIN SHOULD BE READ CAREFULLY
BEFORE THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL IS COMPLETED.
HOLDERS WHO WISH TO BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE EXCHANGE NOTES FOR THEIR PRIVATE
NOTES PURSUANT TO THE EXCHANGE OFFER MUST VALIDLY TENDER (AND NOT WITHDRAW)
THEIR PRIVATE NOTES TO THE EXCHANGE AGENT PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION DATE.
<PAGE>
By execution hereof, the undersigned acknowledges receipt of the Prospectus
(the "Prospectus"), dated August 21, 1997, of Big Flower Press Holdings, Inc., a
Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and this Letter of Transmittal and the
instructions hereto (the "Letter of Transmittal").
The Company reserves the right, at any time or from time to time, to extend
the Exchange Offer at its sole discretion, in which event the term "Expiration
Date" shall mean the latest time and date to which the Exchange Offer is
extended. The Company shall notify the holders of the Private Notes of any
extension by means of a press release or other public announcement prior to 9:00
a.m., New York City time, on the next business day after the previously
scheduled Expiration Date.
This Letter of Transmittal is to be completed by a holder of Private Notes
either if certificates are to be forwarded herewith or if a tender of
certificates for Private Notes, if available, is to be made by book-entry
transfer to the account maintained by the Exchange Agent at The Depository Trust
Company (the "Book-Entry Transfer Facility") pursuant to the procedures set
forth in "The Exchange Offer--Book-Entry Transfer" section of the Prospectus.
Holders of Private Notes whose certificates are not immediately available, or
who are unable to deliver their certificates or confirmation of the book-entry
tender of their Private Notes into the Exchange Agent's account at the
Book-Entry Transfer Facility (a "Book-Entry Confirmation") and all other
documents required by this Letter to the Exchange Agent on or prior to the
Expiration Date, must tender their Private Notes according to the guaranteed
delivery procedures set forth in "The Exchange Offer--Guaranteed Delivery
Procedures" section of the Prospectus. See Instruction 1. Delivery of documents
to the Book-Entry Transfer Facility does not constitute delivery to the Exchange
Agent.
The undersigned has completed, executed and delivered this Letter of
Transmittal to indicate the action the undersigned desires to take with respect
to the Exchange Offer. Holders who wish to tender their Private Notes must
complete this letter in its entirety.
All capitalized terms used herein and not defined herein shall have the
meaning ascribed to them in the Prospectus.
HOLDERS WHO WISH TO ACCEPT THE EXCHANGE OFFER AND TENDER THEIR PRIVATE NOTES
MUST COMPLETE THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL IN ITS ENTIRETY.
2
<PAGE>
List below the Private Notes to which this Letter of Transmittal relates. If
the space provided below is inadequate, list the certificate numbers and
principal amounts on a separately executed schedule and affix the schedule to
this Letter of Transmittal. Tenders of Private Notes will be accepted only in
principal amounts equal to $1,000 or integral multiples thereof.
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
DESCRIPTION OF PRIVATE NOTES
<CAPTION>
CERTIFICATE
NUMBER(S)* AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL
NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) OF HOLDER(S) (ATTACH SIGNED AMOUNT TENDERED (IF
(PLEASE FILL IN, IF BLANK) LIST IF NECESSARY) LESS THAN ALL)**
<S> <C> <C>
TOTAL PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF PRIVATE NOTES TENDERED
</TABLE>
* Need not be completed by holders tendering by book-entry transfer.
** Need not be completed by holders who wish to tender with respect to all
Private Notes listed. See Instruction 2.
3
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
/ / CHECK HERE IF TENDERED PRIVATE NOTES ARE BEING DELIVERED BY DTC TO THE EXCHANGE AGENT'S
ACCOUNT AT DTC AND COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING:
Name of Tendering Institution
DTC Book-Entry Account No.:
Transaction Code No.:
</TABLE>
If holders desire to tender Private Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer and (i)
certificates representing such Private Notes are not lost but are not
immediately available, (ii) time will not permit this Letter of Transmittal,
certificates representing such Private Notes or other required documents to
reach the Exchange Agent prior to the Expiration Date or (iii) the procedures
for book-entry transfer cannot be completed prior to the Expiration Date, such
holders may effect a tender of such Private Notes in accordance with the
guaranteed delivery procedures set forth in the Prospectus under "The Exchange
Offer--Guaranteed Delivery Procedures."
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
/ / CHECK HERE IF TENDERED PRIVATE NOTES ARE BEING DELIVERED PURSUANT TO A NOTICE OF
GUARANTEED DELIVERY PREVIOUSLY DELIVERED TO THE EXCHANGE AGENT AND COMPLETE THE
FOLLOWING:
Name(s) of Holder(s) of Private Notes:
Window Ticket No. (if any):
Date of Execution of
Notice of Guaranteed Delivery:
Name of Eligible Institution that Guaranteed Delivery:
If Delivered by Book-Entry Transfer:
Name of Tendering Institution:
DTC Book-Entry Account No.:
Transaction Code No.:
/ / CHECK HERE IF YOU ARE A BROKER-DEALER WHO HOLDS PRIVATE NOTES ACQUIRED FOR YOUR OWN
ACCOUNT AS A RESULT OF MARKET-MAKING OR OTHER TRADING ACTIVITIES AND WISH TO RECEIVE
COPIES OF THE PROSPECTUS AND COPIES OF ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO FOR USE IN
CONNECTION WITH RESALES OF EXCHANGE NOTES RECEIVED FOR YOUR OWN ACCOUNT IN EXCHANGE FOR
SUCH PRIVATE NOTES.
Name:
Address:
Aggregate Principal Amount of Private Notes so held: $
</TABLE>
4
<PAGE>
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The undersigned hereby tenders to Big Flower Press Holdings, Inc., a
Delaware corporation (the "Company") the aggregate principal amount of Private
Notes indicated in this Letter of Transmittal, upon the terms and subject to the
conditions set forth in the Company's Prospectus dated August 21, 1997 (the
"Prospectus"), receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, and in this Letter of
Transmittal, which together constitute the Company's offer (the "Exchange
Offer") to exchange $1,000 principal amount of its 8 7/8% Senior Subordinated
Notes due July 1, 2007, which have been registered under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended (the "Exchange Notes"), for each $1,000 principal amount of its
issued and outstanding 8 7/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due July 1, 2007, of
which $250,000,000 aggregate principal amount was outstanding on the date of the
Prospectus (the "Private Notes" and, together with the Exchange Notes, the
"Notes"). The capitalized terms not defined herein are used herein as defined in
the Prospectus.
Subject to, and effective upon, the acceptance for exchange of the Private
Notes tendered hereby, the undersigned hereby sells, assigns and transfers to,
or upon the order of, the Company all right, title and interest in and to such
Private Notes as are being tendered hereby and hereby irrevocably constitutes
and appoints the Exchange Agent as attorney-in-fact of the undersigned with
respect to such Private Notes, with full power of substitution (such power of
attorney being an irrevocable power coupled with an interest), to:
(a) deliver such Private Notes in registered certificated form, or
transfer ownership of such Private Notes through book-entry transfer at the
Book-Entry Transfer Facility, to or upon the order of the Company, upon
receipt by the Exchange Agent, as the undersigned's agent, of the same
aggregate principal amount of Exchange Notes; and
(b) receive, for the account of the Company, all benefits and otherwise
exercise, for the account of the Company, all rights of beneficial ownership
of the Private Notes tendered hereby in accordance with the terms of the
Exchange Offer.
The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that the undersigned has full
power and authority to tender, sell, assign and transfer the Private Notes
tendered hereby and that the Company will acquire good, marketable and
unencumbered title thereto, free and clear of all security interests, liens,
restrictions, charges, encumbrances, conditional sale agreements or other
obligations relating to their sale or transfer, and not subject to any adverse
claim when the same are accepted by the Company. The undersigned hereby further
represents that any Exchange Notes acquired in exchange for Private Notes
tendered hereby will have been acquired in the ordinary course of business of
the person receiving such Exchange Notes, whether or not such person is the
undersigned, that neither the holder of such Private Notes nor any such other
person has an arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in the
distribution of such Exchange Notes and that neither the holder of such Private
Notes nor any such other person is an "affiliate", as defined in Rule 405 under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), of the Company.
The undersigned has read and agrees to all of the terms of the Exchange Offer.
The undersigned also acknowledges that this Exchange offer is being made in
reliance on interpretations by the staff of the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "SEC"), as set forth in no-action letters issued to third
parties, that the Exchange Notes issued in exchange for the Private Notes
pursuant to the Exchange Offer may be offered for resale, resold and otherwise
transferred by holders thereof (other than any such holder that is an
"affiliate" of the Company within the meaning of Rule 405 under the provisions
of the Securities Act), provided that such Exchange Notes are acquired in the
ordinary course of such holders' business and such holders have no arrangement
with any person to participate in the distribution of such Exchange Notes.
However, the Company does not intend to request the SEC to consider, and the SEC
has not considered, the Exchange Offer in the context of a no-action letter, and
there can be no assurance that the staff of the SEC would make a similar
determination with respect to the Exchange Offer as in other circumstances.
5
<PAGE>
If the undersigned is not a broker-dealer, the undersigned represents that it is
not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, a distribution of Exchange
Notes and has no arrangement or understanding to participate in a distribution
of Exchange Notes. If any holder is an affiliate of the Company, is engaged in
or intends to engage in or has any arrangement or understanding with respect to
the distribution of the Exchange Notes to be acquired pursuant to the Exchange
Offer, such holder (i) could not rely on the applicable interpretations of the
staff of the SEC and (ii) must comply with the registration and prospectus
delivery requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any resale
transaction. If the undersigned is a broker-dealer that will receive Exchange
Notes for its own account in exchange for Private Notes acquired as a result of
market-making or other trading activities (a "Participating Broker-Dealer"), it
represents that the Private Notes to be exchanged for the Exchange Notes were
acquired by it as a result of market-making or other trading activities and
acknowledges that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of
such Exchange Notes; however, by so acknowledging and by delivering a
prospectus, such Participating Broker-Dealer will not be deemed to admit that it
is an "underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act.
The Company has agreed that, subject to the provisions of the Registration
Rights Agreement, the Prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time
to time, may be used by a Participating Broker-Dealer in connection with resales
of Exchange Notes received in exchange for Private Notes which were acquired by
such Participating Broker-Dealer for its own account as a result of
market-making or other trading activities, for a period ending 180 days after
the Expiration Date or, if earlier, when all such Exchange Notes have been
disposed of by such Participating Broker-Dealer. In that regard, each
Participating Broker-Dealer by tendering such Private Notes and executing this
Letter of Transmittal, agrees that, upon receipt of notice from the Company of
the occurrence of any event or the discovery of any fact which makes any
statement contained or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus untrue in any
material respect or which causes the Prospectus to omit to state a material fact
necessary in order to make the statements contained or incorporated by reference
therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading, such Participating Broker-Dealer will suspend the sale of Exchange
Notes pursuant to the Prospectus until the Company has amended or supplemented
the Prospectus to correct such misstatement or omission and has furnished copies
of the amended or supplemented Prospectus to the Participating Broker-Dealer or
the Company has given notice that the sale of the Exchange Notes may be resumed,
as the case may be. If the Company gives such notice to suspend the sale of the
Exchange Notes, it shall extend the 180-day period referred to above during
which Participating Broker-Dealers are entitled to use the Prospectus in
connection with the resale of Exchange Notes by the number of days during the
period from and including the date of the giving of such notice to and including
the date when Participating Broker-Dealers shall have received copies of the
supplemented or amended Prospectus necessary to permit resales of the Exchange
Notes or to and including the date on which the Company has given notice that
the sale of Exchange Notes may be resumed, as the case may be.
The undersigned will, upon request, execute and deliver any additional
documents deemed by the Company to be necessary or desirable to complete the
sale, assignment and transfer of the Private Notes tendered hereby. All
authority conferred or agreed to be conferred in this Letter of Transmittal and
every obligation of the undersigned hereunder shall be binding upon the
successors, assigns, heirs, executors, administrators, trustees in bankruptcy
and legal representatives of the undersigned and shall not be affected by, and
shall survive, the death or incapacity of the undersigned. This tender may be
withdrawn only in accordance with the procedures set forth in "The Exchange
Offer--Withdrawal of Tenders" section of the Prospectus.
Unless otherwise indicated herein in the box entitled "Special Issuance
Instructions" below, please deliver the Exchange Notes (and, if applicable,
substitute certificates representing Private Notes for any Private Notes not
exchanged) in the name of the undersigned or, in the case of a book-entry
delivery of Private Notes, please credit the account indicated above maintained
at the Book-Entry Transfer Facility. Similarly, unless otherwise indicated under
the box entitled "Special Delivery Instructions" below, please send the Exchange
6
<PAGE>
Notes (and, if applicable, substitute certificates representing Private Notes
for any Private Notes not exchanged) to the undersigned at the address shown
above in the box entitled "Description of Private Notes."
THE UNDERSIGNED, BY COMPLETING THE BOX ENTITLED "DESCRIPTION OF PRIVATE
NOTES" ABOVE AND SIGNING THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL, WILL BE DEEMED TO HAVE
TENDERED THE PRIVATE NOTES AS SET FORTH IN SUCH BOX ABOVE.
7
<PAGE>
PLEASE SIGN HERE
(TO BE COMPLETED BY ALL TENDERING HOLDERS OF
PRIVATE NOTES REGARDLESS OF WHETHER PRIVATE NOTES ARE
BEING PHYSICALLY DELIVERED HEREWITH)
If a holder is tendering any Private Notes, this Letter of Transmittal must
be signed by the holder(s) as the name(s) appear(s) on the certificate(s) for
the Private Notes or on a securities position listing or by any person(s)
authorized to become (a) holder(s) by endorsements and documents transmitted
herewith. If signature is by a trustee, executor, administrator, guardian,
officer or other person acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity, please
set forth full title. See Instruction 3.
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
X Date:
X Date:
SIGNATURE(S) OF OWNER
Name(s): Address:
(PLEASE PRINT) (INCLUDING ZIP CODE)
Capacity: Area Code and Telephone No.:
Social Security No.:
</TABLE>
PLEASE COMPLETE SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9 HEREIN
SIGNATURE GUARANTEE (SEE INSTRUCTION 3 HEREIN)
CERTAIN SIGNATURES MUST BE GUARANTEED BY AN ELIGIBLE INSTITUTION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(NAME OF ELIGIBLE INSTITUTION GUARANTEEING SIGNATURES)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(ADDRESS (INCLUDING ZIP CODE) AND TELEPHONE NUMBER (INCLUDING AREA CODE) OF
FIRM)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(PRINTED NAME)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(TITLE)
Date:
- --------------------------------------
8
<PAGE>
SPECIAL ISSUANCE INSTRUCTIONS
(SEE INSTRUCTIONS 3 AND 4)
To be completed ONLY if certificates for Private Notes not exchanged and/or
Exchange Notes are to be issued in the name of and sent to someone other than
the person or persons whose signature(s) appear(s) above on this Letter of
Transmittal, or if Private Notes delivered by book-entry transfer which are not
accepted for exchange are to be returned by credit to an account maintained at
the Book-Entry Transfer Facility other than the account indicated above.
Issue: Exchange Notes and/or Private Notes to:
Name(s): _______________________________________________________________________
(Please Type or Print)
________________________________________________________________________________
(Please Type or Print)
Address: _______________________________________________________________________
(Please Type or Print)
________________________________________________________________________________
Zip Code
Credit unexchanged Private Notes delivered by book-entry transfer to the
Book-Entry Transfer Facility account set forth below.
________________________________________________________________________________
(Book Entry Transfer Facility
Account Number, if applicable)
SPECIAL DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS
(SEE INSTRUCTIONS 3 AND 4)
To be completed ONLY if certificates for Private Notes not exchanged and/or
Exchange Notes are to be sent to someone other than the person or persons whose
signature(s) appear(s) above on this Letter of Transmittal or to such person or
persons at an address other than shown above in the box entitled "Description of
Private Notes" on this Letter of Transmittal.
Mail: Exchange Notes and/or Private Notes to:
Name(s): _______________________________________________________________________
(Please Type or Print)
________________________________________________________________________________
(Please Type or Print)
Address: _______________________________________________________________________
(Please Type or Print)
________________________________________________________________________________
Zip Code
9
<PAGE>
INSTRUCTIONS
FORMING PART OF THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE OFFER OF BIG FLOWER PRESS
HOLDINGS, INC. TO EXCHANGE ITS 8 7/8% SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE JULY 1, 2007
FOR ALL OF ITS OUTSTANDING 8 7/8% SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE JULY 1, 2007
1. DELIVERY OF THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL AND NOTES; GUARANTEED DELIVERY
PROCEDURES
This Letter of Transmittal is to be completed by holders of Private Notes
either if certificates are to be forwarded herewith or if tenders are to be made
pursuant to the procedures for delivery by book-entry transfer set forth in "The
Exchange Offer--Book-Entry Transfer" section of the Prospectus. Certificates for
all physically tendered Private Notes, or Book-Entry Confirmation of tendered
Private Notes, as the case may be, as well as a properly completed and duly
executed Letter of Transmittal (or manually signed facsimile hereof) and any
other documents required by this Letter of Transmittal, must be received by the
Exchange Agent at the address set forth herein on or prior to the Expiration
Date, or the tendering holder must comply with the guaranteed delivery
procedures set forth below. Private Notes may only be tendered in a principal
amount of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof.
Holders of Private Notes whose certificates for Private Notes are not
immediately available or who cannot deliver their certificates and all other
required documents to the Exchange Agent on or prior to the Expiration Date, or
who cannot complete the procedure for book-entry transfer on a timely basis, may
tender their Private Notes pursuant to the guaranteed delivery procedures set
forth in "The Exchange Offer--Guaranteed Delivery Procedures" section of the
Prospectus. Pursuant to such procedures, (i) such tender must be made through an
Eligible Institution (as defined below), (ii) prior to the Expiration Date, the
Exchange Agent must receive from such Eligible Institution a properly completed
and duly executed Notice of Guaranteed Delivery, substantially in the form
provided by the Company (by telegram, telex, facsimile transmission, mail or
hand delivery), setting forth the name and address of the holder of Private
Notes and the amount of Private Notes tendered, stating that the tender is being
made thereby and guaranteeing that within five New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE")
trading days after the Expiration Date, the certificates for all physically
tendered Private Notes, or a Book-Entry Confirmation of such Private Notes, and
any other documents required by this Letter of Transmittal will be deposited by
the Eligible Institution with the Exchange Agent, and (iii) a properly executed
Letter of Transmittal, as well as the certificates for all physically tendered
Private Notes in proper form for transfer or Book-Entry Confirmation of such
Private Notes, as the case may be, and all other documents required by this
Letter of Transmittal, must be received by the Exchange Agent within five NYSE
trading days after the Expiration Date.
THE METHOD OF DELIVERY OF THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL, THE PRIVATE NOTES AND
ALL OTHER REQUIRED DOCUMENTS IS AT THE ELECTION AND RISK OF THE TENDERING
HOLDERS, BUT THE DELIVERY WILL BE DEEMED MADE ONLY WHEN ACTUALLY RECEIVED OR
CONFIRMED BY THE EXCHANGE AGENT. INSTEAD OF DELIVERY BY MAIL, IT IS RECOMMENDED
THAT HOLDERS USE AN OVERNIGHT OR HAND DELIVERY SERVICE, PROPERLY INSURED. IN ALL
CASES, SUFFICIENT TIME SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO ASSURE DELIVERY TO THE EXCHANGE
AGENT PRIOR TO 5:00 P.M., NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON THE EXPIRATION DATE. DO NOT
SEND THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL OR ANY PRIVATE NOTES TO THE COMPANY.
See "The Exchange Offer" section of the Prospectus.
10
<PAGE>
2. PARTIAL TENDERS (NOT APPLICABLE TO HOLDERS OF PRIVATE NOTES WHO TENDER BY
BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER); WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS
Tenders of Private Notes will be accepted only in the principal amount of
$1,000 and integral multiples thereof. If less than all of the Private Notes
evidenced by a submitted certificate are to be tendered, the tendering holder(s)
should fill in the aggregate principal amount of Private Notes to be tendered in
the box above entitled "Description of Private Notes--Aggregate Principal Amount
Tendered." A reissued certificate representing the balance of nontendered
Private Notes will be sent to such tendering holder, unless otherwise provided
in the appropriate box on this Letter of Transmittal, promptly after the
Expiration Date. ALL OF THE PRIVATE NOTES DELIVERED TO THE EXCHANGE AGENT WILL
BE DEEMED TO HAVE BEEN TENDERED UNLESS OTHERWISE INDICATED.
Except as otherwise provided herein, tenders of Private Notes may be
withdrawn at any time prior to the Expiration Date. In order for a withdrawal to
be effective prior to that time, a written or facsimile transmission notice of
withdrawal must be timely received by the Exchange Agent at one of its addresses
set forth above prior to the Expiration Date. Any such notice of withdrawal must
specify the name of the person having deposited the Private Notes to be
withdrawn, the aggregate principal amount of Private Notes to be withdrawn and
(if certificates for such Private Notes have been tendered) the name of the
registered holder of the Private Notes as set forth on the certificate for the
Private Notes, if different from that of the person who tendered such Private
Notes. If certificates for the Private Notes have been delivered or otherwise
identified to the Exchange Agent, then prior to the physical release of such
certificates for the Private Notes, the tendering holder must submit the serial
numbers shown on the particular certificates for the Private Notes to be
withdrawn and the signature on the notice of withdrawal must be guaranteed by an
Eligible Institution, except in the case of Private Notes tendered for the
account of an Eligible Institution. If Private Notes have been tendered pursuant
to the procedures for book-entry transfer set forth in "The Exchange
Offer--Book-Entry Transfer" section of the Prospectus, the notice of withdrawal
must specify the name and number of the account at the Book-Entry Transfer
Facility to be credited with the withdrawal of Private Notes, in which case a
notice of withdrawal will be effective if delivered to the Exchange Agent by
written or facsimile transmission. Withdrawals of tenders of Private Notes may
not be rescinded. Private Notes properly withdrawn will not be deemed to have
been validly tendered for purposes of the Exchange Offer, and no Exchange Notes
will be issued with respect thereto unless the Private Notes so withdrawn are
validly retendered. Properly withdrawn Private Notes may be retendered at any
subsequent time on or prior to the Expiration Date by following the procedures
described in the Prospectus under "The Exchange Offer--Procedures for
Tendering."
All questions as to the validity, form and eligibility (including time of
receipt) of such withdrawal notices will be determined by the Company, in its
sole discretion, whose determination shall be final and binding on all parties.
Neither the Company, any employees, agents, affiliates or assigns of the
Company, the Exchange Agent nor any other person shall be under any duty to give
any notification of any irregularities in any notice of withdrawal or incur any
liability for failure to give such notification. Any Private Notes which have
been tendered but which are withdrawn will be returned to the holder thereof
without cost to such holder as promptly as practicable after withdrawal.
3. SIGNATURES ON THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL; BOND POWERS AND ENDORSEMENTS;
GUARANTEE OF SIGNATURES
If this Letter of Transmittal is signed by the holder of the Private Notes
tendered hereby, the signature must correspond exactly with the name as written
on the face of the certificates or on a securities position listing without any
change whatsoever.
If any tendered Private Notes are owned of record by two or more joint
owners, all of such owners must sign this Letter of Transmittal.
11
<PAGE>
If any tendered Private Notes are registered in different names on several
certificates or securities positions listings, it will be necessary to complete,
sign and submit as many separate copies of this Letter as there are different
registrations.
When this Letter of Transmittal is signed by the holder or holders of the
Private Notes specified herein and tendered hereby, no endorsements of
certificates or separate bond powers are required. If, however, the Exchange
Notes are to be issued, or any nontendered Private Notes are to be reissued, to
a person other than the holder, then endorsements of any certificates
transmitted hereby or separate bond powers are required. Signatures on such
certificate(s) must be guaranteed by an Eligible Institution.
In connection with any tender of Private Notes in definitive certificated
form, if this Letter of Transmittal is signed by a person other than the
registered holder or holders of any certificate(s) specified herein, such
certificate(s) must be endorsed or accompanied by appropriate bond powers, in
either case signed exactly as the name or names of the registered holder or
holders appear(s) on the certificate(s), and the signatures on such
certificate(s) must be guaranteed by an Eligible Institution.
If this Letter of Transmittal or any certificates or bond powers are signed
by trustees, executors, administrators, guardians, attorneys-in-fact, officers
of corporations or others acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity, such
persons should so indicate when signing, and, unless waived by the Company,
evidence satisfactory to the Company of their authority to so act must be
submitted.
ENDORSEMENTS ON CERTIFICATES FOR PRIVATE NOTES OR SIGNATURES ON BOND POWERS
REQUIRED BY THIS INSTRUCTION 3 MUST BE GUARANTEED BY A FIRM WHICH IS A MEMBER OF
A REGISTERED NATIONAL SECURITIES EXCHANGE OR A MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION OF SECURITIES DEALERS, INC. OR BY A COMMERCIAL BANK OR TRUST COMPANY
HAVING AN OFFICE OR CORRESPONDENT IN THE UNITED STATES (AN "ELIGIBLE
INSTITUTION").
SIGNATURES ON THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL NEED NOT BE GUARANTEED BY AN
ELIGIBLE INSTITUTION, PROVIDED THE PRIVATE NOTES ARE TENDERED: (I) BY A HOLDER
OF PRIVATE NOTES (WHICH TERM, FOR PURPOSES OF THE EXCHANGE OFFER, INCLUDES ANY
PARTICIPANT IN THE BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER FACILITY SYSTEM WHOSE NAME APPEARS ON A
SECURITY POSITION LISTING AS THE HOLDER OF SUCH PRIVATE NOTES) WHO HAS NOT
COMPLETED THE BOX ENTITLED "SPECIAL ISSUANCE INSTRUCTIONS" OR "SPECIAL DELIVERY
INSTRUCTIONS" ON THIS LETTER OR (II) FOR THE ACCOUNT OF AN ELIGIBLE INSTITUTION.
4. SPECIAL ISSUANCE AND DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS.
Tendering holders of Private Notes should indicate in the applicable box the
name and address to which Exchange Notes issued pursuant to the Exchange Offer
and/or substitute certificates evidencing Private Notes not exchanged are to be
issued or sent, if different from the name or address of the person signing this
Letter of Transmittal. In the case of issuance in a different name, the Employer
Identification or Social Security Number of the person named must also be
indicated. A holder of Private Notes tendering Private Notes by book-entry
transfer may request that Private Notes not exchanged be credited to such
account maintained at the Book-Entry Transfer Facility as such holder may
designate hereon. If no such instructions are given, such Private Notes not
exchanged will be returned to the name or address of the person signing this
Letter of Transmittal or credited to the account listed beneath the box entitled
"Description of Private Notes", as the case may be.
12
<PAGE>
5. TAX IDENTIFICATION NUMBER.
Federal income tax law generally requires that a tendering holder whose
Private Notes are accepted for exchange must provide the Company (as payor) with
such holder's correct Taxpayer Identification Number ("TIN") on Substitute Form
W-9 below, which, in the case of a tendering holder who is an individual, is his
or her Social Security Number. If the Company is not provided with the current
TIN or an adequate basis for an exemption, such tendering holder may be subject
to a $50 penalty imposed by the Internal Revenue Service. In addition, delivery
to such tendering holder of Exchange Notes may be subject to backup withholding
in an amount equal to 31% of all reportable payments made after the exchange. If
withholding results in an overpayment of taxes, a refund may be obtained.
Exempt holders of Private Notes (including, among others, all corporations
and certain foreign individuals) are not subject to these backup withholding and
reporting requirements. See the enclosed Guidelines of Certification of Taxpayer
Identification Number on Substitute Form W-9 (the "W-9 Guidelines") for
additional instructions.
To prevent backup withholding, each tendering holder of Private Notes must
provide its correct TIN by completing the Substitute Form W-9 set forth below,
certifying that the TIN provided is correct (or that such holder is awaiting a
TIN) and that (i) the holder is exempt from backup withholding, (ii) the holder
has not been notified by the Internal Revenue Service that such holder is
subject to backup withholding as a result of a failure to report all interest or
dividends or (iii) the Internal Revenue Service has notified the holder that
such holder is no longer subject to backup withholding. If the tendering holder
of Private Notes is a nonresident alien or foreign entity not subject to backup
withholding, such holder must give the Company a completed Form W-8, Certificate
of Foreign Status. These forms may be obtained from the Exchange Agent. If the
Private Notes are in more than one name or are not in the name of the actual
owner, such holder should consult the W-9 Guidelines for information on which
TIN to report. If such holder does not have a TIN, such holder should consult
the W-9 Guidelines for instructions on applying for a TIN, check the box in Part
3 of the Substitute Form W-9 and write "applied for" in lieu of its TIN. Note:
Checking this box and writing "applied for" on the form means that such holder
has already applied for a TIN or that such holder intends to apply for one in
the near future. If such holder does not provide its TIN to the Company within
60 days, backup withholding will begin and continue until such holder furnishes
its TIN to the Company.
6. TRANSFER TAXES.
The Company will pay all transfer taxes, if any, applicable to the transfer
of Private Notes to it or its order pursuant to the Exchange Offer. If, however,
Exchange Notes and/or substitute Private Notes not exchanged are to be delivered
to, or are to be registered or issued in the name of, any person other than the
holder of the Private Notes tendered hereby, or if tendered Private Notes are
registered in the name of any person other than the person signing this Letter
of Transmittal, or if a transfer tax is imposed for any reason other than the
transfer of Private Notes to the Company or its order pursuant to the Exchange
Offer, the amount of any such transfer taxes (whether imposed on the holder or
any other persons) will be payable by the tendering holder. If satisfactory
evidence of payment of such taxes or exemption therefrom is not submitted
herewith, the amount of such transfer taxes will be billed directly to such
tendering holder.
EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN THIS INSTRUCTION 6, IT WILL NOT BE NECESSARY FOR
TRANSFER TAX STAMPS TO BE AFFIXED TO THE PRIVATE NOTES SPECIFIED IN THIS LETTER
OF TRANSMITTAL.
13
<PAGE>
7. DETERMINATION OF VALIDITY.
The Company will determine, in its sole discretion, all questions as to the
form of documents, validity, eligibility (including time of receipt) and
acceptance for exchange of any tender of Private Notes, which determination
shall be final and binding on all parties. The Company reserves the absolute
right to reject any and all tenders determined by it not to be in proper form or
the acceptance of which, or exchange for which, may, in the view of counsel to
the Company, be unlawful. The Company also reserves the absolute right, subject
to applicable law, to waive any of the conditions of the Exchange Offer set
forth in the Prospectus under the caption "The Exchange Offer" or any conditions
or irregularity in any tender of Private Notes of any particular holder whether
or not similar conditions or irregularities are waived in the case of other
holders.
The Company's interpretation of the terms and conditions of the Exchange
Offer (including this Letter of Transmittal and the instructions hereto) will be
final and binding. No tender of Private Notes will be deemed to have been
validly made until all irregularities with respect to such tender have been
cured or waived. Although the Company intends to notify holders of defects or
irregularities with respect to tenders of Private Notes, neither the Company,
any employees, agents, affiliates or assigns of the Company, the Exchange Agent,
nor any other person shall be under any duty to give notification of any
irregularities in tenders or incur any liability for failure to give such
notification.
8. NO CONDITIONAL TENDERS.
No alternative, conditional, irregular or contingent tenders will be
accepted. All tendering holders of Private Notes, by execution of this Letter of
Transmittal, shall waive any right to receive notice of the acceptance of their
Private Notes for exchange.
9. MUTILATED, LOST, STOLEN OR DESTROYED PRIVATE NOTES.
Any holder whose Private Notes have been mutilated, lost, stolen or
destroyed should contact the Exchange Agent at the address indicated above for
further instructions.
10. REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE OR ADDITIONAL COPIES.
Questions relating to the procedure for tendering, as well as requests for
additional copies of the Prospectus and this Letter of Transmittal, may be
directed to the Exchange Agent, at the address and telephone number indicated
above.
14
<PAGE>
TO BE COMPLETED BY ALL TENDERING HOLDERS
(SEE INSTRUCTION 5)
PAYOR'S NAME: STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C> <C>
SUBSTITUTE PART 1--PLEASE PROVIDE YOUR TIN IN THE BOX AT RIGHT AND ------------------------------
FORM W-9 CERTIFY BY SIGNING AND DATING BELOW OR Social Security Number
------------------------------
Employer Identification Number
Department of the Treasury PART 2--Certification--Under Penalties of Perjury, I certify that:
Internal Revenue Service
Payer's Request for Taxpayer (1) The number shown on this form is my correct Taxpayer Identifi- PART 3--
Identification Number (TIN) cation Number (or I am waiting for a number to be issued to Awaiting TIN / /
me) and
(2) I am not subject to backup withholding because: (a) I am
exempt from backup withholding, (b) I have not been notified
by the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") that I am subject to
backup withholding as a result of failure to report all
interest or dividends, or (c) the IRS has notified me that I
am no longer subject to backup withholding.
Certificate instructions--You must cross out item (2) in Part 2 above if you have been notified by
the IRS that you are subject to backup withholding because of under-reporting interest or
dividends on your tax return. However, if after being notified by the IRS that you were subject to
backup withholding you received another notification from the IRS stating that you are no longer
subject to backup withholding, do not cross out item (2).
SIGNATURE ------------------------------------ DATE ------------------------------------
</TABLE>
NOTE: FAILURE TO COMPLETE AND RETURN THIS FORM MAY RESULT IN BACKUP
WITHHOLDING OF 31% OF ANY PAYMENTS MADE TO HOLDERS OF NEW NOTES PURSUANT TO THE
EXCHANGE OFFER. PLEASE REVIEW THE ENCLOSED GUIDELINES FOR CERTIFICATION OF
TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER ON SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9 FOR ADDITIONAL DETAILS.
YOU MUST COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING CERTIFICATE IF YOU CHECKED
THE BOX IN PART 3 OF SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9.
CERTIFICATE OF AWAITING TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER
I certify under penalties of perjury that a Taxpayer Identification Number
has not been issued to me, and either (a) I have mailed or delivered an
application to receive a Taxpayer Identification Number to the appropriate
Internal Revenue Service Center or Social Security Administration Office or (b)
I intend to mail or deliver an application in the near future. I understand that
if I do not provide a Taxpayer Identification Number within 60 days, 31 percent
of all reportable payments made to me thereafter will be withheld until I
provide a number.
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------
Signature Date
</TABLE>
15
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 99.2
NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY
FOR
8 7/8% SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE JULY 1, 2007
OF
BIG FLOWER PRESS HOLDINGS, INC.
This form or one substantially equivalent hereto must be used to accept the
Exchange Offer of Big Flower Press Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), made pursuant to the Prospectus, dated August 21, 1997 (the
"Prospectus"), if certificates for the outstanding 8 7/8% Senior Subordinated
Notes due July 1, 2007 of the Company (the "Private Notes") are not immediately
available or if the procedure for book-entry transfer cannot be completed on a
timely basis or time will not permit all required documents to reach State
Street Bank and Trust Company (the "Exchange Agent") on or prior to 5:00 p.m.,
New York City time, on the Expiration Date of the Exchange Offer. This Notice of
Guaranteed Delivery may be delivered or transmitted by telegram, telex,
facsimile transmission, mail or hand delivery to the Exchange Agent as set forth
below. See "The Exchange Offer--Procedures for Tendering" in the Prospectus.
Capitalized terms used herein but not defined herein have the respective
meanings given to them in the Prospectus.
THE EXCHANGE OFFER WILL EXPIRE AT 5:00 P.M., NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON SEPTEMBER
18, 1997 UNLESS THE OFFER IS EXTENDED (THE "EXPIRATION DATE"). TENDERS OF
PRIVATE NOTES MAY BE WITHDRAWN AT ANY TIME PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION DATE.
The Exchange Agent:
STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
By Mail: By Facsimile: By Hand or Overnight Courier:
<S> <C> <C>
State Street Bank and Trust Company (For Eligible Institutions Only) State Street Bank and Trust Company
Corporate Trust Department Corporate Trust Department
P.O. Box 778 (617) 664-5232 4th Floor
Boston, MA 02102-0078 Two International Place
Attention: Sandra Szczsponik Confirm by Telephone: Boston, MA 02110
(617) 664-5314
</TABLE>
DELIVERY OF THIS INSTRUMENT TO AN ADDRESS, OR TRANSMISSION VIA TELEGRAM,
TELEX OR FACSIMILE, OTHER THAN AS SET FORTH ABOVE WILL NOT CONSTITUTE A VALID
DELIVERY.
This form is not to be used to guarantee signatures. If a signature on the
Letter of Transmittal is required to be guaranteed by an "Eligible Institution"
under the instructions thereto, such signature guarantee must appear in the
applicable space provided in the signature box on the Letter of Transmittal.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The undersigned hereby tender(s) to the Company, upon the terms and subject
to the conditions set forth in the Prospectus and the related Letter of
Transmittal, receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the aggregate principal
amount of Private Notes set forth below pursuant to the guaranteed delivery
procedures set forth in the Prospectus.
All authority herein conferred or agreed to be conferred by this Notice of
Guaranteed Delivery shall survive the death or incapacity of the undersigned and
every obligation of the undersigned under this Notice of Guaranteed Delivery
shall be binding upon the heirs, personal representatives, executors,
administrators, successors, assigns, trustees in bankruptcy and other legal
representatives of the undersigned.
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Signature(s) of Owner(s) or Authorized Signatory: Name(s) of Holder(s):
Principal Amount of Private Notes Tendered:* Address:
Certificate No(s). of Private Notes (if available): Area Code and Telephone No.:
If Private Notes will be delivered by book-entry
transfer at The Depository Trust Company, insert
Date: Depository Account No.:
</TABLE>
This Notice of Guaranteed Delivery must be signed by the holder(s) of Private
Notes exactly as its (their) name(s) appear on certificates for Private Notes or
on a security position listing as the owner of Private Notes, or by person(s)
authorized to become holder(s) by endorsements and documents transmitted with
this Notice of Guaranteed Delivery. If signature is by a trustee, executor,
administrator, guardian, attorney-in-fact, officer or other person acting in a
fiduciary or representative capacity, such person must provide the following
information.
Please print name(s) and address(es)
Name(s): _____________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
Capacity: ____________________________________________________________________
Address(es): ___________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
Do not send Private Notes with this form. Notes should be sent to the Exchange
Agent together with a properly completed and duly executed Letter of
Transmittal.
GUARANTEE
(NOT TO BE USED FOR SIGNATURE GUARANTEE)
The undersigned, a member firm of a registered national securities exchange
or of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. or a commercial bank
or trust company having an office or a correspondent in the United States,
hereby (a) represents that each holder of Private Notes on whose behalf this
tender is being made "own(s)" the Private Notes covered hereby within the
meaning of Rule 14e-4 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, (b)
represents that such tender of Private Notes complies with such Rule 14e-4, and
(c) guarantees that, within five New York Stock Exchange trading days after the
Expiration Date, a properly completed and duly executed Letter of Transmittal
(or a facsimile thereof), together with certificates representing the Private
Notes covered hereby in proper form for transfer (or confirmation of the
book-entry transfer of such Private Notes into the Exchange Agent's account at
The Depository Trust Company, pursuant to the procedure for book-entry transfer
set forth in the Prospectus) and required documents will be deposited by the
undersigned with the Exchange Agent.
The undersigned acknowledges that it must deliver the Letter of Transmittal
and Private Notes tendered hereby to the Exchange Agent within the time period
set forth above and that failure to do so could result in financial loss to the
undersigned.
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Name of Firm: Authorized Signature
Address: Name:
Title:
Area Code and Telephone No.: Date:
</TABLE>
- ------------------------
*Must be in denominations of principal amount of $1,000 and any integral
multiple thereof.
2
<PAGE>
Exhibit 99.3
August 19, 1997
EXCHANGE AGENT AGREEMENT
State Street Bank and Trust Company
Corporate Trust Administration, CT/OP/0238
777 Main Street
Hartford, CT 06115
Attention: Kathy Larimore
Assistant Vice President
Dear Ms. Larimore:
Big Flower Press Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"),
proposes to make an offer (the "Exchange Offer") to exchange up to
$250,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 8 7/8% Senior Subordinated
Notes due July 1, 2007 (the "Exchange Notes"), for a like principal amount of
its outstanding 8 7/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due July 1, 2007 (the
"Private Notes"). The terms and conditions of the Exchange Offer are set
forth in a prospectus (the "Prospectus") included in the Company's
registration statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-32141), as amended (the
"Registration Statement"), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(the "SEC"), and proposed to be distributed to all record holders of the
Private Notes. The Private Notes and the Exchange Notes are collectively
referred to herein as the "Notes." Capitalized terms used herein and not
defined shall have the respective meanings ascribed to them in the
Prospectus or accompanying Letter of Transmittal.
The Company hereby appoints State Street Bank and Trust Company to act
as exchange agent (the "Exchange Agent") in connection with the Exchange Offer.
References hereinafter to "you" shall refer to State Street Bank and Trust
Company.
The Exchange Offer is expected to be commenced by the Company on or
about August 21, 1997. The Letter of Transmittal accompanying the
Prospectus is to be used by the holders of the Private Notes to accept the
Exchange Offer and contains instructions with respect to the delivery of
certificates for Private Notes tendered.
The Exchange Offer shall expire at 5:00 P.M., New York City time, on
September 18, 1997, or on such later date or time to which the Company may
extend the Exchange Offer (the "Expiration Date"). Subject to the terms and
conditions set forth in the Prospectus, the Company expressly reserves the right
to extend the Exchange Offer from time to time and may extend the Exchange
Offer by giving oral (confirmed in
<PAGE>
writing) or written notice to you before 9:00 A.M., New York City time, on
the next business day after the previously scheduled Expiration Date.
The Company expressly reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to amend
or terminate the Exchange Offer, and not to accept for exchange any Private
Notes not theretofore accepted for exchange. The Company will give oral
(confirmed in writing) or written notice of any amendment, termination or
nonacceptance to you as promptly as practicable.
In carrying out your duties as Exchange Agent, you are to act in
accordance with the following instructions:
1. You will perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically
set forth in the section of the Prospectus captioned "The Exchange Offer", in
the Letter of Transmittal accompanying the Prospectus or as specifically set
forth herein; provided, however, that in no way will your general duty to act
in good faith and without gross negligence or willful misconduct be limited
by the foregoing.
2. You will establish an account with respect to the Private Notes at The
Depository Trust Company (the "Book-Entry Transfer Facility") for purposes of
the Exchange Offer within two business days after the date of the Prospectus,
and any financial institution that is a participant in the Book-Entry Transfer
Facility's systems may make book-entry delivery of the Private Notes by causing
the Book-Entry Transfer Facility to transfer such Private Notes into your
account in accordance with the Book-Entry Transfer Facility's procedures for
such transfer.
3. You are to examine each of the Letters of Transmittal and certificates
for Private Notes (and confirmation of book-entry transfers of Private Notes
into your account at the Book-Entry Transfer Facility) and any other documents
delivered or mailed to you by or for holders of the Private Notes, to ascertain
whether: (i) the Letters of Transmittal, certificates and any such other
documents are duly executed and properly completed in accordance with
instructions set forth therein and that such book-entry confirmations are in
due and proper form and contain the information required to be set forth
therein, and (ii) the Private Notes have otherwise been properly tendered. In
each case where the Letter of Transmittal or any other document has been
improperly completed or executed, or where book-entry confirmations are not in
due and proper form or omit certain information, or any of the certificates for
Private Notes are not in proper form for transfer or some other irregularity in
connection with the acceptance of the Exchange Offer exists, you will endeavor
to inform the presenters of the need for fulfillment of all requirements and to
take any other action as may be necessary or advisable to cause such
irregularity to be corrected.
2
<PAGE>
4. With the approval of the Chairman, the President and Chief Executive
Officer, any of the Executive Vice Presidents or Irene B. Fisher (such approval,
if given orally, to be confirmed in writing) or any other person designated by
such an officer in writing, you are authorized to waive any irregularities in
connection with any tender of Private Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer.
5. Tenders of Private Notes may be made only as set forth in the Letter
of Transmittal and in the section of the Prospectus captioned "The Exchange
Offer--Procedures for Tendering", and Private Notes shall be considered
properly tendered to you only when tendered in accordance with the procedures
set forth therein. Notwithstanding the provisions of this paragraph 5, Private
Notes which the Chairman, the President and Chief Executive Officer, any of the
Executive Vice Presidents or Irene B. Fisher or any other officer of the Company
designated by any such person shall approve as having been properly tendered
shall be considered to be properly tendered (such approval, if given orally,
shall be confirmed in writing).
6. You shall advise the Company with respect to any Private Notes received
subsequent to the Expiration Date and accept its instructions with respect to
disposition of such Private Notes.
7. You shall accept tenders:
(a) in cases where the Private Notes are registered in two or more
names only if signed by all named holders;
(b) in cases where the signing person (as indicated on the Letter of
Transmittal) is acting in a fiduciary or a representative capacity only when
proper evidence of his or her authority so to act is submitted; and
(c) from persons other than the registered holder of Private Notes
provided that customary transfer requirements, including those regarding any
applicable transfer taxes, are fulfilled.
You shall accept partial tenders of Private Notes when so indicated
and as permitted in the Letter of Transmittal and deliver certificates for
Private Notes to the transfer agent for split-up and return any untendered
Private Notes to the holder (or such other person as may be designated in the
Letter of Transmittal) as promptly as practicable after expiration or
termination of the Exchange Offer.
8. Upon satisfaction or waiver of all of the conditions to the Exchange
Offer, the Company will notify you (such notice if given orally, to be confirmed
in writing) of its acceptance, promptly after the Expiration Date, of all
Private
3
<PAGE>
Notes properly tendered and you, on behalf of the Company, will exchange
such Private Notes for Exchange Notes and cause such Private Notes to be
canceled. Delivery of Exchange Notes will be made on behalf of the Company by
you at the rate of $1,000 principal amount of Exchange Notes for each $1,000
principal amount of the Private Notes tendered promptly after notice (such
notice if given orally, to be confirmed in writing) of acceptance of said
Private Notes by the Company; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that in all cases, Private
Notes tendered pursuant to the Exchange Offer will be exchanged only after
timely receipt by you of certificates for such Private Notes (or confirmation
of book-entry transfer into your account at the Book-Entry Transfer Facility),
a properly completed and, except as described in the section of the Prospectus
captioned "The Exchange Offer--Procedures for Tendering", duly executed Letter
of Transmittal (or facsimile thereof) with any required signature guarantees and
any other required documents. Unless otherwise instructed by the Company, you
shall issue Exchange Notes only in denominations of $1,000 or any integral
multiple thereof.
9. Tenders, pursuant to the Exchange Offer are irrevocable, except that,
subject to the terms and upon the conditions set forth in the Prospectus and the
Letter of Transmittal, Private Notes tendered pursuant to the Exchange Offer
may be withdrawn at any time on or prior to the Expiration Date in accordance
with the terms of the Exchange Offer.
10. The Company shall not be required to exchange any Private Notes
tendered if any of the conditions set forth in the Exchange Offer are not met.
Notice of any decision by the Company not to exchange any Private Notes tendered
shall be given (and confirmed in writing) by the Company to you.
11. If, pursuant to the Exchange Offer, the Company does not accept for
exchange all or part of the Private Notes tendered because of an invalid tender,
the occurrence of certain other events set forth in the Prospectus or otherwise,
you shall as soon as practicable after the expiration or termination of the
Exchange Offer return those certificates for unaccepted Private Notes (or effect
appropriate book-entry transfer), together with any related required documents
and the Letters of Transmittal relating thereto that are in your possession, to
the persons who deposited them (or effected such book-entry transfer).
12. All certificates for reissued Private Notes, unaccepted Private Notes
or for Exchange Notes (other than those effected by book-entry transfer) shall
be forwarded by (a) first-class certified mail, return receipt requested, under
a blanket surety bond obtained by you protecting you and the Company from loss
or liability arising out of the nonreceipt or nondelivery of such certificates
or (b) by registered mail insured by you separately for the replacement value of
each of such certificates.
4
<PAGE>
13. You are not authorized to pay or offer to pay any concessions,
commissions or other solicitation fees to any broker, dealer, commercial bank,
trust company or other nominee or to engage or use any person to solicit
tenders.
14. As Exchange Agent hereunder, you:
(a) shall have no duties or obligations other than those specifically
set forth in the Prospectus, the Letter of Transmittal or herein or as may be
subsequently agreed to in writing by you and the Company;
(b) will be regarded as making no representations and having no
responsibilities as to the validity, sufficiency, value or genuineness of any
of the certificates for the Private Notes deposited with you pursuant to the
Exchange Offer, and will not be required to and will make no representation as
to the validity, value or genuineness of the Exchange Offer;
(c) shall not be obligated to take any legal action hereunder which
might in your reasonable judgment involve any expense or liability, unless you
shall have been furnished with reasonable indemnity;
(d) may reasonably rely on and shall be protected in acting in reliance
upon any certificate, instrument, opinion, notice, letter, telegram or other
document or security delivered to you and reasonably believed by you to be
genuine and to have been signed by the proper party or parties;
(e) may reasonably act upon any tender, statement, request, comment,
agreement or other instrument whatsoever not only as to its due execution and
validity and effectiveness of its provisions, but also as to the truth and
accuracy of any information contained therein, which you shall in good faith
believe to be genuine or to have been signed or represented by a proper person
or persons;
(f) may rely on and shall be protected in acting upon written or oral
instructions from any officer of the company;
(g) may consult with your counsel with respect to any questions
relating to your duties and responsibilities, and the written opinion of such
counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of
any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by you hereunder in good faith
and in accordance with the written opinion of such counsel; and
(h) shall not advise any person tendering Private Notes pursuant to the
Exchange Offer as to whether to tender or refrain from tendering all or
5
<PAGE>
any portion of Private Notes or as to the market value, decline or
appreciation in market value of any Private Notes that may or may not occur
as a result of the Exchange Offer or as to the market value of the Exchange
Notes;
provided, however, that in no way will your general duty to act in good faith
and without gross negligence or willful misconduct be limited by the
foregoing.
15. You shall take such action as may from time to time be requested by the
Company or its counsel (and such other action as you may reasonably deem
appropriate) to furnish copies of the Prospectus, Letter of Transmittal and the
Notice of Guaranteed Delivery (as defined in the Prospectus) or such other forms
as may be approved from time to time by the Company to all persons requesting
such documents and to accept and comply with telephone requests for information
relating to the Exchange Offer, PROVIDED that such information shall relate only
to the procedures for accepting (or withdrawing from) the Exchange Offer. The
Company will furnish you with copies of such documents at your request.
16. You shall advise by facsimile transmission or telephone, and promptly
thereafter confirm in writing to Michael S. Kraus of the Company (telephone
number (212) 521-1605, facsimile number (212) 223-4074) and such other person or
persons as the Company may request, daily (and more frequently during the week
immediately preceding the Expiration Date and if otherwise requested), up to and
including the Expiration Date, as to the aggregate principal amount of Private
Notes which have been duly tendered pursuant to the Exchange Offer and the items
received by you pursuant to the Exchange Offer and this Agreement, separately
reporting and giving cumulative totals as to items properly received and items
improperly received. In addition, you will also inform, and cooperate in making
available to, the Company or any such other person or persons upon oral request
made from time to time prior to the Expiration Date of such other information
as it or he or she reasonably requests. Such cooperation shall include, without
limitation, the granting by you to the Company and such person as the Company
may request of access to those persons on your staff who are responsible for
receiving tenders, in order to ensure that immediately prior to the Expiration
Date the Company shall have received information in sufficient detail to enable
it to decide whether to extend the Exchange Offer. You shall prepare a final
list of all persons whose tenders were accepted, the aggregate principal amount
of Private Notes tendered, the aggregate principal amount of Private Notes
accepted and the identity of any Participating Broker-Dealers and the aggregate
principal amount of Exchange Notes delivered to each, and deliver said list to
the Company.
17. Letters of Transmittal, book-entry confirmations and Notices of
Guaranteed Delivery received by you shall be preserved by you for a period
of time at least equal to the period of time you preserve other records
pertaining to the transfer of
6
<PAGE>
securities, or one year, whichever is longer, and thereafter shall be
delivered by you to the Company. You shall dispose of unused Letters of
Transmittal and other surplus materials as instructed by the Company.
18. You hereby expressly waive any lien, encumbrance or right of set-off
whatsoever that you may have with respect to funds deposited with you for the
payment of transfer taxes by reasons of amounts, if any, borrowed by the
Company, or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates pursuant to any loan or
credit agreement with you or for compensation owed to you hereunder.
19. For services rendered as Exchange Agent hereunder, you shall be
entitled to such compensation as set forth on Schedule I attached hereto.
20. You hereby acknowledge receipt of the Prospectus and the Letter of
Transmittal and further acknowledge that you have examined each of them. Any
inconsistency between this Agreement, on the one hand, and the Prospectus and
the Letter of Transmittal (as they may be amended from time to time), on the
other hand, shall be resolved in favor of the latter two documents, except with
respect to the duties, liabilities and indemnification of you as Exchange
Agent, which shall be controlled by this Agreement.
21. The Company covenants and agrees to indemnify and hold you harmless
in your capacity as Exchange Agent hereunder against any loss, liability, cost
or expense, including attorneys' fees and expenses arising out of or in
connection with any act, omission, delay or refusal made by you in reliance upon
any signature, endorsement, assignment, certificate, order, request, notice,
instruction or other instrument or document reasonably believed by you to be
valid, genuine and sufficient and in accepting any tender or effecting any
transfer of Private Notes reasonably believed by you in good faith to be
authorized, and in delaying or refusing in good faith to accept any tenders or
effect any transfer of Private Notes; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that anything in this
Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, the Company shall not be liable for
indemnification or otherwise for any loss, liability, cost or expense to the
extent arising out of your gross negligence or willful misconduct. In no case
shall the Company be liable under this indemnity with respect to any claim
against you unless the Company shall be notified by you, by letter or cable or
by facsimile which is confirmed by letter, of the written assertion of a claim
against you or of any other action commenced against you, promptly after you
shall have received any such written assertion or notice of commencement of
action. The Company shall be entitled to participate, at its own expense, in
the defense of any such claim or other action, and, if the Company so elects,
the Company may assume the defense of any pending or threatened action against
you in respect of which indemnification may be sought hereunder, in which case
the Company shall not thereafter be responsible for the subsequently incurred
fees and disbursements of legal counsel for
7
<PAGE>
you under this paragraph so long as the Company shall retain counsel
reasonably satisfactory to you to defend such suit; provided, that the
Company shall not be entitled to assume the defense of any such action if the
named parties to such action include both you and the Company and
representation of both parties by the same legal counsel would, in the
written opinion of your counsel, be inappropriate due to actual or potential
conflicting interests between you and the Company. You understand and agree
that the Company shall not be liable under this paragraph for the fees and
expenses of more than one legal counsel for you.
22. You shall arrange to comply with all requirements under the tax laws
of the United States, including those relating to missing Tax Identification
Numbers, and shall file any appropriate reports with the Internal Revenue
Service. The Company understands that you are required, in certain
instances, to deduct thirty-one percent (31%) with respect to interest paid
on the Exchange Notes and proceeds from the sale, exchange, redemption or
retirement of the Exchange Notes from holders who have not supplied their
correct Taxpayer Identification Numbers or required certification. Such
funds will be turned over to the Internal Revenue Service in accordance with
applicable regulations.
23. You shall notify the Company of the amount of any transfer taxes
payable in respect of the exchange of Private Notes and, upon receipt of a
written approval from the Company, shall deliver or cause to be delivered, in a
timely manner to each governmental authority to which any transfer taxes are
payable in respect of the exchange of Private Notes, your check in the amount
of all transfer taxes so payable, and the Company shall reimburse you for the
amount of any and all transfer taxes payable in respect of the exchange of
Private Notes; provided, however, that you shall reimburse the Company for
amounts refunded to you in respect of your payment of any such transfer taxes,
at such time as such refund is received by you.
24. This Agreement and your appointment as Exchange Agent hereunder shall
be construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York
applicable to agreements made and to be performed entirely within such state,
and without regard to conflicts of law principles.
25. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure solely to the benefit
of each party hereto and nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is
intended to or shall confer upon any other person any right, benefit or remedy
of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement. Without
limitation of the foregoing, the parties hereto expressly agree that no holder
of Private Notes or Exchange Notes shall have any right, benefit or remedy of
any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement.
8
<PAGE>
26. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of
which shall be deemed to be an original, and all of which taken together shall
constitute one and the same agreement.
27. In case any provision of this Agreement shall be invalid, illegal or
unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining
provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
28. This Agreement shall not be deemed or construed to be modified,
amended, rescinded, canceled or waived, in whole or in part, except by a written
instrument signed by a duly authorized representative of the party to be
charged.
29. Unless otherwise provided herein, all notices, requests and other
communications to any party hereunder shall be in writing (including facsimile
or similar writing) and shall be given to such party, addressed to it, at its
address or telecopy number set forth below:
If to the Company, to:
Big Flower Press Holdings, Inc.
3 East 54th Street, 17th Floor
New York, New York 10022
Telephone: (212) 521-1621
Telecopy: (212) 521-1640
Attention: Mark A. Angelson,
Executive Vice President and
General Counsel
with a copy to:
Sullivan & Cromwell
125 Broad Street
New York, NY 10004
Telephone: (212) 558-3876
Telecopy: (212) 558-3588
Attention: Robert E. Buckholz, Jr.
9
<PAGE>
If to the Exchange Agent, to:
State Street Bank and Trust Company
Corporate Trust Administration, CT/OP/0238
Hartford, CT 06115
Telephone: (860) 986-7835
Telecopy: (860) 986-7920
Attention: Kathy Larimore
Assistant Vice President
30. Unless terminated earlier by the parties hereto, this Agreement shall
terminate 90 days following the Expiration Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
paragraphs 17, 19, 21 and 23 shall survive the termination of this Agreement.
Upon any termination of this Agreement, you shall promptly deliver to the
Company any certificates for Notes, funds or property then held by you as
Exchange Agent under this Agreement.
31. This Agreement shall be binding and effective as of the date hereof.
10
<PAGE>
Please acknowledge receipt of this Agreement and confirm the arrangements
herein provided by signing and returning the enclosed copy.
BIG FLOWER PRESS HOLDINGS, INC.
By: /s/ Mark A. Angelson
----------------------------
Name: Mark A. Angelson
Title: Executive Vice President
Accepted as of the date
first above written:
STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST
COMPANY, as Exchange Agent
By: /s/ Kathy A. Larimore
--------------------------
Name: Kathy A. Larimore
Title: Assistant Vice President
11
<PAGE>
SCHEDULE I
FEE SCHEDULE FOR
EXCHANGE AGENT SERVICES
I. ACCEPTANCE FEE Waived
Our Acceptance Fee includes review of all relevant
documentation, closing of transaction, setting up records and
opening accounts.
II. ADMINISTRATIVE FEE $1,500
Our administrative fee covers all duties of the Agent
including distributing exchange offer documents to DTC,
receipt and examination of required exchange offer
documentation, reporting to the Company, calculation of and
delivery to participants and DTC. Fees shall be billed upon
closing.
III. OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES As Incurred
All out-of-pocket expenses including but not limited to
postage, express mail, telecopier, long distance telephone,
wire transfer charges, courier expenses, or other expense
incurred by the State Street Bank and Trust Company during its
acceptance and administration shall be billed at cost as
incurred.
IV. EXTRAORDINARY SERVICES
Charges for the performance of any service not of a routine
administrative nature or not contemplated at closing and
specifically covered elsewhere in this schedule of fees will
be determined by appraisal in amounts commensurate with the
service rendered.
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