ANICOM INC
S-3/A, 1997-12-02
ELECTRICAL APPARATUS & EQUIPMENT, WIRING SUPPLIES
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    As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 1, 1997
                                         Registration No. 333-41225 


                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                               Amendment No. 1 to
                                    FORM S-3

                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                                  ANICOM, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

           Delaware                                             36-3885212
(State or other jurisdiction of                              (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)                              Identification No.)

   6133 River Road, Suite 1000, Rosemont, Illinois 60018-5171, (847) 518-8700
   (Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of
                   Registrant's principal executive offices)

                                Scott C. Anixter
                      Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
                                  Anicom, Inc.
   6133 River Road, Suite 1000, Rosemont, Illinois 60018-5171, (847) 518-8700
 (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code
                              of agent for service)

                                 With Copies to:
                              Jeffrey R. Patt, Esq.
                              Katten Muchin & Zavis
                             525 West Monroe Street
                             Chicago, Illinois 60661
                                 (312) 902-5200

Approximate  date of commencement  of proposed sale to the public:  From time to
time after the effective date of this Registration Statement.

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

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

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

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

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

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
       Title of Each Class of             Amount to be           Proposed Maximum    Proposed Maximum Aggregate     Amount of
    Securities to be Registered            Registered             Offering Price         Offering Price(1)      Registration Fee
                                                                   Per Share(1)
<S>                                     <C>                          <C>                     <C>                    <C>  
Common Stock, $.001 par value           3,773,580 shares             $16.5625                $62,499,919            $18,940 (2)
</TABLE>

(1) Estimated  solely for purposes of calculating the  registration fee pursuant
to Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, on the basis of the
average of the high and low sales  prices of the Common Stock as reported on the
Nasdaq National Market on November 19, 1997.

(2) Previously paid.
                                         
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 SECTION 8 (A), MAY
DETERMINE.
<PAGE>

                 Subject to completion, dated December 1, 1997

Information   contained  herein  is  subject  to  completion  or  amendment.   A
registration  statement  relating  to these  securities  has been filed with the
Securities  and Exchange  Commission.  These  securities may not be sold nor may
offers to buy be accepted prior to the time the registration  statement  becomes
effective.  This  prospectus  shall  not  constitute  an  offer  to  sell or the
solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of these  securities
in any State in which such offer,  solicitation  or sale would be unlawful prior
to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such State.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   PROSPECTUS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                                      LOGO
                                  Anicom, Inc.
              [GRAPHIC OMITTED]   Multimedia Wiring Systems






                        3,773,580 Shares of Common Stock




This  Prospectus  relates to the offer and sale by certain persons listed herein
under  "Selling   Stockholders",   their   pledgees,   donees,   transferees  or
distributees,  or their  respective  successors-in-interest  (collectively,  the
"Selling  Stockholders")  of 3,773,580  shares  (collectively,  the "Shares") of
common stock, $.001 par value ("Common Stock"), of Anicom, Inc. (the "Company").
The Company will not receive any of the proceeds  from the sale of the Shares by
the Selling Stockholders.

The Common Stock is traded on the Nasdaq  National  Market (the "NNM") under the
symbol  "ANIC." On November 21, 1997,  the closing  price of the Common Stock as
reported on the NNM was $17.00 per share.  The Selling  Stockholders  may,  from
time to time, sell the Shares on the NNM, in privately  negotiated  transactions
or otherwise,  at fixed prices that may be changed,  at market prices prevailing
at the time of sale,  at prices  related to such market  prices or at negotiated
prices. See "Plan of Distribution."

See "Risk Factors" beginning on page 4 for information that should be considered
by prospective investors.





  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 COMMIS-
          SION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS.
            ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.





                The date of this Prospectus is December __, 1997

<PAGE>

                              AVAILABLE INFORMATION

The Company is subject to the  informational  requirements of the Securities and
Exchange  Act of 1934,  as  amended  (the  "Exchange  Act"),  and in  accordance
therewith  files  reports,  proxy  statements  and  other  information  with the
Securities  and Exchange  Commission  (the  "Commission").  Such reports,  proxy
statements  and other  information  concerning  the Company may be inspected and
copied at the public reference  facilities  maintained by the Commission at Room
1024, 450 Fifth Street,  N.W.,  Washington,  D.C. 20549, and at the Commission's
Regional  Offices at Seven World Trade Center,  13th Floor,  New York,  New York
10048 and at Citicorp  Center,  500 West Madison  Street,  Suite 1400,  Chicago,
Illinois  60661.  Copies of such  material  can also be  obtained  upon  written
request addressed to the Commission, Public Reference Section, 450 Fifth Street,
N.W.,  Washington,  D.C. 20549, at prescribed rates. In addition, the Commission
maintains an Internet Web site at http://www.sec.gov  containing reports,  proxy
and  information   statements  and  other  information  regarding   registrants,
including the Company, that file electronically with the Commission.  The Common
Stock is traded on the NNM, and reports,  proxy statements and other information
concerning  the Company  can be  inspected  at the  offices of The Nasdaq  Stock
Market, 1735 K Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20006.

The Company has filed with the Commission a  Registration  Statement on Form S-3
(herein,  together  with  all  amendments  and  exhibits,  referred  to  as  the
"Registration  Statement")  under  the  Securities  Act,  with  respect  to  the
securities  offered hereby.  This  Prospectus,  which  constitutes a part of the
Registration Statement, does not contain all of the information set forth in the
Registration  Statement,  certain parts of which are omitted in accordance  with
the rules and regulations of the Commission. For further information,  reference
is hereby made to the  Registration  Statement which may be inspected and copied
in the manner and at the  sources  described  above.  Any  statements  contained
herein  concerning  the  provisions  of any document  filed as an Exhibit to the
Registration   Statement  or  otherwise   filed  with  the  Commission  are  not
necessarily  complete  and, in each  instance,  reference is made to the copy of
such document so filed. Each such statement is qualified in its entirety by such
reference.
<PAGE>

                 INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

The  following  documents  previously  filed by the Company with the  Commission
pursuant to the Exchange Act are incorporated herein by reference:

1.The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB, for the fiscal year ended December
31, 1996;

2.The Company's  Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31,
1997, June 30, 1997 and September 30, 1997;

3.The Company's  Current  Reports on Form 8-K/A dated May 23, 1996,  November 5,
1996 and September 25, 1997 and the Company's Current Reports on Form 8-K, dated
March 3, 1997, May 22, 1997, May 30, 1997, June 5, 1997 and July 25, 1997; and

4.The description of the Common Stock,  contained in the Company's  registration
statement  on Form 8-A filed  pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act and all
amendments   thereto  and  reports  filed  for  the  purpose  of  updating  such
description.

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 of this  Prospectus and prior to the
termination  of the offering made hereby shall be deemed to be  incorporated  by
reference in this  Prospectus and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of
such documents.  Any statement contained herein or in a document incorporated or
deemed to be incorporated  herein by reference shall be deemed to be modified or
superseded  for  purposes  of this  Prospectus  to the extent  that a  statement
contained in any subsequently  filed document which is deemed to be incorporated
by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so
modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded,
to constitute a part of this Prospectus.

The Company will provide,  without charge, to each person to whom a copy of this
Prospectus is delivered,  on the written or oral request of such person,  a copy
of any or all of the  documents  incorporated  herein by  reference  (other than
exhibits  thereto,  unless  such  exhibits  are  specifically   incorporated  by
reference into the information  that this Prospectus  incorporates).  Written or
telephone requests for such copies should be directed to the Company's principal
executive office: Anicom, Inc., 6133 River Road, Suite 1000, Rosemont,  Illinois
60018-5171, Attention: Donald C. Welchko (telephone: 847-518-8700).


<PAGE>




- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  RISK FACTORS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
An investment  in the Shares  offered  hereby  entails a high degree of risk. In
addition to other  information  contained in this  Prospectus or incorporated by
reference herein,  potential  purchasers should consider carefully the following
factors in evaluating the Company,  its business and the Shares offered  hereby.
Statements  contained  in this  Prospectus  that are not  historical  facts  are
forward looking  statements that are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions
of the Private  Securities  Litigation Reform Act of 1995. A number of important
factors could cause the Company's  actual  results for 1997 and beyond to differ
materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements made by, or on
behalf of, the Company. These factors include, without limitation,  those listed
below.

Risks Associated with Integrated Growth Strategy

The Company's integrated growth strategy involves the identification and pursuit
of acquisition  opportunities  and internal growth. As of November 21, 1997, the
Company operated in over 50 locations. The success and the rate of the Company's
expansion  into new  geographical  markets  will  depend on a number of factors,
including general economic and business  conditions  affecting the industries of
the  Company's  customers in such  markets,  competition,  the  availability  of
sufficient  capital,  the availability of sufficient  inventory to meet customer
demand,  the identification and acquisition or leasing of suitable sales offices
and/or warehouse  facilities on acceptable terms, and the ability to attract and
retain qualified  personnel and operate effectively in geographic areas in which
the Company has no prior experience. As a result, there can be no assurance that
the Company will be able to achieve its planned growth on a timely or profitable
basis.

With  respect  to  the  Company's  identification  and  pursuit  of  acquisition
opportunities,  viable acquisition  candidates may not be available or available
on terms acceptable to the Company.  Additionally,  if the Company  continues to
grow,  it  may  be  required  to  make  further  investments  in  personnel  and
information  technology  systems.  Failure to  successfully  hire or retain such
personnel or implement such systems could have a material  adverse effect on the
Company's  results  of  operations  and  financial  condition.  There  can be no
assurance  that the  Company  will be able to manage  its  expanding  operations
effectively  or that it will be able to maintain or accelerate its recent growth
or that the Company will be able to operate profitably.

Capital Needs for Expansion

If the Company  continues to grow, it may require further capital through public
or private  equity  offerings  or  financings.  No  assurance  can be given that
additional  capital will be available to the Company or that, if  available,  it
would be on terms  acceptable to the Company.  If additional funds are raised by
issuing equity  securities,  further dilution to the Company's  stockholders may
result.

Shares Eligible for Future Sale

All of the Shares being registered in the Registration  Statement, of which this
Prospectus  is a part,  are being  registered  by the Selling  Stockholders  for
resale.  The increase in the number of  outstanding  shares of Common Stock that
are available for sale without restriction due to the registration of the Shares
and the  perception  that a  substantial  number  of the  Shares  may be sold by
Selling  Stockholders,  or the actual sale of a substantial number of the Shares
by Selling  Stockholders,  could adversely affect the market price of the Common
Stock.

Pursuant to its Amended and Restated  Certificate of Incorporation,  the Company
has the authority to issue  additional  shares of Common Stock and shares of one
or more series of preferred  stock (the "Preferred  Stock").  Such shares may be
issued  by the  Company  on the  authority  of the  Board of  Directors  without
stockholder  action.  The  issuance  of any  such  additional  Common  Stock  or
Preferred  Stock could  result in the dilution of the voting power and rights of
the  outstanding  shares of Common  Stock.  The possible  issuance of additional
shares of Preferred Stock may be considered a deterrence to a change of control.
The Company has a  registration  statement  on Form S-3 in effect  covering  the
shares  of Common  Stock  issued  upon the  mandatory  conversion  of all of the
outstanding Series A Cumulative  Convertible  Preferred Stock and the payment of
dividends thereon.  See "Recent  Developments  Conversion of Series A Preferred
Stock."
<PAGE>

As of  November  21,  1997,  the  Company  had  outstanding  options to purchase
2,264,291  shares  of  Common  Stock at a  weighted  average  exercise  price of
approximately $8.45 per share (the majority of which have not yet vested) issued
to  employees,  former  employees,  directors  and  consultants  pursuant to the
Company's  stock  incentive  plans and Warrants to purchase 81,364 shares of the
Company's  Common Stock at a weighted average exercise price of $4.45 per share.
The  Company has  registration  statements  on  Form S-8  in effect  covering an
aggregate of 3,300,000 of the shares issuable under the stock incentive plans.

The Company may issue additional  capital stock or other forms of convertible or
exchangeable  securities to raise capital in the future. In order to attract and
retain  key  personnel,  the  Company  may  also  issue  additional  securities,
including stock options,  in connection with its employee benefit plans.  During
the terms of such  options  and  warrants,  the  holders  thereof  are given the
opportunity to benefit from a rise in the market price of the Common Stock.  The
exercise of such options and  warrants may have an adverse  effect on the market
value of the Common Stock.  Also, the existence of such options and warrants may
adversely  affect the terms on which the  Company can obtain  additional  equity
financing.

Competition

The  market  for the  distribution  of  multimedia  wiring  products  is  highly
competitive and fragmented.  To compete  successfully,  management believes that
the Company  will need to  continue  to offer a broad  range of  technologically
advanced products,  provide  competitive  pricing while maintaining its margins,
provide  prompt  delivery of  products,  deliver  responsive  customer  service,
establish and maintain strong  relationships  with suppliers and customers,  and
attract and retain highly  qualified  personnel.  The Company faces  substantial
competition   from  several   national  and  regional   distributors   and  from
manufacturers who sell directly to end-users for certain  large-scale  projects.
To maintain or increase  market  share in light of  competitive  pressures  from
current or future competitors,  the Company may be required to lower its prices.
Such  measures  could  adversely  affect the Company's  financial  condition and
results of operations.

Inventory

The Company is dependent upon  identifying the right product mix and maintaining
sufficient  inventory on hand to meet customer orders. There can be no assurance
that the Company will be able to identify and offer products necessary to remain
competitive or not suffer losses related to product obsolescence. Further, there
is no assurance that the Company will achieve and maintain sufficient  inventory
levels to meet its  customers'  needs or that the Company  will not have to take
inventory write-offs in the future.

Dependence on Management and Key Personnel

The Company is highly  dependent upon the services of certain  members of senior
management, including Alan B. Anixter, Scott C. Anixter and Carl E. Putnam. Loss
of the services of any of these individuals could have a material adverse impact
on the Company. The Company has entered into employment agreements with a number
of executive  officers,  including  Scott  C. Anixter,  Donald C. Welchko,  Carl
E. Putnam and Robert  L. Swanson.  The Company  maintains key man life insurance
with respect to Carl E. Putnam. The Company's success is also dependent upon its
ability to attract and retain highly qualified  management,  marketing and sales
personnel.
<PAGE>

Possible Volatility of Stock Price

The  market  price  of  the  Common  Stock  could  be  subject  to   significant
fluctuations in response to variations in quarterly  operating results,  changes
in earnings,  estimates by analysts,  general  conditions  in the  industries in
which the Company's  customers compete and other events or factors. In addition,
the stock market,  from time to time, has  experienced  extreme price and volume
fluctuations  which  particularly  have  affected the market price for companies
which have completed recent initial public offerings,  and which often have been
unrelated  to  the  operating   performance  of  such  companies.   These  broad
fluctuations may adversely affect the market price of the Common Stock.
<PAGE>

                               RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
 
Acquisitions

The Company has  entered  into an  Agreement  and Plan of  Reorganization  dated
November  24,  1997  ("Merger  Agreement"),  pursuant  to which it has agreed to
acquire TW Communication  Corporation ("TWC"), a company engaged in the sale and
distribution of multimedia  wiring  products,  for  consideration  consisting of
$3,000,000  in cash and  873,580  shares of Common  Stock.  The shares of Common
Stock  included  in the  consideration  are being  issued in  reliance  upon the
exemption  from  the  registration   requirements  under  Section  4(2)  of  the
Securities Act. This transaction is scheduled to close upon the effectiveness of
the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.

Private Placement of Common Stock

     Pursuant to a Stock  Purchase  Agreement  dated  November  24, 1997 ("Stock
Purchase  Agreement")  the Company agreed to issue and sell 2,900,000  shares of
Common  Stock at a  purchase  price of $13.00  per share in a private  placement
exempt from the registration  requirements  under Section 4(2) of the Securities
Act.  The Company  plans to use the net  proceeds of this  private  placement of
approximately  $36,400,000 to repay  outstanding  indebtedness  on its unsecured
revolving credit facility (which equaled  approximately  $18,845,000 at November
24,  1997) and to repay in full  TWC's  current  line of credit  (which  equaled
approximately  $14,500,000  at November 24, 1997).  Anicoms'  facility  provides
various  interest rate  options,  determined  from time to time,  based upon the
Company's leverage ratio, at either the lender's domestic rate less .50% to .25%
or LIBOR plus .50% to 1.00%.  TWC's credit facility  provides for interest at an
annual rate equal to the lender's Prime Rate plus .50% or, at TWC's option,  the
lender's  Adjusted  LIBOR rate plus 2%. The remaining  proceeds will be used for
working capital and general corporate purposes.  Pending such uses, the proceeds
will be invested in short-term,  interest-bearing,  investment grade securities.
This   transaction  is  scheduled  to  close  upon  the   effectiveness  of  the
registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.


                                USE OF PROCEEDS

The Company  will not receive  any  proceeds  from the sale of the Shares by the
Selling Stockholders.

<PAGE>


                              SELLING STOCKHOLDERS

The following  table sets forth  certain  information  regarding the  beneficial
ownership of the outstanding shares of Common Stock by each Selling  Stockholder
both before the offering and as adjusted to reflect the sale of the Shares.  The
information set forth below gives effect to the issuance of the shares of Common
Stock that will be issued upon the  effectiveness of the registration  statement
of which this prospectus is a part pursuant to the Stock Purchase  Agreement and
the Merger Agreement.  See "Recent  Developments." The Shares offered hereby may
be offered  from time to time in whole or in part by the  Selling  Stockholders,
their  pledgees,  donees,  transferees  or  distributees,  or  their  respective
successors-in-interest.  Except where otherwise noted,  each person named in the
following table has, to the knowledge of the Company, sole voting and investment
power with respect to the shares beneficially owned.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                                                    Beneficial Ownership                    Beneficial Ownership
                                                       Before Offering         Number of       After Offering
                                                                                 Shares
                                                                                 Being 
                                                                              Offered (1)
                                                  --------------------------                ---------------------
                                                   Number of       Percent                  Number of    Percent
                                                    Shares                                    Shares
<S>                                                 <C>              <C>       <C>             <C>        <C>    


FIDELITY SELECT PORTFOLIOS:
  Developing Communications Portfolio               1,500,000(2)     6.4%      1,500,000            --     --
Edward Goodstein (3)                                  857,500(4)     3.7%       857,200            300      *
The Peter H. Huizenga Testamentary Trust.             550,537(5)     2.4%       200,320        350,217    1.5%
The Lincoln Fund, L.P.                                369,903(6)     1.6%       300,000         69,903      *
RDV Capital Management, L.P.                          150,000(2)      *         150,000             --     --
Peter H. Huizenga(7).                                 154,160(8)      *          24,424        129,736      *
Heidi A. Huizenga                                     138,494(9)      *          80,128         58,366      *
The Gordon Fund, L.P.                                  92,508(10)     *          75,000         17,508      *
Prince Family Limited Partnership                      72,000(2)      *          72,000             --     --
Elsa A. Prince Living Trust                            72,000(2)      *          72,000             --     --
Peter C. Cook Trust                                    45,000(2)      *          45,000             --     --
Robert Haveman                                         36,000(2)      *          36,000             --     --
Providence Energy, Inc.                                36,000(2)      *          36,000             --     --
The Lincoln Fund Tax Advantage, L.P.                   36,671(11)     *          25,000         11,671      *
The Betsy Huizenga Trust                               34,622(12)     *          20,032         14,590      *
The Greta Huizenga Trust                               34,622(12)     *          20,032         14,590      *
The Peter H. Huizenga, Jr. Trust                       34,622(12)     *          20,032         14,590      *
The Timothy Dean Huizenga Trust                        34,622(12)     *          20,032         14,590      *
Beeken Petty O'Keefe Kneen & Moerschel, L.L.C.         30,000(2)      *          30,000             --     --
RDV Corp. Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan
  FBO Jerry Tubergen                                   30,000(2)      *          30,000             --     --
Matlins Financial Consulting, Inc. Pension Plan        25,000(2)      *          25,000             --     --
Carl G. Palazzolo (13)                                 16,530(14)     *          16,380            150      *
Terry L. Van Der Aa                                    20,000(2)      *          20,000             --     --
Jack L. DeWitt                                         18,000(2)      *          18,000             --     --
Merle DeWitt                                           18,000(2)      *          18,000             --     --
Inquest, L.L.C.                                        18,000(2)      *          18,000             --     --
Ronald G. Kenny                                        15,000(2)      *          15,000             --     --
John Rose                                              15,000(2)      *          15,000             --     --
IRA FBO John Eggemeyer                                 10,000(2)      *          10,000             --     --
William J. Ruh & Lisa A. Ruh, Joint Tenants             5,000(2)      *           5,000             --     --

</TABLE>
<PAGE>


__________________
* Less than 1%

(1)  Assumes  all of the shares  being  registered  will be sold by the  Selling
Stockholders.

(2)  Represents  shares  of  Common  Stock to be  issued  pursuant  to the Stock
Purchase Agreement.

(3) Mr. Goodstein will become a Vice President of the Company upon  consummation
of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement.

(4) Includes  857,200 shares of Common Stock to be issued pursuant to the Merger
Agreement.

(5) Includes  200,320 shares of Common Stock to be issued  pursuant to the Stock
Purchase Agreement.

(6) Includes  300,000 shares of Common Stock to be issued  pursuant to the Stock
Purchase Agreement.

(7) Peter H. Huizenga has been a Director of the Company since June 5, 1997.

(8)  Includes  (a) 24,424  shares of Common  Stock to be issued  pursuant to the
Stock Purchase Agreement and (b) 13,000 shares issuable upon exercise of options
granted  pursuant to the Anicom,  Inc.  Directors  Stock Option  Plan.  Excludes
550,537  shares  held by the Peter H.  Huizenga  Testamentary  Trust and  34,622
shares held by each of the Betsy Huizenga Trust,  the Greta Huizenga Trust,  and
the Peter Huizenga Jr. Trust,  for which trusts Mr.  Huizenga serves as the sole
trustee. Excludes 138,493 shares held by Heidi A. Huizenga with respect to which
Mr. Huizenga shares voting and investment power.

(9) Includes  80,128  shares of Common Stock to be issued  pursuant to the Stock
Purchase  Agreement.  Excludes  154,160  shares  beneficially  owned by Peter H.
Huizenga  with respect to which Heidi A. Huizenga  shares voting and  investment
power. Excludes 34,622 shares held by the Timothy Dean Huizenga Trust, for which
Heidi A. Huizenga serves as co-trustee.

(10)  Includes  75,000  shares  to be  issued  pursuant  to the  Stock  Purchase
Agreement.

(11)  Includes  25,000  shares  to be  issued  pursuant  to the  Stock  Purchase
Agreement.

(12)  Includes  20,032  shares  to be  issued  pursuant  to the  Stock  Purchase
Agreement.

(13) Mr. Palazzolo will become a Vice President of the Company upon consummation
of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement.

(14)  Includes  16,380  shares  to be  issued  pursuant  to the  Stock  Purchase
Agreement.
<PAGE>

                              PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

Any or all of the  Shares  covered by this  Prospectus  may be sold from time to
time  by the  Selling  Stockholders,  their  pledgees,  donees,  transferees  or
distributees,   or  their   respective   successors-in-interest.   The   Selling
Stockholders  may sell all or a portion of the Shares,  in privately  negotiated
transactions or otherwise, at fixed prices that may be changed, at market prices
prevailing  at the time of sale,  at prices  related to such market prices or at
negotiated prices. A Selling  Stockholder may elect to engage a broker or dealer
to effect sales in one or more of the following  transactions:  (a) block trades
in which the  broker or dealer so  engaged  will  attempt  to sell the Shares as
agent but may  position  and  resell a  portion  of the  block as  principal  to
facilitate the transaction, (b) purchases by a broker or dealer as principal and
resale by such broker or dealer for its account pursuant to this Prospectus, and
(c) ordinary  brokerage  transactions  and  transactions  in  which  the  broker
solicits purchasers.  In effecting sales, brokers and dealers engaged by Selling
Stockholders may arrange for other brokers or dealers to participate. Brokers or
dealers may receive  commissions or discounts from Selling  Stockholders (or, if
any such broker-dealer acts as agent for the purchaser of such shares, from such
purchaser)  in amounts to be  negotiated  which are not expected to exceed those
customary in the types of transactions  involved.  Broker-dealers may agree with
the  Selling  Stockholders  to  sell a  specified  number  of such  Shares  at a
stipulated price per share,  and, to the extent such  broker-dealer is unable to
do so acting as agent for a Selling  Stockholder,  to purchase as principal  any
unsold Shares at the price required to fulfill the  broker-dealer  commitment to
such Selling  Stockholder.  Broker-dealers  who acquire  Shares as principal may
thereafter  resell  such  Shares  from time to time in  transactions  (which may
involve  block  transactions  and  sales to and  through  other  broker-dealers,
including  transactions of the nature described  above) in the  over-the-counter
market or otherwise at prices and on terms then  prevailing at the time of sale,
at  prices  then  related  to the  then-current  market  price or in  negotiated
transactions  and, in connection  with such resales,  may pay to or receive from
the purchasers of such shares commissions as described above.

The Selling  Stockholders and any broker-dealers or agents that participate with
the  Selling   Stockholders  in  sales  of  the  Shares  may  be  deemed  to  be
"underwriters"  within the meaning of the Securities Act in connection with such
sales. In such event, any commissions  received by such broker-dealers or agents
and any profit on the resale of the Shares purchased by them may be deemed to be
underwriting commissions or discounts under the Securities Act.

The Company is required to pay all of the expenses  incident to the offering and
sale of the  Shares,  other than fees and  expenses to the extent the Company is
prohibited  by  applicable  Blue  Sky  laws  from  paying  for or on  behalf  of
Purchasers. The Company has agreed to indemnify the Selling Stockholders against
certain losses, claims, damages and liabilities, including liabilities under the
Securities Act.

<PAGE>

                          DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

The  authorized  capital stock of the Company  consists of 60,000,000  shares of
Common  Stock,  par value $.001 per share,  and  1,000,000  shares of  preferred
stock, par value $.01 per share ("Preferred Stock").

Common Stock

Of the  60,000,000  shares of Common Stock  authorized,  19,483,485  shares were
outstanding  as of  November  20,  1997.  Subject  to the  rights of  holders of
Preferred Stock, the holders of outstanding  shares of Common Stock are entitled
to share ratably in dividends  declared out of assets legally available therefor
at such time and in such amount as the Board of Directors  may from time to time
lawfully determine. Each holder of Common Stock is entitled to one vote for each
share held,  and the  holders of Common  Stock are not  entitled  to  cumulative
voting  rights.  Subject to the rights of holders of any  outstanding  Preferred
Stock,  upon liquidation,  dissolution or winding up of the Company,  any assets
legally available for distribution to shareholders as such are to be distributed
ratably among the holders of the then  outstanding  Common Stock.  All shares of
Common Stock  currently  outstanding  are and all shares of Common Stock offered
hereby, when duly issued and paid for will be, fully paid and nonassessable, not
subject to redemption and assessment and without conversion, preemptive or other
rights  to  subscribe  for or  purchase  any  proportionate  part  of any new or
additional issues of any class or series of securities convertible into stock of
any class or series. The Common Stock is listed on the Nasdaq National Market.

Preferred Stock

The Company's Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation  provides for an
authorized class of undesignated Preferred Stock consisting of 1,000,000 shares.
This  Preferred  Stock may be issued at the direction of the Board of Directors,
without   shareholder   approval,   in  series  from  time  to  time  with  such
designations,   relative  rights,   priorities,   preferences,   qualifications,
limitations and restrictions  thereon,  to the extent that such are not fixed in
the Company's Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as the Board of
Directors determines. The rights,  preferences,  limitations and restrictions of
different  series of Preferred  Stock may differ with respect to dividend rates,
amounts payable on liquidation,  voting rights,  conversion  rights,  redemption
provisions,  sinking fund  provisions and other matters.  The Board of Directors
may authorize  the issuance of Preferred  Stock which ranks senior to the Common
Stock with respect to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets on
liquidation.  In  addition,  the Board of  Directors  is  authorized  to fix the
limitations  and  restrictions,  if any, upon the payment of dividends on Common
Stock to be effective while any shares of Preferred Stock are  outstanding.  The
Board of Directors, without shareholder approval, can issue Preferred Stock with
voting and conversion  rights which could  adversely  affect the voting power of
the holders of Common Stock.  The issuance of Preferred Stock to certain holders
under  certain  circumstances  may have the  effect of  delaying,  deferring  or
preventing  a change in  control  of the  Company.  Of the  1,000,000  shares of
Preferred Stock authorized for issuance by the Company,  27,000 shares have been
designated as Series A Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, none of which are
issued and outstanding.

Delaware Law and Certain Corporate Provisions

The Company is subject to the provisions of Section 203 of the Delaware  General
Corporation  Law. In general,  this statute  prohibits a publicly  held Delaware
corporation  from  engaging,   under  certain  circumstances,   in  a  "business
combination" with an "interested  stockholder" for a period of three years after
the  date  of  the  transaction  in  which  the  person  becomes  an  interested
stockholder, unless either (i) prior to the date at which the stockholder became
an interested  stockholder  the Board of Directors  approved either the business
combination  or the  transaction  in which  the  person  becomes  an  interested
stockholder,  (ii) the  stockholder  acquires  more than 85% of the  outstanding
voting stock of the  corporation  (excluding  shares held by  directors  who are
officers  or held in certain  employee  stock  plans) upon  consummation  of the
transaction  in which the  stockholder  becomes  an  interested  stockholder  or
(iii) the  business  combination  is approved by the Board of  Directors  and by
two-thirds of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation  (excluding shares
held by the interested stockholder) at a meeting of the stockholders (and not by
written consent) held on or subsequent to the date of the business  combination.
An  "interested  stockholder"  is a person who,  together  with  affiliates  and
associates,  owns (or at any time  within the prior  three years did own) 15% or
more  of the  corporation's  voting  stock.  Section  203  defines  a  "business
combination" to include,  without  limitation,  mergers,  consolidations,  stock
sales  and  asset  based  transactions  and other  transactions  resulting  in a
financial benefit to the interested stockholder.
<PAGE>

The  Company's  Amended and Restated  Certificate  of  Incorporation  and Bylaws
contain a number of  provisions  relating  to  corporate  governance  and to the
rights of  stockholders.  Certain  of these  provisions  may be deemed to have a
potential  "anti-takeover"  effect in that such  provisions may delay,  defer or
prevent a change of control of the Company.  These  provisions  include  (a) the
classification of the Board of Directors into three classes,  each class serving
for staggered three year terms; (b) elimination of stockholder action by written
consent;  (c) the authority of the Board to issue series of Preferred Stock with
such voting  rights and other  powers as the Board of Directors  may  determine;
(d) the requirement that the Bylaws may only be amended (other than by the Board
of  Directors)  by the vote of greater than 66 2/3% of the votes  entitled to be
cast generally by the outstanding  Common Stock;  (e) the  requirement  that the
provision in the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation  creating the
classified  board  may  only be  amended  by the vote of at least 66 2/3% of the
votes entitled to be cast generally in the election of directors; and (f) notice
requirements in the Bylaws relating to nominations to the Board of Directors and
to the raising of business matters at stockholder meetings.

Transfer Agent and Registrar

The  transfer  agent and  registrar  for the  Common  Stock is Harris  Trust and
Savings Bank, located in Chicago, Illinois.


                                  LEGAL MATTERS

Certain  legal matters with respect to the validity of the Shares will be passed
upon  for the  Company  by  Katten  Muchin  &  Zavis,  a  partnership  including
professional corporations, located in Chicago, Illinois.


                                     EXPERTS

The consolidated  financial statements of the Company appearing in the Company's
Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the year ended December 31, 1996, the financial
statements of Northern  Wire & Cable,  Inc.  appearing in the Company's  Current
Report on Form  8-K/A  (Amendment  No. 2),  dated May 23,  1996,  the  financial
statements  of Norfolk Wire & Cable,  Inc.  appearing in the  Company's  Current
Report on Form  8-K/A  (Amendment  No.  2),  dated  November  5,  1996,  and the
financial  statements  of Energy  Electric  Cable,  a division  of  Connectivity
Products  Incorporated,  appearing in the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K/A
(Amendment  No. 1),  dated  September  25,  1997 have been  audited by Coopers &
Lybrand L.L.P.,  independent accountants,  as set forth in their reports thereon
included therein and incorporated herein by reference. Such financial statements
are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such report given upon the
authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
<PAGE>


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

No dealer, salesperson or other person 
has been authorized to give any information
or to make any representations other than 
those contained in this Prospectus, and if 
given or made, such information and 
representations must not be relied upon as 
having been authorized by the Company or 
the Selling Stockholders.   This Prospectus                   LOGO
does not constitute an offer to sell, or a         [GRAPHIC   Anicom, Inc.
solicitation of an offer to buy the shares         EXCLUDED] Multimedia Wiring
by anyone in any jurisdiction in which such                   Systems
offer or solicitation is not authorized, or 
in which the person making the offer or 
solicitation is not qualified to do so, or
to any person to whom it is unlawful to 
make such offer or solicitation.  Under no
circumstances shall the delivery of this
Prospectus or any sale made pursuant to 
this Prospectus, create any implication 
that the information contained in this 
Prospectus is correct as of any time 
subsequent to the date of this Prospectus.

 
TABLE OF CONTENTS                                      3,773,580 Shares
                                                       of Common Stock
                                  Page

AVAILABLE INFORMATION.............  2

INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN
  DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE..........  3

RISK FACTORS......................  4

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS...............  7

USE OF PROCEEDS...................  7             ________________________

SELLING STOCKHOLDERS..............  8                    PROSPECTUS

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION.............. 10             ________________________

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK...... 10

LEGAL MATTERS..................... 12                  December ___, 1997

EXPERTS........................... 12


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

<PAGE>

                                     PART II

                     INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution

Set forth below is an estimate of the  approximate  amount of fees and  expenses
(other than  underwriting  commissions and discounts)  payable by the Company in
connection  with the issuance and  distribution  of the Common Stock pursuant to
the Prospectus  contained in this Registration  Statement.  The Company will pay
all of these expenses.

                                                       Approximate
                                                          Amount
                                                     -----------------



Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee           $18,940
Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. listing fee                          17,500
Accountants fees and expenses                                   5,000
Blue Sky fees and expenses                                      5,000
Legal fees and expenses                                        10,000
Miscellaneous expenses                                          3,560
                                                     -----------------
Total                                                    $     60,000
                                                     =================


Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers

Article 12 of the Company's  Amended and Restated  Certificate of  Incorporation
provides  that the Company  shall  indemnify  its  directors  to the full extent
permitted  by the  General  Corporation  Law of the  State of  Delaware  and may
indemnify  its  officers and  employees to such extent,  except that the Company
shall  not be  obligated  to  indemnify  any such  person  (i) with  respect  to
proceedings,  claims or actions  initiated  or brought  voluntarily  by any such
person and not by way of defense,  or (ii) for any amounts paid in settlement of
an action  indemnified  against by the Company without the prior written consent
of the Company.  The Company has entered into indemnity  agreements with each of
its directors.  These agreements may require the Company, among other things, to
indemnify such directors against certain liabilities that may arise by reason of
their status or service as  directors,  to advance  expenses to them as they are
incurred,  provided  that they  undertake to repay the amount  advanced if it is
ultimately  determined by a court that they are not entitled to  indemnification
and to obtain directors' liability insurance if available on reasonable terms.

In addition,  Article 12 of the Company's  Amended and Restated  Certificate  of
Incorporation  provides  that a director of the Company  shall not be personally
liable to the Company or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of his
or her fiduciary duty as a director,  except for liability (i) for any breach of
the director's duty of loyalty to the Company or its stockholders, (ii) for acts
or omissions  not in good faith or which  involve  intentional  misconduct  or a
knowing  violation  of law,  (iii) for  willful or  negligent  conduct in paying
dividends or  repurchasing  stock out of other than lawfully  available funds or
(iv) for any transaction  from which the director  derives an improper  personal
benefit.

Reference is made to Section 145 of the General  Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware which provides for indemnification of directors and officers in certain
circumstances.

The Company has obtained a directors' and officers'  liability  insurance policy
which entitles the Company to be reimbursed for certain indemnity payments it is
required or permitted to make to its directors and officers.

The Company has agreed to  indemnify  the Selling  Stockholders  and the Selling
Stockholders  have  agreed to  indemnify  the  Company  and its  directors,  its
officers,  and certain control persons against certain  liabilities and expenses
incurred in connection with the Registration  Statement,  including with respect
to their respective obligations under the Securities Act.
<PAGE>

Item 16.  Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules


 
2.1@    Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of November 24, 1997 between 
        Anicom,   Inc.,   TWC   Acquisition   Corporation,   TW   Communications
        Corporation, Edward Goodstein and Carl G. Palazzolo.

2.2@    Stock Purchase Agreement dated as of November 24, 1997 between Anicom, 
        Inc. and the Purchasers named therein.

3.1*    Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company.

3.2*    Restated Bylaws of the Company.

3.3**   Certificate of Amendment of Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the
        Company dated September 25, 1996.

3.4***  Certificate of Amendment of Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the
        Company dated June 2, 1997.

4.1*    Specimen Common Stock Certificate.

5@      Opinion of Katten Muchin & Zavis as to the legality of the securities
        being registered (including consent).

23.1    Consent of Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P.

23.2@   Consent of Katten Muchin & Zavis (contained in its opinion filed as 
        Exhibit 5 hereto).

24@     Power of Attorney (included on the signature page of this Registration 
        Statement).

__________________
*       Incorporated by reference to the same Exhibit number of the Company's 
        Registration Statement on Form SB-2, as amended (Registration  Statement
        No. 33-87736C).

**      Incorporated by reference to the same Exhibit number of the Company's 
        Quarterly  Report on Form 10-QSB for the  quarter  ended  September  30,
        1996.

***     Incorporated by reference to the same Exhibit number of the Company's 
        Registration   Statement  on  Form  S-3   (Registration   Statement  No.
        333-30791).

@       Previously filed.
<PAGE>

Item 17.  Undertakings

(a)      The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

    (1)  To file,  during any period in which  offers or sales are being made, a
         post-effective  amendment to this Registration Statement to include any
         material  information  with  respect  to the plan of  distribution  not
         previously  disclosed  in the  Registration  Statement  or any material
         change to such information in the Registration Statement.

    (2)  That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities
         Act,  each  such  post-effective  amendment  that  contains  a form  of
         prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration  statement relating
         to the securities offered therein,  and the offering of such securities
         at that  time  shall be  deemed to be the  initial  bona fide  offering
         thereof.

    (3)  To remove from registration by means of a post-effective  amendment any
         of  the  securities   being  registered  which  remain  unsold  at  the
         termination of the offering.

(b)      The undersigned hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any
         liability under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Securities Act"), each
         filing of the  Company's  annual  report  pursuant to Section  13(a) or
         Section  15(d)  of  the  Securities   Exchange  Act  of  1934  that  is
         incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement shall be deemed
         to be a new  registration  statement  relating to the securities  offer
         therein,  and the  offering  of such  securities  at that time shall be
         deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(c)      Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
         Act may be permitted to directors,  officers and controlling persons of
         the Company  pursuant to the foregoing  provisions,  or otherwise,  the
         Company has been  advised  that in the opinion of the  Commission  such
         indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities
         Act and is,  therefore,  unenforceable.  In the event  that a claim for
         indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the
         registrant  of  expenses  incurred  or paid by a  director,  officer or
         controlling  person of the  Company in thee  successful  defense of any
         action,  suit or proceeding)  is asserted by such director,  officer or
         controlling  person in connection with the securities being registered,
         the Company  will,  unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has
         been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
         jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against
         public policy as expressed in the  Securities  Act and will be governed
         by the final adjudication of such issue.
<PAGE>

                                   SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act of 1933, as amended,  the
Company certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of
the  requirements  of filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused  this  Registration
Statement  to be  signed  on its  behalf  by  the  undersigned,  thereunto  duly
authorized,  in the City of  Chicago,  and State of  Illinois  on the 1st day of
December 1997.

                              ANICOM, INC.

                              By:      /s/ SCOTT C. ANIXTER      
                                       Scott C. Anixter
                                       Chairman and Chief Executive Officer


In accordance  with the  requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
this  Registration  Statement  was  signed  by  the  following  persons  in  the
capacities and on the dates indicated.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                  Signature                                        Title                              Date


- -----------------------------------------------  -------------------------------------------  ----------------------
<S>                                              <C>                                          <C>   

             /s/ SCOTT C. ANIXTER                Chairman and Chief Executive Officer           December 1, 1997
                                                 (Principal Executive Officer)
- -----------------------------------------------
               Scott C. Anixter

            *                                    Chairman of the Board                          December 1, 1997
- -----------------------------------------------
               Alan B. Anixter

            *                                    President, Chief Operating Officer and a
                                                 Director                                       December 1, 1997
- -----------------------------------------------
                Carl E. Putnam

            *                                    Vice President, Chief Financial Officer        December 1, 1997
                                                 and a Director (Principal Financial and
                                                 Accounting Officer)
- -----------------------------------------------
              Donald C. Welchko

            *                                    Senior Executive Vice President and a          December 1, 1997
                                                 Director
- -----------------------------------------------
           Robert Brzustewicz, Sr.

            *                                    Director
                                                                                                December 1, 1997
- -----------------------------------------------
              William R. Anixter

            *                                    Director                                       December 1, 1997
- -----------------------------------------------
                Peter Huizenga

            *                                    Director
                                                                                                December 1, 1997

- -----------------------------------------------
                Ira J. Kaufman

            *                                    Director                                       December 1, 1997
- -----------------------------------------------
               Thomas J. Reiman

            *                                    Director
                                                                                                December 1, 1997

- -----------------------------------------------
                Michael Segal

             *                                   Director                                       December 1, 1997
- -----------------------------------------------
                 Lee B. Stern
</TABLE>
*    /s/ Scott C. Anixter
     Scott C. Anixter
     As Attorney-in-fact


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