AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON MARCH 23, 1998
REGISTRATION NO. 333-
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
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FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
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GRUBB & ELLIS COMPANY
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
DELAWARE 2215 SANDERS ROAD, SUITE 400 94-1424307
(State or other jurisdiction of Northbrook, IL 60062 (I.R.S. Employer
Incorporation or organization) (847) 753-7500 Identification Number)
(Address and telephone number of Registrant's principal executive offices)
ROBERT J. WALNER, ESQ.
GRUBB & ELLIS COMPANY.
2215 SANDERS ROAD, SUITE 400
NORTHBROOK, IL 60062
(847) 753-7500
(Name, address, including ZIP code, and telephone number, including area code,
of agent for service)
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COPIES TO:
SCOTT R. HABER, ESQ.
Latham & Watkins
505 Montgomery Street, Suite 1900
San Francisco, California 94111
(415) 391-0600
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APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC:
FROM TIME TO TIME AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT, AS
DETERMINED BY THE REGISTRANT.
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If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered
pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following
box. / /
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on
a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of
1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest
reinvestment plans, check the following box. /X/
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box
and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier
effective registration statement for the same offering. / /
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c)
under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement
for the same offering. / /
If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434,
please check the following box. / /
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CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
PROPOSED MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF
TITLE OF EACH CLASS OF AGGREGATE OFFERING REGISTRATION
SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED PRICE(1)(2) FEE
Debt Securities.............................................................
Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value............................................
Common Stock, $0.01 par value...............................................
Equity Warrants.............................................................
Debt Warrants...............................................................
Total $150,000,000 $44,250
(1) Estimated solely for purposes of calculating the registration fee, which is
calculated in accordance with Rule 457(o).
(2) Not specified as to each class of securities to be registered hereunder
pursuant to General Instruction II(D) to Form S-3 under the Securities Act
of 1933.
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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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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
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED , 1998
GRUBB & ELLIS COMPANY
DEBT SECURITIES
PREFERRED STOCK
COMMON STOCK
EQUITY WARRANTS
DEBT WARRANTS
Grubb & Ellis Company, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), directly or
through agents, dealers or underwriters designated from time to time, may offer,
issue and sell, in one or more series or issuances, up to $150,000,000 in the
aggregate of (a) secured or unsecured debt securities (the "Debt Securities") of
the Company, in one or more series, which may be either senior debt securities
(the "Senior Debt Securities"), senior subordinated debt securities (the "Senior
Subordinated Debt Securities") or subordinated debt securities (the
"Subordinated Debt Securities"), (b) shares of preferred stock of the Company,
par value $0.01 per share (the "Preferred Stock"), in one or more series, (c)
shares of common stock of the Company, par value $0.01 per share (the "Common
Stock"), (d) warrants to purchase Common Stock or Preferred Stock (the "Equity
Warrants") or (e) warrants to purchase Debt Securities (the "Debt Warrants" and
together with the Equity Warrants, the "Warrants"), or any combination of the
foregoing, either individually or as units consisting of one or more of the
foregoing, each on terms to be determined at the time of sale. The Debt
Securities may be issued as exchangeable and/or convertible Debt Securities
exchangeable for or convertible into shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock.
The Preferred Stock may also be exchangeable for and/or convertible into shares
of Common Stock or another series of Preferred Stock. The Debt Securities, the
Preferred Stock, the Common Stock and the Warrants are collectively referred to
herein as the "Securities." When a particular series of Securities is offered, a
supplement to this Prospectus (each, a "Prospectus Supplement") will be
delivered with this Prospectus. The Prospectus Supplement will set forth the
terms of the offering and sale of the offered Securities.
SEE "RISK FACTORS" COMMENCING ON PAGE 4 FOR A DISCUSSION OF CERTAIN FACTORS
THAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED BY PROSPECTIVE PURCHASERS OF SECURITIES.
Except as described more fully herein or as set forth in the Prospectus
Supplement relating to any offered Debt Securities, the Indenture (as herein
defined) will not provide holders of Debt Securities protection in the event of
a highly-leveraged transaction, reorganization, restructuring, merger or similar
transaction involving the Company which could adversely affect holders of Debt
Securities. See "Description of Debt Securities--Consolidation, Merger and Sale
of Assets."
The Common Stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol
"GBE." Any Common Stock sold pursuant to a Prospectus Supplement will be listed
on the New York Stock Exchange. On March 19, 1998, the last reported sale price
of the Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange was $11 5/16 per share. The
Company has not yet determined whether any of the Debt Securities, Preferred
Stock or Warrants offered hereby will be listed on any exchange or
over-the-counter market. If the Company decides to seek listing of any such
Securities, the Prospectus Supplement relating thereto will disclose such
exchange or market.
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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.
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The Securities will be sold directly by the Company, through agents, dealers
or underwriters as designated from time to time, or through a combination of
such methods. The Company reserves the sole right to accept, and together with
its agents, from time to time, to reject in whole or in part any proposed
purchase of Securities to be made directly or through agents. If agents of the
Company or any dealers or underwriters are involved in the sale of the
Securities, the names of such agents, dealers or underwriters and any applicable
commissions or discounts will be set forth in the applicable Prospectus
Supplement. See "Plan of Distribution" for possible indemnification arrangements
with agents, dealers and underwriters.
This Prospectus may not be used to consummate sales of Securities unless
accompanied by the applicable Prospectus Supplement.
THE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS IS , 1998
Certain persons participating in this offering may engage in transactions
that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of the Securities.
Specifically, the underwriters may overallot in connection with the offering and
may bid for and purchase securities in the open market. For a description of
these activities, see "Plan of Distribution."
CAUTIONARY LANGUAGE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
THIS PROSPECTUS, INCLUDING ANY DOCUMENTS THAT ARE INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
AS SET FORTH IN "INFORMATION INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE," CONTAINS
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 27A OF THE SECURITIES
ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT"), AND SECTION 21E OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, AS AMENDED (THE "EXCHANGE ACT"). SUCH
STATEMENTS ARE INDICATED BY WORDS OR PHRASES SUCH AS "ANTICIPATE," "ESTIMATE,"
"PROJECT," "BELIEVE," AND SIMILAR WORDS OR PHRASES. SUCH STATEMENTS ARE SUBJECT
TO CERTAIN RISKS, UNCERTAINTIES OR ASSUMPTIONS. SHOULD ONE OR MORE OF THESE
RISKS OR UNCERTAINTIES MATERIALIZE, OR SHOULD UNDERLYING ASSUMPTIONS PROVE
INCORRECT, ACTUAL RESULTS MAY VARY MATERIALLY FROM THOSE ANTICIPATED, ESTIMATED
OR PROJECTED.
AVAILABLE INFORMATION
The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (together with all amendments
and exhibits thereto, the "Registration Statement") under the Securities Act
with respect to the Securities offered hereby. This Prospectus does not contain
all of the information set forth in the Registration Statement, part of which
has been omitted in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Commission.
For further information about the Company and the Securities offered hereby,
reference is made to the Registration Statement, including the exhibits filed as
a part thereof and otherwise incorporated therein. Statements made in this
Prospectus as to the contents of any agreement or other document referred to
herein are qualified by reference to the copy of such agreement or other
document filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement or such other
document, each such statement being qualified in its entirety by such reference.
The Company is subject to the informational requirements of the Exchange Act
and, in accordance therewith, files periodic reports, proxy statements and other
information with the Commission. The Registration Statement, including the
exhibits thereto, as well as such reports and other information filed by the
Company with the Commission, can be inspected, without charge, and copied at the
public reference facilities maintained by the Commission at 450 Fifth Street,
N.W., Room 1024, Washington D.C., 20549; 7 World Trade Center, New York, New
York 10048 and 500 West Madison Street, Suite 1400, Chicago, Illinois 60661. The
Commission also maintains a site on the World Wide Web at that contains reports,
proxy statements and other information regarding registrants that file
electronically with the Commission, and certain of the Company's filings are
available at such web site. Copies of such materials can be obtained from the
Public Reference Section of the Commission at 450 Fifth Street, N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20549 at prescribed rates. Reports and other information
concerning the Company can also be inspected at the offices of the New York
Stock Exchange, 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005.
INFORMATION INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
The following documents filed with the Commission pursuant to the Exchange
Act are incorporated by reference in this Prospectus:
(1) the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended June
30, 1997;
(2) the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q/A for the quarter ended
September 30, 1997;
(3) the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
December 31, 1997;
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(4) description of Common Stock contained in the Company's Form 8-A
Registration Statement used to register the Common Stock and filed with the
Commission which was declared effective by the Commission on April 15, 1981,
except that authorized shares of capital stock and Common Stock have been
increased to 51,000,000 and 50,000,000, respectively; and
(5) all other documents subsequently filed by the Company pursuant to
Sections 13(a), 13(c),
14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this Prospectus and before
the termination of the offering, which shall be deemed to be a part hereof
from the date of filing of such documents.
Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded
for purposes of this Prospectus to the extent that a statement contained herein
or in any other subsequently filed document which also is incorporated or deemed
to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement.
Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so
modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Prospectus.
This Prospectus may not be used to consummate sales of offered Securities
unless accompanied by a Prospectus Supplement. The delivery of this Prospectus
together with a Prospectus Supplement relating to particular offered Securities
in any jurisdiction shall not constitute an offer in the jurisdiction of any
other Securities covered by this Prospectus.
The Company will provide without charge to each person (including any
beneficial owner) to whom this Prospectus is delivered, upon request, copies of
any documents incorporated into this Prospectus by reference (other than
exhibits incorporated by reference into such document). Requests for documents
should be submitted to the Corporate Secretary, Grubb & Ellis Company, 2215
Sanders Road, Suite 400, Northbrook, Illinois 60062 (telephone 847/753-7500).
The information relating to the Company contained in this Prospectus does not
purport to be comprehensive and should be read together with the information
contained in the documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by
reference herein.
THE COMPANY
The Company, a Delaware corporation organized in 1980, is the successor by
merger to a real estate brokerage company first established in California in
1958. Unless the context indicates otherwise, all references to the "Company"
refer to Grubb & Ellis Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries. The Company is
a full service commercial real estate company that provides services to real
estate owners/investors and tenants including transaction services and property
and facilities management. Additionally, the Company provides financial advisory
services as well as consulting and strategic services with respect to commercial
real estate. The Company is one of the nation's largest publicly traded
commercial real estate firms, based on total revenues.
Property and facilities management services are provided by Grubb & Ellis
Management Services, Inc. ("GEMS"), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company
since January 24, 1996 (at which time GEMS was a majority owned subsidiary).
GEMS (formerly Axiom Real Estate Management, Inc.) elected to change its name in
September 1997. GEMS has approximately 100 million square feet of property under
management.
Currently, the Company has offices and affiliates in 74 markets throughout
the United States, with approximately 4,000 professionals and staff.
Internationally, the Company serves the needs of its multinational clients
through its European headquarters in London.
STRATEGIC INITIATIVES
In fiscal 1997, the Company launched several initiatives designed to help
meet its goal of enhancing the quality of its service lines and expanding and
diversifying sources of revenue beyond traditional commercial brokerage. The
Company established the Corporate Services Group and Institutional Services
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Group, which will utilize an innovative relationship management system to allow
the Company to respond to the increasing demand from major corporate and
institutional clients for expanded services through a single point of contact.
The Company also launched a national affiliate program, which will enable it to
enter markets where it previously did not have a formal presence and to better
meet the multi-market needs of national clients. Currently, the Company has
formed alliances with 18 independent brokerage firms with a presence in 21
geographic or metropolitan markets in the United States. The Company has also
begun to invest in technology systems designed to keep it competitive in future
years. Among them is a state-of-the-art, company-wide information sharing and
research network, to be implemented over the next 12 to 18 months, which the
Company believes will enable professional staff across all offices to work more
efficiently, access the latest market intelligence, and more fully address
clients' needs.
CREDIT AGREEMENT
The Company maintains a revolving credit facility ("Credit Agreement") in
the amount of $35 million with PNC National Association and American National
Bank and Trust Company of Chicago (collectively the "Banks") for general
corporate purposes. The Credit Agreement expires on March 13, 2001. As of March
15, 1998, the Company had no outstanding borrowings under the Credit Agreement.
The Credit Agreement contains certain restrictive covenants, including, among
other things, restrictions on the issuance of debt, prohibition of the payment
of dividends, restriction on the issuance of certain types of preferred stock
and the maintenance of certain financial ratios. These restrictions may prevent
the issuance of certain securities by the Company as set forth in herein, in the
absence of the prior approval of the Banks or the termination of the Credit
Agreement. There is no assurance that approval by the Banks could be obtained.
RISK FACTORS
In addition to the other information in this Prospectus, prospective
purchasers of the Securities offered hereby should carefully consider the risk
factors set forth in "Business" included in the Company's most recently
incorporated Annual Report on Form 10-K. See "Information Incorporated by
Reference."
USE OF PROCEEDS
Except as otherwise provided in the Prospectus Supplement, the net proceeds
from the sale of Securities offered hereby will be used for general corporate
purposes, which may include the reduction of outstanding indebtedness, working
capital increases, acquisitions and capital expenditures. Pending the
application of the net proceeds, the Company expects to invest such proceeds in
short-term, interest-bearing instruments or other investment-grade securities.
4
RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES AND EARNINGS TO
COMBINED FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
The following table sets forth the ratios of earnings to fixed charges for
the Company for the periods indicated:
FISCAL YEAR ENDED
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JUNE 30, JUNE 30, JUNE 30, JUNE 30, JUNE 30,
1993(1) 1994(1) 1995 1996 1997
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-- -- 1.66 1.76 8.42
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO COMBINED FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS
The following table sets forth the ratios of earnings to combined fixed
charges and preferred stock dividends for the periods indicated:
FISCAL YEAR ENDED
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JUNE 30, JUNE 30, JUNE 30, JUNE 30, JUNE 30,
1993(2) 1994(2) 1995(2) 1996(2) 1997
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-- -- -- -- 4.24
The ratio of earnings to fixed charges has been computed by dividing
earnings by fixed charges. The ratio of earnings to fixed charges and preferred
stock dividends has been computed by dividing earnings by the sum of fixed
charges and preferred stock dividend requirements. Earnings consist of income
before income taxes plus fixed charges. Fixed charges consist of interest on all
indebtedness and amortization of debt issuance costs. The Company did not have
any indebtedness or preferred stock outstanding subsequent to June 30, 1997; as
such, no ratio information has been provided for the interim period ended
December 31, 1997.
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(1) The Company's earnings were insufficient to cover its fixed charges for the
fiscal years ended June 30, 1993 and 1994, by $57,686,000 and $16,943,000,
respectively.
(2) The Company's earnings were insufficient to cover its fixed charges,
including preferred stock dividend requirements, for the fiscal years ended
June 30, 1993, 1994, 1995 and 1996, by $58,684,000, $19,437,000, $1,530,000
and $995,000, respectively.
5
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES
The Company directly or through agents, dealers or underwriters designated
from time to time, may offer, issue and sell, together or separately, up to
$150,000,000 in the aggregate of (a) secured or unsecured debt securities (the
"Debt Securities") of the Company, in one or more series, which may be either
senior debt securities (the "Senior Debt Securities"), senior subordinated debt
securities (the "Senior Subordinated Debt Securities") or subordinated debt
securities (the "Subordinated Debt Securities"), (b) shares of preferred stock
of the Company, par value $0.01 per share (the "Preferred Stock"), in one or
more series, (c) shares of common stock of the Company, par value $0.01 per
share (the "Common Stock"), (d) warrants to purchase Common Stock or Preferred
Stock (the "Equity Warrants") or (e) warrants to purchase Debt Securities (the
"Debt Warrants" and together with the Equity Warrants, the "Warrants"), or any
combination of the foregoing, either individually or as units consisting of one
or more of the foregoing, each on terms to be determined at the time of sale.
The Debt Securities may be issued as exchangeable and/or convertible Debt
Securities exchangeable for or convertible into shares of Common Stock or
Preferred Stock. The Preferred Stock may also be exchangeable for and/or
convertible into shares of Common Stock or another series of Preferred Stock.
The Debt Securities, the Preferred Stock, the Common Stock and the Warrants are
collectively referred to herein as the "Securities." When a particular series of
Securities is offered, a supplement to this Prospectus (each, a "Prospectus
Supplement") will be delivered with this Prospectus. The Prospectus Supplement
will set forth the terms of the offering and sale of the offered Securities.
The Company maintains the Credit Agreement in the amount of $35 million with
the Banks for general corporate purposes. The Credit Agreement expires on March
13, 2001. As of March 15, 1998, the Company had no outstanding borrowings under
the Credit Agreement. The Credit Agreement contains certain restrictive
covenants, including, among other things, restrictions on the issuance of debt,
prohibition of the payment of dividends, restriction on the issuance of certain
types of preferred stock and the maintenance of certain financial ratios. These
restrictions may prevent the issuance of certain securities by the Company as
set forth in herein, in the absence of the prior approval of the Banks or the
termination of the Credit Agreement. There is no assurance that approval by the
Banks could be obtained.
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
The following description sets forth certain general terms and provisions of
the Debt Securities to which any Prospectus Supplement may relate. The
particular terms of the Debt Securities offered by any Prospectus Supplement,
and the extent, if any, to which such general provisions do not apply to the
Debt Securities so offered, will be described in the Prospectus Supplement
relating to such Debt Securities.
Debt Securities may be issued from time to time in series under an
indenture, and one or more indentures supplemental thereto (collectively, the
"Indenture"), between the Company and a trustee to be identified in the
applicable Prospectus Supplement (the "Trustee"). The terms of the Debt
Securities will include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the
Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (the "TIA") as in
effect on the date of the Indenture. The Debt Securities will be subject to all
such terms, and potential purchasers of the Debt Securities are referred to the
Indenture and the TIA for a statement thereof. The following summary of certain
provisions of the Indenture does not purport to be complete and is qualified in
its entirety by reference to the Indenture, including the definitions therein of
certain terms used below. A copy of the proposed form of Indenture has been
filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus is a
part. As used under this caption, unless the context otherwise requires,
"Offered Debt Securities" shall mean the Debt Securities offered by this
Prospectus and an accompanying Prospectus Supplement.
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GENERAL
The Indenture will provide for the issuance of Debt Securities in series and
will not limit the principal amount of Debt Securities which may be issued
thereunder. In addition, except as may be provided in the Prospectus Supplement
relating to such Debt Securities, the Indenture will not limit the amount of
additional indebtedness the Company may incur.
The applicable Prospectus Supplement or Prospectus Supplements will describe
the following terms of the series of Offered Debt Securities in respect of which
this Prospectus is being delivered: (1) the title of the Offered Debt
Securities; (2) whether the Offered Debt Securities are Senior Debt Securities,
Senior Subordinated Debt Securities or Subordinated Debt Securities or any
combination thereof; (3) the price or prices (expressed as a percentage of the
aggregate principal amount thereof) at which the Offered Debt Securities will be
issued; (4) any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Offered Debt
Securities; (5) the date or dates on which the principal of the Offered Debt
Securities is payable; (6) the rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable) at
which the Offered Debt Securities will bear interest, if any, or the manner in
which such rate or rates are determined; (7) the date or dates from which any
such interest will accrue, the interest payment dates on which any such interest
on the Offered Debt Securities will be payable and the record dates for the
determination of holders to whom such interest is payable; (8) the place or
places where the principal of and any interest on the Offered Debt Securities
will be payable; (9) the obligation of the Company, if any, to redeem,
repurchase or repay the Offered Debt Securities in whole or in part pursuant to
any sinking fund or analogous provisions or at the option of the holders and the
price or prices at which and the period or periods within which and the terms
and conditions upon which the Offered Debt Securities shall be redeemed,
repurchased or repaid pursuant to such obligation; (10) the denominations in
which any Offered Debt Securities will be issuable, if other than denominations
of U.S. $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof; (11) if other than the
principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of the Offered
Debt Securities of the series which will be payable upon declaration of the
acceleration of the maturity thereof; (12) any addition to or change in the
covenants which apply to the Offered Debt Securities; (13) any Events of Default
with respect to the Offered Debt Securities, if not otherwise set forth under
"Events of Default;" (14) whether the Offered Debt Securities will be issued in
whole or in part in global form, the terms and conditions, if any, upon which
such global Offered Debt Securities may be exchanged in whole or in part for
other individual securities, and the depositary for the Offered Debt Securities;
(15) the terms and conditions, if any, upon which the Offered Debt Securities
shall be exchanged for or converted into Common Stock or Preferred Stock; (16)
the nature and terms of the security for any secured Offered Debt Securities;
(17) the form and terms of any guarantee of the Offered Debt Securities; and
(18) any other terms of the Offered Debt Securities which terms shall not be
inconsistent with the provisions of the Indenture.
Debt Securities may be issued at a discount from their principal amount
("Original Issue Discount Securities"). Federal income tax considerations and
other special considerations applicable to any such Original Issue Discount
Securities will be described in the applicable Prospectus Supplement.
Debt Securities may be issued in bearer form, with or without coupons.
Federal income tax considerations and other special considerations applicable to
bearer securities will be described in the applicable Prospectus Supplement.
STATUS OF DEBT SECURITIES
The Senior Debt Securities will rank PARI PASSU with all other unsecured and
unsubordinated indebtedness of the Company.
The obligations of the Company pursuant to Senior Subordinated Debt
Securities will be subordinate in right of payment, to the extent and in the
manner set forth in the Indenture, to all Senior Indebtedness of the Company.
With respect to any series of Senior Subordinated Debt Securities, "Senior
Indebtedness" of the Company will be defined to mean the principal of, and
premium, if any, and any interest (including
7
interest accruing subsequent to the commencement of any proceeding for the
bankruptcy or reorganization of the Company under any applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency or similar law now or hereafter in effect) and all other monetary
obligations of every kind or nature due on or in connection with (a) all
indebtedness of the Company whether heretofore or hereafter incurred (i) for
borrowed money or (ii) in connection with the acquisition by the Company or a
subsidiary of the Company of assets other than in the ordinary course of
business, for the payment of which the Company is liable directly or indirectly
by guarantee, letter of credit, obligation to purchase or acquire or otherwise,
or the payment of which is secured by a lien, charge or encumbrance on assets
acquired by the Company, (b) amendments, modifications, renewals, extensions and
deferrals of any such indebtedness, and (c) any indebtedness issued in exchange
for any such indebtedness (clauses (a) through (c) hereof being collectively
referred to herein as "Debt"); provided, however, that the following will not
constitute Senior Indebtedness with respect to Senior Subordinated Debt
Securities: (1) any Debt as to which, in the instrument evidencing such Debt or
pursuant to which such Debt was issued, it is expressly provided that such Debt
is subordinate in right of payment to all Debt of the Company not expressly
subordinated to such Debt; (2) any Debt which by its terms refers explicitly to
the Senior Subordinated Debt Securities and states that such Debt shall not be
senior in right of payment; and (3) any Debt of the Company in respect of the
Senior Subordinated Debt Securities or any Subordinated Debt Securities.
The obligations of the Company pursuant to Subordinated Debt Securities will
be subordinate in right of payment to all Senior Indebtedness of the Company and
to any Senior Subordinated Debt Securities; provided, however, that the
following will not constitute Senior Indebtedness with respect to Subordinated
Debt Securities: (1) any Debt as to which, in the instrument evidencing such
Debt or pursuant to which such Debt was issued, it is expressly provided that
such Debt is subordinate in right of payment to all Debt of the Company not
expressly subordinated to such Debt; and (2) any Debt of the Company in respect
of Subordinated Debt Securities and any Debt which by its terms refers
explicitly to the Subordinated Debt Securities and states that such Debt shall
not be senior in right of payment.
No payment pursuant to the Senior Subordinated Debt Securities or the
Subordinated Debt Securities, as the case may be, may be made unless all amounts
of principal, premium, if any, and interest then due on all applicable Senior
Indebtedness of the Company shall have been paid in full or if there shall have
occurred and be continuing beyond any applicable grace period a default in any
payment with respect to any such Senior Indebtedness, or if there shall have
occurred any event of default with respect to any such Senior Indebtedness
permitting the holders thereof to accelerate the maturity thereof, or if any
judicial proceeding shall be pending with respect to any such default. However,
the Company may make payments pursuant to the Senior Subordinated Debt
Securities or the Subordinated Debt Securities, as the case may be, if a default
in payment or an event of default with respect to the Senior Indebtedness
permitting the holder thereof to accelerate the maturity thereof has occurred
and is continuing and judicial proceedings with respect thereto have not been
commenced within a certain number of days of such default in payment or event of
default. Upon any distribution of the assets of the Company upon dissolution,
winding-up, liquidation or reorganization, the holders of Senior Indebtedness of
the Company will be entitled to receive payment in full of principal, premium,
if any, and interest (including interest accruing subsequent to the commencement
of any proceeding for the bankruptcy or reorganization of the Company under any
applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law now or hereafter in effect)
before any payment is made on the Senior Subordinated Debt Securities or
Subordinated Debt Securities, as applicable. By reason of such subordination, in
the event of insolvency of the Company, holders of Senior Indebtedness of the
Company may receive more, ratably, and holders of the Senior Subordinated Debt
Securities or Subordinated Debt Securities, as applicable, having a claim
pursuant to the Senior Subordinated Debt Securities or Subordinated Debt
Securities, as applicable, may receive less, ratably, than the other creditors
of the Company. Such subordination will not prevent the occurrence of any event
of default (an "Event of Default") in respect of the Senior Subordinated Debt
Securities or the Subordinated Debt Securities.
8
If the Company offers Debt Securities, the applicable Prospectus Supplement
will set forth the aggregate amount of outstanding indebtedness, if any, as of
the most recent practicable date that by the terms of such Debt Securities would
be senior to such Debt Securities. The applicable Prospectus Supplement will
also set forth any limitation on the issuance by the Company of any additional
senior indebtedness.
CONVERSION RIGHTS
The terms, if any, on which Debt Securities of a series may be exchanged for
or converted into shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock will be set forth in
the Prospectus Supplement relating thereto.
EXCHANGE, REGISTRATION, TRANSFER AND PAYMENT
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, payment
of principal, premium, if any, and any interest on the Debt Securities will be
payable, and the exchange of and the transfer of Debt Securities will be
registerable, at the office of the Trustee or at any other office or agency
maintained by the Company for such purpose subject to the limitations of the
Indenture. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement,
the Debt Securities will be issued in denominations of U.S. $1,000 or integral
multiples thereof. No service charge will be made for any registration of
transfer or exchange of the Debt Securities, but the Company may require payment
of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge imposed in
connection therewith.
GLOBAL DEBT SECURITIES
The Debt Securities of a series may be issued in the form of one or more
Global Securities (the "Global Securities") that will be deposited with a
Depositary or its nominee identified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. In
such a case, one or more Global Securities will be issued in a denomination or
aggregate denominations equal to the portion of the aggregate principal amount
of outstanding Debt Securities of the series to be represented by such Global
Security or Securities. Each Global Security will be deposited with such
Depositary or nominee or a custodian therefor and will bear a legend regarding
the restrictions on exchanges and registration of transfer thereof referred to
below and any such other matters as may be provided for pursuant to the
applicable Indenture.
Notwithstanding any provision of the Indenture or any Debt Security
described herein, no Global Security may be transferred to, or registered or
exchanged for Debt Securities registered in the name of, any person or entity
other than the Depositary for such Global Security or any nominee of such
Depositary, and no such transfer may be registered, unless (i) the Depositary
has notified the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as
Depositary for such Global Security or has ceased to be qualified to act as such
as required by the applicable Indenture, (ii) the Company executes and delivers
to the Trustee an order that such Global Security shall be so transferable,
registerable and exchangeable, and such transfers shall be registerable, or
(iii) there shall exist such circumstances, if any, as may be described in the
applicable Prospectus Supplement. All Debt Securities issued in exchange for a
Global Security or any portion thereof will be registered in such names as the
Depositary may direct.
The specific terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to any portion
of a series of Debt Securities to be represented by a Global Security will be
described in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. The Company expects that the
following provisions will apply to depositary arrangements.
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, Debt
Securities which are to be represented by a Global Security to be deposited with
or on behalf of a Depositary will be represented by a Global Security registered
in the name of such Depositary or its nominee. Upon the issuance of such Global
Security, and the deposit of such Global Security with or on behalf of the
Depositary for such Global Security, the Depositary will credit, on its
book-entry registration and transfer system, the respective principal amounts of
the Debt Securities represented by such Global Security to the accounts of
9
institutions that have accounts with such Depositary or its nominee
("participants"). The accounts to be credited will be designated by the
underwriters or agents of such Debt Securities or by the Company, if such Debt
Securities are offered and sold directly by the Company. Ownership of beneficial
interests in such Global Security will be limited to participants or persons
that may hold interests through participants. Ownership of beneficial interests
by participants in such Global Security will be shown on, and the transfer of
that ownership interest will be effected only through, records maintained by the
Depositary or its nominee for such Global Security. Ownership of beneficial
interests in such Global Security by persons that hold through participants will
be shown on, and the transfer of that ownership interest within such participant
will be effected only through, records maintained by such participant. The laws
of some jurisdictions require that certain purchasers of securities take
physical delivery of such securities in certificate form. The foregoing
limitations and such laws may impair the ability to transfer beneficial
interests in such Global Securities.
So long as the Depositary for a Global Security, or its nominee, is the
registered owner of such Global Security, such Depositary or such nominee, as
the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the Debt
Securities represented by such Global Security for all purposes under the
Indenture. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement,
owners of beneficial interests in such Global Security will not be entitled to
have Debt Securities of the series represented by such Global Security
registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical
delivery of Debt Securities of such series in certificate form and will not be
considered the holders thereof for any purposes under the Indenture.
Accordingly, each person owning a beneficial interest in such Global Security
must rely on the procedures of the Depositary and, if such person is not a
participant, on the procedures of the participant through which such person owns
its interest, to exercise any rights of a holder under the Indenture. If the
Company requests any action of holders or if an owner of a beneficial interest
in such Global Security desires to give any notice or take any action a holder
is entitled to give or take under the Indenture, the Depositary will authorize
the participants to give such notice or take such action, and participants would
authorize beneficial owners owning through such participants to give such notice
or take such action or would otherwise act upon the instructions of beneficial
owners owning through them.
Notwithstanding any other provisions to the contrary in the Indenture, the
rights of the beneficial owners of the Debt Securities to receive payment of the
principal and premium, if any, of and interest on such Debt Securities, on or
after the respective due dates expressed in such Debt Securities, or to
institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such
respective dates, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of the
beneficial owners.
Principal of and any interest on a Global Security will be payable in the
manner described in the applicable Prospectus Supplement.
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER AND SALE OF ASSETS
The Indenture will provide that the Company may not consolidate with or
merge with or into, or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise
dispose of all or substantially all of its property or assets to any person in
one or more related transactions unless (a) the Company is the surviving
corporation or the entity or the person formed by or surviving any such
consolidation or merger (if other than the Company) or to which such sale,
assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition shall have been
made is a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the United
States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia; (b) the person formed by
or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Company) or the
entity or person to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or
other disposition shall have been made assumes all the obligations of the
Company under the Debt Securities and the Indenture; and (c) immediately prior
to and after giving effect to the transaction, no Default (as defined in the
Indenture) or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, any subsidiary of the Company may consolidate
with, merge into or transfer all or part of its properties and assets to the
Company.
10
CERTAIN OTHER COVENANTS
Unless otherwise indicated in this Prospectus or a Prospectus Supplement,
the Debt Securities will not have the benefit of any covenants that limit or
restrict the Company's business or operations, the pledging of the Company's
assets or the incurrence of indebtedness by the Company.
With respect to any series of Senior Subordinated Debt Securities, the
Company will agree not to issue Debt which is, expressly by its terms,
subordinated in right of payment to any other Debt of the Company and which is
not expressly made PARI PASSU with, or subordinate and junior in right of
payment to, the Senior Subordinated Debt Securities.
The applicable Prospectus Supplement will describe any material covenants in
respect of a series of Debt Securities. Other than the covenants of the Company
included in the Indenture as described above or as described in the applicable
Prospectus Supplement, there are no covenants or other provisions in the
Indenture providing for a put or increased interest or otherwise that would
afford holders of Debt Securities additional protection in the event of a
recapitalization transaction, a change of control of the Company or a highly
leveraged transaction.
EVENTS OF DEFAULT
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the
following will constitute Events of Default under the Indenture with respect to
Debt Securities of any series: (a) failure to pay principal of any Debt Security
of that series when due and payable at maturity, upon redemption or otherwise;
(b) failure to pay any interest on any Debt Security of that series when due,
and the Default continues for 30 days; (c) the Company fails to comply with any
of its other agreements in the Debt Securities of that series or in the
Indenture with respect to that series and the Default continues for the period
and after the notice provided therein (and described below); and (d) certain
events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization. A Default under clause (c)
above is not an Event of Default with respect to a particular series of Debt
Securities until the Trustee or the holders of at least 50% in principal amount
of the then outstanding Debt Securities of that series notify the Company of the
Default and the Company does not cure the Default within 30 days after receipt
of the notice. The notice must specify the Default, demand that it be remedied
and state that the notice is a "Notice of Default."
If an Event of Default with respect to outstanding Debt Securities of any
series (other than an Event of Default relating to certain events of bankruptcy,
insolvency or reorganization) shall occur and be continuing, either the Trustee
or the holders of at least 50% in principal amount of the outstanding Debt
Securities of that series by notice, as provided in the Indenture, may declare
the unpaid principal amount (or, if the Debt Securities of that series are
Original Issue Discount Securities, such lesser amount as may be specified in
the terms of that series) of, and any accrued and unpaid interest on, all Debt
Securities of that series to be due and payable immediately. However, at any
time after a declaration of acceleration with respect to Debt Securities of any
series has been made, but before a judgment or decree based on such acceleration
has been obtained, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the
outstanding Debt Securities of that series may, under certain circumstances,
rescind and annul such acceleration. For information as to waiver of defaults,
see "Modification and Waiver" below.
The Indenture will provide that, subject to the duty of the Trustee during
an Event of Default to act with the required standard of care, the Trustee will
be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the
Indenture at the request or direction of any of the holders, unless such holders
shall have offered to the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity. Subject to
certain provisions, including those requiring security or indemnification of the
Trustee, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Debt
Securities of any series will 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 on the Trustee, with respect to the Debt
Securities of that series.
11
The Company will be required to furnish to the Trustee under the Indenture
annually a statement as to the performance by the Company of its obligations
under that Indenture and as to any default in such performance.
MODIFICATION AND WAIVER
Subject to certain exceptions, the Company and the Trustee may amend the
Indenture or the Debt Securities with the written consent of the holders of a
majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Debt Securities of each
series affected by the amendment with each series voting as a separate class.
The holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Debt
Securities of any series may also waive compliance in a particular instance by
the Company with any provision of the Indenture with respect to the Debt
Securities of that series; provided, however, that without the consent of each
holder of Debt Securities affected, an amendment or waiver may not (i) reduce
the percentage of the principal amount of Debt Securities whose holders must
consent to an amendment or waiver; (ii) reduce the rate or change the time for
payment of interest on any Debt Security (including default interest); (iii)
reduce the principal of, premium, if any, or change the fixed maturity of any
Debt Security, or reduce the amount of, or postpone the date fixed for,
redemption or the payment of any sinking fund or analogous obligation with
respect thereto; (iv) make any Debt Security payable in currency other than that
stated in the Debt Security; (v) make any change in the provisions concerning
waivers of Default or Events of Default by holders or the rights of holders to
recover the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on, any Debt Security;
(vi) waive a default in the payment of the principal of, or interest on, any
Debt Security, except as otherwise provided in the Indenture or (vii) reduce the
principal amount of Original Issue Discount Securities payable upon acceleration
of the maturity thereof. The Company and the Trustee may amend the Indenture or
the Debt Securities without notice to or the consent of any holder of a Debt
Security: (i) to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency; (ii) to comply
with the Indenture's provisions with respect to successor corporations; (iii) to
comply with any requirements of the Commission in connection with the
qualification of the Indenture under the TIA; (iv) to provide for uncertificated
Debt Securities in addition to or in place of certificated Debt Securities; (v)
to add to, change or eliminate any of the provisions of the Indenture in respect
of one of more series of Debt Securities, provided, however, that any such
addition, change or elimination (A) shall neither (1) apply to any Debt Security
of any series created prior to the execution of such amendment and entitled to
the benefit of such provision, nor (2) modify the rights of a holder of any such
Debt Security with respect to such provision, or (B) shall become effective only
when there is no outstanding Debt Security of any series created prior to such
amendment and entitled to the benefit of such provision; (vi) to make any change
that does not adversely affect in any material respect the interest of any
holder; or (vii) to establish additional series of Debt Securities as permitted
by the Indenture.
The holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Debt
Securities of any series, by notice to the Trustee, may waive an existing
Default or Event of Default and its consequences except a Default or Event of
Default in the payment of the principal of, or any interest on, any Debt
Security with respect to the Debt Securities of that series; provided, however,
that the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Debt
Securities of any series may rescind an acceleration and its consequences,
including any related payment default that resulted from such acceleration.
12
DEFEASANCE OF DEBT SECURITIES AND CERTAIN COVENANTS IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES
LEGAL DEFEASANCE. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Prospectus
Supplement, the Indenture will provide that the Company may be discharged from
any and all obligations in respect of the Debt Securities of any series (except
for certain obligations to register the transfer or exchange of Debt Securities
of such series, to replace stolen, lost or mutilated Debt Securities of such
series, and to maintain paying agencies) upon the deposit with the Trustee, in
trust, of money and/or U.S. government obligations, that, through the payment of
interest and principal in respect thereof in accordance with their terms, will
provide money in an amount sufficient in the opinion of a nationally recognized
firm of independent public accountants to pay and discharge each installment of
principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on and any mandatory sinking
fund payments in respect of the Debt Securities of such series on the stated
maturity of such payments in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and such
Debt Securities. Such discharge may occur only if, among other things, the
Company has received from, or there has been published by, the United States
Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or, since the date of execution of the
Indenture, there has been a change in the applicable United States federal
income tax law, in either case to the effect that holders of the Debt Securities
of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for United States federal
income tax purposes as a result of such deposit, defeasance and discharge and
will be subject to United States federal income tax on the same amount and in
the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such
deposit, defeasance and discharge had not occurred.
DEFEASANCE OF CERTAIN COVENANTS. Unless otherwise specified in the
applicable Prospectus Supplement, the Indenture will provide that, upon
compliance with certain conditions, the Company may omit to comply with the
restrictive covenants contained in the Indenture, as well as any additional
covenants or Events of Default contained in a supplement to the Indenture, a
Board Resolution or an Officers' Certificate delivered pursuant thereto. The
conditions include: the deposit with the Trustee of money and/or U.S. government
obligations, that, through the payment of interest and principal in respect
thereof in accordance with their terms, will provide money in an amount
sufficient in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public
accountants to pay principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on and any
mandatory sinking fund payments in respect of the Debt Securities of such series
on the stated maturity of such payments in accordance with the terms of the
Indenture and such Debt Securities; and the delivery to the Trustee of an
opinion of counsel to the effect that the holders of the Debt Securities of such
series will not recognize income, gain or loss for United States federal income
tax purposes as a result of such deposit and related covenant defeasance and
will be subject to United States federal income tax in the same amount and in
the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such
deposit and related covenant defeasance had not occurred.
DEFEASANCE AND EVENTS OF DEFAULT. In the event the Company exercises its
option to omit compliance with certain covenants of the Indenture with respect
to any series of Debt Securities and the Debt Securities of such series are
declared due and payable because of the occurrence of any Event of Default, the
amount of money and/or U.S. government obligations on deposit with the Trustee
will be sufficient to pay amounts due on the Debt Securities of such series at
the time of their stated maturity but may not be sufficient to pay amounts due
on the Debt Securities of such series at the time of the acceleration resulting
from such Event of Default. However, the Company will remain liable for such
payments.
REGARDING THE TRUSTEES
The Trustee with respect to any series of Debt Securities will be identified
in the Prospectus Supplement relating to such Debt Securities. The Indenture and
provisions of the TIA incorporated by reference therein contain 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 and its affiliates may engage in, and will be permitted to continue to
engage in, other transactions with the Company and its affiliates; PROVIDED,
13
HOWEVER, that if it acquires any conflicting interest (as defined in the TIA),
it must eliminate such conflict or resign.
The holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Debt
Securities of any series will have the right to direct the time, method and
place of conducting any proceeding for exercising any remedy available to the
Trustee. The TIA and the Indenture provide that in case an Event of Default
shall occur (and be continuing), the Trustee will be required, in the exercise
of its rights and powers, to use the degree of care and skill of a prudent
person in the conduct of such person's affairs. Subject to such provision, 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 of the Debt Securities
issued thereunder, unless they have offered to the Trustee indemnity
satisfactory to it.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED STOCK
The following description of the terms of the Preferred Stock sets forth
certain general terms and provisions of the Preferred Stock to which any
Prospectus Supplement may relate. Certain other terms of any series of the
Preferred Stock offered by any Prospectus Supplement will be described in such
Prospectus Supplement. The description of certain provisions of the Preferred
Stock set forth below and in any Prospectus Supplement does not purport to be
complete and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to the
Certificate of Incorporation and the certificate of designations (a "Certificate
of Designations") relating to each series of the Preferred Stock which will be
filed with the Commission and incorporated by reference in the Registration
Statement of which this Prospectus is a part at or prior to the time of the
issuance of such series of the Preferred Stock.
GENERAL
The Company has authority to issue 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock,
$0.01 par value per share ("preferred stock of the Company," which term, as used
herein, includes the Preferred Stock offered hereby). As of March 19, 1998, the
Company had no shares of preferred stock of the Company outstanding.
Prior to issuance of shares of each series, the Board of Directors is
required by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the "DGCL")
and the Certificate of Incorporation to adopt resolutions and file a Certificate
of Designation (the "Certificate of Designation") with the Secretary of State of
the State of Delaware, fixing for each such class or series the designations,
powers, preferences and rights of the shares of such class or series and the
qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereon, including, but not limited
to, dividend rights, dividend rate or rates, conversion rights, voting rights,
rights and terms of redemption (including sinking fund provisions), the
redemption price or prices, and the liquidation preferences as are permitted by
the DGCL. The Board of Directors could authorize the issuance of shares of
Preferred Stock with terms and conditions which could have the effect of
discouraging a takeover or other transaction which holders of some, or a
majority, of such shares might believe to be in their best interests or in which
holders of some, or a majority, of such shares might receive a premium for their
shares over the then-market price of such shares.
Subject to limitation prescribed by the DGCL, the Certificate of
Incorporation and the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, the Board of
Directors of the Company is authorized without further stockholder action to
provide for the issuance of up to 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock of the
Company, in one or more series, with such voting powers, full or limited, and
with such designations, preferences and relative participating, optional or
other special rights, and qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof,
as shall be stated in the resolution or resolutions providing for the issuance
of a series of such stock adopted, at any time or from time to time, by the
Board of Directors of the Company (as used herein the term "Board of Directors
of the Company" includes any duly authorized committee thereof).
14
The Preferred Stock shall have the dividend, liquidation, redemption and
voting rights set forth below unless otherwise provided in a Prospectus
Supplement relating to a particular series of the Preferred Stock. Reference is
made to the Prospectus Supplement relating to the particular series of the
Preferred Stock offered thereby for specific terms, including: (i) the
designation and stated value per share of such Preferred Stock and the number of
shares offered; (ii) the amount of liquidation preference per share; (iii) the
initial public offering price at which such Preferred Stock will be issued; (iv)
the dividend rate (or method of calculation), the dates on which dividends shall
be payable and the dates from which dividends shall commence to cumulate, if
any; (v) any redemption or sinking fund provisions; (vi) any conversion or
exchange rights; and (vii) any additional voting, dividend, liquidation,
redemption, sinking fund and other rights, preferences, privileges, limitations
and restrictions.
The Preferred Stock will, when issued, be fully paid and nonassessable and
will have no preemptive rights. The rights of the holders of each series of the
Preferred Stock will be subordinate to those of the Company's general creditors.
DIVIDEND RIGHTS
Holders of the Preferred Stock of each series will be entitled to receive,
when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors of the Company, out of funds
of the Company legally available therefor, cash dividends on such dates and at
such rates as set forth in, or as are determined by the method described in, the
Prospectus Supplement relating to such series of the Preferred Stock. Such rate
may be fixed or variable or both. Each such dividend will be payable to the
holders of record as they appear on the stock books of the Company on such
record dates, fixed by the Board of Directors of the Company, as specified in
the Prospectus Supplement relating to such series of Preferred Stock.
Such dividends may be cumulative or noncumulative, as provided in the
Prospectus Supplement relating to such series of Preferred Stock. If the Board
of Directors of the Company fails to declare a dividend payable on a dividend
payment date on any series of Preferred Stock for which dividends are
noncumulative, then the right to receive a dividend in respect of the dividend
period ending on such dividend payment date will be lost, and the Company will
have no obligation to pay any dividend for such period, whether or not dividends
on such series are declared payable on any future dividend payment dates.
Dividends on the shares of each series of Preferred Stock for which dividends
are cumulative will accrue from the date on which the Company initially issues
shares of such series.
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, so long
as the shares of any series of the Preferred Stock are outstanding, unless (i)
full dividends (including if such Preferred Stock is cumulative, dividends for
prior dividend periods) have been paid or declared and set apart for payment on
all outstanding shares of the Preferred Stock of such series and all other
classes and series of preferred stock of the Company (other than Junior Stock)
and (ii) the Company is not in default or in arrears with respect to the
mandatory or optional redemption or mandatory repurchase or other mandatory
retirement of, or with respect to any sinking or other analogous funds for, any
shares of Preferred Stock of such series or any shares of any other preferred
stock of the Company of any class or series (other than Junior Stock, the
Company may not declare any dividends on any shares of Common Stock of the
Company or any other stock of the Company ranking as to dividends or
distributions of assets junior to such series of Preferred Stock (the Common
Stock and any such other stock being herein referred to as "Junior Stock"), or
make any payment on account of, or set apart money for, the purchase, redemption
or other retirement of, or for a sinking or other analogous fund for, any shares
of Junior Stock or make any distribution in respect thereof, whether in cash or
property or in obligations of stock of the Company, other than in Junior Stock
which is neither convertible into, nor exchangeable or exercisable for, any
securities of the Company other than Junior Stock.
15
LIQUIDATION PREFERENCES
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, in the
event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, whether
voluntary or involuntary, the holders of each series of the Preferred Stock will
be entitled to receive out of the assets of the Company available for
distribution to stockholders, before any distribution of assets is made to the
holders of Common Stock or any other shares of stock of the Company ranking
junior as to such distribution to such series of the Preferred Stock, the amount
set forth in the Prospectus Supplement relating to such series of the Preferred
Stock. If, upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding
up of the Company, the amounts payable with respect to the Preferred Stock of
any series and any other shares of preferred stock of the Company (including any
other series of the Preferred Stock) ranking as to any such distribution on a
parity with such series of the Preferred Stock are not paid in full, the holders
of the Preferred Stock of such series and of such other shares of preferred
stock of the Company will share ratably in any such distribution of assets of
the Company in proportion to the full respective preferential amounts to which
they are entitled. After payment to the holders of the Preferred Stock of each
series of the full preferential amounts of the liquidating distribution to which
they are entitled, unless otherwise provided in the applicable Prospectus
Supplement, the holders of each such series of the Preferred Stock will be
entitled to no further participation in any distribution of assets by the
Company.
REDEMPTION
A series of the Preferred Stock may be redeemable, in whole or from time to
time in part, at the option of the Company, and may be subject to mandatory
redemption pursuant to a sinking fund or otherwise, in each case upon terms, at
the times and at the redemption prices set forth in the Prospectus Supplement
relating to such series. Shares of the Preferred Stock redeemed by the Company
will be restored to the status of authorized but unissued shares of preferred
stock of the Company.
In the event that fewer than all of the outstanding shares of a series of
the Preferred Stock are to be redeemed, whether by mandatory or optional
redemption, the number of shares to be redeemed will be determined by lot or pro
rata (subject to rounding to avoid fractional shares) as may be determined by
the Company or by any other method as may be determined by the Company in its
sole discretion to be equitable. From and after the redemption date (unless
default is made by the Company in providing for the payment of the redemption
price plus accumulated and unpaid dividends, if any) dividends will cease to
accumulate on the shares of the Preferred Stock called for redemption and all
rights of the holders thereof (except the right to receive the redemption price
plus accumulated and unpaid dividends, if any) will cease.
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, so long
as any dividends on shares of any series of the Preferred Stock or any other
series of preferred stock of the Company ranking on a parity as to dividends and
distribution of assets with such series of the Preferred Stock are in arrears,
no shares of any such series of the Preferred Stock or such other series of
preferred stock of the Company will be redeemed (whether by mandatory or
optional redemption) unless all such shares are simultaneously redeemed, and the
Company will not purchase or otherwise acquire any such shares; provided,
however, that the foregoing will not prevent the purchase or acquisition of such
shares pursuant to a purchase or exchange offer made on the same terms to
holders of all such shares outstanding.
CONVERSION AND EXCHANGE RIGHTS
The terms, if any, on which shares of Preferred Stock of any series may be
exchanged for or converted into shares of Common Stock, another series of
Preferred Stock or any other Security will be set forth in the Prospectus
Supplement relating thereto. Such terms may include provisions for conversion,
either mandatory, at the option of the holder or at the option of the Company,
in which case the number of shares of Common Stock, the shares of another series
of Preferred Stock or the amount of any other
16
securities to be received by the holders of Preferred Stock would be calculated
as of a time and in the manner stated in the Prospectus Supplement.
VOTING RIGHTS
Except as indicated in a Prospectus Supplement relating to a particular
series of the Preferred Stock, or except as required by applicable law, the
holders of the Preferred Stock will not be entitled to vote for any purpose.
DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK
The Company has authority to issue 50,000,000 shares of Common Stock. As of
March 19, 1998, the Company had 19,638,963 shares of Common Stock outstanding.
The holders of Common Stock are entitled to one vote per share on all matters to
be voted on by stockholders, including the election of directors. Stockholders
are not entitled to cumulative voting rights, and, accordingly, the holders of a
majority of the shares voting for the election of directors can elect the entire
Board if they choose to do so and, in that event, the holders of the remaining
shares will not be able to elect any person to the Board of Directors.
The holders of Common Stock are entitled to receive such dividends, if any,
as may be declared from time to time by the Board of Directors, in its
discretion, from funds legally available therefor and subject to prior dividend
rights of holders of any shares of preferred stock of the Company which may be
outstanding. Upon liquidation or dissolution of the Company subject to prior
liquidation rights of the holders of preferred stock of the Company, the holders
of Common Stock are entitled to receive on a pro rata basis the remaining assets
of the Company available for distribution. Holders of Common Stock have no
preemptive or other subscription rights, and there are no conversion rights or
redemption or sinking fund provisions with respect to such shares. All
outstanding shares of Common Stock are, and all shares being offered by this
Prospectus will be, fully paid and not liable to further calls or assessment by
the Company.
SECTION 203 OF THE DGCL
The Company is subject to the "business combination" statute of the DGCL, an
anti-takeover law enacted in 1988. In general, Section 203 of the DGCL prohibits
a publicly-held Delaware corporation from engaging in a "business combination"
with an "interested stockholder," for a period of three years after the date of
the transaction in which a person became an "interested stockholder," unless (i)
prior to such date the board of directors of the corporation approved either the
"business combination" or the transaction which resulted in the stockholder
becoming an "interested stockholder," (ii) upon consummation of the transaction
which resulted in the stockholder becoming an "interested stockholder," the
"interested stockholder" owned at least 85% of the voting stock of the
corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding for
purposes of determining the number of shares outstanding those shares owned (1)
by persons who are directors and also officers and (2) employee stock plans in
which employee participants do not have the right to determine confidentially
whether shares held subject to the plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange
offer, or (iii) on or subsequent to such date the "business combination" is
approved by the board of directors and authorized at an annual or special
meeting of stockholders, and not by written consent, by the affirmative vote of
a least 66 2/3 of the outstanding voting stock which is not owned by the
"interested stockholder." A "business combination" includes mergers, stock or
asset sales and other transactions resulting in a financial benefit to the
"interested stockholders." An "interested stockholder" is a person who, together
with affiliates and associates, owns (or within three years, did own) 15% or
more of the corporation's voting stock. Although Section 203 permits the Company
to elect not to be governed by its provisions, the Company to date has not made
this election. As a result of the application of Section 203, potential
acquirors of the Company may be discouraged from attempting to effect an
acquisition transaction with the Company, thereby possibly depriving holders of
the Company's
17
securities of certain opportunities to sell or otherwise dispose of such
securities at above-market prices pursuant to such transactions.
DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS
The Company may issue Warrants to purchase Debt Securities ("Debt
Warrants"), as well as Warrants to purchase Preferred Stock or Common Stock
("Equity Warrants") (together, the "Warrants"). Warrants may be issued
independently or together with any Securities and may be attached to or separate
from such Securities. The Warrants are to be issued under warrant agreements
(each, a "Warrant Agreement") to be entered into between the Company and a bank
or trust company, as warrant agent (the "Warrant Agent"), all as shall be set
forth in the Prospectus Supplement relating to Warrants being offered pursuant
thereto.
DEBT WARRANTS
The applicable Prospectus Supplement will describe the terms of Debt
Warrants offered thereby, the Warrant Agreement relating to such Debt Warrants
and the debt warrant certificates representing such Debt Warrants ("Debt Warrant
Certificates"), including the following: (1) the title of such Debt Warrants;
(2) the aggregate number of such Debt Warrants; (3) the price or prices at which
such Debt Warrants will be issued; (4) the designation, aggregate principal
amount and terms of the Debt Securities purchasable upon exercise of such Debt
Warrants, and the procedures and conditions relating to the exercise of such
Debt Warrants; (5) the designation and terms of any related Debt Securities with
which such Debt Warrants are issued, and the number of such Debt Warrants issued
with each such Debt Security; (6) the date, if any, on and after which such Debt
Warrants and the related Debt Securities will be separately transferable; (7)
the principal amount of Debt Securities purchasable upon exercise of each Debt
Warrant; (8) the date on which the right to exercise such Debt Warrants will
commence, and the date on which such right will expire; (9) the maximum or
minimum number of such Debt Warrants which may be exercised at any time; (10) a
discussion of any material federal income tax considerations; and (11) any other
terms of such Debt Warrants and terms, procedures and limitations relating to
the exercise of such Debt Warrants.
Debt Warrant Certificates will be exchangeable for new Debt Warrant
Certificates of different denominations, and Debt Warrants may be exercised at
the corporate trust office of the Warrant Agent or any other office indicated in
the Prospectus Supplement. Prior to the exercise of their Debt Warrants, holders
of Debt Warrants will not have any of the rights of holders of the Debt
Securities purchasable upon such exercise and will not be entitled to payment of
principal of or any premium, if any, or interest on the Debt Securities
purchasable upon such exercise.
EQUITY WARRANTS
The applicable Prospectus Supplement will describe the following terms of
Equity Warrants offered thereby: (1) the title of such Equity Warrants; (2) the
Securities (i.e., Preferred Stock or Common Stock) for which such Equity
Warrants are exercisable; (3) the price or prices at which such Equity Warrants
will be issued; (4) if applicable, the designation and terms of the Preferred
Stock or Common Stock with which such Equity Warrants are issued, and the number
of such Equity Warrants issued with each such share of Preferred Stock or Common
Stock; (5) if applicable, the date on and after which such Equity Warrants and
the related Preferred Stock or Common Stock will be separately transferable; (6)
if applicable, a discussion of any material federal income tax considerations;
and (7) any other terms of such Equity Warrants, including terms, procedures and
limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of such Equity Warrants.
Holders of Equity Warrants will not be entitled, by virtue of being such
holders, to vote, consent, receive dividends, receive notice as stockholders
with respect to any meeting of stockholders for the election of directors of the
Company or any other matter, or to exercise any rights whatsoever as
stockholders of the Company.
18
The exercise price payable and the number of shares of Common Stock or
Preferred Stock purchasable upon the exercise of each Equity Warrant will be
subject to adjustment in certain events, including the issuance of a stock
dividend to holders of Common Stock or Preferred Stock or a stock split, reverse
stock split, combination, subdivision or reclassification of Common Stock or
Preferred Stock. In lieu of adjusting the number of shares of Common Stock or
Preferred Stock purchasable upon exercise of each Equity Warrant, the Company
may elect to adjust the number of Equity Warrants. No adjustments in the number
of shares purchasable upon exercise of the Equity Warrants will be required
until cumulative adjustments require an adjustment of at least 1% thereof. The
Company may, at its option, reduce the exercise price at any time. No fractional
shares will be issued upon exercise of Equity Warrants, but the Company will pay
the cash value of any fractional shares otherwise issuable. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, in case of any consolidation, merger, or sale or conveyance of the
property of the Company as an entirety or substantially as an entirety, the
holder of each outstanding Equity Warrant shall have the right to the kind and
amount of shares of stock and other securities and property (including cash)
receivable by a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock of Preferred
Stock into which such Equity Warrant was exercisable immediately prior thereto.
EXERCISE OF WARRANTS
Each Warrant will entitle the holder to purchase for cash such principal
amount of Securities at such exercise price as shall in each case be set forth
in, or be determinable as set forth in, the Prospectus Supplement relating to
the Warrants offered thereby. Warrants may be exercised at any time up to the
close of business on the expiration date set forth in the Prospectus Supplement
relating to the Warrants offered thereby. After the close of business on the
expiration date, unexercised Warrants will become void.
Warrants may be exercised as set forth in the Prospectus Supplement relating
to the Warrants offered thereby. Upon receipt of payment and the warrant
certificate properly completed and duly executed at the corporate trust office
of the Warrant Agent or any other office indicated in the Prospectus Supplement,
the Company will, as soon as practicable, forward the Securities purchasable
upon such exercise. If less than all of the Warrants represented by such warrant
certificate are exercised, a new warrant certificate will be issued for the
remaining Warrants.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
The Company may sell the Securities to one or more underwriters for public
offering and sale by them and may also sell the Securities to investors directly
or through agents. Any such underwriter or agent involved in the offer and sale
of Securities will be named in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. The Company
has reserved the right to sell or exchange Securities directly to investors on
its own behalf in those jurisdictions where and in such manner as it is
authorized to do so.
The distribution of the Securities may be effected from time to time in one
or more transactions at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed, or at
market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to such
prevailing market prices, or at negotiated prices. Sales of Common Stock offered
hereby may be effected from time to time in one or more transactions on the New
York Stock Exchange or in negotiated transactions or a combination of such
methods. The Company may also, from time to time, authorize dealers, acting as
the Company's agents, to offer and sell Securities upon the terms and conditions
as are set forth in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. In connection with the
sale of Securities, underwriters may receive compensation from the Company in
the form of underwriting discounts or commissions and may also receive
commissions from purchasers of the Securities for whom they may act as agent.
Underwriters may sell Securities to or through dealers, and such dealers may
receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from
the underwriters and/or commissions from the purchasers for whom they may act as
agent. Any such underwriter, dealer or agent will be identified, and any such
compensation received from the Company will be described, in the Prospectus
Supplement. Unless otherwise indicated in a Prospectus Supplement, an agent will
be acting on a best
19
efforts basis and a dealer will purchase Securities as a principal, and may then
resell such Securities at varying prices to be determined by the dealer.
Any underwriting compensation paid by the Company to underwriters or agents
in connection with the offering of Securities, and any discounts, concessions or
commissions allowed by underwriters to participating dealers, will be set forth
in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. Dealers and agents participating in the
distribution of Securities may be deemed to be underwriters, and any discounts
and commissions received by them and any profit realized by them on resale of
the Securities may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions.
Underwriters, dealers and agents may be entitled, under agreements entered into
with the Company, to indemnification against and contribution toward certain
civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, and to
reimbursement by the Company for certain expenses.
To facilitate an offering of a series of Securities, certain persons
participating in the offering may engage in transactions that stabilize,
maintain, or otherwise affect the price of the Securities. This may include
over-allotments or short sales of the Securities, which involves the sale by
persons participating in the offering of more Securities than have been sold to
them by the Company. In such circumstances, such persons would cover such
over-allotments or short positions by purchasing in the open market or by
exercising the over-allotment option granted to such persons. In addition, such
persons may stabilize or maintain the price of the Securities by bidding for or
purchasing Securities in the open market or by imposing penalty bids, whereby
selling concessions allowed to dealers participating in any such offering may be
reclaimed if Securities sold by them are repurchased in connection with
stabilization transactions. The effect of these transactions may be to stabilize
or maintain the market price of the Securities at a level above that which might
otherwise prevail in the open market. Such transactions, if commenced, may be
discontinued at any time.
LEGAL MATTERS
Certain legal matters with respect to the Securities offered hereby will be
passed upon for the Company by Latham & Watkins, San Francisco, California.
Certain legal matters will be passed upon for any agents or underwriters by
counsel for such agents or underwriters identified in the applicable Prospectus
Supplement.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements of the Company appearing in the
Company's Annual Report (Form 10-K/A) for the year ended June 30, 1997 have been
audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent auditors, as set forth in their report
thereon included therein and incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated
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.
20
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NO PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY
REPRESENTATION IN CONNECTION WITH THIS OFFERING OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED IN
THIS PROSPECTUS, AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATION MUST
NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN SO AUTHORIZED. THIS PROSPECTUS DOES NOT
CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR A SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY BY ANYONE IN
ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH OFFER TO SELL IS NOT AUTHORIZED, OR IN WHICH THE
PERSON IS NOT QUALIFIED TO DO SO OR TO ANY PERSON TO WHOM IT IS UNLAWFUL TO MAKE
SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION. NEITHER THE DELIVERY OF THIS PROSPECTUS NOR ANY SALE
HEREUNDER 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 ITS DATE.
------------------------
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
----
Available Information..................................................... 2
Information Incorporated by Reference..................................... 2
The Company............................................................... 3
Risk Factors.............................................................. 4
Use of Proceeds........................................................... 4
Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges and Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges
and Preferred Stock Dividends........................................... 5
General Description of Securities......................................... 6
Description of Debt Securities............................................ 6
Description of Preferred Stock............................................ 14
Description of Common Stock............................................... 17
Section 203 of the DGCL................................................... 17
Description of Warrants................................................... 18
Plan of Distribution...................................................... 19
Legal Matters............................................................. 20
Experts................................................................... 20
[LOGO]
GRUBB & ELLIS COMPANY
$150,000,000
DEBT SECURITIES
PREFERRED STOCK
COMMON STOCK
EQUITY WARRANTS
DEBT WARRANTS
---------------------
PROSPECTUS
---------------------
, 1998
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PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
ITEM 14. OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION
The expenses to be paid by the Company in connection with the distribution
of the securities being registered are as set forth in the following table:
Securities and Exchange Commission Fee........................... $ 44,250
*Rating Agency Fees............................................... 100,000
*Legal Fees and Expenses.......................................... 100,000
*Accounting Fees and Expenses..................................... 75,000
*Printing Expenses................................................ 150,000
*Blue Sky Fees.................................................... 5,000
*Trustee/Issuing & Paying Agent Fees and Expenses................. 10,000
*Transfer Agent Fees & Expenses................................... 10,000
*Miscellaneous.................................................... 50,000
---------
*Total........................................................ $ 544,250
---------
---------
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* Estimated.
ITEM 15. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
The Company is a Delaware corporation. Subsection (b)(7) of Section 102 of
the DGCL, enables a corporation in its original certificate of incorporation or
an amendment thereto to eliminate or limit the personal liability of a director
to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for violations of
the director's fiduciary duty, except (i) for any breach of the director's duty
of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions
not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation
of law, (iii) pursuant to Section 174 of the DGCL (providing for liability of
directors for unlawful payment of dividends or unlawful stock purchases or
redemptions) or (iv) for any transaction from which a director derived an
improper personal benefit.
Subsection (a) of Section 145 of the DGCL empowers a corporation to
indemnify any present or former director, officer, employee or agent of the
corporation, or any individual serving at the Company's request as a director,
officer or employee of another organization, 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), against expenses
(including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement
actually and reasonably incurred in connection with such action, suit or
proceeding provided that such director, officer, employee or agent acted in good
faith and in a manner reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best
interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or
proceeding, provided further that such director, officer, employee or agent had
no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful.
Subsection (b) of Section 145 empowers a corporation to indemnify any
present or former director, officer, employee or agent who was or is a party or
is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action
or suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor
by reason of the fact that such person acted in any of the capacities set forth
above, against expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably
incurred in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit
provided that such director, officer, employee or agent acted in good faith and
in a manner reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests
of the corporation, except that no indemnification may be made in respect to any
claim, issue or matter as to which such director, officer, employee or agent
shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to the
extent
II-1
that the Court of Chancery or the court in which such action or suit was brought
shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but
in view of all of the circumstances of the case, such director, officer,
employer or agent is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such
expenses which the Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.
Section 145 further provides that to the extent a director, officer,
employee or agent has been successful in the defense of any action, suit or
proceeding referred to in subsections (a) and (b) or in the defense of any
claim, issue or matter therein, he shall be indemnified against expenses
(including attorneys fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection
therewith; that indemnification and advancement of expenses provided for, by, or
granted pursuant to Section 145 shall not be deemed exclusive of any other
rights to which the indemnified party may be entitled; and empowers the
corporation to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of a present or former
director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or any individual
serving at the Company's request as a director, officer or employee of another
organization, against any liability asserted against him or incurred by him in
any such capacity, or arising out of his status as such, whether or not the
corporation would have the power to indemnify him against such liabilities under
Section 145.
Article X of the Certificate of Incorporation provides that the Company
shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, including, without
limitation, the DGCL indemnify each director and officer, present or former, of
the Company whom it may indemnify pursuant to such applicable law, including
certain liabilities under the Securities Act. In addition, Article X of the
Certificate of Incorporation provides that a director of the Company shall not
be liable to the Company or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of
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 that involve intentional misconduct or a knowing
violation of law, (iii) in respect of certain unlawful dividend payments or
stock redemptions or repurchases, and (iv) for any transaction from which the
director derives an improper personal benefit. The effect of the provision of
the Certificate of Incorporation is to eliminate the rights of the Company and
its stockholders (through stockholders' derivative suits on behalf of the
Company) to recover monetary damages against a director for breach of the
fiduciary duty of care as a director (including breaches resulting from
negligent or grossly negligent behavior) except in the situations described in
clauses (i) through (iv) above. This provision does not limit or eliminate the
rights of the Company or any stockholder to seek nonmonetary relief such as an
injunction or rescission in the event of a breach of a director's duty of care.
Furthermore, Section 7.01 of the Company's Bylaws provides that the Company
shall indemnify, in addition to its directors and officers, employees and agents
against losses incurred by any such person by reason of the fact that such
person was acting in such capacity to the fullest extent authorized by the DGCL.
The Company has entered into indemnification agreements with each of its
directors and executive officers, which also provide indemnification against
certain liabilities, including certain liabilities under the Securities Act. The
Company currently maintains directors' and officers' liability insurance in the
form of a policy which provides for coverage of liabilities up to a maximum
amount of $10 million per policy year (subject to certain minimum initial
payments by the Company). The policy insures directors and officers for
liabilities incurred in connection with or on behalf of the Company, except for
losses incurred on account of certain specified liabilities, including losses
from "matters which may be deemed uninsurable under the law pursuant to which
this policy shall be construed."
II-2
ITEM 16. EXHIBITS
4.1(1) Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company.
4.2(2) Certificate of Retirement with respect to 130,233 shares of Junior Convertible
Preferred Stock of the Company.
4.3(3) Certificate of Retirement with respect to 8,894 shares of Series A Senior
Convertible Preferred Stock, 128,266 shares of Series B Senior Convertible
Preferred Stock and 19,767 shares of Junior Convertible Preferred Stock of the
Company.
4.4(4) Amendment to the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company as filed
with the Delaware Secretary of State on December 9, 1997.
4.5(5) Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company.
4.6 Form of Indenture
5 Opinion of Latham & Watkins
12 Statement regarding Computation of Ratios.
23.1 Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.
23.2 Consent of Latham & Watkins (included in Exhibit 5).
24 Powers of Attorney (contained on signature page of this Registration Statement).
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(1) Filed as Exhibit 3.2 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 1994 and incorporated herein by reference.
(2) Filed as Exhibit 3.3 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the
fiscal quarter ended December 31, 1996 and incorporated herein by reference.
(3) Filed as Exhibit 3.4 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the
fiscal quarter ended December 31, 1996 and incorporated herein by reference.
(4) Filed as Exhibit 4.4 to the Company's Form S-8 (Registration No. 333-42741)
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 19, 1997.
(5) Filed as Exhibit 3.2 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the
fiscal quarter ended September 30, 1996 and incorporated herein by
reference.
ITEM 17. UNDERTAKINGS
(a) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made,
a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the
Securities Act of 1933;
(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after
the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent
post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the
aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in
the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase
or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of
securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any
deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering
range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the
Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in
volume and price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the
maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the "Calculation of
Registration Fee" table in the effective registration statement;
II-3
(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of
distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or
any material change to such information in the registration statement;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the information required to be included in a
post-effective amendment by paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) above may be
contained in periodic reports filed by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or
15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference
in the registration statement.
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
Securities Act 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.
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment
any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the
termination of the offering.
(b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act 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 (and, where applicable, each filing of an
employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the
registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act 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 Securities Act
of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the
registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling
person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or
proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in
connection with the securities being registered, the registrants will, unless in
the opinion of their 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 of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such
issue.
(d) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to file an application for
the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under
Subsection (a) of Section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act (the "Act") in
accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the Commission under
Section 305(b)(2) of the Act.
II-4
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the
requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of Northbrook, State of Illinois on ,
1998.
GRUBB & ELLIS COMPANY
By: /s/ NEIL R. YOUNG
-----------------------------------------
Neil R. Young
PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears
below does hereby constitute and appoint Robert J. Walner and Carol M.
Vanairsdale, and each of them, with full power of substitution and full power to
act without the other, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent to act for
him in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all
amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement,
and to file this Registration Statement, with all exhibits thereto, and other
documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power
and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and
necessary to be done in order to effectuate the same as fully, to all intents
and purposes, as they or he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and
confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities indicated on , 1998.
SIGNATURE TITLE
- ---------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------
/s/ NEIL R. YOUNG President, Chief Executive Officer and
- ---------------------------------------- Chairman of the Board (Principal Executive
Neil R. Young Officer)
/s/ BRIAN PARKER Senior Vice President and Chief Financial
- ---------------------------------------- Officer (Principal Financial Officer and
Brian Parker Accounting Officer)
/s/ R. DAVID ANACKER
- ---------------------------------------- Director
R. David Anacker
/s/ LAWRENCE S. BACOW
- ---------------------------------------- Director
Lawrence S. Bacow
II-5
SIGNATURE TITLE
- ---------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------
/s/ JOE F. HANAUER
- ---------------------------------------- Director
Joe F. Hanauer
/s/ C. MICHAEL KOJAIAN
- ---------------------------------------- Director
C. Michael Kojaian
/s/ SIDNEY LAPIDUS
- ---------------------------------------- Director
Sidney Lapidus
/s/ REUBEN S. LEIBOWITZ
- ---------------------------------------- Director
Reuben S. Leibowitz
/s/ ROBERT J. MCLAUGHLIN
- ---------------------------------------- Director
Robert J. McLaughlin
/s/ JOHN D. SANTOLERI
- ---------------------------------------- Director
John D. Santoleri
/s/ TODD WILLIAMS
- ---------------------------------------- Director
Todd Williams
II-6
EXHIBIT INDEX
4.1(1) Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company.
4.2(2) Certificate of Retirement with respect to 130,233 shares of Junior Convertible
Preferred Stock of the Company.
4.3(3) Certificate of Retirement with respect to 8,894 shares of Series A Senior
Convertible Preferred Stock, 128,266 shares of Series B Senior Convertible
Preferred Stock and 19,767 shares of Junior Convertible Preferred Stock of the
Company.
4.4(4) Amendment to the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company as filed with
the Delaware Secretary of State on December 9, 1997.
4.5(5) Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company.
4.6 Form of Indenture
5 Opinion of Latham & Watkins
12 Statement regarding Computation of Ratios.
23.1 Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.
23.2 Consent of Latham & Watkins (included in Exhibit 5).
24 Powers of Attorney (contained on signature page of this Registration Statement).
- ------------------------
(1) Filed as Exhibit 3.2 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 1994 and incorporated herein by reference.
(2) Filed as Exhibit 3.3 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the
fiscal quarter ended December 31, 1996 and incorporated herein by reference.
(3) Filed as Exhibit 3.4 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the
fiscal quarter ended December 31, 1996 and incorporated herein by reference.
(4) Filed as Exhibit 4.4 to the Company's Form S-8 (Registration No. 333-42741)
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 19, 1997.
(5) Filed as Exhibit 3.2 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the
fiscal quarter ended September 30, 1996 and incorporated herein by
reference.