As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 23, 1997
Registration No. 333-31649
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
_________________________
Amendment No. 2 to
FORM S-4
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
_________________________
L-3 COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
DELAWARE 3812, 3663, 3679 13-3937436
(State or other jurisdiction (Primary Standard (I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation or Industrial Identification Number)
organization) Classification Code
Number)
_________________________
600 Third Avenue
New York, New York 10016
(212) 697-1111
(Address, including zip Code, and telephone number, including area code,
of registrant's principal executive offices)
_________________________
Christopher C. Cambria, Esq.
L-3 Communications Corporation
600 Third Avenue
New York, New York 10016
(212) 697-1111
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area
code, of agent for service)
_________________________
With a copy to:
David B. Chapnick, Esq.
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett
425 Lexington Avenue
New York, New York 10017
(212) 455-2000
_________________________
2
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: As
soon as practicable after this Registration Statement becomes effective.
If the securities being registered on this form are being offered in
connection with the formation of a holding company and there is compliance
with General Instruction G, check the following box: / /
_________________________
The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or
dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant
shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this
Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance
with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or until this
Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the
Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
3
EXPLANATORY NOTE
THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT COVERS THE REGISTRATION OF AN AGGREGATE
PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF $225,000,000 OF 10 3/8% SERIES B SENIOR SUBORDINATED
NOTES DUE 2007 (THE "EXCHANGE NOTES") OF L-3 COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
THAT MAY BE EXCHANGED FOR EQUAL PRINCIPAL AMOUNTS OF THE COMPANY'S
OUTSTANDING 10 3/8% SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE 2007 (THE "OLD NOTES")
(THE "EXCHANGE OFFER"). THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ALSO COVERS THE
REGISTRATION OF THE EXCHANGE NOTES FOR RESALE BY LEHMAN BROTHERS INC. IN
MARKET-MAKING TRANSACTIONS. THE COMPLETE PROSPECTUS RELATING TO THE
EXCHANGE OFFER (THE "EXCHANGE OFFER PROSPECTUS") FOLLOWS IMMEDIATELY AFTER
THIS EXPLANATORY NOTE. FOLLOWING THE EXCHANGE OFFER PROSPECTUS ARE CERTAIN
PAGES OF THE PROSPECTUS RELATING SOLELY TO SUCH MARKET-MAKING TRANSACTIONS
(THE "MARKET-MAKING PROSPECTUS"), INCLUDING ALTERNATE FRONT AND BACK COVER
PAGES, A SECTION ENTITLED "RISK FACTORS--TRADING MARKET FOR THE EXCHANGE
NOTES" TO BE USED IN LIEU OF THE SECTION ENTITLED "RISK FACTORS--LACK OF
PUBLIC MARKET FOR THE EXCHANGE NOTES," ALTERNATE SECTIONS ENTITLED "USE OF
PROCEEDS" AND "PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION". IN ADDITION, THE MARKET-MAKING
PROSPECTUS WILL NOT INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING CAPTIONS (OR THE INFORMATION SET
FORTH UNDER SUCH CAPTIONS) IN THE EXCHANGE OFFER PROSPECTUS: "PROSPECTUS
SUMMARY--THE NOTE OFFERING" AND "--THE EXCHANGE OFFER", "RISK FACTORS--
CONSEQUENCES OF FAILURE TO EXCHANGE", "THE EXCHANGE OFFER" AND "CERTAIN
FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES". ALL OTHER SECTIONS OF THE EXCHANGE OFFER
PROSPECTUS WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE MARKET-MAKING PROSPECTUS.
4
__________________________________________________________________________
Information contained herein is subject to completion or amendment without
notice. 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.
___________________________________________________________________________
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION DATED _________, 1997
PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS
[LOGO OMITTED]
L-3 Communications Corporation
Offer to Exchange $225,000,000 of its 10 3/8% Series B
Senior Subordinated Notes due 2007,
which have been registered under the Securities Act,
for $225,000,000 of its outstanding 10 3/8% Senior
Subordinated Notes due 2007
_________________________
THE EXCHANGE OFFER WILL EXPIRE AT 5:00 P.M., NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON ______,
1997, UNLESS EXTENDED.
_________________________
L-3 Communications Corporation (the "Company" or "L-3"), a wholly owned
subsidiary of L-3 Communications Holdings, Inc. ("Holdings"), hereby
offers, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this
Prospectus and the accompanying Letter of Transmittal (which together
constitute the "Exchange Offer"), to exchange an aggregate of up to
$225,000,000 principal amount of 10 3/8% Series B Senior Subordinated Notes
due 2007 (the "Exchange Notes") of the Company for an identical face amount
of the issued and outstanding 10 3/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2007
(the "Old Notes" and together with the Exchange Notes, the "Notes") of the
Company from the Holders (as defined) thereof. As of the date of this
Prospectus, there is $225,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Old
Notes outstanding. The terms of the Exchange Notes are identical in all
material respects to the Old Notes, except that the Exchange Notes have
been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities
Act"), and therefore will not bear legends restricting their transfer and will
not contain certain provisions providing for an increase in the interest rate
on the Old Notes under certain circumstances described in the Registration
Rights Agreement (as defined), which provisions will terminate as to all
of the Notes upon the consummation of the Exchange Offer.
Interest on the Exchange Notes will be payable semi-annually on May 1 and
November 1 of each year, commencing November 1, 1997. The Exchange Notes will
be redeemable at the option of the Company, in whole or in part, at any time
on or after May 1, 2002, at the redemption prices set forth herein, plus
5
accrued and unpaid interest to the date of redemption. In addition, prior to
May 1, 2000, the Company may redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal
amount of Exchange Notes at the redemption price set forth herein plus accrued
and unpaid interest through the redemption date with the net cash proceeds of
one or more Equity Offerings (as defined). The Exchange Notes will not be
subject to any mandatory sinking fund. In the event of a Change of Control (as
defined), each holder of Exchange Notes will have the right, at the holder's
option, to require the Company to purchase such holder's Exchange Notes at a
purchase price equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and
unpaid interest to the date of purchase. The Company's ability to pay cash to
the holders of Notes upon a purchase may be limited by the Company's then
existing financial resources. There can be no assurance that sufficient
funds will be available when necessary to make any required purchases. See
"Description of the Exchange Notes".
The Exchange Notes will be general unsecured obligations of the Company,
subordinate in right of payment to all existing and future Senior Debt (as
defined) of the Company. As of June 30, 1997, after giving pro forma effect
to the Offering of the Old Notes, application of the net proceeds therefrom
and borrowings under the Senior Credit Facilities (as defined), the Company
would have had approximately $400.0 million of indebtedness outstanding, of
which $175.0 million would have been Senior Debt (excluding letters of credit).
See "Capitalization". On the date of issuance of the Exchange Notes, the
Company will not have any subsidiaries; however, the Indenture (as defined)
will permit the Company to create subsidiaries in the future.
The Old Notes were issued and sold on April 30, 1997 in a transaction not
registered under the Securities Act in reliance upon an exemption from the
registration requirements thereof. In general, the Old Notes may not be offered
or sold unless registered under the Securities Act, except pursuant to an
exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the Securities Act. The
Exchange Notes are being offered hereby in order to satisfy certain obligations
of the Company contained in the Registration Rights Agreement. Based on
interpretations by the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") set forth in no-action letters issued to third parties, the
Company believes that the Exchange Notes issued pursuant to the Exchange
Offer in exchange for Old Notes may be offered for resale, resold or otherwise
transferred by any holder thereof (other than any such holder that is an
"affiliate" of the Company within the meaning of Rule 405 promulgated under the
Securities Act) without compliance with the registration and prospectus
delivery provisions of the Securities Act, provided that such Exchange Notes
are acquired in the ordinary course of such holder's business, such holder has
no arrangement with any person to participate in the distribution of such
Exchange Notes and neither such holder nor any such other person is engaging
in or intends to engage in a distribution of such Exchange Notes. However, the
Company has not sought, and does not intend to seek, its own no-action letter,
and there can be no assurance that the staff of the Commission would make a
similar determination with respect to the Exchange Offer. This Prospectus, as
it may be amended or supplemented, may be used by a participating non-
affiliated broker-dealer in connection with resales of the Exchange Notes
where such Exchange Notes were acquired by such participating broker-dealer
as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, each broker-dealer that receives Exchange
Notes for its own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer must acknowledge
6
that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such
Exchange Notes. The Letter of Transmittal states that by so acknowledging
and by delivering a prospectus, a broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit
that it is an "underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act. See
"Plan of Distribution". Any person participating in the Exchange Offer who
does not acquire the Exchange notes in the ordinary course of business: (i)
may not tender its Private Notes in the Exchange Offer; and (ii) must comply
with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities
Act.
The Old Notes are designated for trading in the Private Offerings, Resales and
Trading through Automated Linkages ("PORTAL") market. There is no established
trading market for the Exchange Notes. The Company does not currently intend to
list the Exchange Notes on any securities exchange or to seek approval for
quotation through any automated quotation system. Accordingly, there can be no
assurance as to the development or liquidity of any market for the Exchange
Notes.
The Exchange Offer is not conditioned upon any minimum aggregate principal
amount of Old Notes being tendered for exchange. The date of acceptance and
exchange of the Old Notes (the "Exchange Date") will be the fourth business
day following the Expiration Date (as defined). Old Notes tendered pursuant
to the Exchange Offer may be withdrawn at any time prior to the Expiration
Date. The Company will not receive any proceeds from the Exchange Offer.
The Company will pay all of the expenses incident to the Exchange Offer.
For a discussion of certain factors that should be considered in connection
with an investment in the Exchange Notes, see "Risk Factors" beginning on
page 26.
THE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE COMMISSION
OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS
PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
The date of this Prospectus is __________, 1997
7
AVAILABLE INFORMATION
The Company has filed with the Commission a Registration Statement
on Form S-4 (together with all amendments, exhibits, schedules and
supplements thereto, the "Registration Statement") under the Securities
Act with respect to the Exchange Notes being offered hereby. This
Prospectus, which forms a part of the Registration Statement, does not
contain all of the information set forth in the Registration Statement.
For further information with respect to the Company and the Exchange
Notes, reference is made to the Registration Statement. Statements
contained in this Prospectus as to the contents of any contract or other
document are not necessarily complete, and, where such contract or other
document is an exhibit to the Registration Statement, each such statement
is qualified by the provisions in such exhibit, to which reference is
hereby made. The Company is not currently subject to the informational
requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"Exchange Act"). As a result of the offering of the Exchange Notes, the
Company will become subject to the informational requirements of the
Exchange Act, and, in accordance therewith, will file reports and
other information with the Commission. The Registration Statement, such
reports and other information can be inspected and copied at the Public
Reference Section of the Commission located at Room 1024, Judiciary Plaza,
450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington D.C. 20549 and at regional public
reference facilities maintained by the Commission located at Citicorp
Center, 500 West Madison Street, Suite 1400, Chicago, Illinois 60661 and
Seven World Trade Center, Suite 1300, New York, New York 10048. Copies of
such material, including copies of all or any portion of the Registration
Statement, can be obtained from the Public Reference Section of the
Commission at prescribed rates. Such material may also be accessed
electronically by means of the Commission's home page on the Internet
(http://www.sec.gov).
So long as the Company is subject to the periodic reporting
requirements of the Exchange Act, it is required to furnish the
information required to be filed with the Commission to the Trustee and
the holders of the Old Notes and the Exchange Notes. The Company has
agreed that, even if it is not required under the Exchange Act to furnish
such information to the Commission, it will nonetheless continue to
furnish information that would be required to be furnished by the Company
by Section 13 of the Exchange Act to the Trustee and the holders of the
Old Notes or Exchange Notes as if it were subject to such periodic
reporting requirements.
In addition, the Company has agreed that, for so long as any Old
Notes remain outstanding and are required to bear the transfer restriction
legend, it will make available to any prospective purchaser of the Old
Notes or beneficial owner of the Old Notes in connection with any sale
thereof the information required by Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities
Act, until such time as the Company has either exchanged the Old Notes for
the Exchange Notes or until such time as the holders thereof have disposed
of such Old Notes pursuant to an effective registration statement filed by
the Company.
8
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
The following summary is qualified in its entirety by the more
detailed information and financial statements appearing elsewhere in this
Prospectus. As used in this Prospectus, unless the context requires
otherwise: (i) "Businesses" or the "Predecessor" means the operations of
Lockheed Martin Corporation and its subsidiaries that were acquired by the
Company upon consummation of the Acquisition (as defined), (ii) "L-3" or
the "Company" means L-3 Communications Corporation and the Businesses
after giving effect to the Acquisition, (iii) "Holdings" means L-3
Communications Holdings, Inc., the Company's sole shareholder and
(iv) "Lockheed Martin" means Lockheed Martin Corporation.
The Company
L-3 is a leading provider of sophisticated secure communication
systems and specialized communication products including secure, high data
rate communication systems, microwave components, avionics, and telemetry
and instrumentation products. These systems and products are critical
elements of virtually all major communication, command and control,
intelligence gathering and space systems. The Company's systems and
specialized products are used to connect a variety of airborne, space,
ground and sea-based communication systems and are incorporated into the
transmission, processing, recording, monitoring and dissemination
functions of these communication systems. The Company's customers include
the U.S. Department of Defense (the "DoD"), selected U.S. government (the
"Government") intelligence agencies, major aerospace/defense prime
contractors, foreign governments and commercial customers. In 1996, L-3
had pro forma sales of $675.3 million and pro forma operating income of
$56.0 million. The Company's funded backlog as of December 31, 1996 was
approximately $542.5 million.
All of the Company's business units enjoy proprietary technologies
and capabilities and are well positioned in their respective markets.
Management has organized the Company's operations into two business areas:
Secure Communication Systems and Specialized Communication Products. In
1996, these areas generated approximately $371.5 million and $303.8
million of pro forma sales, respectively, and $23.0 million and $33.0
million of pro forma operating income, respectively.
Secure Communication Systems. L-3 is the established leader in
secure, high data rate communications in support of military and other
national agency reconnaissance and surveillance applications. The
Company's Secure Communication Systems operations are located in Salt Lake
City, Utah and Camden, New Jersey. Both operations are predominantly cost
plus, sole source prime system contractors supporting long-term programs
for the U.S. Armed Forces and classified customers. The Company's major
secure communication programs and systems include: strategic and tactical
signal intelligence systems that detect, collect, identify, analyze and
disseminate information and related support contracts for military and
national agency intelligence efforts; secure data links for airborne,
satellite, ground and sea-based information collection and transmission;
9
as well as secure telephone and network equipment. The Company believes
that it has developed virtually every high bandwidth data link used by the
military for surveillance and reconnaissance in operation today. In
addition to these core Government programs, L-3 is expanding its business
base into related commercial communication equipment markets, including
applying its wireless communication expertise to develop local wireless
loop equipment primarily for emerging market countries and rural areas
where existing telecommunications infrastructure is inadequate or
non-existent.
Specialized Communication Products. This business area comprises the
Microwave Components, Avionics, and Telemetry and Instrumentation Products
operations of the Company.
Microwave Components. L-3 is the preeminent worldwide supplier of
commercial off-the-shelf, high performance microwave components and
frequency monitoring equipment. L-3's microwave products are sold under
the industry-recognized Narda brand name through a standard catalog to
wireless, industrial and military communication markets. L-3 also provides
state-of-the-art communication components including channel amplifiers and
frequency filters for the commercial communications satellite market.
Avionics. Avionics includes the Company's Aviation Recorders,
Display Systems and Antenna Systems operations. L-3 is the world's leading
manufacturer of commercial cockpit voice and flight data recorders ("black
boxes"). These recorders are sold under the Fairchild brand name both on
an original equipment manufacturer ("OEM") basis to aircraft manufacturers
as well as directly to the world's major airlines for their existing
fleets of aircraft. L-3 also provides military and high-end commercial
displays for use on a number of DoD programs including the F-14, V-22,
F-117 and E-2C. Further, L-3 manufactures high performance surveillance
antennas and related equipment for U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy aircraft
including the F-16, AWACS, E-2C and B-2, as well as the U.K.'s Nimrod
aircraft.
Telemetry and Instrumentation Products. The Company's Telemetry and
Instrumentation Products operations develop and manufacture commercial
off-the-shelf, real-time data collection and transmission products and
components for missile, aircraft and space-based electronic systems. These
products are used to gather flight parameter data and other critical
information and transmit it from air or space to the ground. Telemetry
products are also used for range safety and training applications to
simulate battlefield situations. Further, the Company is applying its
technical capabilities in high data rate transmission to the medical image
archiving market in partnership with the General Electric Company ("GE")
through GE's medical systems business area ("GE Medical Systems").
Industry Overview
The defense industry has recently undergone significant changes
precipitated by ongoing federal budget pressures and new roles and
missions to reflect changing strategic and tactical threats. Since the
mid-1980's, the overall U.S. defense budget has declined in real dollars.
10
In response, the DoD has focused its resources on enhancing its military
readiness, joint operations and multiple mission capabilities, and
incorporating advanced electronics to improve the performance, reduce
operating cost and extend the life expectancy of its existing and future
platforms. The emphasis on system interoperability, force multipliers and
providing battlefield commanders with real-time data is increasing the
electronics content of nearly all of the major military procurement and
research programs. As a result, the DoD's budget for communications and
defense electronics is expected to grow. According to Federal Sources, an
independent private consulting group, the defense budget for command,
control, communications and intelligence ("C3I") is expected to increase
from $30.0 billion in the fiscal year ended September 30, 1996 to $42.0
billion in the fiscal year ended September 30, 2002, a compound annual
growth rate of 5.8%.
The industry has also undergone dramatic consolidation resulting in
the emergence of four dominant prime system contractors. One outgrowth of
this consolidation among the remaining major prime contractors is their
desire to limit purchases of products and sub-systems from one another.
Despite this desire, there are numerous essential but non-strategic
products, components and systems that are not economical for the major
prime contractors to design, develop or manufacture for their own internal
use. As the prime contractors continue to evaluate their core competencies
and competitive position, focusing their resources on larger programs and
platforms, the Company expects the prime contractors will seek to exit
non-strategic business areas and procure these needed elements on more
favorable terms from independent, commercially oriented merchant
suppliers.
The focus on cost control is also driving increased use of
commercial off-the-shelf products for both upgrades of existing systems
and in new systems. The Company believes the prime contractors will
continue to be under pressure to reduce their costs and will increasingly
seek to focus their resources and capabilities on major systems, turning
to commercially oriented merchant suppliers to produce non-core
sub-systems, components and products. Going forward, the successful
merchant suppliers will use their resources to complement and support,
rather than compete with the prime contractors. L-3 anticipates the
relationship between the major prime contractors and their primary
suppliers will, as in the automotive industry, develop into critical
partnerships encompassing increasingly greater outsourcing of non-core
products and systems by the prime contractors to their key merchant
suppliers and increasing supplier participation in the development of
future programs. Early involvement in the upgrading of existing systems
and the design and engineering of new systems incorporating these
outsourced products will provide top-tier suppliers, including the
Company, with a competitive advantage in securing new business and provide
the prime contractors with significant cost reduction opportunities
through coordination of the design, development and manufacturing
processes.
11
Business Strategy
L-3 intends to leverage its market position, diverse program base
and favorable mix of cost plus to fixed price contracts to enhance its
profitability, reduce its indebtedness and to establish itself as the
premier merchant supplier of communication systems and products to the
major prime contractors in the aerospace/defense industry as well as the
Government. The Company's strategy to achieve these objectives includes:
-- Expand Merchant Supplier Relationships. Senior Management (as
defined) has developed strong relationships with virtually all of the
prime contractors, the DoD and other major government agencies, enabling
L-3 to identify business opportunities and anticipate customer needs. As
an independent merchant supplier, the Company anticipates its future
growth will be driven by expanding its share of existing programs and by
participating in new programs. Management has already identified several
opportunities where the Company believes it will be able to use its strong
relationships to increase its business presence and allow its customers to
reduce their costs. The Company also expects to benefit from increased
outsourcing by prime contractors who in the past may have limited their
purchases to captive suppliers and who are now expected to view L-3's
capabilities on a more favorable basis given its status as an independent
company.
-- Support Customer Requirements. A significant portion of L-3's
sales are derived from high-priority, long-term programs and from programs
for which the Company has been the incumbent supplier, and in many cases
acted as the sole provider, over many years. Approximately 67% of the
Company's total pro forma 1996 sales were generated from sole source
contracts. L-3's customer satisfaction and excellent performance record
are evidenced by its performance-based award fees exceeding 90% on average
over the past two years. Going forward, management believes prime
contractors will award long-term, sole source, outsourcing contracts to
the merchant supplier they believe is most capable on the basis of
quality, responsiveness, design, engineering and program management
support as well as cost. Reflecting L-3's strong competitive position, the
Company has experienced a contract award win rate over the past two years
of approximately 50% on new competitive contracts for which it competes
and approximately 90% on contracts for which it is the incumbent. The
Company intends to continue to align its research and development,
manufacturing and new business efforts to complement its customers'
requirements.
-- Leverage Technical and Market Leadership Positions. L-3 has
developed strong, proprietary technical capabilities that have enabled it
to capture a number one or two market position in most of its key business
areas, including secure, high data rate communication systems, solid state
aviation recorders, advanced antenna systems and high performance
microwave components. Over the past three years, the Company has invested
over $100 million in Company-sponsored independent research and
development, including bid and proposal costs, in addition to making
substantial investments in its technical and manufacturing resources.
Further, the Company has a highly skilled workforce including over 1,500
12
engineers. As an independent company, management intends to leverage its
technical expertise and capabilities into several closely aligned
commercial business areas and applications, including opportunities in
wireless telephony and medical imaging archive management.
-- Maintain Diversified Business Mix. The Company enjoys a diverse
business mix with a limited program exposure, a favorable balance of cost
plus to fixed price contracts, a significant sole source business and an
attractive customer profile. The Company's largest program, representing
14% of 1996 pro forma sales, is a long-term, sole source, cost plus
support program for the U-2 program Directorate for the DoD. No other
program represented more than 7% of pro forma 1996 sales. Further, the
Company's pro forma sales mix of contracts in 1996 was 42% cost plus and
58% fixed price, providing the Company with a balanced mix of predictable
profitability (cost plus) and higher margin (fixed price) business. L-3
also enjoys an attractive customer mix of defense and commercial business,
with DoD related sales accounting for 65% and commercial and federal
(non-DoD) sales accounting for 35% of 1996 pro forma sales. The Company
intends to leverage this favorable business profile to expand its merchant
supplier business base.
-- Enhance Operating Margins. As part of larger corporations (i.e.,
Lockheed Martin, Loral, GE, Unisys), the Businesses were historically
required to absorb significant corporate expense allocations. As an
independent company, L-3 believes that it will be able to leverage its
discretionary expenditures in a more focused and efficient manner, enhance
its operating performance and reduce overhead expenses reflecting Senior
Management's more flexible, entrepreneurial approach. The Company believes
that significant costs incurred by the Businesses under Lockheed Martin's
ownership will not be incurred going forward. These cost savings include
reduced corporate administrative and facilities expenses and certain
operating performance improvements.
-- Capitalize on Strategic Acquisition Opportunities. Recent
industry consolidation has virtually eliminated traditional middle-tier
aerospace/defense companies. This level of consolidation is now beginning
to draw the concern of the DoD and federal anti-trust regulators. As a
result, the Company anticipates the pending major mergers as well as
continued consolidation of the smaller participants in the defense
industry will create attractive complementary acquisition candidates for
L-3 in the future as these companies continue to evaluate their core
competencies and competitive position.
The Transaction
The Acquisition
Holdings and L-3 were formed by Mr. Frank C. Lanza, the former
President and Chief Operating Officer of Loral Corporation ("Loral"), Mr.
Robert V. LaPenta, the former Senior Vice President and Controller of
Loral (collectively, "Senior Management"), Lehman Brothers Capital
Partners III, L.P. and its affiliates (the "Lehman Partnership") and
Lockheed Martin to acquire (the "Acquisition") substantially all of the
assets and certain liabilities of (i) nine business units previously
purchased by Lockheed Martin as part of its acquisition of Loral in April
13
1996 (the "Loral Acquired Businesses") and (ii) one business unit,
Communication Systems -- Camden, purchased by Lockheed Martin as part of
its acquisition of the aerospace business of GE ("GE Aerospace") in April
1993 (collectively, the "Businesses"). Pursuant to a Transaction Agreement
dated March 28, 1997, among the parties named therein (the "Transaction
Agreement"), the total consideration paid to Lockheed Martin was $525
million, comprising $480 million of cash before an estimated $20 million
reduction related to a purchase price adjustment, and $45 million of
common equity being retained by Lockheed Martin. L-3 is a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Holdings. Holdings was capitalized with $125 million of
common equity, with Messrs. Lanza and LaPenta collectively owning 15.0%,
the Lehman Partnership owning 50.1% and Lockheed Martin owning 34.9%. L-3
was capitalized with $125 million of common equity provided by Holdings.
Sources and Uses of Funds
The Acquisition was structured as an asset purchase with customary
terms and conditions. Financing for the Acquisition was comprised of:
(i) $275 million of Senior Secured Credit Facilities, consisting of $175
million of term loan facilities (the "Term Loan Facilities") and a $100
million revolving credit facility (the "Revolving Credit Facility" and,
together with the Term Loan Facilities, the "Senior Credit Facilities");
(ii) $225 million of Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes; and (iii) $125
million of equity including the equity to be retained by Lockheed Martin
(collectively, the "Financing"). Approximately $480 million of the
proceeds from the Financing was used by the Company to (i) pay the
estimated $460 million cash portion of the purchase price after an
estimated purchase price adjustment and (ii) pay related fees and
expenses. The Revolving Credit Facility was not drawn (other than for
letters of credit) at the closing of the Transaction (the "Closing") and
is available for ongoing working capital financing needs. The following
table summarizes the sources and uses of funds in connection with the
Transaction.
($ in millions)
Sources of Funds Amount Uses of Funds Amount
----------------------------------------- ------------------ ----------------------------------------- ------------------
Revolving Credit Facility . . . . . . $ 0.0 Purchase of Assets
Term Loan Facilities . . . . . . . . . . 175.0 Cash Portion . . . . . . . . . . . . . $479.8
Senior Subordinated Notes . . . . . . . . 225.0 Lockheed Martin Equity in L-3 . . . . 45.2
Common Equity . . . . . . . . . . . . 125.0 525.0
----- -----
Estimated Purchase Price Adjustment . . . (20.0)
Estimated Fees and Expenses . . . . . . . 20.0
-----
Total Sources . . . . . . . . . . . . $525.0 Total Uses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $525.0
====== ======
14
____________________
Availability of up to $100 million, none of which was drawn at
Closing other than letters of credit which were less than $10
million.
Includes $45 million of equity of Holdings retained by Lockheed
Martin.
The purchase price of $525 million is subject to an adjustment based
upon the difference between the audited combined net tangible assets (as
defined in the Transaction Agreement) of the Businesses and a
contractually agreed-upon amount. It is anticipated that this adjustment,
currently estimated to be $20 million, will have the effect of reducing
the purchase price. Prior to Closing, Lockheed Martin estimated the
purchase price adjustment and reduced the cash portion of the purchase
price by $15.9 million. Any difference between the actual purchase price
adjustment calculated post-closing and the amount withheld at Closing will
be paid, with interest, to the appropriate party.
The Acquisition and the Financing are referred to herein as the
"Transaction".
15
The Exchange Offer
The Exchange Offer . . . . . . . The Company is offering to exchange
pursuant to the Exchange Offer up to
$225,000,000 aggregate principal
amount of its new 10 3/8% Series B
Senior Subordinated Notes due 2007
(the "Exchange Notes") for a like
aggregate principal amount of its
outstanding 10 3/8% Senior
Subordinated Notes due 2007 (the "Old
Notes" and together with the Exchange
Notes, the "Notes"). The terms of the
Exchange Notes are identical in all
material respects (including principal
amount, interest rate and maturity) to
the terms of the Old Notes for which
they may be exchanged pursuant to the
Exchange Offer, except that the
Exchange Notes are freely
transferrable by Holders (as defined)
thereof (other than as provided
herein), and are not subject to any
covenant regarding registration under
the Securities Act. See "The Exchange
Offer".
Interest Payments . . . . . . . . Interest on the Exchange Notes shall
accrue from the last interest payment
date (May 1 or November 1) on which
interest was paid on the Notes so
surrendered or, if no interest has
been paid on such Notes, from April
30, 1997 (the "Interest Payment
Date").
Minimum Condition . . . . . . . . The Exchange Offer is not conditioned
upon any minimum aggregate principal
amount of Old Notes being tendered for
exchange.
Expiration Date; Withdrawal
of Tender . . . . . . . . . . The Exchange Offer will expire at 5:00
p.m., New York City time, on
, 1997, unless the Exchange Offer is
extended, in which case the term
"Expiration Date" means the latest
date and time to which the Exchange
Offer is extended. Tenders may be
withdrawn at any time prior to 5:00
p.m., New York City time, on the
Expiration Date. See "The Exchange
Offer--Withdrawal Rights".
16
Exchange Date . . . . . . . . . . The date of acceptance for exchange of
the Old Notes will be the fourth
business day following the Expiration
Date.
Conditions to the
Exchange Offer . . . . . . . . The Exchange Offer is subject to
certain customary conditions, which
may be waived by the Company. The
Company currently expects that each of
the conditions will be satisfied and
that no waivers will be necessary. See
"The Exchange Offer--Certain
Conditions to the Exchange Offer". The
Company reserves the right to
terminate or amend the Exchange Offer
at any time prior to the Expiration
Date upon the occurrence of any such
condition.
Procedures for Tendering
Old Notes . . . . . . . . . . Each holder of Old Notes wishing to
accept the Exchange Offer must
complete, sign and date the Letter of
Transmittal, or a facsimile thereof,
in accordance with the instructions
contained herein and therein, and mail
or otherwise deliver such Letter of
Transmittal, or such facsimile,
together with the Old Notes and any
other required documentation to the
Exchange Agent (as defined) at the
address set forth therein. See "The
Exchange Offer--Procedures for
Tendering Old Notes" and "Plan of
Distribution".
Use of Proceeds . . . . . . . . . There will be no proceeds to the
Company from the exchange of Notes
pursuant to the Exchange Offer.
Federal Income Tax
Consequences . . . . . . . . . The exchange of Notes pursuant to the
Exchange Offer will not be a taxable
event for federal income tax purposes.
See "Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax
Consequences".
Special Procedures for
Beneficial Owners . . . . . . Any beneficial owner whose Old Notes
are registered in the name of a
broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust
company or other nominee and who
wishes to tender should contact such
registered holder promptly and
17
instruct such registered holder to
tender on such beneficial owner's
behalf. If such beneficial owner
wishes to tender on such beneficial
owner's own behalf, such beneficial
owner must, prior to completing and
executing the Letter of Transmittal
and delivering the Old Notes, either
make appropriate arrangements to
register ownership of the Old Notes in
such beneficial owner's name or obtain
a properly completed bond power from
the registered holder. The transfer of
registered ownership may take
considerable time. See "The Exchange
Offer--Procedures for Tendering Old
Notes".
Guaranteed Delivery
Procedures . . . . . . . . . . Holders of Old Notes who wish to
tender their Old Notes and whose Old
Notes are not immediately available or
who cannot deliver their Old Notes,
the Letter of Transmittal or any other
documents required by the Letter of
Transmittal to the Exchange Agent
prior to the Expiration Date must
tender their Old Notes according to
the guaranteed delivery procedures set
forth in "The Exchange Offer--
Procedures for Tendering Old Notes".
Acceptance of Old Notes and
Delivery of Exchange Notes . . The Company will accept for exchange
any and all Old Notes which are
properly tendered in the Exchange
Offer prior to 5:00 p.m., New York
City time, on the Expiration Date. The
Exchange Notes issued pursuant to the
Exchange Offer will be delivered
promptly following the Expiration
Date. See "The Exchange Offer--
Acceptance of Old Notes for Exchange;
Delivery of Exchange Notes".
Effect on Holders of Old Notes . As a result of the making of, and upon
acceptance for exchange of all validly
tendered Old Notes pursuant to the
terms of this Exchange Offer, the
Company will have fulfilled a covenant
contained in the Registration Rights
Agreement (the "Registration Rights
Agreement") dated April 30, 1997 among
the Company and Lehman Brothers Inc.
and BancAmerica Securities, Inc. (the
"Initial Purchasers") and,
18
accordingly, there will be no increase
in the interest rate on the Old Notes
pursuant to the terms of the
Registration Rights Agreement, and the
holders of the Old Notes will have no
further registration or other rights
under the Registration Rights
Agreement. Holders of the Old Notes
who do not tender their Old Notes in
the Exchange Offer will continue to
hold such Old Notes and will be
entitled to all the rights and
limitations applicable thereto under
the Indenture between the Company and
The Bank of New York relating to the
Old Notes and the Exchange Notes (the
"Indenture"), except for any such
rights under the Registration Rights
Agreement that by their terms
terminate or cease to have further
effectiveness as a result of the
making of, and the acceptance for
exchange of all validly tendered Old
Notes pursuant to, the Exchange Offer.
All untendered Old Notes will continue
to be subject to the restrictions on
transfer provided for in the Old Notes
and in the Indenture. To the extent
that Old Notes are tendered and
accepted in the Exchange Offer, the
trading market for untendered Old
Notes could be adversely affected.
Consequence of Failure
to Exchange . . . . . . . . . Holders of Old Notes who do not
exchange their Old Notes for Exchange
Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer
will continue to be subject to the
restrictions on transfer of such Old
Notes as set forth in the legend
thereon as a consequence of the offer
or sale of the Old Notes pursuant to
an exemption from, or in a transaction
not subject to, the registration
requirements of the Securities Act and
applicable state securities laws. In
general, the Old Notes may not be
offered or sold, unless registered
under the Securities Act, except
pursuant to an exemption from, or in a
transaction not subject to, the
Securities Act and applicable state
securities laws. The Company does not
currently anticipate that it will
register the Old Notes under the
Securities Act.
19
Exchange Agent . . . . . . . . . The Bank of New York is serving as
exchange agent (the "Exchange Agent")
in connection with the Exchange Offer.
See "The Exchange Offer--Exchange
Agent".
20
Terms of the Exchange Notes
Securities Offered . . . . . . . $225,000,000 aggregate principal
amount of 10 3/8% Senior Subordinated
Exchange Notes due 2007 (the "Exchange
Notes").
Maturity . . . . . . . . . . . . May 1, 2007.
Interest Payment Dates . . . . . May 1 and November 1, commencing
November 1, 1997.
Optional Redemption . . . . . . . The Exchange Notes may be redeemed at
the option of the Company, in whole or
in part, on or after May 1, 2002, at
the redemption prices set forth
herein, plus accrued and unpaid
interest to the date of redemption.
In addition, prior to May 1, 2000, the
Company may redeem up to an aggregate
of 35% of the Exchange Notes
originally issued at a redemption
price of 109.375% of the principal
amount thereof, plus accrued and
unpaid interest to the date of
redemption, with the net cash proceeds
of one or more Equity Offerings;
provided, however, that at least 65%
in aggregate principal amount of the
Exchange Notes originally issued
remain outstanding following such
redemption.
Change of Control . . . . . . . . In the event of a Change of Control
(as defined), the holders of the
Exchange Notes will have the right to
require the Company to purchase their
Exchange Notes at a price equal to
101% of the aggregate principal amount
thereof, plus accrued and unpaid
interest to the date of purchase.
Ranking . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Exchange Notes will be general
unsecured obligations of the Company,
subordinate in right of payment to all
current and future Senior Debt
including all obligations of the
Company and its Subsidiaries under the
Senior Credit Facilities. The Company
currently has no subsidiaries. At
June 30, 1997, on a pro forma basis
after giving effect to the
Transaction, the Company would have
21
had $400.0 million of indebtedness
outstanding, of which $175.0 million
would have been Senior Debt (excluding
letters of credit). Borrowings under
the Senior Credit Facilities are
secured by substantially all of the
assets of the Company as well as the
capital stock of the Company and its
Subsidiaries. See "Risk Factors--
Substantial Leverage" and "--
Subordination".
Covenants . . . . . . . . . . . . The Indenture pursuant to which the
Exchange Notes will be issued (the
"Indenture") contains certain
covenants that, among other things,
limit the ability of the Company and
its Restricted Subsidiaries to incur
additional Indebtedness and issue
preferred stock, pay dividends or make
other distributions, repurchase Equity
Interests (as defined) or subordinated
Indebtedness, create certain liens,
enter into certain transactions with
affiliates, sell assets of the Company
or its Restricted Subsidiaries, issue
or sell Equity Interests of the
Company's Restricted Subsidiaries or
enter into certain mergers and
consolidations. In addition, under
certain circumstances, the Company is
required to offer to purchase Exchange
Notes at a price equal to 100% of the
principal amount thereof, plus accrued
and unpaid interest to the date of
purchase, with the proceeds of certain
Asset Sales (as defined). See
"Description of the Exchange Notes".
For a discussion of certain risk factors that should be considered
in connection with an investment in the Exchange Notes, see "Risk
Factors".
22
Summary Unaudited Pro Forma Financial Data
The summary unaudited pro forma data as of June 30, 1997 and for
the six months then ended and as of December 31, 1996 and for the year
then ended have been derived from, and should be read in conjunction with,
the unaudited pro forma combined financial statements included elsewhere
herein. The unaudited pro forma data reflect the Acquisition and the
Financing as if these transactions had occurred on January 1, 1996 for
the statement of operations and other data.
Six Months
Ended Year Ended
June 30, 1997 December 31, 1996
-------------- -----------------
($ in millions)
Statement of Operations Data:
Sales:
Secure Communication Systems . . . . . . . . . . . $176.1 $371.5
Specialized Communication Products . . . . . . . . 150.8 303.8
----- -----
Total sales . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $326.9 $675.3
====== ======
Other Data:
EBITDA:
Secure Communication Systems . . . . . . . . . . . $ 14.6 $ 41.6
Specialized Communication Products . . . . . . . . 23.2 42.4
----- -----
Total EBITDA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 37.8 $ 84.0
====== ======
EBITDA as a percentage of sales:
Secure Communication Systems . . . . . . . . . . . 8.3% 11.2%
Specialized Communication Products . . . . . . . . 15.4 14.0
----- -----
Total EBITDA as a percentage of sales . . . . . . 11.6% 12.4%
====== ======
Depreciation expense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 9.0 $ 18.0
Amortization expense . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.7 10.0
Capital expenditures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7.4 17.2
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges . . . . . . . . 1.23x 1.35x
Ratio of total EBITDA to cash interest expense . . 3.95x 2.18x
Ratio of total debt to total EBITDA . . . . . . . . . . N/A 4.76x
23
____________________
[FN]
EBITDA is defined as pro forma income before deducting interest expense,
income taxes, depreciation and amortization. EBITDA is not a
substitute for operating income, net income and cash flow from
operating activities as determined in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles as a measure of profitability or
liquidity. EBITDA is presented as additional information because
management believes it to be a useful indicator of the Company's
ability to meet debt service and capital expenditure requirements
and because certain debt covenants of L-3 utilize EBITDA to measure
compliance with such covenants.
For purposes of this computation, earnings consist of income before
income taxes plus fixed charges. Fixed charges consist of interest
on indebtedness plus that portion of lease rental expense
representative of the interest factor.
For purposes of this computation, cash interest expense consists of
pro forma interest expense before amortization of deferred
financing costs.
24
Summary Historical Financial Data
The following unaudited summary combined financial data as of June
30, 1997 and 1996 and for the six month periods then ended, has been
derived from, and should be read in conjunction with, the unaudited
interim condensed consolidated (combined) financial statements of the
Company and footnotes thereto included elsewhere herein. In the opinion
of the management, the unaudited condensed consolidated (combined)
financial statements include all adjustments (consisting of normal
recurring accruals) considered necessary for the fair presentation of the
information contained therein. Results for the interim periods are
not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the
entire year.
The summary combined financial data as of March 31, 1997 and for
the three month period ended March 31, 1997 and as of December 31, 1996
and 1995 and for the years ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994 have
been derived from, and should be read in conjunction with, the audited
Combined Financial Statements of the Businesses and footnotes thereto
included elsewhere herein.
The unaudited summary combined financial data for the three month
period ended March 31, 1996 and as of December 31, 1994 and 1993, March
31, 1993 and December 31, 1992 for balance sheet data and the nine months
ended December 31, 1993, the three months ended March 31, 1993 and the
year ended December 31, 1992 for statement of operations data have been
derived from the unaudited financial statements of Communication Systems
-- Camden. In the opinion of the Businesses' management, such unaudited
financial statements reflect all adjustments (consisting of normal
recurring adjustments) necessary to present fairly the financial position
and results of operations of Communication Systems -- Camden, also referred
to as Lockheed Martin Communication Systems Division in the Lockheed Martin
Predecessor Financial Statements, as of the dates and periods indicated.
These selected financial data should be read in conjunction with
"Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results
of Operations" and the condensed consolidated (combined) financial
statements of the Company and the Combined Financial Statements of the
Lockheed Martin Predecessor Businesses and the Loral Acquired Businesses
included elsewhere herein.
25
Six Months Ended June 30, 1997
------------------------------
For the Three
Three Months Months
Ended Six Months Ended March 31,
-------------------------------- Ended --------------------
June 30, 1997 March 31, 1997 June 30, 1996 1997 1996
--------------- -------------- ------------- -------- ----------
Statement of Operations Data:
Sales . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $168.0 | $158.9 $206.4 $158.9 $41.2
Operating income . . . . . . . . . 15.1 | 7.9 10.9 7.9 1.7
Interest expense. . . . . . . . 10.0 | 8.4 9.4 8.4 2.0
Provision (benefit) for income |
taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.0 | (.2) 1.3 (.2) .2
Net earnings (loss) . . . . . . . . 3.1 | (.3) .2 (.3) (.5)
|
Other Data: |
EBITDA . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 22.3 | $ 15.1 $ 21.2 $ 15.1 $4.8
Depreciation expense . . . . . . . 4.5 | 4.5 5.8 4.5 1.2
Amortization expense . . . . . . . 2.7 | 2.7 4.5 2.7 1.9
Capital expenditures . . . . . . . 3.1 | 4.3 4.7 4.3 .4
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges. 1.47x | 1.02x
Cash from (used in) operating |
activities . . . . . . . . . . . . 32.9 | (16.3) (29.4) (16.3) 10.2
Cash from (used in) investing |
activities . . . . . . . . . . . . (473.6) | (4.3) (292.0) (4.3) (.4)
Cash from (used in) financing |
activities . . . . . . . . . . . . 463.3 | 20.6 321.4 20.6 (9.8)
|
Balance Sheet Data: |
Working capital . . . . . . . . . . $117.6 | $121.4 N/A $ 121.4 N/A
Total assets . . . . . . . . . . . 680.9 | 608.5 N/A 608.5 N/A
Invested equity . . . . . . . . . . -- | 493.9 N/A 493.9 N/A
Shareholders' Equity. . . . . . . . 120.6 | -- N/A -- N/A
26
Years Ended December 31,
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1993
--------------------------
Nine Months Three Months
Ended Ended
1996 1995 1994 Dec. 31 March 31 1992
----------- ---------- ---------- ----------- ------------- ------------
($ in millions)
Statement of Operations Data:
Sales . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $543.1 $166.8 $218.9 $200.0 | $67.8 $368.5
Operating income . . . . . . . . . . 43.7 4.7 8.4 12.4 | 5.1 49.3
Interest expense. . . . . . . . . 24.2 4.5 5.5 4.1 | -- --
Provision (benefit) for income |
taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7.8 1.2 2.3 3.8 | 2.0 19.8
Net earnings (loss) . . . . . . . . . 11.7 (1.0) 0.6 4.5 | 3.1 29.5
|
Other Data: |
EBITDA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 68.7 $ 16.2 $ 19.9 $ 23.4 | $ 7.0 $ 58.5
Depreciation expense . . . . . . . . 14.9 5.5 5.4 6.1 | 1.8 8.9
Amortization expense . . . . . . . . 10.1 6.1 6.1 4.9 | 0.1 0.3
Capital expenditures . . . . . . . . 13.5 5.5 3.7 2.6 | 0.8 3.9
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges . 1.72x 1.03x 1.40x N/A | N/A N/A
Cash from (used in) operating 31.0 9.4 21.8 N/A | N/A N/A
activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
Cash from (used in) investing (298.3) (5.5) (3.7) N/A | N/A N/A
activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
Cash from (used in) financing 267.3 (3.9) (18.1) N/A | N/A N/A
activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
|
Balance Sheet Data: |
Working capital . . . . . . . . . . . $ 98.8 $ 21.1 $ 19.3 $ 24.7 | $22.8 $ 35.8
Total assets . . . . . . . . . . . . 593.3 228.5 233.3 241.7 | 93.5 105.1
Invested equity . . . . . . . . . . . 473.6 194.7 199.5 202.0 | 59.9 72.8
Shareholders' Equity. . . . . . . . -- -- -- -- | -- --
27
____________________
[FN]
Reflects ownership of Loral's Communication Systems -- Salt Lake
and Specialized Communication Products businesses commencing
April 1, 1996.
Reflects ownership of Communication Systems -- Camden by Lockheed
Martin commencing April 1, 1993.
Reflects ownership of Communication Systems -- Camden by GE
Aerospace for the periods indicated. The amounts shown herein
include only those amounts as reflected in the financial records of
Communication Systems -- Camden.
For periods prior to April 1, 1997, interest expense and income tax
(benefit) provision were allocated from Lockheed Martin.
EBITDA is defined as income before deducting interest expense,
income taxes, depreciation and amortization. EBITDA is not a
substitute for operating income, net earnings and cash flow from
operating activities as determined in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles as a measure of profitability or
liquidity. EBITDA is presented as additional information because
management believes it to be a useful indicator of the Company's
ability to meet debt service and capital expenditure requirements
and because certain debt covenants of L-3 utilize EBITDA to measure
compliance with such covenants.
For the three months ended March 31, 1997 and 1996, earnings were
insufficient to cover fixed charges by $.5 million and $.4 million,
respectively.
28
RISK FACTORS
Holders of Old Notes should consider carefully, in addition to the
other information contained in this Prospectus, the following factors
before deciding to tender Old Notes in the Exchange Offer. The risk
factors set forth below are generally applicable to the Old Notes as well
as the Exchange Notes.
Consequences of Failure to Exchange
Holders of Old Notes who do not exchange their Old Notes for
Exchange Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer will continue to be subject
to the restrictions on transfer of such Old Notes as set forth in the
legend thereon. In general, Old Notes may not be offered or sold unless
registered under the Securities Act, except pursuant to an exemption from,
or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the
Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. The Company does not
currently intend to register the Old Notes under the Securities Act. Based
on interpretations by the staff of the Commission, the Company believes
that Exchange Notes issued pursuant to the Exchange Offer in exchange for
Old Notes may be offered for resale, resold or otherwise transferred by
Holders thereof (other than any such Holder which is an "affiliate" of the
Company within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act) without
compliance with the registration and prospectus delivery provisions of the
Securities Act, provided that such Old Notes were acquired in the ordinary
course of such Holders' business and such Holders have no arrangement with
any person to participate in the distribution of such Exchange Notes. Each
broker-dealer that receives Exchange Notes for its own account in exchange
for Old Notes, where such Old Notes were acquired by such broker-dealer as
a result of market-making activities or other trading activities, must
acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any
resale of such Exchange Notes. See "Plan of Distribution." To the extent
that Old Notes are tendered and accepted in the Exchange Offer, the
trading market for untendered and tendered but unaccepted Old Notes will
be adversely affected.
Lack of Market for the Exchange Notes
The Exchange Notes are being offered to the holders of the Old
Notes. The Old Notes were offered and sold in April 1997 to a small number
of institutional investors and are eligible for trading in the Private
Offerings, Resale and Trading through Automatic Linkages (PORTAL) Market.
The Company does not intend to apply for a listing of the Exchange
Notes on a securities exchange or on any automated dealer quotation
system. There is currently no established market for the Exchange Notes
and there can be no assurance as to the liquidity of markets that may
develop for the Exchange Notes, the ability of the holders of the Exchange
Notes to sell their Exchange Notes or the price at which such holders
would be able to sell their Exchange Notes. If such markets were to exist,
the Exchange Notes could trade at prices that may be lower than the
initial market value thereof depending on many factors, including
prevailing interest rates and the markets for similar securities. The
Exchange Notes are expected to be designated for trading in the PORTAL
29
market. The Initial Purchasers have advised the Company that they
currently intend to make a market with respect to the Exchange Notes.
However, the Initial Purchasers are not obligated to do so, and any market
making with respect to the Exchange Notes may be discontinued at any time
without notice. In addition, such market making activity may be limited
during the pendency of the Exchange Offer or the effectiveness of a shelf
registration statement in lieu thereof. Because Lehman Brothers Inc. is an
affiliate of the Company, following consummation of the Exchange Offer
Lehman Brothers Inc. will be required to deliver a current "market-maker"
prospectus and otherwise comply with the registration requirements of the
Securities Act in connection with any secondary market sale of the New
Exchange Notes, which may affect its ability to continue market-making
activities. See "Notice to Investors" and "Plan of Distribution".
The liquidity of, and trading market for, the Notes also may be
adversely affected by general declines in the market for similar
securities. Such a decline may adversely affect such liquidity and trading
markets independent of the financial performance of, and prospects for,
the Company.
The liquidity of, and trading market for, the Exchange Notes also
may be adversely affected by general declines in the market for similar
securities.
Substantial Leverage
The Company incurred substantial indebtedness in connection with the
Transaction and the Company is highly leveraged. To effect the Transaction,
the Company incurred $400 million of indebtedness (excluding letters of
credit) in addition to equity contributions of approximately $116 million
(after giving effect to EITF 88-16 (as defined) accounting treatment
relating to basis in leveraged buyout transactions by Holdings). Of the
total $525 million used to consummate the Acquisition, $175 million (33.3%)
was supplied by the Senior Credit Facilities, $225 million (42.9%) was
supplied by the Old Exchange Notes, and, through Holdings, $80 million
(15.2%) was supplied by equity purchases by the Lehman Partnership and
Senior Management and $45 million (8.6%) contributed through equity
retention in L-3 by Lockheed Martin. After giving pro forma effect to the
Transaction, the Company's ratio of earnings to fixed charges would have
been 1.35:1 for the year ended December 31, 1996, and for the three months
ended March 31, 1997, pro forma earnings would have been insufficient to
cover fixed charges by $.9 million. The Company's actual ratio of earnings
to fixed charges for the three months ended June 30, 1997 was 1.47:1. The
Company may incur additional indebtedness in the future, subject to
limitations imposed by the Senior Credit Facilities and the Indenture.
Based upon the current level of operations and anticipated
improvements, management believes that the Company's cash flow from
operations, together with available borrowings under the Revolving Credit
Facility, will be adequate to meet its anticipated requirements for
working capital, capital expenditures, research and development
expenditures, program and other discretionary investments, interest
payments and scheduled principal payments for the foreseeable future.
30
There can be no assurance, however, that the Company's business will
continue to generate cash flow at or above current levels or that
currently anticipated improvements will be achieved. If the Company is
unable to generate sufficient cash flow from operations in the future
to service its debt, it may be required to sell assets, reduce capital
expenditures, refinance all or a portion of its existing debt (including
the Notes) or obtain additional financing. The Company's ability to make
scheduled principal payments of, to pay interest on or to refinance its
indebtedness (including the Notes) depends on its future performance
and financial results, which, to a certain extent, are subject to general
economic, financial, competitive, legislative, regulatory and other
factors beyond its control. There can be no assurance that sufficient
funds will be available to enable the Company to service its indebtedness,
including the Notes, or make necessary capital expenditures and program
and other discretionary investments. See "Management's Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations".
The degree to which the Company is leveraged could have important
consequences to Holders of the Notes, including, but not limited to, the
following: (i) a substantial portion of the Company's cash flow from
operations will be required to be dedicated to debt service and will not
be available for other purposes including capital expenditures, research
and development expenditures, and program and other discretionary
investments; (ii) the Company's ability to obtain additional financing in
the future could be limited; (iii) certain of the Company's borrowings are
at variable rates of interest, which could result in higher interest
expense in the event of increases in interest rates; (iv) the Company may
be more vulnerable to downturns in its business or in the general economy
and may be restricted from making acquisitions, introducing new
technologies and products or exploiting business opportunities; and
(v) the Senior Credit Facilities and the Indenture contain financial and
restrictive covenants that limit, among other things, the ability of the
Company to borrow additional funds, dispose of assets or pay cash
dividends. Failure by the Company to comply with such covenants could
result in an event of default which, if not cured or waived, could have a
material adverse effect on the Company. In addition, the degree to which
the Company is leveraged could prevent it from repurchasing all Notes
tendered to it upon the occurrence of a Change in Control, which would
constitute an Event of Default under the Indenture. See "Description of
the Exchange Notes" and "Description of Senior Credit Facilities".
Lack of Independent Operating History
Prior to the consummation of the Transaction, the Company's
operations were conducted as divisions of Lockheed Martin, Loral, Unisys
and GE Aerospace. Following consummation of the Transaction the Company
operates independently of Lockheed Martin and is required to provide many
corporate services on a stand-alone basis that were previously provided by
Lockheed Martin, including corporate research and development, marketing,
and general and administrative services including tax, treasury,
management information systems, human resources and legal services. The
result of operations of the Predecessor Company reflects the allocation of
overhead costs, financing costs, income taxes, pension and post employment
benefit costs, among other costs, that differ from the manner the
31
Registrant will conduct its business as a separate entity. Lockheed Martin
and the Company have entered into a Transition Services Agreement pursuant
to which Lockheed Martin provides certain of these services at costs
consistent with past practices to the Company until December 31, 1997 (or
in the case of Communication Systems -- Camden for a period of up to 18
months after the Closing). There can be no assurance that the actual
corporate services costs incurred in operating the Company will not exceed
historical charges or that upon termination of the Transition Services
Agreement the Company will be able to obtain similar services on
comparable terms.
Future Acquisition Strategy
The Company's strategy includes pursuing additional acquisitions
that will complement its business. There can be no assurance, however,
that the Company will be able to identify additional acquisition
candidates on commercially reasonable terms or at all or that, if
consummated, any anticipated benefits will be realized from such future
acquisitions. In addition, the availability of additional acquisition
financing cannot be assured and, depending on the terms of such additional
acquisitions, could be restricted by the terms of the Senior Credit
Facilities and/or the Indenture. The process of integrating acquired
operations into the Company's existing operations may result in unforeseen
operating difficulties and may require significant financial and
managerial resources that would otherwise be available for the ongoing
development or expansion of the Company's existing operations. Possible
future acquisitions by the Company could result in the incurrence of
additional debt, contingent liabilities and amortization expenses related
to goodwill and other intangible assets, all of which could materially
adversely affect the Company's financial condition and operating results.
Technological Change; New Product Development
The communication equipment industry for defense applications and in
general is characterized by rapidly changing technology. The Company's
ability to compete successfully in this market will depend on its ability
to design, develop, manufacture, assemble, test, market and support new
products and enhancements on a timely and cost-effective basis. The
Company has historically obtained technology from substantial
customer-sponsored research and development as well as from internally
funded research and development; however, there can be no assurance that
the Company will continue to maintain comparable levels of
customer-sponsored research and development in the future. See "Business--
Research and Development". Substantial funds have been allocated to
capital expenditures and program and other discretionary investments in
the past and will continue to be required in the future. See "Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations".
There can be no assurance that the Company will successfully identify new
opportunities and continue to have financial resources to develop new
products in a timely or cost-effective manner, or that products and
technologies developed by others will not render the Company's products
and systems obsolete or non-competitive.
32
Entry into Commercial Business
The Company's revenues historically have been derived principally
from business with the DoD and other government agencies. In addition to
continuing to pursue this major market area, the Company intends to pursue
a strategy that leverages the technical capabilities and expertise derived
from its defense business to expand further into related commercial
markets. Certain of the Company's commercial products, such as fixed
wireless loop communication equipment and medical image archiving
equipment, have only been recently introduced. As such, these new products
are subject to certain risks, including the need to develop and maintain
marketing, sales and customer support capabilities, to secure third-party
manufacturing and distribution arrangements, to respond to rapid
technological advances and, ultimately, to customer acceptance of these
products. The Company's efforts to expand its presence in the commercial
market will require significant resources including capital and management
time. There can be no assurance that the Company will be successful in
addressing these risks or in developing these commercial business
opportunities.
Pension Plan Liabilities
The Transaction Agreement (as defined) provides that Lockheed Martin
transfer certain assets to Holdings and L-3 and that Holdings and L-3
assume certain liabilities relating to defined benefit pension plans for
present and former employees and retirees of certain businesses being
transferred to Holdings and L-3. Lockheed Martin received a letter from
the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (the "PBGC") which requested
information regarding the transfer of such pension plans. The PBGC's
letter indicated that it believed certain of the employee pension plans
are underfunded using the PBGC's actuarial assumptions (which assumptions
result in a larger liability for accrued benefits than the assumptions
used for financial reporting under Statement of Financial Accounting
Standards No. 87, "Accounting for Pension Costs" ("FASB 87")). The Company
has calculated the net funding position of the pension plans to be
transferred and believes the plans to be overfunded by approximately $1
million under ERISA (as defined) assumptions, underfunded by approximately
$9 million under FASB 87 assumptions and, on a termination basis,
underfunded by as much as $51 million under PBGC assumptions.
Substantially all of the PBGC underfunding is related to two pension plans
covering employees at L-3's Communication Systems -- Salt Lake and
Aviation Recorders businesses.
The Company, Lockheed Martin and the PBGC entered into certain
agreements that include Lockheed Martin providing a commitment to the PBGC
with regard to the Subject Plans (as defined) and the Company providing
certain assurances to Lockheed Martin regarding such plans. See
"Business--Pension Plans". The Company expects, based in part upon
discussions with its consulting actuaries, that any increase in pension
expenses or future funding requirements from those previously anticipated
for the Subject Plans would not be material. However, there can be no
assurance that the impact of any increased pension expenses or funding
requirements under this arrangement would not be material to the Company.
33
Significant Customers
The Company's sales are predominantly derived from contracts with
agencies of, and prime contractors to, the Government. Although the
various branches of the Government are subject to the same budgetary
pressures and other factors, the various Government customers exercise
independent purchasing decisions. The U.S. defense budget has declined in
real terms since the mid-1980s, resulting in delays for some new program
starts, program stretch-outs and program cancellations. The U.S. defense
budget has begun to stabilize and increased modestly in fiscal 1996. In
1996, the Company performed under approximately 180 contracts with value
exceeding $1 million for the Government. Pro forma sales in 1996 to the
Government, including pro forma sales to the Government through prime
contractors, were $529 million, representing approximately 78.4% of the
Company's corresponding sales. The Company's largest Government program, a
cost plus, sole source contract for support of the U-2 Directorate of the
DoD, contributed 14% of pro forma sales for 1996. No other program
represented more than 7% of the Company's pro forma sales in 1996. The
loss of all or a substantial portion of sales to the Government would have
a material adverse effect on the Company's income and cash flow. See
"Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results
of Operations" and "Business--Government Contracts".
Historical sales by the Company to Lockheed Martin were $70.7
million in 1996 or 13.0% of the Company's total reported historical sales.
As a part of the Acquisition, the Company and Lockheed Martin intend to
enter into certain purchase agreements for the sale of products and
systems to Lockheed Martin by the Company. The loss of all or a
substantial portion of such sales to Lockheed Martin would have a material
adverse effect on the Company's income and cash flow.
Dependence on Lockheed Martin
In addition to the above-mentioned sales to Lockheed Martin, the
Company continues to be dependent on Lockheed Martin for certain services
and continuing agreements. Lockheed Martin has agreed to indemnify the
Company, subject to certain limitations, for its breach of representations
and warranties contained in the Transaction Agreement. Lockheed Martin
also has agreed to provide to the Company certain corporate services of a
type currently provided to the Businesses at costs consistent with past
practices. The Company and Lockheed Martin have entered into (i) supply
agreements which reflect existing intercompany work transfer agreements or
similar support arrangements with prices and other terms consistent with
the present intercompany arrangements, (ii) certain subleases of real
property and (iii) cross-licenses of intellectual property. There can be no
assurance that, after the termination of these arrangements, the Company
will be able to obtain these services or arrangements at comparable costs.
Further, Lockheed Martin and Holdings have entered into a Limited Non-
Competition Agreement (the "Noncompetition Agreement") which, for up to
three years, in certain circumstances, after the Closing, precludes
Lockheed Martin from engaging in the sale of any products that compete
with the products of L-3 that are set forth in the Noncompetition
Agreement for specifically identified applications of the products.
Under the Noncompetition Agreement, Lockheed Martin is prohibited,
34
with certain exceptions, from acquiring any business engaged in the sale of
the specified products referred to in the preceding sentence, although
Lockheed Martin may acquire such a business provided that it offers to
sell such business to L-3 within 90 days of its acquisition. The
Noncompetition Agreement does not, among other things, (i) apply to
businesses operated and managed by Lockheed Martin on behalf of the
United States government, (ii) prohibit Lockheed Martin from engaging
in any existing businesses and planned businesses or businesses as of the
closing of the Transaction that are reasonably related to existing or
planned businesses or (iii) apply to selling competing products where
such products are part of larger systems sold by Lockheed Martin. The
Company has also entered into agreements with Lockheed Martin relating
to the PBGC matter discussed above.
Dependence on Key Personnel
The Company's success depends to a significant degree upon the
continued contributions of the Company's management, including Messrs.
Lanza and LaPenta, and its ability to attract and retain other highly
qualified management and technical personnel. As part of the Transaction,
Messrs. Lanza and LaPenta invested $15 million to purchase 15% of the
initial capital stock of the Company. The Company has entered into
employment agreements with Messrs. Lanza and LaPenta. The Company
maintains key man life insurance to cover Senior Management. The Company
also faces competition for management and technical personnel from other
companies and organizations. There can be no assurance that the Company
will be successful in hiring and retaining key personnel. See
"Management--Directors and Executive Officers".
Environmental Liabilities
The Company's operations are subject to various federal, state and
local environmental laws and regulations relating to the discharge,
storage, treatment, handling, disposal and remediation of certain
materials, substances and wastes used in or resulting from its operations.
The Company continually assesses its obligations and compliance with
respect to these requirements. Based on a review by an independent
environmental consulting firm and its own internal assessments, management
believes that the Company's current operations are in substantial
compliance with all existing applicable environmental laws and
regulations. New environmental protection laws that will be effective in
1997 and thereafter may require the installation of environmental
protection equipment at the Company's manufacturing facilities. However,
the Company does not believe that its environmental expenditures, if any,
will have a material adverse effect on its financial condition or results
of operations.
Pursuant to the Transaction Agreement, the Company has agreed to
assume certain on-site and off-site environmental liabilities related to
events or activities occurring prior to the consummation of the
Transaction. Lockheed Martin has agreed to retain all environmental
liabilities for all facilities no longer used by the Businesses and to
indemnify fully the Company for such prior site environmental liabilities.
35
Lockheed Martin has also agreed, for the first eight years following the
Closing, to pay 50% of all costs incurred by the Company above those
reserved for on the Company's balance sheet at closing relating to certain
Company-assumed environmental liabilities and, for the seven years
thereafter, to pay 40% of certain reasonable operation and maintenance
costs relating to any environmental remediation projects undertaken in the
first eight years. The Company is aware of environmental contamination at
two of its facilities that will require ongoing remediation. Management
believes that the Company has established adequate reserves for the
potential costs associated with the assumed environmental liabilities.
However, there can be no assurance that any costs incurred will be
reimbursable from the Government or covered by Lockheed Martin under the
terms of the Transaction Agreement or that the Company's environmental
reserves will be sufficient.
Litigation
From time to time the Company is involved in legal proceedings
arising in the ordinary course of its business. As part of the
Acquisition, the Company has agreed to assume certain litigation relating
to the Businesses and Lockheed Martin has agreed to indemnify the Company,
up to certain limits, for a breach of its representations and warranties.
Management believes it is adequately reserved for these liabilities and
that there is no litigation pending that could have a material adverse
effect on the Company or its operations, except as discussed below.
As of June 30, 1997, the Company and Universal Avionics Systems
Corporation ("Universal") has reached a settlement with respect to a
lawsuit brought by Universal against the Company's Aviation Recorders
operation ("Aviation Recorders"). The terms of this settlement will not
have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial condition or
results of operations.
Risks Inherent in Government Contracts
The reduction in the U.S. defense budget has caused most
defense-related government contractors to experience declining revenues,
increased pressure on operating margins and, in few cases, net losses. The
Company has experienced declining sales in each of its last five fiscal
years. Specifically, adjusted sales of the Company and its predecessors
have decreased from $925.5 million for the fiscal year ended December 31,
1992 to $664.7 million for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996. A
significant further decline in U.S. military expenditures could materially
adversely affect the Company's sales and earnings. The loss or significant
curtailment of a material program in which the Company participates could
also materially adversely affect the Company's future sales and earnings
and thus the Company's ability to meet its financial obligations.
Companies engaged primarily in supplying defense-related equipment
and services to government agencies are subject to certain business risks
peculiar to the defense industry. These risks include, among other things,
the ability of the Government to: (i) suspend unilaterally the Company
from receiving new contracts pending resolution of alleged violations of
procurement laws or regulations, (ii) terminate existing contracts,
(iii) audit the Company's contract related costs and fees, including
36
allocated indirect costs, and (iv) control and potentially prohibit the
export of the Company's products.
All of the Company's Government contracts are, by their terms,
subject to termination by the Government either for its convenience or for
default of the contractor. Termination for convenience provisions provide
only for the recovery by the Company of costs incurred or committed,
settlement expenses and profit on work completed prior to termination.
Termination for default provisions provide for the contractor to be liable
for excess costs incurred by the Government in procuring undelivered items
from another source. In addition to the right of the Government to
terminate, Government contracts are conditioned upon the continuing
availability of Congressional appropriations. Congress usually
appropriates funds for a given program on a fiscal-year basis even though
contract performance may take more than one year. Consequently, at the
outset of a major program, the contract is usually partially funded, and
additional monies are normally committed to the contract by the procuring
agency only if, as and when appropriations are made by Congress for future
fiscal years. Foreign defense contracts generally contain comparable
provisions relating to termination at the convenience of the government.
The Company is subject to audit and review by the Government of its
costs and performance on, and accounting and general business practices
relating to, Government contracts. The Company's contract related costs
and fees, including allocated indirect costs, are subject to adjustment
based on the results of such audits. In addition, under Government
purchasing regulations, certain of the Company's costs, including certain
financing costs, goodwill, portions of research and development costs, and
certain marketing expenses may not be reimbursable under Government
contracts. Further, as a government contractor, the Company is also
subject to investigation, legal action and/or liability that would not
apply to a commercial company.
The Company, like all defense businesses, is subject to risks
associated with the frequent need to bid on programs in advance of design
completion (which may result in unforeseen technological difficulties
and/or cost overruns), the substantial time and effort required for
relatively unproductive design and development, design complexity and
rapid obsolescence, and the constant necessity for design improvement. The
Company obtains many of its Government contracts through a process of
competitive bidding. There can be no assurance that the Company will
continue to be successful in winning competitively awarded contracts or
that awarded contracts will generate sufficient sales to result in
profitability for the Company. See "Business--Major Customers" and "--
Government Contracts".
In addition to these Government contract risks, many of the
Company's products and systems require licenses from Government agencies
for export from the United States, and certain of the Company's products
currently are not permitted to be exported. There can be no assurance that
the Company will be able to gain any and all licenses required to export
its products, and failure to receive the required licenses could
materially reduce the Company's ability to sell its products outside the
United States.
37
The Company's services are provided primarily through fixed price or
cost plus contracts. Approximately 58% of the Company's pro forma sales in
1996 were attributable to fixed price contracts. The financial results of
long-term fixed price contracts are recognized using the cost-to-cost
percentage-of-completion method. As a result, revisions in revenues and
profit estimates are reflected in the period in which the conditions that
require such revisions become known and are estimable. The risks inherent
in long-term fixed price contracts include the difficulty of forecasting
costs and schedules, contract revenues that are related to performance in
accordance with contract specifications and potential for component
obsolescence in connection with long-term procurements. Failure to
anticipate technical problems, estimate costs accurately or control costs
during performance of a fixed price contract may reduce the Company's
profitability or cause a loss. Although the Company believes that adequate
provision for its fixed price contracts is reflected in its financial
statements, no assurance can be given that this provision is adequate or
that losses on fixed price and time-and-material contracts will not occur
in the future.
Backlog
The Company's backlog represents orders under contracts which are
primarily with the Government. The Government enjoys broad rights to
unilaterally modify or terminate such contracts. Accordingly, most of the
Company's backlog is subject to modification and termination at the
Government's will. There can be no assurance that the Company's backlog
will become revenues in any particular period or at all. Further, there
can be no assurance that the margins on any contract included in backlog
that does become revenue will be profitable.
Competition
The communications equipment industry for defense applications and
as a whole is highly competitive. Declining defense budgets and increasing
pressures for cost reductions have precipitated a major consolidation in
the defense industry. The DoD's increased use of commercial off-the-shelf
products and components in military equipment is expected to increase the
entrance of new competitors. In addition, consolidation has resulted in
delays in contract funding or awards and significant predatory pricing
pressures associated with increased competition and reduced funding. The
Company expects that the emergence of merchant suppliers will increase
competition for OEM business. The Company's ability to compete for defense
contracts depends to a large extent on the effectiveness and
innovativeness of its research and development programs, its ability to
offer better program performance than its competitors at a lower cost to
the Government customer and its readiness in facilities, equipment and
personnel to undertake the programs for which it competes. In some
instances, programs are sole source or work directed by the Government to
a single supplier. In such cases, there may be other suppliers who have
the capability to compete for the programs involved, but they can only
enter or reenter the market if the Government should choose to reopen the
particular program to competition. Many of the Company's competitors are
larger and have substantially greater financial and other resources than
the Company. See "Business--Competition".
38
Ownership of Holdings and the Company
The Lehman Partnership owns a majority of the outstanding voting
stock of Holdings, which owns all of the outstanding common stock of the
Company. By virtue of such ownership, the Lehman Partnership has the power
to direct the affairs of the Company and is able to determine the outcome
of substantially all matters required to be submitted to stockholders for
approval, including the election of a majority of the Company's directors
and, except to the extent otherwise required by law, amendment of the
Company's Certificate of Incorporation. See "The Transaction" and
"Ownership of Capital Stock".
Subordination
The Company's obligations under the Notes are subordinate and junior
in right of payment to all existing and future Senior Debt of the Company.
As of June 30, 1997, on a pro forma basis after giving effect to the
Transaction, the Company would have had approximately $400 million of
indebtedness outstanding, of which $175 million would have been Senior
Debt (excluding letters of credit). Additional Senior Debt may be incurred
by the Company from time to time, subject to certain restrictions. By
reason of such subordination, in the event of an insolvency, liquidation,
or other reorganization of the Company, the lenders under the Senior
Credit Facilities and other creditors who are holders of Senior Debt must
be paid in full before the holders of the Notes may be paid; accordingly,
there may be insufficient assets remaining after payment of prior claims
to pay amounts due on the Notes. In addition, under certain circumstances,
no payments may be made with respect to the Notes if a default exists with
respect to certain Senior Debt. See "Description of the Exchange Notes--
Subordination".
Restrictions Imposed by the Senior Credit Facilities and the Indenture
The Senior Credit Facilities and the Indenture contain a number of
significant covenants that, among other things, restrict the ability of
the Company to dispose of assets, incur additional indebtedness, repay
other indebtedness, pay dividends, make certain investments or
acquisitions, repurchase or redeem capital stock, engage in mergers or
consolidations, or engage in certain transactions with subsidiaries and
affiliates and otherwise restrict corporate activities. There can be no
assurance that such restrictions will not adversely affect the Company's
ability to finance its future operations or capital needs or engage in
other business activities that may be in the interest of the Company. In
addition, the Senior Credit Facilities also require the Company to
maintain compliance with certain financial ratios, including total EBITDA
to total interest expense and total debt to total EBITDA, and limit
capital expenditures by the Company. The ability of the Company to comply
with such ratios and limits may be affected by events beyond the Company's
control. A breach of any of these covenants or the inability of the
Company to comply with the required financial ratios or limits could
result in a default under the Senior Credit Facilities. In the event of
any such default, the lenders under the Senior Credit Facilities could
elect to declare all borrowings outstanding under the Senior Credit
Facilities, together with accrued interest and other fees, to be due and
payable, to require the Company to apply all of its available cash to
39
repay such borrowings or to prevent the Company from making debt service
payments on the Notes, any of which would be an Event of Default under the
Notes. If the Company were unable to repay any such borrowings when due,
the lenders could proceed against their collateral. In connection with the
Senior Credit Facilities, the Company has granted the lenders thereunder a
first priority lien on substantially all of its assets. The lenders under
the Senior Credit Facilities will also have a first priority security
interest in all of the capital stock of the Company and its subsidiaries.
If the indebtedness under the Senior Credit Facilities or the Notes were
to be accelerated, there can be no assurance that the assets of the
Company would be sufficient to repay such indebtedness in full. See
"Description of the Exchange Notes" and "Description of Senior Credit
Facilities".
Fraudulent Conveyance
The Old Notes were incurred to finance the acquisition of the
Businesses from Lockheed Martin. Management believes that the indebtedness
of the Company represented by the Senior Credit Facilities and the Notes
were incurred for proper purposes and in good faith, and that, based on
present forecasts and other financial information, after the consummation
of the Transaction and the issuance of the Notes, the Company will be
solvent, will have sufficient capital for carrying on its business and
will be able to pay its debts as they mature. Notwithstanding management's
belief, however, under federal and state fraudulent transfer laws, if a
court of competent jurisdiction in a suit by an unpaid creditor or a
representative of creditors (such as a trustee in bankruptcy or a
debtor-in-possession) were to find that, at the time of the incurrence of
such indebtedness, the Company was insolvent, was rendered insolvent by
reason of such incurrence, was engaged in a business or transaction for
which its remaining assets constituted unreasonable small capital,
intended to incur, or believed that it would incur, debts beyond its
ability to pay such debts as they matured, or intended to hinder, delay or
defraud its creditors, and that the indebtedness was incurred for less
than reasonably equivalent value, then such court could, among other
things, (i) void all or a portion of the Company's obligations to the
Holders of the Exchange Notes, the effect of which would be that the
Holders of the Exchange Notes might not be repaid in full and/or (ii)
subordinate the Company's obligations to the Holders of the Exchange Notes
to other existing and future indebtedness of the Company to a greater
extent than would otherwise be the case, the effect of which would be to
entitle such other creditors to which the Exchange Notes were not
previously subordinated to be paid in full before any payment could be
made on the Exchange Notes. See "--Substantial Leverage" above.
Limitation on Change of Control
The Indenture provides that, upon the occurrence of a Change of
Control of the Company or Holdings, the Company will make an offer to
purchase all of the Exchange Notes at a price in cash equal to 101% of the
aggregate principal amount thereof together with accrued and unpaid
interest to the date of purchase. The Senior Credit Facilities currently
prohibit the Company from repurchasing any Exchange Notes except with the
proceeds of one or more Equity Offerings. The Senior Credit Facilities
40
also provide that certain change of control events with respect to the
Company would constitute a default thereunder. Any future credit
agreements or other agreements relating to Senior Debt to which the
Company becomes a party may contain similar restrictions and provisions.
In the event a Change of Control event occurs at a time when the Company
is prohibited from purchasing the Exchange Notes, or if the Company is
required to make a Net Proceeds Offer (as defined) pursuant to the terms
of the Exchange Notes, the Company could seek the consent of its lenders
to the purchase of the Exchange Notes or could attempt to refinance the
borrowings that contain such prohibition. If the Company does not obtain
such a consent or repay such borrowings, the Company will remain
prohibited from purchasing the Exchange Notes. In such case, the Company's
failure to make such an offer or to purchase tendered Exchange Notes would
constitute an Event of Default under the Indenture. If, as a result
thereof, a default occurs with respect to any Senior Debt, the
subordination provisions in the Indenture would likely restrict payments
to the holders of the Exchange Notes. Finally, the Company's ability to
pay cash to the holders of Notes upon a purchase may be limited by the
Company's then-existing financial resources. There can be no assurance
that sufficient funds will be available when necessary to make any
required purchases. Furthermore, the Change of Control provisions may in
certain circumstances make more difficult or discourage a takeover of the
Company. See "Description of the Exchange Notes--Repurchase at the Option
of Holders -- Change of Control".
Forward Looking Statements
This Prospectus contains forward looking statements concerning the
Company's operations, economic performance and financial condition,
including in particular, the likelihood of the Company's success in
operating as an independent company and developing and expanding its
business and the realization of sales from backlog. These statements are
based upon a number of assumptions and estimates which are inherently
subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are
beyond the control of the Company, and reflect future business decisions
which are subject to change. Some of these assumptions inevitably will not
materialize, and unanticipated events will occur which will affect the
Company's future results. All such forward looking statements are
qualified by reference to matters discussed under this section entitled
"Risk Factors".
41
USE OF PROCEEDS
There will be no proceeds to the Company from the exchange of Notes
pursuant to the Exchange Offer.
The net proceeds received by the Company from the Offering of the
Old Notes, approximately $217.3 million after deducting discounts and
estimated fees and expenses, together with the borrowings under the Senior
Credit Facilities, were used to pay, in part, the cash portion of the
purchase price of the Acquisition and pay related fees and expenses.
CAPITALIZATION
The following table sets forth the capitalization of L-3 at June
30, 1997.
June 30, 1997
-----------------
($ in millions)
Revolving Credit Facility . . . . . . --
Term Loan Facilities . . . . . . . . . . $174.0
10 3/8% Senior Subordinated Notes
due 2007 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225.0
------
Total Debt . . . . . . . . . . . . . 399.0
Shareholders' Equity Capital
Common Stock . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125.0
Retained Earnings . . . . . . . . . . 3.1
Deemed Distribution. . . . . . . . (7.5)
------
Total Capitalization . . . . . . . $519.6
======
__________________________
Availability of up to $100 million, none of which was drawn at
Closing other than letters of credit, which were less than $10
million.
Reflects the "Push Down" of Holdings' basis of its investment in the
Company. The Acquisition was accounted for by Holdings as a purchase
transaction in accordance with Accounting Principles Board Opinion
No. 16. However, as a result of the 34.9% ownership retained by
Lockheed Martin, the provisions of the Financial Accounting
Standards Board's Emerging Issues Task Force Issue No. 88-16, "Basis
in Leveraged Buyout Transactions" ("EITF 88-16"), is applied in
connection with the allocation of purchase price to the acquired net
assets. The application of the provisions of EITF 88-16 results in
recording net assets acquired at approximately 34.9% of Lockheed
Martin's carrying values plus 65.1% of fair value and the recording
of a deemed distribution, estimated to be approximately $7.5
million.
42
UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED (COMBINED) FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The following unaudited pro forma financial information gives effect
to (i) the purchase of the Businesses by Holdings and the Company, (ii)
the transfer of certain other assets and liabilities to the Company by
Lockheed Martin, (iii) the Financing, (iv) the initial capitalization of
the Company and (v) the "push down" of Holdings' basis of its investment
in the Company. The unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated statement
of operations assumes the transactions occurred as of January 1, 1996.
The pro forma financial information is based on the historical
consolidated (combined) financial statements of the Company for the six
months ended June 30, 1997 (which include the historical combined financial
statements of the Lockheed Martin Predecessor Businesses for the three
months ended March 31, 1997), and the year ended December 31, 1996 (which
include the results of the Loral Acquired Businesses for the nine months
ended December 31, 1996), and the Loral Acquired Businesses for the
three months ended March 31, 1996 using the purchase method of accounting
and the assumptions and adjustments in the accompanying notes to the
unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated (combined) financial statements.
The pro forma adjustments are based upon preliminary estimates.
Actual adjustments will be based on final appraisals and other analyses
of fair values and adjustment of the final purchase price. Changes between
preliminary and financial allocations for the valuation of contracts in
process inventories, pension liabilities, fixed assets and deferred taxes
could be material. The pro forma statement of operations does not reflect
any costs savings that management believes would have resulted had the
transactions occurred on January 1, 1996. The pro forma financial
information should be read in conjunction with the unaudited interim
condensed consolidated (combined) financial statements of the Company as
of June 30, 1997 and for the six month period ended June 30, 1997
and the audited combined financial statements as of December 31,
1996, and for the year ended December 31, 1996 of the Businesses. The pro
forma data may not be indicative of the results that actually would have
occurred had the transactions been in effect on the dates indicated or
results that may be obtained in the future.
43
Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations Data
Six Months Ended June 30, 1997 Year Ended December 31, 1996
------------------------------------------------------ -----------------------------------------------------
The Company Lockheed Lockheed
Three Months Martin Martin Loral
Ended Predecessor Predecessor Acquired
June 30, Businesses Pro forma Pro forma Businesses Businesses Pro forma Pro forma
1997 Adjustments Consolidated Adjustments Consolidated
----------- ----------- ----------- ------------ ----------- ----------- ----------- ------------
($ in millions)
Statement of
Operations Data:
Sales . . . . . . . $168.0 $158.9 $ -- $326.9 $543.1 $132.2 $ -- $675.3
Cost of sales . . . 152.9 151.0 (1.0) 302.9 499.4 124.4 (4.5) 619.3
------ ------ ----- ------ ------ ------ ----- ------
Operating income 15.1 7.9 1.0 24.0 43.7 7.8 4.5 56.0
Interest expense . 10.0 8.4 1.3 19.7 24.2 4.4 (12.0) 40.6
------ ------ ----- ------ ------ ------ ----- ------
Earnings
(loss) before
income taxes . 5.1 (.5) (.3) 4.3 19.5 3.4 (7.5) 15.4
Income tax expense
(benefit) . . . . 2.0 (.2) (.1) 1.7 7.8 1.3 (3.0) 6.1
------ ------ ----- ------ ------ ------ ----- ------
Net earnings
(loss) . . . . $ 3.1 $ (.3) (.2) 2.6 $ 11.7 $ 2.1 $(4.5) $ 9.3
====== ====== ===== ====== ====== ====== ===== ======
See notes to Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed
Consolidated Financial Statements.
44
Notes to Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
The following facts and assumptions were used in determining the pro
forma effect of the Transaction.
Holdings and Lockheed Martin entered into a Transaction Agreement
dated as of March 28, 1997 ("Transaction Agreement") whereby
Holdings acquired effective April 1, 1997 substantially all of the
assets and certain liabilities of ten business units of Lockheed
Martin that comprise the Company's Secured Communication Systems and
Specialized Communication Products businesses. As a result of the
Acquisition, Lockheed Martin, the Lehman Partnership and Senior
Management own 34.9%, 50.1% and 15.0% of common equity,
respectively, of Holdings, the sole stockholder of the Company. The
purchase price of $525.0 million comprised $479.8 million of cash
and $45.2 million of Holdings' common equity retained by Lockheed
Martin. The cash portion of the purchase price is subject to certain
agreed upon adjustments and other adjustments based upon the closing
tangible net asset value as defined in the Transaction Agreement.
For purposes of the pro forma financial information, a reduction
in the purchase price of $20.0 million has been assumed pursuant to
the Transaction Agreement. Costs related to the Transaction are
estimated to approximate $20.0 million of which $14.0 million is
related to the Financing and is included in other assets. Holdings
and the Company had no operations until the consummation of the
acquisition; accordingly, the pro forma financial statements
reflect the combined statement of operations of the Lockheed Martin
Predecessor Businesses for the three month period ended March 31, 1997
and for the year ended December 31, 1996 and the combined statement of
operations of the Loral Acquired Businesses for the three months ended
March 31, 1996.
The Acquisition was financed with the proceeds of $175 million of
Term Loan Facilities, $225 million of Exchange Notes and capital
contributions of $125 million, including the $45.2 million retained
by Lockheed Martin. Prior to April 1, 1997, interest expense was
allocated to the Lockheed Martin Predecessor Businesses from Lockheed
Martin. The pro forma statement of operations reflects the elimination
of allocated interest expense of $8.4 million for the three months
ended March 31, 1997 and $28.6 million for the year ended December 31,
1996 and the following additional adjustments to interest expense.
45
Three Months
Ended Year Ended
March 31, December 31,
1977 1996
-------------- --------------
($ in millions)
Interest on Notes (10.375% on $225
million). . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 5.8 $23.3
Interest on borrowings under the
Senior Credit Facilities (8.40% on
$175 million) . . . . . . . . . . . 3.7 14.7
Commitment fee of 0.50% on unused
Revolving Credit Facility . . . . . .1 .5
Amortization of deferred financing
costs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 2.1
---- ----
$10.2 $40.6
===== =====
The estimated excess of purchase price over net assets acquired of
$297.9 million is being amortized over 40 years resulting in a
pro forma charge of $7.7 million for 1996 and $1.9 million for the
three months ended March 31, 1997. Further, the pro forma balance
sheet includes the elimination of $280.1 million of intangibles,
primarily cost in excess of net assets acquired, included in the
Lockheed Martin Predecessor historical balance sheet, and the pro
forma statement of operations includes the elimination of $10.1
million and $2.7 million for 1996 and the three months ended March
31, 1997, respectively, of related amortization expense. The
preliminary purchase price allocation includes an estimated $4.4
million adjustment relating to a reduction of contracts in process
resulting from valuing acquired contracts in process at contract
price, less the estimated cost to complete and an allowance for
normal profit margin on the Company's effort to complete such
contracts. In addition, contracts in process include an estimated
increase of $3.0 million related to valuing certain commercial
finished goods inventory at their fair values. The non-recurring
changes to income in 1996 resulting from the above-mentioned
adjustments are not material to the pro forma statement of operations.
A combined statutory (federal and state) tax rate of 41% was
assumed on the pro forma adjustments.
46
In connection with the Acquisition, Lockheed Martin also
transferred the assets and liabilities of a microwave semiconductor
product line, a building to be used by one of the acquired
divisions, and certain leasehold improvements. No adjustment has
been made to the pro forma statement of operations for the effect
of these transfers because they are not material. In addition, L-3
has agreed to assume the assets and liabilities of certain defined
benefit pension plans and a liability for retiree medical and life
insurance for certain employees. The pro forma statement of
operations for the six months ended June 30, 1997 (for the three
months ended March 31, 1997) and the year ended December 31, 1996
includes a net reduction to costs and expenses of $.6 million and $2.5
million, respectively, to record estimated pension cost on a separate
company basis net of the reversal of the allocated pension cost
included in the historical financial statements. No such adjustment
has been made to the pro forma statement of operations for retiree
medical and life insurance benefits because the estimated expense of
those benefits on a separate company basis approximates the cost
included in the historical financial statements.
47
SELECTED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
The following unaudited selected consolidated (combined) financial
data as of June 30, 1997 and for the six month periods then ended June
30, 1997 and 1996 have been derived from, and should be read in conjunction
with, the unaudited interim condensed consolidated (combined) financial
statements of the Company and footnotes thereto as of June 30, 1997
included elsewhere herein.
The following selected combined financial data as of March 31, 1997
and for the three months ended March 31, 1997 and as of December
31, 1996 and 1995 and for the years ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994
have been derived from, and should be read in conjunction with, the audited
Combined Financial Statements of the Businesses and footnotes thereto
included elsewhere herein. The combined selected financial data for the
three month periods ended March 31, 1996 have been derived from, and should
be read in conjunction with, the unaudited Combined Financial Statements
of the Businesses and footnotes thereto included elsewhere herein. In
the opinion of the management, the unaudited combined financial
statements include all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring
accruals) considered necessary for the fair presentation of the
information contained therein. Results for the interim periods are not
necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the entire year.
The unaudited selected combined financial data for the three month
period ended March 31, 1996 and as of December 31, 1994 and 1993, March 31,
1993 and December 31, 1992 for balance sheet data and the nine months ended
December 31, 1993, the three months ended March 31, 1993 and the year ended
December 31, 1992 for statement of operations data have been derived from
the unaudited financial statements of Communication Systems -- Camden. In
the opinion of the Businesses' management, such unaudited financial
statements reflect all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring
adjustments) necessary to present fairly the financial position and results
of operations of Communication Systems -- Camden, also referred to as
Lockheed Martin Communication Systems Division in the Lockheed Martin
Predecessor Financial Statements, as of the dates and periods indicated.
These selected financial data should be read in conjunction with
"Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results
of Operations" and the condensed consolidated (combined) financial
statements of the Company and the Combined Financial Statements of the
Lockheed Martin Predecessor Businesses and the Loral Acquired Businesses
included elsewhere herein.
48
Six Months Ended June 30, 1997
--------------------------------
For the Three
Three Months Months
Ended Six Months Ended March 31,
-------------------------------- Ended --------------------
June 30, 1997 March 31, 1997 June 30, 1996 1997 1996
--------------- -------------- ------------- -------- ----------
($ in millions)
Statement of Operations Data: |
Sales . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $168.0 | $158.9 $206.4 $158.9 $ 41.2
Operating income . . . . . . . . . . . . 15.1 | 7.9 10.9 7.9 1.7
Interest expense . . . . . . . . . . . 10.0 | 8.4 9.4 8.4 2.0
Provision (benefit) for income taxes. 2.0 | (.2) 1.3 (.2) .2
Net earnings (loss) . . . . . . . . . . . 3.1 | (.3) .2 (.3) (.5)
|
Other Data: |
EBITDA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 22.3 | $ 15.1 $ 21.2 $ 15.1 $ 4.8
Depreciation expense . . . . . . . . . . 4.5 | 4.5 5.8 4.5 1.2
Amortization expense . . . . . . . . . . 2.7 | 2.7 4.5 2.7 1.9
Capital expenditures . . . . . . . . . . 3.1 | 4.3 4.7 4.3 .4
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges . . . 1.47x | 1.02x
Cash from (used in) operating activities. 32.9 | (16.3) (29.4) (16.3) 10.2
Cash from (used in) investing activities. (473.6) | (4.3) (292.0) (4.3) (.4)
Cash from (used in) financing activities. 463.3 | 20.6 321.4 20.6 (9.8)
|
Balance Sheet Data: |
Working capital . . . . . . . . . . . . . $117.6 | $121.4 N/A $121.4 N/A
Total assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 680.9 | 608.5 N/A 608.5 N/A
Invested equity . . . . . . . . . . . . . -- | 493.9 N/A 493.9 N/A
Shareholders' equity. . . . . . . . . . . 120.6 | -- N/A -- N/A
49
Years Ended December 31,
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1993
------------------------------
Nine Months Three Months
Ended Ended
1996 1995 1994 Dec. 31 March 31 1992
---------- ---------- ---------- ------------- --------------- ----------
($ in millions)
Statement of Operations Data: |
Sales . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $543.1 $166.8 $218.9 $200.0 | $67.8 $368.5
Operating income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43.7 4.7 8.4 12.4 | 5.1 49.3
Interest expense . . . . . . . . . . . . 24.2 4.5 5.5 4.1 | -- --
Provision (benefit) for income taxes. . . 7.8 1.2 2.3 3.8 | 2.0 19.8
Net earnings (loss) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11.7 (1.0) 0.6 4.5 | 3.1 29.5
|
Other Data: |
EBITDA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 68.7 $ 16.2 $ 19.9 $ 23.4 | $ 7.0 $ 58.5
Depreciation expense . . . . . . . . . . . . 14.9 5.5 5.4 6.1 | 1.8 8.9
Amortization expense . . . . . . . . . . . . 10.1 6.1 6.1 4.9 | 0.1 0.3
Capital expenditures . . . . . . . . . . . . 13.5 5.5 3.7 2.6 | 0.8 3.9
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges . . . . . 1.72x 1.03x 1.40x N/A | N/A N/A
Cash from (used in) operating activities . . 31.0 9.4 21.8 N/A | N/A N/A
Cash from (used in) investing activities . . (298.3) (5.5) (3.7) N/A | N/A N/A
Cash from (used in) financing activities . . 267.3 (3.9) (18.1) N/A | N/A N/A
|
Balance Sheet Data: |
Working capital . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 98.8 $ 21.1 $ 19.3 $ 24.7 | $22.8 $ 35.8
Total assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 593.3 228.5 233.3 241.7 | 93.5 105.1
Invested equity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 473.6 194.7 199.5 202.0 | 59.9 72.8
Shareholders' equity. . . . . . . . . . . . . -- -- -- -- | --
|
50
____________________
[FN]
Reflects ownership of Loral's Communication Systems -- Salt Lake
and Specialized Communication Products businesses commencing
April 1, 1996.
Reflects ownership of Communication Systems -- Camden by Lockheed
Martin commencing April 1, 1993.
Reflects ownership of Communication Systems -- Camden by GE
Aerospace for the periods indicated. The amounts shown herein
include only those amounts as reflected in the financial records of
Communication Systems -- Camden.
For periods prior to April 1, 1997, interest expense and income tax
(benefit) provision were allocated from Lockheed Martin.
EBITDA is defined as income before deducting interest expense,
income taxes, depreciation and amortization. EBITDA is not a
substitute for operating income, net earnings and cash flow from
operating activities as determined in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles as a measure of profitability or
liquidity. EBITDA is presented as additional information because
management believes it to be a useful indicator of the Company's
ability to meet debt service and capital expenditure requirements
and because certain debt covenants of L-3 utilize EBITDA to measure
compliance with such covenants.
For the three months ended March 31, 1997 and 1996, earnings were
insufficient to cover fixed charges by $.5 million and $.4 million,
respectively.
51
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
General
The Company is a supplier of sophisticated secure communication
systems and specialized communication products including secure, high
data rate communication systems commercial fixed wireless communication
products, microwave components, avionic displays and recorders and
instruments products. The Company's customers include the Department of
Defense, selected U.S. government intelligence agencies, major aerospace/
defense prime contractors and commercial customers. The Company operates
primarily in one industry segment, electronic components and systems.
Substantially all the Company's products are sold to agencies of
the U.S. Government, primarily the Department of Defense, to foreign
government agencies or to prime contractors or subcontractors thereof.
All domestic government contracts and subcontracts of the Businesses are
subject to audit and various cost controls, and include standard provisions
for termination for the convenience of the U.S. Government. Multi-year
U.S. Government contracts and related orders are subject to cancellation
if funds for contract performance for any subsequent year become
unavailable. Foreign government contracts generally include comparable
provisions relating to termination for the convenience of the government.
The decline in the U.S. defense budget since the mid 1980s has
resulted in program delays, cancellations and scope reduction for defense
contracts in general. These events may or may not have an effect on the
Company's programs; however, in the event that U.S. Government
expenditures for products of the type manufactured by the Company are
reduced, and not offset by greater commercial sales or other new programs
or products, or acquisitions, there may be a reduction in the volume of
contracts or subcontracts awarded to the Company.
In response to the decline in the defense budget, the DoD has focused
its resources on enhancing its military readiness, joint operations and
multiple mission capabilities and on incorporating advanced electronics to
improve performance, reduce operating costs and extend life expectancy of
its existing and future platforms. The emphasis on system interoperability,
force multipliers and providing battlefield commanders with real-time data
is increasing the electronics content of nearly all of the major military
procurement and research programs. As a result, the DoD's budget for
communications and defense electronics is expected to grow. According to
Federal Sources, an independent private consulting group, the U.S. defense
budget for command, control, communications and intelligence ("C3I") is
projected to increase at a compound annual growth rate of 5.8% through
2002. Management believes that L-3 will benefit from this growth due to
its substantial position in the markets for secure communication systems,
antenna systems, display systems, microwave components and other related
areas.
52
Six Months Ended June 30, 1997
-----------------------------------------------
Three Months Three Months Six Months
Ended Ended Ended
June 30, March 31, Combined June 30,
1997 1997 Six Months 1996
------------- ------------- ------------- ------------
Statement of Operations Data:
Sales . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $168.0 | $158.9 $326.9 $206.4
Cost of sales . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152.9 | 151.0 303.9 195.5
----- | ----- ----- -----
Operating income . . . . . . . . . . . . 15.1 | 7.9 23.0 10.9
Allocated interest expense . . . . . . . . 10.0 | 8.4 18.4 9.4
----- | ----- ----- -----
Income (loss) before income taxes . . . . 5.1 | <.5> 4.6 1.5
Income taxes (benefit) . . . . . . . . . . 2.0 | <.2> 1.8 1.3
----- | ----- ----- -----
Net earnings (loss) . . . . . . . . . . . $ 3.1 | $ <.3> $ 2.8 $ .2
===== | ===== ===== =====
Three Months Ended
March 31, Years Ended December 31,
------------------ ----------------------------
1997 1996 1996 1995 1994
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
($ in millions)
Statement of Operations Data:
Sales . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $158.9 $ 41.2 $543.1 $166.8 $218.9
Cost of sales . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151.0 39.5 499.4 162.1 210.5
----- ----- ----- ----- -----
Operating income . . . . . . . . . . . . 7.9 1.7 43.7 4.7 8.4
Allocated interest expense . . . . . . . . 8.4 2.0 24.2 4.5 5.5
----- ----- ----- ----- -----
Income (loss) before income taxes . . . . (.5) (.3) 19.5 0.2 2.9
Income taxes (benefit) . . . . . . . . . . (.2) .2 7.8 1.2 2.3
----- ----- ----- ----- -----
Net earnings (loss) . . . . . . . . . . . $ (.3) $ (.5) $ 11.7 $ (1.0) $ 0.6
===== ===== ===== ===== =====
53
Results of Operations
The Company's financial statements reflect operations since the
effective date of the acquisition (April 1, 1997); accordingly
comparisons for the six months ended June 30, 1997 to the prior period
of the Predecessor Company are not meaningful. To facilitate meaningful
comparisons of the operating results of the periods set forth below, the
results of operations for the six months June 30, 1997 were obtained by
combining, without adjustment, the results of operations of the Predecessor
Company for the period January 1, 1997 through March 31, 1997 and the
Company for the period April 1, 1997 through June 30, 1997. The results of
operations for the six months ended June 30, 1996 represent the results of
operations of the Predecessor Company. Interest expense and income taxes
expense for the periods are not comparable and the impact of interest
expense and income taxes expense on the Company is discussed below. See
the columns denoted "Predecessor Company" and "The Company," representing
the predecessor periods and successor periods, respectively, in the
statements of operations and cash flows for the periods included in this
report.
The results of operations of the Predecessor Company for the three
months ended March 31, 1997 and the six months ended June 30, 1996, include
certain costs and expenses allocated by Lockheed Martin for corporate
office expenses based primarily on the allocation methodology prescribed
by government regulations pertaining to government contractors. Interest
expense was allocated based on Lockheed Martin's actual weighted average
consolidated interest rate applied to the portion of the beginning of the
year invested equity deemed to be financed by consolidated debt based on
Lockheed Martin's debt to equity ratio on such date. The provision/benefit
for income taxes was allocated to the Predecessor Company as if they were
separate taxpayers, calculated by applying statutory rates to reported
pre-tax income after considering items that do not enter into the
determination of taxable income and tax credits related to the Predecessor
Company. Also pension and post employment benefit costs were allocated
based on employee headcount. Accordingly, the results of operations and
financial position hereinafter of the Predecessor Company discussed may
not be the same as would have occurred had the Predecessor Company
been an independent entity.
As an independent entity, actual corporate office expense are expected to
be about 10% to 20% or approximately $1 million to $2 million less than
corporate office expense allocated to the Businesses by Lockheed Martin
and Loral. Actuarial studies are being prepared regarding stand alone
employee benefit costs; however, the Company believes that such costs
will not vary materially from historical predecessor amounts. The
ultimate impact of the aforementioned items on the Company's future
results of operations will be mitigated due to the cost-plus nature
of certain of the Company's government contracts which comprised
approximately 42% of the 1996 pro forma sales. For the anticipated
impact of interest and income taxes on a stand-alone basis, refer to
pro forma financial information included elsewhere herein.
54
Three Months Ended June 30, 1997 and June 30, 1996
The following table sets forth selected income statement data for
the Company and the Predecessor Company for the periods indicated:
Predecessor
The Company Company
------------- -------------
Three Months Three Months
Ended Ended
June 30, 1997 June 30, 1996
------------- -------------
($ in millions)
Sales . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $168.0 $165.3
Cost and expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . 152.9 156.0
------- ------
Operating income . . . . . . . . . . . . 15.1 9.3
Interest expense . . . . . . . . . . . . 10.0 7.4
------- ------
Income before income taxes . . . . . . . 5.1 1.9
Income taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.0 1.2
------- -------
Net income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 3.1 $ .7
======= ========
55
Sales for the quarter ended June 30, 1997 increased to $168.0 million
from $165.3 million for the quarter ended June 30, 1996 (the "prior year
period"). Operating income increased to $15.1 million compared with $9.3
million in the prior year period. Net income increased to $3.1 million
compared to $0.7 million in the prior year period.
The sales increase was attributable to increased volume on sales of
the E2-C Trac-A antenna program, microwave components and Common
High-bandwidth Data Link (CHBDL) systems; partially offset by lower volume
on expendable countermeasures and U-2 Support program.
Operating income as a percentage of sales increased to 9.0% in the
quarter ended June 30, 1997 compared to 5.6% in the prior year period. The
increase is largely attributable to the improved operating margins in the
Telemetry product lines, increased sales volume on higher-margin microwave
components and the favorable impact of the Avionics product lines
discontinued in the prior year.
Interest expense is not comparable to prior year period as a result
of the financing related to the Acquisition. Interest expense for the
Company for the quarter ended June 30, 1997 was $10.0 million. Interest
expense for the three months ended June 30, 1996, represents an
allocation of Lockheed Martin's interest expense to the Predecessor
Company.
The effective income tax rate for the Company for the quarter ended
June 30, 1997 was 40% reflecting the estimated effective income tax rate
for the full year ended December 31, 1997. In the prior year period, the
effective income tax rate of the Predecessor Company was significantly
impacted by amortization of costs in excess of net assets acquired, which
were not deductible for income tax purposes.
Six Months Ended June 30, 1997 and June 30, 1996
The following table sets forth selected income statement data for
the Company and the Predecessor Company for the periods indicated.
56
Predecessor Predecessor
The Company Company Company
------------- ------------- -------------
Combined
Three Months Three Months Six Months Six Months
Ended Ended Ended Ended
June 30, 1997 March 31, 1997 June 30, 1997 June 30, 1996
------------- -------------- ------------- -------------
($ in millions)
Sales . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $168.0 $158.9 $326.9 $206.4
Cost and expenses . . . . . . . . . . . 152.9 151.0 303.9 195.5
------- ------- ------- -------
Operating income . . . . . . . . . . . 15.1 7.9 23.0 10.9
Interest expense . . . . . . . . . . . 10.0 8.4 18.4 9.4
------- -------- ------- --------
Income (loss) before income taxes . . . 5.1 <.5> 4.6 1.5
Income taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.0 <.2> 1.8 1.3
-------- -------- ------- --------
Net income (loss) . . . . . . . . . . . $ 3.1 $ <.3> $2.8 $ .2
======== ======== ======== ========
Sales for the six months ended June 30, 1997 increased to $326.9
million from $206.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 1996 (the
"prior year period"). Operating income increased to $23.1 million from
$10.9 million in the prior year period. Net income increased to $2.8
million from $0.2 million in the prior year period.
The sales increase was attributable primarily to the sales of the
Loral Acquired Businesses which contributed $248.0 million for the six
months ended June 30, 1997 compared to $126.2 in the prior year period.
The acquisition of the Loral Acquired Businesses was effective April 1,
1996. Sales of Communication Systems - Camden decreased by $1.3 million
to $78.9 million compared to prior year period.
Operating income as a percentage of sales increased to 7.1% in the
six months ended June 30, 1997 compared to 5.3% in the prior year period.
The increase in operating income also was largely attributable to the
Loral Acquired Businesses, which contributed operating income of $23.8
million for the six months ended June 30, 1997 compared to $7.8 million
in the prior year period. Communication Systems - Camden's operating
income for the period compared to prior year decreased by $4.0 million
to a $0.8 million operating loss, primarily due to increased costs on
the Space Station, Baseband and ADODSM programs.
57
Interest expense is not comparable to prior year period as a result
of the financing related to the Acquisition. Interest expense for the
Company for the three months ended June 30, 1997 was $10.0 million.
Interest expense for the six months ended June 30, 1996, represents an
allocation of Lockheed Martin's interest expense to the Predecessor
Company.
The effective income tax rate of the Company for the quarter ended
June 30, 1997 was 40%, reflecting the estimated effective income tax rate
for the full year ended December 31, 1997. In the prior year period, the
effective income tax rate of the Predecessor Company was significantly
impacted by amortization of costs in excess of net assets acquired, which
were not deductible for income tax purposes.
Three Months Ended March 31, 1997 Compared With Three Months Ended
March 31, 1996
The following table sets forth selected income statement data
for the Predecessor Company for the periods indicated.
Predecessor Company
---------------------
Three Months Ended
---------------------
March 31, March 31,
1997 1996
--------- ---------
($ in millions)
Sales . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $158.9 $ 41.2
Cost of expenses. . . . . . . . . . . . 151.0 39.5
----- ------
Operating income . . . . . . . . . . . 7.9 1.7
Allocated interest expense . . . . . . 8.4 2.0
----- -----
Income before income taxes . . . . . . (.5) (.3)
Allocated income taxes. . . . . . . . . (.2) .2
----- -----
Net income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ (.3) $ (.5)
====== ======
Sales for the three months ended March 31, 1997 (the "1997 period")
increased to $158.9 million from $41.2 million for the three months ended
March 31, 1996 (the "1996 period"). Operating income in the 1997 period
increased to $7.9 million compared with $1.7 million in the 1996 period.
Net loss decreased to $.3 million from $.5 million. The Loral Acquired
Business contributed $3.3 million in net earnings for the 1997 period,
offset by net loss of $3.6 million in Communications Systems -- Camden.
58
The sales increases was attributable to the Loral Acquired
Businesses which contributed $119.8 million of the increase. Sales of
Communications Systems -- Camden decreased by $2.1 million compared to the
1996 period primarily due to lower volume on the SIGINT production and
Secure Terminal Equipment (STE) development programs.
The increase in operating income also was largely attributable to
the Loral Acquired Business, which contributed $10.7 million of the
increase. Communication Systems - Camden's 1996 operating income for the
1997 period decreased by $4.4 million to a $2.8 million operating loss
for the 1997 period, primarily due to increased costs on the Space Station,
Baseband and AMODSM programs.
Operating income as a percentage of sales increased to 5.0% in the
1997 period compared to 4.1% in the 1996 period. The increase is
attributable to higher margins and operating improvements in the Loral
Acquired Businesses with operating income as a percentage of sales of
8.9%, offset by negative margins in Communications Systems -- Camden.
Allocated interest expense increased to $8.4 million from $2.0
million due primarily to the acquisition of the Loral Acquired Businesses,
which was assumed to be fully financed by debt, coupled with a higher
debt-to-equity ratio used in the allocation for Communications Systems --
Camden.
Year Ended December 31, 1996 Compared with Year Ended December 31,
1995
The following table sets forth selected income statement data for
the Predecessor Company for the periods indicated.
Predecessor Company
---------------------------
Year Ended
---------------------------
December 31, December 31,
1996 1995
------------ ------------
($ in millions)
Sales . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $543.1 $166.8
Cost and expenses . . . . . . . . . . . 499.4 162.1
----- ------
Operating income . . . . . . . . . . . 43.7 4.7
Allocated interest expense . . . . . . 24.2 4.5
----- -----
Income before taxes . . . . . . . . . . 19.5 .2
Allocated income taxes . . . . . . . . 7.8 1.2
----- -----
Net income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 11.7 $ (1.0)
====== ======
59
During 1996, sales increased to $543.1 million from $166.8 million
in the prior year. Operating income increased to $43.7 million compared
with $4.7 million in the prior year. Net earnings increased to $11.7
million compared to a loss of $1.0 million in the prior year. The Loral
Acquired Businesses contributed $13.6 million to 1996 net earnings.
The sales increase was attributed to the sales of the Loral
Acquired Businesses which contributed $381.1 million of the increase.
Sales of Communication Systems -- Camden decreased by $4.8 million
compared to 1995 primarily due to lower volume on Aegis power supplies and
SIGINT system production, partially offset by Local Management Device/Key
Processor ("LMD/KP") production startup.
The increase in operating income also was largely attributable to
the Loral Acquired Businesses, which contributed $36.9 million of the
increase. Communication Systems -- Camden operating income increased $2.2
million primarily due to improved operating performance on the Shipboard
Telephone Communications ("STC-2") program partially offset by increased
costs on the Space Station contract. As a percentage of sales, operating
income increased to 8.0% from 2.8%. This increase is attributable to the
improvement in Communication Systems -- Camden noted above, higher margins
and operating improvements in the Loral Acquired Businesses.
Allocated interest expense increased to $24.2 million from $4.5
million in the prior year due primarily to the acquisition of the Loral
Acquired Businesses, which was assumed to be fully financed by debt,
coupled with a higher debt-to-equity ratio used in the allocation for
Communication Systems -- Camden.
The effective income tax rate declined to 40% as compared to 681%
in the prior year. The 1995 effective rate was significantly impacted by
amortization of costs in excess of net assets acquired, which is not
deductible for income tax purposes. As a percentage of income subject to
tax, such amortization declined significantly in 1996.
60
Year Ended December 31, 1995 Compared with Year Ended December 31,
1994
The following table sets forth selected income statement data for
the Predecessor Company for the periods indicated.
Predecessor Company
---------------------------
Year Ended
---------------------------
December 31, December 31,
1995 1994
------------ ------------
($ in millions)
Sales . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $166.8 $218.9
Cost and expenses . . . . . . . . . . . 162.1 210.5
----- ------
Operating income . . . . . . . . . . . 4.7 8.4
Allocated interest expense . . . . . . 4.5 5.5
----- -----
Income before taxes . . . . . . . . . . .2 2.9
Allocated income taxes . . . . . . . . 1.2 2.3
----- -----
Net income . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $(1.0) $ .6
====== ======
Results for 1995 and 1994 reflect only the results of Communication
Systems -- Camden. During 1995, sales decreased to $166.8 million from
$218.9 million in the prior year. Operating income decreased to $4.7
million from $8.4 million and the net loss for 1995 was $1.0 million
compared to net earnings of $0.6 million in 1994.
The decrease in sales was primarily due to the completion of the
IREMBASS and termination of the SCAMP program and lower volume on the
STC-2 program.
The decline in operating income was partially due to the sales
decrease described above. In addition, as a percentage of sales, operating
income decreased to 2.8% in 1995 from 3.8% in 1994. The decrease in 1995
margins is primarily due to a cost overrun on the STE program.
Allocated interest expense decreased to $4.5 million in 1995 from
$5.5 million in 1994 due to the lower invested equity balance at January
1, 1995 compared to January 1, 1994, offset by a slightly higher weighted
average consolidated interest rate.
61
The effective income tax rates in 1995 and 1994 were significantly
impacted by amortization of costs in excess of net assets acquired, which
is not deductible for income tax purposes. The effective income tax rate
in 1995 increased to 681% compared to 78% in 1994. The increase is
primarily the result of the above described amortization increasing as a
percent of pre-tax income in 1995 compared to the respective percent
relationship in 1994.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
On April 30, 1997, effective April 1, 1997, the Company was purchased
from Lockheed Martin Corporation for approximately $525 million, before an
estimated purchase price adjustment of $20 million. The acquisition was
funded by a combination of debt and equity. The equity was provided by
Holdings who contributed $125 million, including $45 million retained by
Lockheed Martin, in exchange for all of the capital stock of the Company.
The funded debt consisted of $175 million of Term Loans under the Senior
Secured Credit Facility and $225 million of 10 3/8% Senior Subordinated
Notes. The required principal payments under the Term Loans are: $2 million
in the remainder of 1997, $5 million in 1998, $11 million in 1999, $19
million in 2000, $25 million in 2001, $33.2 million in 2002, $20 million in
2003, and $25.2 million in 2004, $24.9 million 2005, and $8.7 million in
2006. With respect to the Term Loans, interest payments vary in accordance
with the type of borrowings and are made at a minimum every three months.
Other than upon a change in control, the Company will not be required to
make principal payments in respect of the 10 3/8% Senior Subordinated Notes
until maturity on May 1, 2007. The Company is required to make semi-annual
interest payments with respect to the 10 3/8% Senior Subordinated Notes.
The Company typically makes capital expenditures related primarily to
improvement of manufacturing facilities and equipment.
The Senior Credit Facility Agreement contains financial covenants,
which remain in effect so long as any amount is owed by the Company under
the Senior Credit Facility. These financial covenants require that (i) the
Company's debt ratio be less than or equal to 5.75 for the quarter ending
September 30, 1997, and that the maximum allowable debt ratio thereafter
be further reduced to less than or equal to 3.1 for quarters ending after
June 30, 2002; and (ii) the Company's interest coverage ratio be at least
1.5 for the quarter ending September 30, 1997, and thereafter increase the
interest coverage ratio to at least 3.10 for any fiscal quarters ending
after June 30, 2002.
The Company has a substantial amount of indebtedness. Based upon the
current level of operation and anticipated improvements, management
believes that the Company's cash flow from operations, together with
available borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility, will be adequate
to meet its anticipated requirements for working capital, capital
expenditures, research and development expenditures, program and other
discretionary investments, interest payments and scheduled principal
payments for the forseeable future including at least the next 3 years.
There can be no assurance, however, that the Company's that the Company's
business will continue to generate cash flow at or above current levels
or that currently anticipated improvements will be achieved. If the
Company is unable to generate sufficient cash flow from operations in the
future to service its debt, it may be required to sell assets, reduce
62
capital expenditures, refinance all or a portion of its existing debt or
existing debt or obtain additional financing. The Company's ability to make
scheduled principal payments of, to pay interest on or to refinance its
indebtedness depends on its future performance and financial results,
which, to a certain extent, are subject to general economic financial,
competitive, legislative, regulatory and other factors beyond its control.
There can be no assurance that sufficient funds will be available to
enable the Company to service its indebtedness, including the Notes, or
make necessary capital expenditures and program and other disciplinary
investments. The Senior Credit Facilities and the 10 3/8% Senior
Subordinated Notes credit agreements contain financial and restrictive
covenants that limit, among other things, the ability of the Company to
borrow additional funds, dispose of assets, or pay cash dividends.
The following table sets forth selected cash flow statement data for
the Company and the Predecessor Company the periods indicated:
Predecessor Predecessor
The Company Company Company
------------- ------------- -------------
Combined
Three Months Three Months Six Months Six Months
Ended Ended Ended Ended
June 30, 1997 March 31, 1997 June 30, 1997 June 30, 1996
------------- -------------- ------------- -------------
($ in millions)
Net cash from operating activities . . $ 32.9 $<16.3> $ 16.6 $ <29.4>
Net cash from investing activities . . <473.6> <4.3> <477.9> <292.0>
Net cash from financing activities . . 463.3 20.6 483.9 321.4
--------- -------- --------- --------
Net change in cash . . . . . . . . . . $ 22.6 -- $ 22.6 $ --
========= ======== ========= ========
Cash provided by operating activities of the Company for the quarter
ended June 30, 1997 was $32.9 million. Cash provided by operations
benefited from improved operating results and effective management of
contracts in process resulting in reduced levels of receivables.
Cash used for operating activities of the Predecessor Company was
$16.3 million for the quarter ended March 31, 1997, resulting primarily
from the increase in contracts in process and decrease in current
liabilities; offset by cash flows provided by the Loral Acquired
Businesses. Without the Loral Acquired Businesses, cash used for
operating activities for Communication Systems - Camden amounted to
$6.1 million.
63
The Company's current ratio at March 31, 1997 improved slightly to
2.2:1 from 2.0:1 at December 31, 1996. Compared to December 31, 1996, the
Company's current ratio at June 30, 1997 remained unchanged at 2.0:1.
Cash used in investing activities for the quarter ended June 30,
1997 consisted primarily of $470.7 million paid by the Company for the
acquisition of Businesses from Lockheed Martin Corporation (See Note 1 to
condensed consolidated (combined) financial statements.). During the
quarter ended June 30, 1996, $287.8 million was paid by the Predecessor
Company for the acquisition of the Loral Acquired Businesses. In addition,
for the quarter ended June 30, 1997, $3.1 million was used for capital
expenditures as compared to $4.3 million for the same period in 1996. On a
pro forma basis, capital expenditures for 1996 was $17.2 million. The
Company expects its capital expenditures to remain at comparable levels
as in the past.
Prior to the Transaction, the Businesses participated in the Lockheed
Martin cash management system, under which all cash is received and all
payments are made by Lockheed Martin. All transactions between the
Businesses and Lockheed Martin have been accounted as settled in cash at
the time such transactions were recorded by the Businesses. In 1996,
cash flows reflect the purchase of the Loral Acquired Businesses.
The following table sets forth selected cash flow statement data
for the Predecessor Company for the periods indicated:
Predecessor Company
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Three Months Three Months Years Ended December 31,
Ended Ended ---------------------------------------
March 31, 1997 March 31, 1996 1996 1995 1994
---------------- ---------------- ---------- ---------- ------------
($ in millions)
Net cash (used in) from operating
activities. . . . . . . . . . . $<16.3> $10.2 $ 31.0 $ 9.4 $ 21.8
Net cash (used in) investing
activities. . . . . . . . . . . <4.3> <.4> <298.3> <5.5> <3.7>
Net cash (used in) from financing
activities . . . . . . . . . . . 20.6 <9.8> 267.3 <3.9> <18.1>
========= ======== ========= ======== =========
Net change in cash -- -- -- -- --
========= ======== ========= ======== =========
Three Months Ended March 31, 1997 Compared with Three Months
Ended March 31, 1996.
64
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities: Cash used in operating
activities for the three months ended March 31, 1997 (the "1997 period")
was $16.3 million compared to cash provided by operating activities of
$10.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 1996 (the "1996
period"). The decrease for the 1997 period is due primarily to the
reduction in contracts in process and increase in current liabilities,
offset by increased profit and non-cash items provided by the Loral
Acquired Businesses. Without the Loral Acquired Businesses, cash used
in operating activities for Communication Systems -- Camden amounted
to $6.1 million.
Contracts in process, before reduction for unliquidated progress
payments, increased $8.9 million to $242.8 million at March 31, 1997
compared to December 31, 1996. See Notes 2 and 4 to the Combined
Financial Statements. As is customary in the defense industry, unbilled
contract receivables and inventoried costs are partially financed by
progress payments. The unliquidated balance of such progress amounted
to $27.2 million at March 31, 1997, compared with $35.8 million at
December 31, 1996. Net contracts in process amounted to $215.6 million
at March 31, 1997 from $198.1 million at December 31, 1996.
The Company's current ratio improved slightly to 2.2:1 at March 31,
1997 from 2.0:1 at December 31, 1996.
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities: Cash used in investing
activities, primarily for capital expenditures, increased to $4.3 million
for the 1997 period compared to $.4 million in the 1996 period.
Year Ended December 31, 1996 Compared to Year Ended December 31,
1995 and to Year Ended December 31, 1994
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities: Cash provided by
operating activities was $31.0 million in 1996, $9.4 million in
1995 and $21.8 million in 1994. The increase of $21.6 million or 230% in
1996 is due primarily to the impact of the Loral Acquired Businesses.
Earnings after adjustment for non-cash items provided $37.0 million, offset
65
by changes in other operating assets and liabilities. The decrease in 1995
of $12.4 million is attributable to an increase in contracts in process
compared to 1994, a net loss in 1995 and gain on sales of assets in 1994.
Without the Loral Acquired Businesses, cash provided by operating
activities for Communication Systems -- Camden increased to $13.7 million
in 1996, or 46% over the prior year.
Contracts in process, before reduction for unliquidated progress
payments, increased by $189.2 million to $233.9 million at December 31,
1996, primarily due to the addition of the Loral Acquired Businesses. See
Notes 2 and 4 to the Combined Financial Statements. As is customary in the
defense industry, unbilled contract receivables and inventoried costs are
partially financed by progress payments. The unliquidated balance of such
progress payments increased by $33.5 million to $35.8 million at December
31, 1996, compared with $2.3 million at December 31, 1995. As a result, net
contracts in process increased to $198.1 million in 1996 from $42.5 million
in the prior year.
The Businesses, current ratio improved slightly to 2.0:1 at December
31, 1996, from 1.9:1 at December 31, 1995, as a result of the acquisition
of the Loral Acquired Businesses.
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities: Cash used in investing
activities increased to $298.2 million in 1996 from $5.5 million in 1995
and $3.7 million in 1994. The purchase price allocated by Lockheed Martin
to the Loral Acquired Businesses was $287.8 million. Capital expenditures
during the year amounted to $13.5 million.
Backlog
The Company's funded backlog at December 31, 1996, was $542.5
million, compared with $96.3 million at December 31, 1995 and $120.4
million at December 31, 1994. New orders in 1996 totaled $619.5 million,
compared with $142.6 million in 1995 and $194.6 million in 1994. It is
expected that approximately 77% of the December 31, 1996 backlog will be
shipped in 1997. However, there can be no assurance that the Company's
backlog will become revenues in any particular period, if at all. See
"Risk Factors--Backlog". Approximately 81% of the total backlog was
directly or indirectly for defense contracts for end use by the
Government.
66
Research and Development
Company-sponsored research and development, including bid and
proposal costs, increased to $36.5 million in 1996 from $9.8 million in
1995. In addition, customer-funded research and development was $153.5
million in 1996, compared with $74.9 million for 1995. The increase in
research and development in 1996 was due primarily to the Loral Acquired
Businesses.
Contingencies
Management does not believe there are any contingencies that, after
taking into account its existing reserves, would have a material adverse
effect on the Company's operations or financial condition. See Note 8 to
the Combined Financial Statements and "Risk Factors--Pension Plan
Liabilities".
New Accounting Pronouncements
In February 1997, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB")
issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 128,
"Earnings Per Share." SFAS No. 128 establishes accounting standards for
computing and presenting earnings per share and applies to entities with
publicly held common stock or potential common stock. In February 1997, the
FASB issued SFAS No. 129, "Disclosures of Information about Capital
Structure." SFAS No. 129 requires disclosure of for all type of securities
issued and applies to all entities that have issued securities. In June
1997, the FASB issued SFAS No. 130, "Reporting Comprehensive Income" and
SFAS No. 131, "Disclosure about Segments of an Enterprise and related
Information." SFAS No. 130 establishes standards for reporting and display
of comprehensive income and its components (revenues, expenses, gains and
losses) in a full set general-purpose financial statements. SFAS No. 131
establishes accounting standards for the way that public business
enterprises report information about operating segments and requires that
those enterprises report selected information about operating segments in
interim financial reports issued to shareholders. SFAS No. 128 and SFAS
No. 129 are required to be adjusted for periods ending after December 15,
1997, and SFAS No. 130 and SFAS No. 131 are required to be adopted by 1998.
The Company is currently evaluating the impact, if any of these new FASB
statements.
Effective January 1, 1996, the Businesses adopted Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards No. 121, "Accounting for the Impairment of
Long-Lived Assets and Long-Lived Assets to Be Disposed Of" ("SFAS 121").
SFAS 121 establishes the accounting standards for the impairment of
long-lived assets, certain intangible assets and cost in excess of net
assets acquired to be held and used for long-lived assets and certain
intangible assets to be disposed of. The impact of adopting SFAS 121 was
not material.
67
Effective January 1, 1994, the Businesses adopted Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards No. 112, "Employers' Accounting for
Postretirement Benefits" ("SFAS 112"). SFAS 112 requires that the costs of
benefits provided to employees after employment but before retirement be
recognized on an accrual basis. The adoption of SFAS 112 did not have a
material impact on the combined results of operations of the Businesses.
Inflation
The effect of inflation on the Company's sales and earnings is
minimal. Although a majority of the Company's sales are made under
long-term contracts, the selling prices of such contracts, established for
deliveries in the future, generally reflect estimated costs to be incurred
in these future periods. In addition, some contracts provide for price
adjustments through escalation clauses.
68
BUSINESS
Company Overview
L-3 is a leading provider of sophisticated secure communication
systems and specialized communication products including secure, high data
rate communication systems, microwave components, avionics, and telemetry
and instrumentation products. These systems and products are critical
elements of virtually all major communication, command and control,
intelligence gathering and space systems. The Company's systems and
specialized products are used to connect a variety of airborne, space,
ground and sea-based communication systems and are incorporated into the
transmission, processing, recording, monitoring and dissemination
functions of these communication systems. The Company's customers include
the DoD, selected Government intelligence agencies, major
aerospace/defense prime contractors, foreign governments and commercial
customers. In 1996, L-3 had pro forma sales of $675.3 million and pro
forma operating income of $56.0 million. The Company's funded backlog as
of December 31, 1996 was approximately $542.5 million.
All of the Company's business units enjoy proprietary technologies
and capabilities and are well positioned in their respective markets.
Management has organized the Company's operations into two business areas:
Secure Communication Systems and Specialized Communication Products. In
1996, these areas generated approximately $371.5 million and $303.8
million of pro forma sales, respectively, and $23.0 million and $33.0
million of pro forma operating income, respectively.
Secure Communication Systems. L-3 is the established leader in
secure, high data rate communications in support of military and other
national agency reconnaissance and surveillance applications. The
Company's Secure Communication Systems operations are located in Salt Lake
City, Utah and Camden, New Jersey. Both operations are predominantly cost
plus, sole source prime system contractors supporting long-term programs
for the U.S. Armed Forces and classified customers. The Company's major
secure communication programs and systems include: strategic and tactical
signal intelligence systems that detect, collect, identify, analyze and
disseminate information and related support contracts for military and
national agency intelligence efforts; secure data links for airborne,
satellite, ground and sea-based information collection and transmission;
as well as secure telephone and network equipment. The Company believes
that it has developed virtually every high bandwidth data link used by the
military for surveillance and reconnaissance in operation today. In
addition to these core Government programs, L-3 is expanding its business
base into related commercial communication equipment markets, including
applying its wireless communication expertise to develop local wireless
loop equipment primarily for emerging market countries and rural areas
where existing telecommunications infrastructure is inadequate or
non-existent.
Specialized Communication Products. This business area comprises
the Microwave Components, Avionics, and Telemetry and Instrumentation
Products operations of the Company.
69
Microwave Components. L-3 is the preeminent worldwide supplier of
commercial off-the-shelf, high performance microwave components and
frequency monitoring equipment. L-3's microwave products are sold under
the industry-recognized Narda brand name through a standard catalog to
wireless, industrial and military communication markets. L-3 also provides
state-of-the-art communication components including channel amplifiers and
frequency filters for the commercial communications satellite market.
Avionics. Avionics includes the Company's Aviation Recorders,
Display Systems and Antenna Systems operations. L-3 is the world's leading
manufacturer of commercial cockpit voice and flight data recorders. These
recorders are sold under the Fairchild brand name both on an OEM basis to
aircraft manufacturers as well as directly to the world's major airlines
for their existing fleets of aircraft. L-3 also provides military and
high-end commercial displays for use on a number of DoD programs including
the F-14, V-22, F-117 and E-2C. Further, L-3 manufactures high performance
surveillance antennas and related equipment for U.S. Air Force and U.S.
Navy aircraft including the F-16, AWACS, E-2C and B-2, as well as the
U.K.'s Nimrod aircraft.
Telemetry and Instrumentation Products. The Company's Telemetry and
Instrumentation Products operations develop and manufacture commercial
off-the-shelf, real-time data collection and transmission products and
components for missile, aircraft and space-based electronic systems. These
products are used to gather flight parameter data and other critical
information and transmit it from air or space to the ground. Telemetry
products are also used for range safety and training applications to
simulate battlefield situations. Further, the Company is applying its
technical capabilities in high data rate transmission to the medical image
archiving market in partnership with GE Medical Systems.
The Company's systems and products are summarized in the following
tables:
70
Secure Communication Systems (1996 Pro Forma Sales: $372 million)
Selected Platforms/End
Systems Selected Applications Uses
---------------------- ---------------------- ----------------------
Secure High Data Rate
Communications
-- Broad-band data links High performance, Used on aircraft and
secure communication naval ships,
links for unmanned aerial
interoperable tactical vehicles with
communication and military and
reconnaissance commercial
satellites
Satellite Communication
Terminals
-- Ground-based
satellite
communication
terminals Interoperable, Provide remote
transportable communication links
ground terminals to distant forces
for remote data
links to distant
segments via commercial
or military satellites
Satellite Communication
and Satellite Control
-- Satellite communication On-board satellite International Space
and tracking systems external Station; Earth
communications, video Observing Satellite;
systems, solid state Landsat-7; National
recorders and ground Oceanic and
support equipment Atmospheric
Administration
weather satellites
-- Satellite
command and Software integration, Air Force satellite
control test and maintenance network; Titan IV
sustainment support for Air Force launch system
and support satellite control
network; engineering
support for satellite
launch systems
Military
Communications
-- Shipboard
communication Shipboard and Shipboard voice
systems ship-to-ship communications
communications systems for Aegis
cruisers and
destroyers; fully
71
Specialized Communication Products (1996 Pro Forma Sales: $304 million)
Selected Platforms/End
Productions Selected Applications Uses
---------------------- ---------------------- ----------------------
automated Integrated
Radio Room (IRR) for
ship-to-ship
communications on
Trident submarines
Information Security
Systems
-- Secure
Telephone Unit Secure and non-secure Office and
(STU III)/Secure voice, data and video battlefield secure
Terminal Equipment communication and non-secure
(STE) utilizing ISDN and ATM communication for
commercial network armed services,
technologies intelligence and
security agencies
-- Local
management Provides electronic User authorization
device/key key material and recognition and
processor accounting, system message encryption
(LMD/KP) management and audit for secure
support functions for communication
secure data
communication
-- Information
processing Custom designed Classified military
systems strategic and tactical and national agency
signal intelligence intelligence efforts
systems that detect,
collect, identify,
analyze and
disseminate
information and
related support
contracts
Microwave Components
-- Passive
components, Radio transmission, Broad-band and
mechanical switching and narrow-band
switches and conditioning; antennae commercial
wireless and base station applications (PCS,
assemblies testing and monitoring cellular, SMR,
and paging
infrastructure)
sold under the
Narda brand name;
broad-band military
applications
72
Specialized Communication Products (1996 Pro Forma Sales: $304 million)
Selected Platforms/End
Productions Selected Applications Uses
---------------------- ---------------------- ----------------------
-- Safety
products Radio frequency (RF) Monitor cellular
monitoring and base station and
measurement industrial RF
emissions frequency
monitoring
-- Semiconductors
(diodes, Radio frequency Various industrial
capacitors) switches, limiters, and military end
voltage control, uses, including
oscillators, harmonic commercial
generators satellites, avionics
and specialty
communication
products
-- Satellite and
wireless Satellite transponder F-16, E-2C, China
components control, channel and Sat
(channel frequency separation
amplifiers,
transceivers,
converters,
filters and
multiplexers)
Avionics
Aviation Recorders
-- Solid state
cockpit voice Voice recorders Installed on all
and flight continuously record business and
data recorders most recent 30-120 commercial aircraft
minutes of voice and and certain military
sounds from cockpit transport aircraft;
and aircraft sold to both
inter-communications. aircraft OEMs and
Flight data recorders airlines under the
record the last 25 Fairchild brand name
hours of flight
parameters
Display Systems
-- Cockpit and
mission High performance, E-2C, V-22, F-14,
display ruggedized flat panel F-117, E-6B, C-130,
systems and cathode ray tube AWACS and JSTARS
displays
73
Specialized Communication Products (1996 Pro Forma Sales: $304 million)
Selected Platforms/End
Productions Selected Applications Uses
---------------------- ---------------------- ----------------------
Antenna Systems
-- Ultra-wide
frequency Surveillance; radar F-15, F-16, F-18,
antennae detection E-2C, A-7, EF-111,
systems and P-3, C-130, B-2,
rotary joints AWACS, Apache,
Cobra, Mirage
(France), Nimrod
(U.K.) and Tornado
(U.K.)
Telemetry and Instrumentation
Telemetry
-- Aircraft,
missile and Real time data F-15, F-18, F-22,
satellite acquisition, Comanche, Nimrod
telemetry measurement, (U.K.), Tactical
systems processing, Hellfire Titan,
simulation, EELV, and A2100
distribution, display
and storage for flight
testing
-- Training range
telemetry Battlefield simulation Combat simulation
systems
Instrumentation and
Other
-- Medical
imaging and X-Ray cardiology, echo Filmless, high speed
archiving cardiology and image management and
radiology image archiving for
management, review and cardiology and
archiving radiology
Industry Overview
The defense industry has recently undergone significant change
precipitated by ongoing federal budget pressures and new roles and
missions to reflect changing strategic and tactical threats. Since the
mid-1980's, the overall U.S. defense budget has declined in real dollars.
In response, the DoD has focused its resources on enhancing its military
readiness, joint operations and multiple mission capabilities, and
incorporating advanced electronics to improve the performance, reduce
operating cost and extend the life expectancy of its existing and future
platforms. The emphasis on system interoperability, force multipliers and
providing battlefield commanders with real-time data is increasing the
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electronics content of nearly all of the major military procurement and
research programs. As a result, the DoD's budget for communications and
defense electronics is expected to grow. According to Federal Sources, an
independent private consulting group, the defense budget for C3I is
expected to increase from $30.0 billion in the fiscal year ended September
30, 1996 to $42.0 billion in the fiscal year ended September 30, 2002, a
compound annual growth rate of 5.8%.
The industry has also undergone dramatic consolidation resulting in
the emergence of four dominant prime system contractors. One outgrowth of
this consolidation among the remaining major prime contractors is their
desire to limit purchases of products and sub-systems from one another.
Despite this desire, there are numerous essential but non-strategic
products, components and systems that are not economical for the major
prime contractors to design, develop or manufacture for their own internal
use. As the prime contractors continue to evaluate their core competencies
and competitive position, focusing their resources on larger programs and
platforms, the Company expects the prime contractors will seek to exit
non-strategic business areas and procure these needed elements on more
favorable terms from independent, commercially oriented merchant
suppliers.
The focus on cost control is also driving increased use of
commercial off-the-shelf products for both upgrades of existing systems
and in new systems. The Company believes the prime contractors will
continue to be under pressure to reduce their costs and will increasingly
seek to focus their resources and capabilities on major systems, turning
to commercially oriented merchant suppliers to produce non-core
sub-systems, components and products. Going forward, the successful
merchant suppliers will use their resources to complement and support,
rather than compete with the prime contractors. L-3 anticipates the
relationship between the major prime contractors and their primary
suppliers will, as in the automotive industry, develop into critical
partnerships encompassing increasingly greater outsourcing of non-core
products and systems by the prime contractors to their key merchant
suppliers and increasing supplier participation in the development of
future programs. Early involvement in the upgrading of existing systems
and the design and engineering of new systems incorporating these
outsourced products will provide top-tier suppliers, including the
Company, with a competitive advantage in securing new business and provide
the prime contractors with significant cost reduction opportunities
through coordination of the design, development and manufacturing
processes.
Business Strategy
L-3 intends to leverage its market position, diverse program base
and favorable mix of cost plus to fixed price contracts to enhance its
profitability, reduce its indebtedness and to establish itself as the
premier merchant supplier of communication systems and products to the
major prime contractors in the aerospace/defense industry as well as the
Government. The Company's strategy to achieve these objectives includes:
-- Expand Merchant Supplier Relationships. Senior Management has
developed strong relationships with virtually all of the prime
contractors, the DoD and other major government agencies, enabling L-3 to
75
identify business opportunities and anticipate customer needs. As an
independent merchant supplier, the Company anticipates its future growth
will be driven by expanding its share of existing programs and by
participating in new programs. Management has already identified several
opportunities where the Company believes it will be able to use its strong
relationships to increase its business presence and allow its customers to
reduce their costs. The Company also expects to benefit from increased
outsourcing by prime contractors who in the past may have limited their
purchases to captive suppliers and who are now expected to view L-3's
capabilities on a more favorable basis given its status as an independent
company.
-- Support Customer Requirements. A significant portion of L-3's
sales are derived from high-priority, long-term programs and from programs
for which the Company has been the incumbent supplier, and in many cases
acted as the sole provider, over many years. Approximately 67% of the
Company's total pro forma 1996 sales were generated from sole source
contracts. L-3's customer satisfaction and excellent performance record
are evidenced by its performance-based award fees exceeding 90% on average
over the past two years. Going forward, management believes prime
contractors will award long-term, sole source, outsourcing contracts to
the merchant supplier they believe is most capable on the basis of
quality, responsiveness, design, engineering and program management
support as well as cost. Reflecting L-3's strong competitive position, the
Company has experienced a contract award win rate over the past two years
of approximately 50% on new competitive contracts for which it competes
and approximately 90% on contracts for which it is the incumbent. The
Company intends to continue to align its research and development,
manufacturing and new business efforts to complement its customers'
requirements.
-- Leverage Technical and Market Leadership Positions. L-3 has
developed strong, proprietary technical capabilities that have enabled it
to capture a number one or two market position in most of its key business
areas, including secure, high data rate communication systems, solid state
aviation recorders, advanced antenna systems and high performance
microwave components. Over the past three years, the Company and its
Predecessors have invested over $100 million in Company-sponsored
independent research and development, including bid and proposal costs, in
addition to making substantial investments in its technical and
manufacturing resources. Further, the Company has a highly skilled
workforce including over 1,500 engineers. As an independent company,
management intends to leverage its technical expertise and capabilities
into several closely aligned commercial business areas and applications,
including opportunities in wireless telephony and medical imaging archive
management.
-- Maintain Diversified Business Mix. The Company enjoys a diverse
business mix with a limited program exposure, a favorable balance of cost
plus to fixed price contracts, a significant sole source business and an
attractive customer profile. The Company's largest program, representing
14% of 1996 pro forma sales, is a long-term, sole source, cost plus
support program for the U-2 program Directorate for the DoD. No other
program represented more than 7% of pro forma 1996 sales. Further, the
Company's pro forma sales mix of contracts in 1996 was 42% cost plus and
58% fixed price, providing the Company with a balanced mix of predictable
76
profitability (cost plus) and higher margin (fixed price) business. L-3
also enjoys an attractive customer mix of defense and commercial business,
with DoD related sales accounting for 65% and commercial and federal
(non-DoD) sales accounting for 35% of 1996 pro forma sales. The Company
intends to leverage this favorable business profile to expand its merchant
supplier business base.
-- Enhance Operating Margins. As part of larger corporations (i.e.,
Lockheed Martin, Loral, GE, Unisys), the Businesses were historically
required to absorb significant corporate expense allocations. As an
independent company, L-3 believes that it will be able to leverage its
discretionary expenditures in a more focused and efficient manner, enhance
its operating performance and reduce overhead expenses reflecting Senior
Management's more flexible, entrepreneurial approach. The Company believes
that significant costs incurred by the Businesses under Lockheed Martin's
ownership will not be incurred going forward. These cost savings include
reduced corporate administrative and facilities expenses and certain
operating performance improvements.
-- Capitalize on Strategic Acquisition Opportunities. Recent
industry consolidation has virtually eliminated traditional middle-tier
aerospace/defense companies. This level of consolidation is now beginning
to draw the concern of the DoD and federal anti-trust regulators. As a
result, the Company anticipates the pending major mergers as well as
continued consolidation of the smaller participants in the defense
industry will create attractive complementary acquisition candidates for
L-3 in the future as these companies continue to evaluate their core
competencies and competitive position.
Products and Services
Secure Communication Systems
L-3 is a leader in communication systems for high performance
intelligence collection, imagery processing and ground, air, sea and
satellite communications for the DoD and other government agencies. The
Company's Secure Communication Systems operations are located in Salt Lake
City, Utah and Camden, New Jersey, and together had pro forma sales of
$371.5 million and EBITDA of $41.6 million in 1996. The Salt Lake City
operation provides secure, high data rate, real-time communication systems
for surveillance, reconnaissance and other intelligence collection
systems. The Camden operation designs, develops, produces and integrates
communication systems and support equipment for space, ground and naval
applications. Product lines of the Secure Communication Systems business
include high data rate communication links, satellite communication
("SATCOM") terminals, Navy vessel communication systems, space
communications and satellite control systems, signal intelligence
information processing systems, information security systems, tactical
battlefield sensor systems and commercial communication systems.
-- High Data Rate Communications
The Company is a technology leader in high data rate, covert,
jam-resistant microwave communications in support of military and other
national agency reconnaissance and surveillance applications. L-3's
product line covers a full range of tactical and strategic secure
77
point-to-point and relay data transmission systems, products and support
services that conform to military and intelligence specifications. The
Company's systems and products are capable of providing battlefield
commanders with real time, secure surveillance and targeting information
and were used extensively by U.S. armed forces in the Persian Gulf war.
During the 1980s, largely based on its prior experience with command
and control guidance systems for remotely-piloted vehicles, L-3 developed
its current family of strategic and tactical data links, including its
Modular Interoperable Data Link ("MIDL") systems and Modular Interoperable
Surface Terminals ("MIST"). MIDL and MIST technologies are considered
virtual DoD standards in terms of data link hardware. The Company's
primary focus is spread spectrum communication (based on CDMA technology),
which involves transmitting a signal as noise so as to make it difficult
to detect to others, and then re-capturing the signal and removing the
noise. The Company's data links are capable of providing information at
over 200 Mb/s.
L-3 provides these secure high band width services to the U.S. Air
Force, Navy, Army and various Government agencies, many through long-term
sole source programs. The scope of these programs include air-to-ground,
air-to-air, ground-to-air and satellite communications. Government
programs include: U-2 Support, Common High-Band Width Data Link Surface
Terminal ("CHBDL-ST"), Battle Group Passive Horizon Extension System
("BGPHES"), Light Airborne Multi-Purpose System (LAMPS), TriBand SATCOM
Subsystem ("TSS"), all unmanned aerial vehicle ("UAV") programs and Direct
Air-Satellite Relay ("DASR").
-- Satellite Communication Terminals
L-3 provides ground-to-satellite, high availability, real-time
global communications capability through a family of transportable field
terminals to communicate with commercial, military and international
satellites. These terminals provide remote personnel with anywhere,
anytime effective communication capability and provide communications
links to distant forces. The Company's TriBand SATCOM Subsystem ("TSS")
employs a 6.25 meter tactical dish with a single point feed that provides
C, Ku and X band communication to support the U.S. Army. The Company also
offers an 11.3 meter dish which is transportable on two C-130 aircraft.
The SHF Portable Terminal System ("PTS") is a lightweight (28 lbs.),
manportable terminal, which communicates through DSCS, NATO or SKYNET
satellites and brings unprecedented connectivity to small military
tactical units and mobile command posts. L-3 recently delivered 14 of
these terminals for use by NATO forces in Bosnia.
-- Space Communications and Satellite Control
Continuing L-3's tradition of providing communications for every
manned U.S. space flight since Mercury, the Company is currently designing
and testing three communication subsystems for the International Space
Station ("ISS"). These systems will control all ISS radio frequency ("RF")
communications and external video activities. The Company also provides
solid-state recorders and memory units for data capture, storage, transfer
and retrieval for space applications. The standard NASA tape recorder,
which was developed and produced by the Company, has completed over three
million hours of service without a mission failure. Current programs
78
include recorders for the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration
("NOAA") weather satellites, the Earth Observing Satellite ("EOS") AM
spacecraft and Landsat-7 Earth-monitoring spacecraft. The Company also
provides space and satellite system simulation, satellite operations and
computer system training, depot support, network engineering, resource
scheduling, launch system engineering, support, software integration and
test through cost-plus contracts with the U.S. Air Force.
-- Military Communications
The Company provides integrated, computer controlled switching
systems for the interior and exterior voice and data needs of today's Navy
military vessels. The Company's products include Integrated Voice
Communication Systems ("IVCS") for Aegis cruisers and destroyers and the
Integrated Radio Room ("IRR") for Trident class submarines, the first
computer controlled communications center in a submarine. These products
integrate the intercom, tactical and administrative communications network
into one system accessing various types of communication terminals
throughout the ship. The Company's MarCom 2000 secure digital switching
system is in development for the Los Angeles class attack submarine and
provides an integrated approach to the specialized voice and data
communications needs of a shipboard environment for internal and external
communications, command and control and air traffic control. The Company
also offers on-board, high data rate communications systems which provide
a data link for carrier battle groups which are interoperable with the
U.S. Air Force's surveillance/ reconnaissance terminal platforms.
-- Information Security Systems
The Company has produced more than 100,000 secure telephone units
("STU III") which are in use today by the U.S. Armed Forces to provide
secure telephone capabilities for classified confidential communication
over public commercial telephone networks. The Company has begun producing
the next-generation digital, ISDN-compatible STE. STE provides clearer
voice and seven-times faster data/fax transmission capability than the STU
III. STE also supports secure conference calls and secure video
teleconferencing. STE uses a CryptoCard security system which consists of
a small, portable, cryptographic module mounted on a PCMCIA card holding
the algorithms, keys and personalized credentials to identify its user for
secure communications access. The Company also provides LMD/KP which is
the workstation component of the Government's Electronic Key Management
System ("EKMS"), the next generation of information security systems. EKMS
is the Government system to replace current "paper" secret keys used to
secure government communications with "electronic" secret keys. LMD/KP is
the component of the EKMS which produces and distributes the electronic
keys. L-3 also develops specialized strategic and tactical SIGINT to
detect, acquire, collect, and process information derived from electronic
sources. These systems are used by classified customers for intelligence
gathering and require high speed digital signal processing and high
density custom hardware designs.
-- Tactical Security Systems
The Company manufactures the IREMBASS, an unattended ground sensor
system which uses sensors placed along likely avenues of enemy approach or
intrusion in a battlefield environment. The sensors respond to seismic and
79
acoustic disturbances, infrared energy and magnetic field changes and thus
detect enemy activities. IREMBASS is currently in use by U.S. Special
Operations Forces, the U.S. Army's Light Divisions and several foreign
governments. The Company also provides the Intrusion Detection Early
Warning System ("IDEWS"), a sensor system designed for platoon-level
physical security applications. Weighing less than two pounds, this sensor
system is ideal for covert perimeter intrusion detection, border
protection and airfield or military installation security.
-- Commercial Communications
The Company is applying its wireless communication expertise to
introduce local wireless loop equipment using a synchronous Code Division
Multiple Access technology protocol ("CDMA") supporting terrestrial and
space based, fixed and mobile communication services. The system's
principal targeted customer base is emerging market countries and rural
areas where existing telecommunications infrastructure is inadequate or
non-existent. The Company's system will have the potential to interface
with low earth orbit ("LEO") PCS systems such as Globalstar, Iridium and
or any local public telephone network. The Company expects to manufacture
for sale certain of the infrastructure equipment and to license its
technology to third-party providers. The Company expects to partner with
third parties for service and distribution capabilities. The Company has
entered into product distribution agreements with Granger Telecom for
distribution in parts of Africa, the Middle East and the United Kingdom,
and with Unisys for distribution in parts of Mexico and South America.
Specialized Communication Products
Microwave Components
L-3 is the pre-eminent worldwide supplier of commercial
off-the-shelf, high performance radio frequency ("RF") microwave
components, assemblies and instruments supplying the wireless
communication, industrial and military markets. The Company is also a
leading provider of state-of-the-art space-qualified commercial satellite
and strategic military RF products. L-3 sells many of these components
under the well-recognized Narda brand name and through the world's most
comprehensive catalogue of standard, stocked hardware. L-3 also sells its
products through a direct sales force and an extensive network of premier
market representatives. Specific catalog offerings include wireless
products, electro-mechanical switches, power dividers and hybrids,
couplers/detectors, attenuators, terminations and phase shifters,
isolators and circulators, adapters, control products, sources, mixers,
waveguide components, RF safety products, power meters/monitors and custom
passive products. The Company operates from two sites, Hauppauge, New York
("Narda East"), and Sacramento, California ("Narda West").
Narda East represents approximately 62% of L-3's microwave sales
volume, offering high performance microwave components, networks and
instruments to the wireless, industrial and military communications
markets. Narda East's products can be divided into three major categories:
passive components, higher level wireless assemblies/monitoring systems
and safety instruments.
80
Passive components are generally purchased in narrow frequency
configurations by wireless OEM equipment manufacturers and service
providers. Similar components are purchased in wide frequency
configurations by first tier military equipment suppliers. Commercial
applications for Narda components are primarily in cellular or PCS base
stations. Narda also manufactures higher level assemblies for wireless
base stations and the paging industry. These products include
communication antenna test sets, devices that monitor reflected power to
determine if a cellular base station is working. Military applications
include general procurement for test equipment or electronic surveillance
and countermeasure systems. RF safety products are instruments which are
used to measure the level of non-ionizing radiation in a given area, i.e.,
from an antenna, test set or other emitting source.
Narda West designs and manufactures state-of-the-art space-qualified
and wireless components. Space qualified components include channel
amplifiers for satellite transponder control and diplexers/ multiplexers,
which are used to separate various signals and direct them to the
appropriate other sections of the payload. Narda West's primary areas of
focus are communication satellite payload products. Channel amplifiers
constitute Narda West's main satellite product. These components amplify
the weak signals received from earth stations by a factor of 1 million,
and then drive the power amplifier tubes that broadcast the signal back to
earth. These products are sold to satellite manufacturers and offer lower
cost, lower weight and improved performance versus in-house alternatives.
On a typical satellite, for which there are 20 to 50 channel amps, Narda
West's channel amps offer cost savings of up to 60% (up to $1 million per
satellite) and decrease launch weight by up to 25 kilograms.
The operation also offers a wide variety of high-reliability power
splitters, combiners and filters for spacecraft and launch vehicles, such
as LLV, Tiros N, THAAD, Mars Surveyor, Peacekeeper, Galileo, Skynet,
Cassini, Milstar, Space Shuttle, LandSat, FltSatCom, GPS, GPS Block IIR,
IUS, ACE, SMEX and certain classified programs. Narda West also produces
ground transceivers for communication with satellites. These Very Small
Aperture Terminal ("VSAT") transceivers are used in medium and high data
rate applications in the C and Ku frequency bands normally used for
transmit/receiver applications. Other Narda West products include wireless
microwave components for cellular and PCS base station applications. These
products include filters used for transmit and receive channel separation
as well as ferrite components, which isolate certain microwave functions,
thereby preventing undesired signal interaction. The balance of the
operation's business is of a historical nature and involves wideband
filters used for electronic warfare applications and cavity oscillators
used in commercial test equipment and terrestrial radio applications.
Avionics
-- Aviation Recorders
L-3 manufactures commercial solid-state crash-protected aviation
recorders ("black boxes") under the Fairchild brand name, and has
delivered over 40,000 flight recorders to airplane manufacturers and
airlines around the world. Recorders are mandated and regulated by various
worldwide agencies for commercial airlines and a large portion of business
aviation aircraft. Management anticipates growth opportunities in Aviation
81
Recorders as a result of the current high level of orders for new
commercial aircraft. Additional growth opportunities exist in the military
market as a result of recent military aircraft accidents. There are two
types of recorders: (i) the Cockpit Voice Recorder ("CVR") which records
the last 30 to 120 minutes of crew conversation and ambient sounds from
the cockpit and (ii) the Flight Data Recorder ("FDR") which records the
last 25 hours of aircraft flight parameters such as speed, altitude,
acceleration, thrust from each engine and direction of the flight in its
final moments. Recorders are highly ruggedized instruments, designed to
absorb the shock equivalent to that of an object traveling at 268 knots
stopping in 18 inches, fire resistant to 1,100 degrees centigrade and
pressure resistance equal to 20,000 feet undersea for 30 days. Management
believes that the Company has the leading worldwide market position for
CVR's and FDR's.
-- Antenna Systems
Under the Randtron brand name, L-3 produces high performance
antennas designed for surveillance, high-resolution, ultra-wide frequency
bands, detection of low radar cross section ("LRCS") targets, LRCS
installations, severe environmental applications and polarization
diversity. L-3's main antenna product is a sophisticated 24-foot diameter
antenna operational on all E-2C aircraft. This airborne antenna consists
of a 24-foot rotating aerodynamic oblate spheroid radome containing a UHF
surveillance radar antenna, IFF antenna and forward and aft auxiliary
antennas. This antenna began production in the early 1980s, and production
is planned beyond 2000 for the E-2C, P3 and C-130 AEW aircraft. L-3 also
produces broad-band antennas for a variety of tactical aircraft and rotary
joints for the AWAC's and E-2C's antenna. Randtron has delivered
approximately 2,000 aircraft sets of antennas and has a current backlog
through 1999.
-- Display Systems
L-3 specializes in the design, development and manufacture of
ruggedized display system solutions for military and high-end commercial
applications. L-3's current product lines include cathode ray tubes
("CRTs") and the Actiview family of active matrix liquid crystal displays
("AMLCD"). L-3 manufactures flat-panel displays with diagonal screen sizes
of 10.4 and 20.1 inches that are in platforms such as E-2C (enhanced main
display unit and Q-70 advanced display system), F-14, F-117 and V-22.
Telemetry and Instrumentation
The Company is a leader in component products used in telemetry and
instrumentation for satellites, aircraft, UAVs, launch vehicles and
missiles. Telemetry involves the collection of data from these platforms,
its transmission to ground stations for analysis, and its further
dissemination or transportation to another platform. A principal use of
this telemetry data is to measure as many as 1,000 different parameters of
the platform's operation (in much the same way as a flight data recorder
on an airplane measures various flight parameters) and transmits this data
to the ground.
82
Additionally, for satellite platforms, the equipment also provides
the command uplink that controls the satellite. In these applications,
high reliability of components is crucial because of the high cost of
satellite repair and the length of uninterrupted service required.
Telemetry also provides the data to terminate the flight of missiles and
rockets under errant conditions and/or at the end of mission.
-- Airborne, Ground and Space Telemetry
The Company provides airborne equipment and data link systems to
gather critical information and to process, format and transmit it to the
ground through communication data links from a communications satellite,
spacecraft, aircraft and/or missile. These products are available in both
COTS and custom configurations. Major customers are the major defense
contractors who manufacture aircraft, missiles, warheads, launch vehicles,
munitions and bombs. Ground instrumentation activity occurs at the ground
station where the serial stream of combined data is received and decoded
in real-time, as it is received from the airborne platform. Data can be
encrypted and decrypted during this process, an additional expertise that
the Company offers. L-3 offers the System 500 which interfaces with
airborne telemetry and helps determine if it is within certain parameters
of its flight pattern and displays the information graphically on a ground
station terminal. The Company is currently developing the NeTstar ground
station terminal which is capable of handling compressed satellite mission
time frames.
-- Range Instrumentation
A ground-based application for the Company is range instrumentation,
where equipment that is worn by soldiers or mounted in vehicles transmit
and receive data that is used for test and evaluation of training
missions. The Company's Digital Communication Network Subsystem ("DCNS")
product allows for more effective monitoring and control of training and
testing ranges.
-- Transportable Radios
The Company also manufactures transportable, tunable, microwave
radios used for commercial and military voice and data communication
service restoration and features rugged, modularized systems capable of
data rates up to 155 Mb/s. Frequencies are tunable in RF bands from 1.7
GHz to 19.7 GHz with simple plug-in radio frequency heads. The radios are
encased in portable, all-weather outdoor housing for use in restoration
and temporary service and military tactical communications.
-- Expendable Countermeasure Systems
L-3 designs, develops and produces radar, infrared, electro-optical
and acoustic expendable countermeasure systems, computer-controlled
launchers and dispensers for ships, aircraft, ground vehicles and base
defense. L-3 is the world leader in the design, development and production
of passive off-board ship defense countermeasures systems for the U.S.
Navy and international customers. The products include the MK 214 and MK
216 Sea Gnat Decoys, which are the seduction and distraction decoys used
by the U.S. Navy and NATO for ship defense against radar-guided threats.
L-3 also manufactures Automatic Launch of Expendables ("ALEX"), a
83
completely automated ship-defense launch system that takes threat
information from the ship's warning system and speed, direction and wind
conditions from the ship's navigation system and initiates the optimum
countermeasure response and/or maneuver based on the decoy load-out
inventory.
-- Commercial Communication Products
The Company and GE Medical Systems have jointly developed
GEMnet(Trademark), a cardiac image management and archive system.
GEMnet(Trademark) eliminates the use of cinefilm in a cardiac
catheterization laboratory by providing a direct digital connection to the
laboratory. The system provides for acquisition, display, analysis and
short-and long-term archive of cardiac patient studies, providing
significant cost savings and process improvements to the hospital.
EchoNet(Trademark) is a digital archive management and review system
designed by the Company specifically for the echocardiology profession.
Echonet(Trademark) is the result of an exclusive strategic partnership
with Heartlab, Inc. and is distributed by Nova Microsonics. The system
accepts digital echocardiology studies from a variety of currently
available ultrasound systems, manages the studies, making them available
on a network, and allows the physicians and technicians to become more
productive. DICOMView(Trademark) is a multimodal, low-cost viewing station
designed by the Company for use with standard IBM-compatible and Macintosh
personal computer platforms. It makes full motion, full fidelity
diagnostic images accessible for the cardiologist, surgeon and referring
physician. EchoNet(Trademark) and DICOMView(Trademark) are trademarks of
Heartlab, Inc. GEMnet(Trademark) is a trademark of GE.
Major Customers
The Company's sales are predominantly derived from contracts with
agencies of, and prime contractors to, the Government. The various
Government customers exercise independent purchasing decisions. Sales to
the Government generally are not regarded as constituting sales to one
customer. Instead, each contracting entity is considered to be a separate
customer. In 1996, the Company performed under approximately 180 contracts
with value exceeding $1 million for the Government. Government pro forma
sales in 1996, including pro forma sales to the Government through prime
contractors, were $529 million. Historical sales to Lockheed Martin were
$70.7 million in 1996. The Company's largest program, representing 14% of
1996 pro forma sales, is a long-term, sole source cost plus support
program for the U-2 Directorate. No other program represented more than 7%
of pro forma 1996 sales.
Research and Development
The Company employs scientific, engineering and other personnel to
improve its existing product lines and to develop new products and
technologies in the same or related fields. As of December 31, 1996, the
Company employed approximately 1,580 engineers (of whom over 35% hold
advanced degrees). The pro forma amounts of research and development
performed under customer-funded contracts and Company-sponsored research
projects, including bid and proposal costs, for 1996 were $153.5 million
and $36.5 million, respectively.
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Competition
The Company's ability to compete for defense contracts depends to a
large extent on the effectiveness and innovativeness of its research and
development programs, its ability to offer better program performance than
its competitors at a lower cost to the Government customer, and its
readiness in facilities, equipment and personnel to undertake the programs
for which it competes. In some instances, programs are sole source or work
directed by the Government to a single supplier. In such cases, there may
be other suppliers who have the capability to compete for the programs
involved, but they can only enter or reenter the market if the Government
should choose to reopen the particular program to competition.
Approximately 67% of the Company's 1996 pro forma sales related to sole
source contracts.
The Company experiences competition from industrial firms and U.S.
government agencies, some of which have substantially greater resources.
These competitors include: Allied Signal Inc., AMP, Inc., Aydin
Corporation, Cubic Corporation, GTE Corporation, Harris Corporation, GM
Hughes Electronics, Motorola, Inc., Raytheon Company and Titan
Corporation. A majority of the sales of the Company is derived from
contracts with the Government and its prime contractors, and such
contracts are awarded on the basis of negotiations or competitive bids.
Management does not believe any one competitor or a small number of
competitors is dominant in any of the business areas of the Company.
Management believes the Company will continue to be able to compete
successfully based upon the quality and cost competitiveness of its
products and services.
Patents and Licenses
Although the Company owns some patents and has filed applications
for additional patents, it does not believe that its operations depend
upon its patents. In addition, the Company's Government contracts
generally license it to use patents owned by others. Similar provisions in
the Government contracts awarded to other companies make it impossible for
the Company to prevent the use by other companies of its patents in most
domestic work.
Backlog
As of December 31, 1996, the Company's funded backlog was
approximately $542.5 million. This backlog provides management with a
useful tool to project sales and plan its business on an on-going basis;
however, no assurance can be given that the Company's backlog will become
revenues in any particular period or at all. Funded backlog does not
include the total contract value of multi-year, cost-plus reimbursable
contracts, which are funded as costs are incurred by the Company. Funded
backlog also does not include unexercised contract options which represent
the amount of revenue which would be recognized from the performance of
contract options that may be exercised by customers under existing
contracts and from purchase orders to be issued under indefinite quantity
contracts or basic ordering agreements. Backlog is a more relevant
predictor of future sales in the Secure Communication Systems business
area. Current funded backlog in Secure Communication Systems as of
December 31, 1996 was $331.5 million, of which approximately 81.3% is
85
expected to be shipped in 1997. The Company believes backlog is a less
relevant factor in the Specialized Communication Products business area
given the nature of its catalog and commercial oriented business. Overall,
approximately 77% of the Company's December 31, 1996 funded backlog is
expected to be shipped in 1997.
Funded Backlog as of
December 31, 1996
---------------------------
($ in millions)
Secure Communication Systems . . . . . . . . $331.5
Communication Products . . . . . . . . . . . 211.0
------
$542.5
======
Government Contracts
Approximately 78.4% of the Company's 1996 pro forma sales were made
to agencies of the Government or to prime contractors or subcontractors of
the Government.
Approximately 58% of the Company's pro forma 1996 sales mix of
contracts were firm fixed price contracts under which the Company agrees
to perform for a predetermined price. Although the Company's fixed price
contracts generally permit the Company to keep profits if costs are less
than projected, the Company does bear the risk that increased or
unexpected costs may reduce profit or cause the Company to sustain losses
on the contract. Generally, firm fixed price contracts offer higher margin
than cost plus type contracts. All domestic defense contracts and
subcontracts to which the Company is a party are subject to audit, various
profit and cost controls and standard provisions for termination at the
convenience of the Government. Upon termination, other than for a
contractor's default, the contractor will normally be entitled to
reimbursement for allowable costs and to an allowance for profit. Foreign
defense contracts generally contain comparable provisions relating to
termination at the convenience of the government. To date, no significant
fixed price contract of the Company has been terminated.
Companies supplying defense-related equipment to the Government are
subject to certain additional business risks peculiar to that industry.
Among these risks are the ability of the Government to unilaterally
suspend the Company from new contracts pending resolution of alleged
violations of procurement laws or regulations. Other risks include a
dependence on appropriations by the Government, changes in the
Government's procurement policies (such as greater emphasis on competitive
procurements) and the need to bid on programs in advance of design
completion. A reduction in expenditures by the Government for products of
the type manufactured by the Company, lower margins resulting from
86
increasingly competitive procurement policies, a reduction in the volume
of contracts or subcontracts awarded to the Company or substantial cost
overruns would have an adverse effect on the Company's cash flow.
Properties
The table below sets forth, as of December 31, 1996, certain
information with respect to L-3's manufacturing facilities and properties.
Location Owned Leased
-------------------------------- --------------- --------------
(thousands of square feet)
L-3 Headquarters, NY . . . . . . . . . -- 58.5
Secure Communication Systems:
Camarillo, CA . . . . . . . . . . . . -- 1.8
El Segundo, CA . . . . . . . . . . . -- 1.4
Santa Clara, CA . . . . . . . . . . . -- 5.9
Santa Maria, CA . . . . . . . . . . . -- 9.8
Colorado Springs, CO . . . . . . . . -- 5.8
Camden, NJ . . . . . . . . . . . . . -- 588.6
Tinton Falls, NJ . . . . . . . . . . -- 0.8
Salt Lake City, UT . . . . . . . . . -- 457.6
Specialized Communication Products:
Folsom, CA . . . . . . . . . . . . . -- 57.5
Lancaster, CA . . . . . . . . . . . . -- 5.4
Menlo Park, CA . . . . . . . . . . . -- 93.0
Rancho Cordova, CA . . . . . . . . . -- 40.4
Redwood City, CA . . . . . . . . . . -- 5.2
San Diego, CA . . . . . . . . . . . . 196.0 68.9
San Mateo, CA . . . . . . . . . . . . -- 14.8
Santa Clara, CA . . . . . . . . . . . -- 2.0
Merrill Island, FL . . . . . . . . . -- 1.2
Sarasota, FL . . . . . . . . . . . . 303.6 --
Alpharetta, GA . . . . . . . . . . . 40.0 --
Atlanta, GA . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52.1 --
Norcross, GA . . . . . . . . . . . . -- 4.8
Haverhill, MA . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.0 --
Lowell, MA . . . . . . . . . . . . . -- 47.0
Woburn, MA . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106.0 --
Hauppauge, NY . . . . . . . . . . . . 150.0 --
Warminster, PA . . . . . . . . . . . 44.7 --
Slough, Berkshire (U.K.) . . . . . . -- 1.4
----- -------
Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 900.4 1,471.8
===== =======
87
Legal Proceedings
From time to time the Company is involved in legal proceedings
arising in the ordinary course of its business. As part of the
Acquisition, the Company has agreed to assume certain litigation relating
to the Businesses and Lockheed Martin has agreed to indemnify the Company,
up to certain limits, for a breach of its representations and warranties.
Management believes it is adequately reserved for these liabilities and
that there is no litigation pending that could have a material adverse
effect on the Company or its operations, except as discussed below.
As of June 30, 1997, the Company and Universal Avionics Systems
Corporation ("Universal") has reached a settlement with respect to a
lawsuit brought by Universal against the Company's Aviation Recorders
operation ("Aviation Recorders"). The terms of this settlement will not
have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial condition or
results of operations.
Environmental Matters
The Company's operations are subject to various federal, state and
local environmental laws and regulations relating to the discharge,
storage, treatment, handling, disposal and remediation of certain
materials, substances and wastes used in or resulting from its operations.
The Company continually assesses its obligations and compliance with
respect to these requirements. Based on a review by an independent
environmental consulting firm and its own internal assessments, management
believes that the Company's current operations are in substantial
compliance with all existing applicable environmental laws and
regulations. New environmental protection laws that will be effective in
1997 and thereafter may require the installation of environmental
protection equipment at the Company's manufacturing facilities. However,
the Company does not believe that its environmental expenditures, if any,
will have a material adverse effect on its financial condition or results
of operations.
Pursuant to the Transaction Agreement, the Company has agreed to
assume certain on-site and off-site environmental liabilities related to
events or activities occurring prior to the consummation of the
Transaction. Lockheed Martin has agreed to retain all environmental
liabilities for all facilities not used by the Businesses as of the
Closing and to indemnify fully the Company for such prior site
environmental liabilities. Lockheed Martin has also agreed, for the first
eight years following the Closing, to pay 50% of all costs incurred by the
Company above those reserved for on the Company's balance sheet at Closing
relating to certain Company-assumed environmental liabilities and, for the
seven years thereafter, to pay 40% of certain reasonable operation and
maintenance costs relating to any environmental remediation projects
undertaken in the first eight years. The Company is aware of environmental
contamination at two of its facilities that will require ongoing
remediation. Management believes that the Company has established adequate
reserves for the potential costs associated with the assumed environmental
liabilities. However, there can be no assurance that any costs incurred
will be reimbursable from the Government or covered by Lockheed Martin
under the terms of the Transaction Agreement or that the Company's
environmental reserves will be sufficient.
88
Pension Plans
The Transaction Agreement provides for transfer by Lockheed Martin
of certain assets to L-3 and assumption by L-3 of certain liabilities
relating to defined benefit pension plans for present and former employees
and retirees of certain businesses transferred to L-3. Lockheed Martin
received a letter from the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (the
"PBGC") which requested information regarding the transfer of such pension
plans. The PBGC's letter indicated that it believed certain of the
employee pension plans were underfunded using the PBGC's actuarial
assumptions (which assumptions result in a larger liability for accrued
benefits than the assumptions used for financial reporting under Statement
of Financial Accounting Standards No. 87, "Accounting for Pension Costs"
("FASB 87")). The Company has calculated the net funding position of the
pension plans to be transferred and believes the plans to be overfunded by
approximately $1 million under ERISA assumptions, underfunded by
approximately $9 million under FASB 87 assumptions and, on a termination
basis, underfunded by as much as $51 million under PBGC assumptions.
Substantially all of the PBGC underfunding is related to two pension plans
covering employees at L-3's Communication Systems -- Salt Lake and
Aviation Recorders businesses (the "Salt Lake and Fairchild Plans").
Pursuant to the PBGC's inquiry, representatives of the Company and
Lockheed Martin met with the PBGC on April 7, 1997. At this meeting, the
PBGC stated that it would seek some form of commitment or undertaking from
Lockheed Martin acceptable to it with regard to the Salt Lake and
Fairchild Plans and the pension plan covering employees at Hycor, another
business being acquired by L-3 in the Acquisition (collectively, the
"Subject Plans"). Lockheed Martin has agreed to provide such a commitment
in an agreement (the "Lockheed Martin Commitment Agreement") among
Lockheed Martin, L-3 and the PBGC dated as of April 30, 1997. The material
terms and conditions of the Lockheed Martin Commitment Agreement include a
commitment by Lockheed Martin to, under certain circumstances, assume
sponsorship of the Subject Plans or provide another form of financial
support for the Subject Plans. The Lockheed Martin Commitment Agreement
will continue until such time as the Subject Plans are no longer
underfunded on a PBGC basis for two consecutive years or, at any time
after May 31, 2002, the Company achieves investment grade credit ratings.
Pursuant to the Lockheed Martin Commitment Agreement, the PBGC has agreed
that it will take no further action in connection with the Transaction.
In return for the Lockheed Martin Commitment, the Company has
entered into an agreement with Lockheed Martin, dated as of April 30,
1997, pursuant to which the Company will provide certain assurances to
Lockheed Martin including, but not necessarily limited to, (i) continuing
to fund the Subject Plans consistent with prior practices and to the
extent deductible for tax purposes and, where appropriate, recoverable
under Government contracts, (ii) agreeing to not increase benefits under
the Subject Plans without the consent of Lockheed Martin,
(iii) restricting the Company from a sale of any businesses employing
individuals covered by the Subject Plans if such sale would not result in
reduction or elimination of the Lockheed Martin Commitment with regard to
the specific plan and (iv) if the Subject Plans were returned to Lockheed
Martin, granting Lockheed Martin the right to seek recovery from the
Company of those amounts actually paid, if any, by Lockheed Martin with
regard to the Subject Plans after their return. In addition, upon the
89
occurrence of certain events, Lockheed Martin, at its option, will have
the right to decide whether to assume sponsorship of any or all of the
Subject Plans, even if the PBGC has not sought to terminate the Subject
Plans.
The Company believes, based in part upon discussions with its
consulting actuaries, that the increase in pension expenses and future
funding requirements, if any, from those currently anticipated for the
Subject Plans would not be material.
Employees
As of March 31, 1997, the Company employed approximately 5,000
full-time and part-time employees. The Company believes that its relations
with its employees are good.
Approximately 580 of the Company's employees at its Communication
Systems -- Camden operation in Camden, New Jersey are represented by four
unions, the Association of Scientists and Professional Engineering
Personnel, the International Federation of Professional and Technical
Engineers, the International Union of Electronic, Electrical, Salaried,
Machine and Furniture Workers and an affiliate of the International
Brotherhood of Teamsters. Three of the four collective bargaining
agreements expire in mid-1998. While the Company has not yet initiated
discussions with representatives of these unions, management believes it
will be able to negotiate, without material disruption to its business,
satisfactory new collective bargaining agreements with these employees.
However, there can be no assurance that a satisfactory agreement will be
reached with the covered employees or that a material disruption to the
Company's Camden operations will not occur.
90
THE TRANSACTION
The Acquisition
Holdings and L-3 were formed by Mr. Frank C. Lanza, the former
President and Chief Operating Officer of Loral, Mr. Robert V. LaPenta, the
former Senior Vice President and Controller of Loral, the Lehman
Partnership and Lockheed Martin to acquire substantially all of the assets
and certain liabilities of (i) nine business units previously purchased by
Lockheed Martin as part of its acquisition of Loral in April 1996 and
(ii) one business unit, Communications Systems -- Camden, purchased by
Lockheed Martin as part of its acquisition of GE Aerospace in April 1993.
The total consideration paid to Lockheed Martin was $525 million,
comprised of $480 million of cash before an estimated $20 million
reduction related to a purchase price adjustment, and $45 million of
common equity being retained by Lockheed Martin. L-3 is a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Holdings. Holdings was capitalized with $125 million of
common equity, with Messrs. Lanza and LaPenta owning 15.0%, the Lehman
Partnership owning 50.1% and Lockheed Martin owning 34.9%.
Transaction Agreement
The Transaction Agreement provides for the transfer by Lockheed
Martin to Holdings of substantially all of the assets and certain of the
liabilities primarily related to the Businesses. The assets transferred
include, among other things, real property and leases for the business
units, all contracts including government contracts, and bids for such
contracts, all machinery and equipment used primarily in connection with
the Businesses and, subject to certain limitations, all intellectual
property used primarily in the Businesses. The Transaction Agreement
provides that L-3 be capitalized with $125 million of common entity
provided by Holdings and assume the liabilities and obligations of
Lockheed Martin relating to the Businesses other than certain income and
franchise tax liabilities arising prior to the closing of the Acquisition,
certain pension liabilities, certain environmental liabilities and certain
other excluded liabilities. As consideration for the transfer of the
assets by Lockheed Martin, Holdings paid Lockheed Martin $479.8 million
(subject to adjustment based on the difference between $269.1 million and
the audited combined net tangible assets (as defined in the Transaction
Agreement) of the Businesses at the end of the month immediately preceding
the Closing) and Holdings issued to Lockheed Martin 6,980,000 shares of
its Class A Common Stock.
The Transaction Agreement contains mutually agreed upon and
customary representations, warranties and covenants. Lockheed Martin has
agreed to indemnify Holdings, subject to certain limitations, for its
breach of (i) non-environmental representations and warranties up to $50
million (subject to a $5 million threshold) and (ii) for the first eight
years following the Closing, to pay 50% of all costs incurred by the
Company above those reserved for on the Company's balance sheet at Closing
relating to certain Company-assumed environmental liabilities and, for the
seven years thereafter, 40% of certain reasonable operation and
maintenance costs relating to any environmental remediation projects
undertaken in the first eight years (subject to a $6 million threshold).
91
In connection with the Transaction Agreement, Holdings and the
Company anticipate entering into a transition services agreement with
Lockheed Martin pursuant to which Lockheed Martin will provide to Holdings
and its subsidiaries (and Holdings will provide to Lockheed Martin)
certain corporate services of a type currently provided at costs
consistent with past practices until December 31, 1997 (or, in the case of
Communication Systems -- Camden, for a period of up to 18 months after the
Closing). Lockheed Martin is currently providing L-3 the services
contemplated by the proposed transition services agreement in the absence
of an executed agreement. The parties also entered into supply agreements
which reflect existing intercompany work transfer agreements or similar
support arrangements upon prices and other terms consistent with the
present arrangements. Holdings, the Company and Lockheed Martin have
entered into certain subleases of real property and cross-licenses of
intellectual property.
In addition, Holdings and Lockheed Martin have entered into a Limited
Noncompetition Agreement (the "Noncompetition Agreement") which, for up to
three years, in certain circumstances, precludes Lockheed Martin from
engaging in the sale of any products that compete with the products of the
Company that are set forth in the Noncompetition Agreement for specifically
identified application of the products. Under the Noncompetition Agreement,
Lockheed Martin is prohibited, with certain exceptions, from acquiring any
business engaged in the sale of the specified products referred to in the
preceding sentence, although Lockheed Martin may acquire such a business
under circumstances where the exceptions do not apply provided that it
offers to sell such business to L-3 within 90 days of its acquisition. The
Noncompetition Agreement does not, among other exceptions, (i) apply to
businesses operated and managed by Lockheed Martin on behalf of the United
States government, (ii) prohibit Lockheed Martin from engaging in any
existing businesses and planned businesses as of the closing of the
Transaction or businesses that are reasonably related to existing or planned
businesses or (iii) apply to selling competing products where such products
are part of a larger system sold by Lockheed Martin.
Stockholders Agreement
At Closing, Holdings, Lockheed Martin, the Lehman Partnership and
Messrs. Lanza and LaPenta entered into a stockholders agreement (the
"Stockholders Agreement") which, except for certain provisions including
those granting registration rights, terminates upon the consummation of an
initial public offering of equity securities by Holdings.
The Stockholders Agreement provides that the Board of Directors will
initially consist of 11 members including six designees of the Lehman
Partnership, three designees of Lockheed Martin, and Messrs. Lanza and
LaPenta. The number of directors which the Lehman Partnership and Lockheed
Martin have the right to designate will be reduced in proportion to any
reduction in their ownership of Common Stock, but as long as the Lehman
Partnership continues to own at least 35% of the outstanding Common Stock
and represents the largest single stockholder of Holdings, it may
designate a majority of the members of the Board of Directors.
92
Under the Stockholders Agreement Holdings is prohibited from
commencing an initial public offering for one year after the Closing
without the consent of each of the parties to the agreement. If an initial
public offering has not occurred five years after the Closing, the Lehman
Partnership and Lockheed Martin each have the right to require Holdings to
consummate an initial public offering, provided that they and their
permitted transferees own at least 50% of the Common Stock that they owned
on the date of the Closing.
The Stockholders Agreement restricts the transfer of shares of
Common Stock by any party to the agreement for one year and requires that
any shares transferred thereafter first be offered for sale to the other
stockholders and Holdings. As to sales of shares by the Lehman Partnership
that occur one year after the Closing and prior to the consummation of an
initial public offering and that result in the Lehman Partnership no
longer owning at least 35% of the issued and outstanding Common Stock,
(i) Messrs. Lanza and LaPenta are permitted to "tag along" (as well as
Lockheed Martin, if either Lanza or LaPenta elects to "tag along") and
(ii) the Lehman Partnership has the right to "drag along" Messrs. Lanza
and LaPenta (and at the option of Lockheed Martin, Lockheed Martin may
sell shares in such transaction). Under the Stockholders Agreement
Lockheed Martin is subject to a standstill arrangement which generally
prohibits any increase in its share ownership percentage over 34.9%.
The Stockholders Agreement also provides that Lehman Brothers Inc.
has the exclusive right to provide investment banking services to Holdings
for the five-year period after the Closing (except that the exclusivity
period is three years as to cash acquisitions undertaken by L-3). In the
event that Lehman Brothers Inc. agrees to provide any investment banking
services to L-3, it will be paid fees that are mutually agreed upon based
on similar transactions and practices in the investment banking industry.
93
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
Holdings and L-3 were formed by Senior Management, the Lehman Partnership and
Lockheed Martin to acquire substantially all of the assets and liabilities of
the Businesses. The total consideration paid to Lockheed Martin was $525
million, comprising $480 million of cash before an estimated $20 million
reduction related to a purchase price adjustment, including $45 million of
common equity retained by Lockheed Martin. The Transaction Agreement provides
for the transfer by Lockheed Martin to Holdings of such assets and liabilities.
Under the Transaction Agreement, Lockheed Martin has agreed to indemnity L-3,
subject to certain limitations, for Lockheed Martin's breach of representations
and warranties and L-3 has assumed certain obligations relating to
environmental matters and benefits plans. These obligations include certain
on-site and off-site environmental liabilities related to events or activities
of the Businesses occurring prior to the consummation of the Transaction. In
addition, pursuant to the terms of the Transaction Agreement, the Company is in
the process of establishing benefit plans for employees of the Businesses,
which will provide substantially similar benefits to those provided by Lockheed
Martin, including pension plans, nonqualified supplemental retirement plans,
defined contribution plans, severance plans and death benefit plans.
In connection with the Transaction Agreement, Holdings and L-3 anticipate
entering into a transition services agreement with Lockheed Martin pursuant to
which Lockheed Martin will provide to L-3 and its subsidiaries (and L-3 will
provide to Lockheed Martin) until December 31, 1997 (or, in the case of
Communications Systems - Camden, for a period of up to 18 months after the
Closing) certain services of a type previously provided at costs
consistent with past practices. These services include, among others,
management information systems, accounting and payroll services which,
pursuant to the terms of the agreement, are provided to the Company at
Lockheed Martin's fully-burdened cost but without profit. In addition,
because of the short length of the period involved, the Company's
management believes that it would be difficult to procure these services
from third parties. The parties also anticipate entering into supply
agreements which reflect existing intercompany work transfer agreements or
similar support arrangements based upon prices and other terms consistent with
previously existing arrangements. Holdings, L-3 and Lockheed Martin have
entered into certain subleases of real property and cross-licenses of
intellectual property.
In addition, at closing, Holdings, Lockheed Martin, Lehman Partnership and
Messrs. Lanza and LaPenta entered into the Stockholders Agreement. See "Risk
Factors-Dependence on Lockheed Martin, "Business - Environmental Matters" and
"-Pension Plans" and "The Transaction - Transaction Agreement" and
"-Stockholders Agreement."
In the ordinary course of business L-3 sells products to Lockheed Martin and
its affiliates. Net sales for which were $18.6 million and $21.2 million for
the three month periods ended June 30, 1997 and March 31, 1997, respectively,
and $70.7 million, $25.9 million and $10.0 million for the years ended
December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994, respectively. See Note 3 to the Lockheed
Martin Predecessor Businesses combined financial statements as of March 31,
1997 and for the three months ended March 31, 1997 and 1996.
94
Sales of products to Lockheed Martin after the closing of the Transaction,
excluding those under existing intercompany work transfer agreements, are
expected to be made on terms no less favorable than those which would be
available from non-affiliated party customers. A significant portion of
L-3's sales to Lockheed Martin are either based on competitive bidding or
catalog prices.
95
MANAGEMENT
Directors and Executive Officers
The following table provides information concerning the directors
and executive officers of Holdings after giving effect to the Transaction.
All directors hold office until the next annual meeting of the
stockholders. All officers serve at the discretion of the Board of
Directors.
Name Age Position
---------------------- ---- ----------------------------------------
Frank C. Lanza 65 Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and
Director
Robert V. LaPenta 51 President, Chief Financial Officer and
Director
Michael T. Strianese 41 Vice President--Finance and Controller
Christopher C. Cambria 39 Vice President--General Counsel and
Secretary
Robert F. Mehmel 34 Vice President--Planning and Assistant
Secretary
Jimmie V. Adams 60 Vice President--Washington D.C. Operations
Robert RisCassi 61 Vice President--Washington D.C. Operations
Steven J. Berger 40 Director
David J. Brand 35 Director
Alberto M. Finali 43 Director
Eliot M. Fried 63 Director
Robert B. Millard 46 Director
Alan H. Washkowitz 56 Director
Thomas A. Corcoran 53 Director
Frank H. Menaker, Jr. 56 Director
John E. Montague 42 Director
Frank C. Lanza, Chairman and CEO. Mr. Lanza was Executive Vice
President of Lockheed Martin and a member of Lockheed Martin's Executive
Council and Board of Directors. Mr. Lanza was formerly President and COO
of Lockheed Martin's C3I and Systems Integration Sector, which comprised
many of the businesses acquired by Lockheed Martin from Loral in 1996. At
the time of the Loral acquisition, Mr. Lanza was President and COO of
Loral, a position he held since 1981. He joined Loral in 1972 as President
of its largest division, Electronic Systems. His earlier experience was
with Dalmo Victor and Philco Western Development Laboratory.
Robert V. LaPenta, President and Chief Financial Officer. Mr.
LaPenta was a Vice President of Lockheed Martin and was Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer of Lockheed's C3I and Systems Integration Sector.
Prior to Lockheed Martin's acquisition of Loral, he was Loral's Senior
Vice President and Controller since 1981. He joined Loral in 1972 and was
named Vice President and Controller of its largest division in 1974. He
became Corporate Controller in 1978 and was named Vice President in 1979.
Michael T. Strianese, Vice President--Finance and Controller. Mr.
Strianese was Vice President and Controller of Lockheed Martin's C3I and
Systems Integration Sector. From 1991 to the 1996 acquisition of Loral, he
96
was Director of Special Projects at Loral. Prior to joining Loral,
he spent 11 years with Ernst & Young. Mr. Strianese is a Certified
Public Accountant.
Christopher C. Cambria, Vice President--General Counsel and
Secretary. Mr. Cambria joined Holdings in June 1997. From 1994
until joining Holdings, Mr. Cambria was associated with Fried,
Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson. From 1986 until 1993, he was
associated with Cravath, Swaine & Moore.
Robert F. Mehmel, Vice President -- Planning and Assistant
Secretary. Mr. Mehmel was the Director of Financial Planning and Capital
Review for Lockheed Martin's C3I and Systems Integration Sector. From 1984
to 1996, Mr. Mehmel held several accounting and financial analysis
positions at Loral Electronic Systems and Loral. At the time of Lockheed
Martin's acquisition of Loral, he was Corporate Manager of Business
Analysis.
Jimmie V. Adams, Vice President -- Washington, D.C.
Operations. General Jimmie V. Adams (U.S.A.F.-ret.) was Vice President of
Lockheed Martin's Washington Operations for the C3I and Systems
Integration Sector. He held the same position at Loral and was an officer
of Loral, prior to its acquisition by Lockheed Martin. Before joining
Loral in 1993, he was Commander in Chief, Pacific Air Forces, Hickam Air
Force Base, Hawaii, capping a 35-year career with the U.S. Air Force. He
was also Deputy Chief of Staff for plans and operation for U.S. Air Force
headquarters and Vice Commander of Headquarters Tactical Air Command and
Vice Commander in Chief of the U.S. Air Forces Atlantic at Langley Air
Force Base. He is a command pilot with more than 141 combat missions.
Robert RisCassi, Vice President -- Washington, D.C.
Operations. General Robert W. RisCassi, Vice President, Land Systems (U.S.
Army-ret.) was Vice President of Land Systems for Lockheed Martin's C3I
and Systems Integration Sector. He held the same position for Loral, prior
to its acquisition by Lockheed Martin. He joined Loral in 1993 after
retiring as U.S. Army Commander in Chief, United Nations Command/Korea.
His 35-year military career included posts as Army Vice Chief of Staff;
Director, Joint Staff, Joint Chiefs of Staff; Deputy Chief of Staff for
Operations and Plans; and Commander of the Combined Arms Center.
Steven J. Berger, Director. Mr. Berger is a Managing Director of
Lehman Brothers, Co-Head of the Investment Banking Division and Head of
the Merchant Banking Group. Mr. Berger joined Lehman Brothers in 1983 in
the Investment Banking Division and spent the early part of his career
working on principal investment, merger-related advisory and corporate
finance transactions. Mr. Berger became a Managing Director and Head of
European Investment Banking in 1991, Head of the Merchant Banking Group in
1995 and Co-Head of the Investment Banking Division in 1996. Mr. Berger
holds an M.B.A. and an A.B. Economics, with honors, from Harvard
University.
David J. Brand, Director. Mr. Brand is a Managing Director of Lehman
Brothers and a principal in the Global Mergers & Acquisitions Group,
leading Lehman Brothers' Technology Mergers and Acquisitions business. Mr.
Brand joined Lehman Brothers in 1987 and has been responsible for merger
and corporate finance advisory services for many of Lehman Brothers'
technology and defense industry clients. Mr. Brand holds an M.B.A. from
97
Stanford University's Graduate School of Business and a B.S. in Mechanical
Engineering from Boston University.
Alberto M. Finali, Director. Mr. Finali is a Managing Director of
Lehman Brothers and principal of the Merchant Banking Group, based in New
York. Prior to joining the Merchant Banking Group Mr. Finali spent four
years in Lehman Brothers' London office as a senior member of the M&A
Group. Mr. Finali joined Lehman Brothers in 1987 as a member of the M&A
Group in New York and became a Managing Director in 1997. Prior to joining
Lehman Brothers, Mr. Finali worked in the Pipelines and Production
Technology Group of Bechtel, Inc. in San Francisco. Mr. Finali holds an
M.E. and an M.B.A. from the University of California at Berkeley, and a
Laurea Degree in Civil Engineering from the Polytechnic School in Milan,
Italy.
Eliot M. Fried, Director. Mr. Fried is a Managing Director of Lehman
Brothers. Mr. Fried joined Shearson, Hayden Stone, a predecessor firm, in
1976 and became a Managing Director in 1982. Mr. Fried has extensive
experience in portfolio management and equity research. Mr. Fried is
currently a director of Bridgeport Machines, Inc., Energy Ventures, Inc.,
SunSource L.P., Vernitron Corporation and Walter Industries, Inc. Mr.
Fried holds an M.B.A. from Columbia University and a B.A. from Hobart
College.
Robert B. Millard, Director. Mr. Millard is a Managing Director of
Lehman Brothers, Head of Lehman Brothers' Principal Trading & Investments
Group and principal of the Merchant Banking Group. Mr. Millard joined Kuhn
Loeb & Co. in 1976 and became a Managing Director of Lehman Brothers in
1983. Mr. Millard is currently a director of GulfMark International, Inc.
and Energy Ventures, Inc. Mr. Millard holds an M.B.A. from Harvard
University and a B.S. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Alan H. Washkowitz, Director. Mr. Washkowitz is a Managing Director
of Lehman Brothers and principal of the Merchant Banking Group, and is
responsible for the oversight of Lehman Brothers Merchant Banking
Portfolio Partnership L.P. Mr. Washkowitz joined Lehman Brothers in 1978
when Kuhn Loeb & Co. was acquired by Lehman Brothers. Mr. Washkowitz is
currently a director of Illinois Central Corporation, K&F Industries,
Inc., Lear Corporation and McBride plc. Mr. Washkowitz holds an M.B.A.
from Harvard University, a J.D. from Columbia University and an A.B. from
Brooklyn College.
Thomas A. Corcoran, Director. Mr. Corcoran has been the President and
Chief Operating Officer of the Electronic Systems Sector of Lockheed Martin
Corporation since March 1995. From 1993 to 1995, Mr. Corcoran was President
of the Electronics Group of Martin Marietta Corporation. Prior to that he
worked for General Electric for 26 years and from 1983 to 1993 he held
various management positions with GE Aerospace; he was a company officer
from 1990 to 1993. Mr. Corcoran is a member of the Board of Trustees of
Worcester Polytechnic Institute, the Board of Trustees of Stevens
Institute of Technology, the Board of Governors of the Electronic
Industries Association, a Director of the U.S. Navy Submarine League
and a Director of REMEC Corporation.
Frank H. Menaker, Jr., Director. Mr. Menaker has served as Senior
Vice President and General Counsel of Lockheed Martin since July 1996. He
served as Vice President and General Counsel of Lockheed Martin from March
98
1995 to July 1996, as Vice President of Martin Marietta Corporation from
1982 until 1995 and as General Counsel of Martin Marietta Corporation from
1981 until 1995. He is a director of Martin Marietta Materials, Inc., a
member of the American Bar Association and has been admitted to practice
before the United States Supreme Court. Mr. Menaker is a graduate of
Wilkes University and the Washington College of Law at American
University.
John E. Montague, Director. Mr. Montague has been Vice President,
Financial Strategies at Lockheed Martin responsible for mergers,
acquisitions and divestiture activities and shareholder value strategies
since March, 1995. Previously, he was Vice President, Corporate
Development and Investor Relations at Martin Marietta Corporation from
1991 to 1995. From 1988 to 1991, he was Director of Corporate Development
at Martin Marietta Corporation, which he joined in 1977 as a member of the
engineering staff. Mr. Montague is a director of Rational Software
Corporation. Mr. Montague received his B.S. from the Georgia Institute of
Technology and a M.S. in engineering from the University of Colorado.
Director Compensation and Arrangements
It is not currently contemplated that the directors of Holdings or
the Company will receive compensation for their services as directors.
Members of the Board of Directors will be elected pursuant to certain
voting agreements outlined in the Stockholders Agreement. See "The
Transaction--Stockholders Agreement".
Executive Compensation
Benefit Plans
Holdings and the Company intend to establish benefit plans, which
will provide substantially similar benefits to those provided by Lockheed
Martin, including a pension plan, a nonqualified supplemental retirement
plan, a defined contribution plan, a severance plan and a death benefit
plan.
Management Incentive Compensation Plans
Holdings and the Company will establish an incentive compensation
plan that will provide a bonus to selected employees based on the
participant's base salary, target level, individual performance rating and
organizational performance rating and a plan that will allow key
management employees with base salaries of at least $80,000 to defer
receipt of awards under the incentive compensation plan that exceed
$10,000.
Stock Option Plan
Holdings sponsors an option plan (the "Option Plan") for key
employees of Holdings and its subsidiaries, pursuant to which options to
purchase an aggregate of 14% of Holdings' fully-diluted Common Stock
outstanding at Closing will be granted (inclusive of the grants to Messrs.
Lanza and LaPenta, see below under "--Employment Agreements"). The
compensation committee of the Board of Directors of Holdings, in its sole
discretion, determines the terms of option agreements, including without
limitation the treatment of option grants in the event of a change of
control.
99
Employment Agreements
Holdings entered into an employment agreement (the "Employment
Agreements") with each of Mr. Lanza, who will serve as Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer of the Company and Holdings and will receive a base
salary of $750,000 per annum and appropriate executive level benefits, and
Mr. LaPenta, who will serve as President and Chief Financial Officer of
Holdings and the Company and will receive a base salary of $500,000 per
annum and appropriate executive level benefits. The Employment Agreements
provide for an initial term of five years, which will automatically renew
for one-year periods thereafter, unless a party thereto gives notice of
its intent to terminate at least 90 days prior to the expiration of the
term. Upon a termination without cause (as defined) or resignation for
good reason (as defined), Holdings will be obligated, through the end of
the term, to (i) continue to pay the base salary and (ii) continue to
provide life insurance and medical and hospitalization benefits comparable
to those provided to other senior executives; provided, however, that any
such coverage shall terminate to the extent that Mr. Lanza or Mr. LaPenta,
as the case may be, is offered or obtains comparable benefits coverage
from any other employer. The Employment Agreements provide for
confidentiality during employment and at all times thereafter. There is
also a noncompetition and non-solicitation covenant which is effective
during the employment term and for one year thereafter; provided, however,
that if the employment terminates following the expiration of the initial
term, the noncompetition covenant will only be effective during the
period, if any, that Holdings pays the severance described above.
Holdings has granted each of Messrs. Lanza and LaPenta
(collectively, the "Equity Executives") nonqualified options to purchase,
at $6.47 per share of Class A Common Stock, 5% of Holdings' initial
fully-diluted common stock. In each case, half of the options will be
"Time Options" and half will be "Performance Options" (collectively, the
"Options"). The Time Options will become exercisable with respect to 20%
of the shares subject to the Time Options on each of the first five
anniversaries of the Closing if employment continues through and including
such date. The Performance Options will become exercisable nine years
after the Closing, but will become exercisable earlier with respect to up
to 20% of the shares subject to the Performance Options on each of the
first five anniversaries of the Closing, to the extent certain EBITDA
targets are achieved. The Options will become fully exercisable under
certain circumstances, including a change in control. The Option term is
ten years from the Closing; except that (i) if the Equity Executive is
fired for cause or resigns without good reason, the Options expire upon
termination of employment; (ii) if the Equity Executive is fired without
cause, resigns for good reason, dies, becomes disabled or retires, the
Options expire one year after termination of employment. Unexercisable
Options will terminate upon termination of employment, unless acceleration
is expressly provided for. Upon a change of control, Holdings may
terminate the Options, so long as the Equity Executives are cashed out or
permitted to exercise their Options prior to such change of control.
Puts/Calls. In the event that an Equity Executive (i) is terminated
without cause, (ii) resigns with good reason or (iii) retires
(collectively, a "Good Termination"), the Equity Executive will have the
right to require Holdings to, and Holdings will have the right to,
purchase at the fair market value per share a number of (A) shares
purchased upon exercise of Options ("Option Shares") and (B) Class B
100
Common Stock purchased at Closing ("Purchased Shares", and collectively
with the Option Shares, the "Equity Shares") equal to the product of
(1) the total number of Equity Shares held and (2) the Put/Call
Percentage. The "Put/Call Percentage" will equal 75% at any time prior to
the first anniversary of the Closing and will be reduced by 15% on each
anniversary of the Closing thereafter. In addition, in the event of a Good
Termination, the Equity Executive will have the right to require Holdings
to, and Holdings will have the right to, purchase, at the fair market
value per share less the exercise price per share, the number of shares
subject to exercisable Options in an amount equal to the product of
(i) the total number of shares subject to exercisable Options held and
(ii) the Put/Call Percentage.
Following the termination of an Equity Executive's employment due to
death or disability, the Equity Executive will have the right to require
Holdings to, and Holdings will have the right to, purchase all of (i) the
Equity Shares held by the Equity Executive at a per share price equal to
the fair market value per share and (ii) the shares subject to Options
held by the Equity Executive at the fair market value per share less the
exercise price per share. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event of
the Equity Executive's death, the Equity Executive's estate will have the
right to retain 20% of the Purchased Shares.
In the event that an Equity Executive is terminated with cause or
quits without good reason (a "Bad Termination"), Holdings will have the
right to purchase any (i) Option Shares at the lesser of (A) the Equity
Executive's cost and (B) fair market value and (ii) Purchased Shares at
the lesser of (A) the Equity Executive's cost plus interest and (B) fair
market value. In addition, in the event of a Bad Termination all Options
will terminate without payment. The Equity Executive will not have the
right to put the Equity Shares to Holdings in the event of a Bad
Termination.
Notwithstanding the above, Holdings will not be required to purchase
for cash any Equity Shares or shares subject to Options if such purchase
would be or would result in a violation of the terms of its debt
agreements or applicable statutes. In addition, no such purchase for cash
will occur if in the reasonable opinion of the Board of Directors of
Holdings (excluding the Equity Executives) such purchase would be
reasonably likely to materially impact Holdings's available cash, require
unsuitable additional debt to be incurred or otherwise have a material
adverse effect on the financial condition of Holdings. If Holdings is
unable to purchase any Equity Shares or shares subject to Options for cash
due to any of the above reasons, Holdings will issue a subordinated note
in the appropriate principal amount to the Equity Executive or his estate,
as the case may be.
101
OWNERSHIP OF CAPITAL STOCK
All of the outstanding capital stock of the Company is held by
Holdings. Class A Common Stock of Holdings ("Class A Common Stock")
possesses full voting rights and Class B Common Stock of Holdings ("Class
B Common Stock") and Class C Common Stock of Holdings ("Class C Common
Stock and, together with Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock,
"Common Stock") possess no voting rights except as otherwise required by
law. Each share of Class B Common Stock will convert into a share of Class
A Common Stock upon consummation of an initial public offering of equity
securities of Holdings and certain other events and will convert into a
share of Class C Common Stock upon certain other events. As of the
Closing, there were 17,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock and
3,000,000 shares of Class B Common Stock outstanding. The following table
sets forth certain information regarding the beneficial ownership of the
shares of the Common Stock of Holdings, upon consummation of the
Transaction, by each person who beneficially owns more than five percent
the outstanding shares of Common Stock of Holdings and by the directors
and certain executive officers of the Company, individually and as a
group.
Percentage
Class A Class B Ownership of
Name of Beneficial Owner Common Stock Common Stock Common Stock
-------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------- ------------------- -------------------
Lehman Brothers Capital Partners III, L.P. and affiliates
c/o Lehman Brothers Inc.
Three World Financial Center
New York, New York 10285 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10,020,000 -- 50.1%
Lockheed Martin Corporation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,980,000 -- 34.9
Frank C. Lanza . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -- 1,500,000 7.5
Robert V. LaPenta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -- 1,500,000 7.5
All directors and executive officers as group (15 persons) . -- 3,000,000 15.0
DESCRIPTION OF SENIOR CREDIT FACILITIES
The Senior Credit Facilities have been provided by a syndicate of
banks and other financial institutions led by Lehman Commercial Paper
Inc., as Arranger and Syndication Agent. The Senior Credit Facilities
provide for $175.0 million in term loans (the "Term Loan Facilities") and
for $100.0 million in revolving credit loans (the "Revolving Credit
Facility"). The Revolving Credit Facility includes borrowing capacity
available for letters of credit and for borrowings on same-day notice (the
"Swingline Loans"). The Term Loans are comprised of a Tranche A Term Loan
($100.0 million), which have a maturity of six years, a Tranche B Term
Loan ($45.0 million), which have a maturity of eight years, and a Tranche
C Term Loan ($30.0 million), which have a maturity of nine years. The
Revolving Credit Facility commitment terminates six years after the date
of initial funding of the Senior Credit Facilities.
102
All borrowings under the Senior Credit Facilities bear interest, at
the Company's option, at either: (A) a "base rate" equal to, for any day,
the higher of: (a) 0.50% per annum above the latest Federal Funds Rate;
and (b) the rate of interest in effect for such day as publicly announced
from time to time by Bank of America NT&SA, as Administrative Agent, in
San Francisco, California, as its "reference rate" plus (i) in the case of
the Tranche A Term Loan, the Revolving Credit Facility and the Swingline
Loans, a debt to EBITDA-dependent rate ranging from 0.50% to 1.25% per
annum, (ii) in the case of the Tranche B Term Loan, a rate of 1.50% per
annum or (iii) in the case of the Tranche C Term Loan, a rate of 1.75% per
annum or (B) a "LIBOR rate" equal to, for any Interest Period (as defined
in the Senior Credit Facilities), with respect to LIBOR Loans comprising
part of the same borrowing, the London interbank offered rate of interest
per annum for such Interest Period as determined by the Administrative
Agent, plus (i) in the case of the Tranche A Term Loan and the Revolving
Credit Facility, a debt to EBITDA-dependent rate ranging from 1.50% to
2.25% per annum, (ii) in the case of the Tranche B Term Loan, a rate of
2.50% per annum or (iii) in the case of the Tranche C Term Loan, a rate of
2.75% per annum.
The Company will pay a commitment fee calculated at a debt to
EBITDA-dependent rate ranging from 0.375% to 0.50% per annum of the
available unused commitment under the Revolving Credit Facility, in each
case in effect on each day. Such fee will be payable quarterly in arrears
and upon termination of the Revolving Credit Facility.
The Company will pay a letter of credit fee calculated at a debt to
EBITDA-dependent rate ranging from 1.50% to 2.25% per annum of the face
amount of each letter of credit and a fronting fee calculated at a rate
equal to 0.125% per annum of the face amount of each letter of credit.
Such fees will be payable quarterly in arrears and upon the termination of
the Revolving Credit Facility. In addition, the Company will pay customary
transaction charges in connection with any letters of credit.
The foregoing debt to EBITDA-dependent rates range from the low rate
specified if the ratio of debt to EBITDA is less than 3.75 to 1.0 to the
high rate specified if such ratio is at least equal to 4.75 to 1.0.
The Term Loans are subject to the following amortization schedule:
Tranche A Term Loan Tranche B Term Loan Tranche C Term Loan
------------------------- ------------------------- -------------------------
Year 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 4,000,000 $ 500,000 $ 500,000
Year 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,000,000 500,000 500,000
Year 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15,000,000 500,000 500,000
Year 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21,000,000 500,000 500,000
Year 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27,000,000 500,000 500,000
Year 6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28,000,000 500,000 500,000
Year 7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -- 20,000,000 500,000
Year 8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -- 22,000,000 500,000
Year 9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -- -- 26,000,000
103
Borrowings under the Senior Credit Facilities is subject to
mandatory prepayment (i) with the net proceeds of any incurrence of
indebtedness with certain exceptions to be agreed, (ii) with the proceeds
of certain asset sales and (iii) on an annual basis with (A) 75% of the
Company's excess cash flow (as defined in the Senior Credit Facilities) if
the ratio of the Company's debt to EBITDA is greater than 3.5 to 1.0 or
(B) 50% of such excess cash flow if the ratio is less than 3.5 to 1.0.
The Company's obligations under the Senior Credit Facilities is
secured by a lien on substantially all of the tangible and intangible
assets of Holdings, the Company, and their direct and indirect
subsidiaries, including: (i) a pledge by Holdings of the stock of the
Company and (ii) a pledge by the Company and its direct and indirect
subsidiaries of all of the stock of their respective domestic subsidiaries
and 65% of the stock of the Company's first-tier foreign subsidiaries. In
addition, indebtedness under the Senior Credit Facilities is guaranteed by
Holdings and by all of the Company's direct and indirect domestic
subsidiaries. See "Description of the Exchange Notes--Subordination",
"Risk Factors--Subordination".
The Senior Credit Facilities contain customary covenants and
restrictions on the Company's ability to engage in certain activities. In
addition, the Senior Credit Facilities provide that the Company must meet
or exceed certain interest coverage ratios and must not exceed a leverage
ratio. The Senior Credit Facilities also include customary events of
default.
104
THE EXCHANGE OFFER
General
The Company hereby offers, upon the terms and subject to the
conditions set forth in this Prospectus and in the accompanying Letter of
Transmittal (which together constitute the Exchange Offer), to exchange up
to $225 million aggregate principal amount of Exchange Notes for a like
aggregate principal amount of Old Notes properly tendered on or prior to
the Expiration Date and not withdrawn as permitted pursuant to the
procedures described below. The Exchange Offer is being made with respect
to all of the Old Notes.
As of the date of this Prospectus, $225 million aggregate principal
amount of the Old Notes is outstanding. This Prospectus, together with the
Letter of Transmittal, is first being sent on or about , 1997, to
all holders of Old Notes known to the Company. The Company's obligation
to accept Old Notes for exchange pursuant to the Exchange Offer is subject
to certain conditions set forth under "Certain Conditions to the Exchange
Offer" below. The Company currently expects that each of the conditions
will be satisfied and that no waivers will be necessary.
Purpose of the Exchange Offer
The Old Notes were issued on April 30, 1997 in a transaction exempt
from the registration requirements of the Securities Act. Accordingly, the
Old Notes may not be reoffered, resold, or otherwise transferred unless so
registered or unless an applicable exemption from the registration and
prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act is available.
In connection with the issuance and sale of the Old Notes, the
Company entered into the Registration Rights Agreement, which requires the
Company to file with the Commission a registration statement relating to
the Exchange Offer not later than 90 days after the date of issuance of
the Old Notes, and to use its best efforts to cause the registration
statement relating to the Exchange Offer to become effective under the
Securities Act not later than 150 days after the date of issuance of the
Old Notes and the Exchange Offer to be consummated not later than 30 days
after the date of the effectiveness of the Registration Statement (or use
its best efforts to cause to become effective by the 180th calendar day
after the Issuance Date (as defined) a shelf registration statement with
respect to resales of the Old Notes). A copy of the Registration Rights
Agreement has been filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement.
The Exchange Offer is being made by the Company to satisfy its
obligations with respect to the Registration Rights Agreement. The term
"holder," with respect to the Exchange Offer, means any person in whose
name Old Notes are registered on the books of the Company or any other
person who has obtained a properly completed bond power from the
registered holder, or any person whose Old Notes are held of record by The
Depository Trust Company. Other than pursuant to the Registration Rights
Agreement, the Company is not required to file any registration statement
to register any outstanding Old Notes. Holders of Old Notes who do not
tender their Old Notes or whose Old Notes are tendered but not accepted
would have to rely on exemptions to registration requirements under the
securities laws, including the Securities Act, if they wish to sell their
Old Notes.
105
The Company is making the Exchange Offer in reliance on the position
of the staff of the Commission as set forth in certain interpretive
letters addressed to third parties in other transactions. However, the
Company has not sought its own interpretive letter and there can be no
assurance that the staff would make a similar determination with respect
to the Exchange Offer as it has in such interpretive letters to third
parties. Based on these interpretations by the Staff, the Company believes
that the Exchange Notes issued pursuant to the Exchange Offer in exchange
for Old Notes may be offered for resale, resold and otherwise transferred
by a Holder (other than any Holder who is a broker-dealer or an
"affiliate" of the Company within the meaning of Rule 405 of the
Securities Act) without further compliance with the registration and
prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act, provided that such
Exchange Notes are acquired in the ordinary course of such Holder's
business and that such Holder is not participating, and has no arrangement
or understanding with any person to participate, in a distribution (within
the meaning of the Securities Act) of such Exchange Notes. See "--Resale
of Exchange Notes". Each broker-dealer that receives Exchange Notes for
its own account in exchange for Old Notes, where such Old Notes were
acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of market-making activities or
other trading activities, must acknowledge that it will deliver a
prospectus in connection with any resale of such Exchange Notes. See "Plan
of Distribution".
Terms of the Exchange
The Company hereby offers to exchange, subject to the conditions set
forth herein and in the Letter of Transmittal accompanying this
Prospectus, $1,000 in principal amount of Exchange Notes for each $1,000
in principal amount of the Old Notes. The terms of the Exchange Notes are
identical in all material respects to the terms of the Old Notes for which
they may be exchanged pursuant to this Exchange Offer, except that the
Exchange Notes will generally be freely transferable by holders thereof
and will not be subject to any covenant regarding registration. The
Exchange Notes will evidence the same indebtedness as the Old Notes and
will be entitled to the benefits of the Indenture. See "Description of
Exchange Notes".
The Exchange Offer is not conditioned upon any minimum aggregate
principal amount of Old Notes being tendered for exchange.
The Company has not requested, and does not intend to request, an
interpretation by the staff of the Commission with respect to whether the
Exchange Notes issued pursuant to the Exchange Offer in exchange for the
Old Notes may be offered for sale, resold or otherwise transferred by any
holder without compliance with the registration and prospectus delivery
provisions of the Securities Act. Instead, based on an interpretation by
the staff of the Commission set forth in a series of no-action letters
issued to third parties, the Company believes that Exchange Notes issued
pursuant to the Exchange Offer in exchange for Old Notes may be offered
for sale, resold and otherwise transferred by any holder of such Exchange
Notes (other than any such holder that is a broker-dealer or is an
"affiliate" of the Company within the meaning of Rule 405 under the
Securities Act) without compliance with the registration and prospectus
delivery provisions of the Securities Act, provided that such Exchange
Notes are acquired in the ordinary course of such holder's business and
106
such holder has no arrangement or understanding with any person to
participate in the distribution of such Exchange Notes and neither such
holder nor any other such person is engaging in or intends to engage in a
distribution of such Exchange Notes. Since the Commission has not
considered the Exchange Offer in the context of a no-action letter, there
can be no assurance that the staff of the Commission would make a similar
determination with respect to the Exchange Offer. Any holder who is an
affiliate of the Company or who tenders in the Exchange Offer for the
purpose of participating in a distribution of the Exchange Notes cannot
rely on such interpretation by the staff of the Commission and must comply
with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the
Securities Act in connection with any resale transaction. Each holder,
other than a broker-dealer, must acknowledge that it is not engaged in,
and does not intend to engage in, a distribution of Exchange Notes. Each
broker-dealer that receives Exchange Notes for its own account in exchange
for Old Notes, where such Old Notes were acquired by such broker-dealer as
a result of market-making activities or other trading activities, must
acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any
resale of such Exchange Notes. See "Plan of Distribution".
Interest on the Exchange Notes will accrue from the last Interest
Payment Date on which interest was paid on the Old Notes so surrendered
or, if no interest has been paid on such Notes, from April 30, 1997.
Tendering holders of the Old Notes shall not be required to pay
brokerage commissions or fees or, subject to the instructions in the
Letter of Transmittal, transfer taxes with respect to the exchange of the
Old Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer.
Expiration Date; Extension; Termination; Amendment
The Exchange Offer will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on
__________, 1997, unless the Company, in its sole discretion, has extended
the period of time for which the Exchange Offer is open (such date, as it
may be extended, is referred to herein as the "Expiration Date"). The
Expiration Date will be at least 20 business days after the commencement
of the Exchange Offer in accordance with Rule 14e-1(a) under the Exchange
Act. The Company expressly reserves the right, at any time or from time to
time, to extend the period of time during which the Exchange Offer is
open, and thereby delay acceptance for exchange of any Old Notes, by
giving oral or written notice to the Exchange Agent and by timely public
announcement no later than 9:00 a.m. New York City time, on the next
business day after the previously scheduled Expiration Date. During any
such extension, all Old Notes previously tendered will remain subject to
the Exchange Offer unless properly withdrawn.
The Company expressly reserves the right to (i) terminate or amend
the Exchange Offer and not to accept for exchange any Old Notes not
theretofore accepted for exchange upon the occurrence of any of the events
specified below under "Certain Conditions to the Exchange Offer" which
have not been waived by the Company and (ii) amend the terms of the
Exchange Offer in any manner which, in its good faith judgment, is
advantageous to the holders of the Old Notes, whether before or after any
tender of the Notes. If any such termination or amendment occurs, the
107
Company will notify the Exchange Agent and will either issue a press
release or give oral or written notice to the holders of the Old Notes as
promptly as practicable.
For purposes of the Exchange Offer, a "business day" means any day
other than Saturday, Sunday or a date on which banking institutions are
required or authorized by New York State law to be closed, and consists of
the time period from 12:01 a.m. through 12:00 midnight, New York City
time. Unless the Company terminates the Exchange Offer prior to 5:00 p.m.,
New York City time, on the Expiration Date, the Company will exchange the
Exchange Notes for the Old Notes on the Exchange Date.
Procedures for Tendering Old Notes
The tender to the Company of Old Notes by a holder thereof as set
forth below and the acceptance thereof by the Company will constitute a
binding agreement between the tendering holder and the Company upon the
terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Prospectus and in
the accompanying Letter of Transmittal.
A holder of Old Notes may tender the same by (i) properly completing
and signing the Letter of Transmittal or a facsimile thereof (all
references in this Prospectus to the Letter of Transmittal shall be deemed
to include a facsimile thereof) and delivering the same, together with the
certificate or certificates representing the Old Notes being tendered and
any required signature guarantees and any other documents required by the
Letter of Transmittal, to the Exchange Agent at its address set forth
below on or prior to the Expiration Date (or complying with the procedure
for book-entry transfer described below) or (ii) complying with the
guaranteed delivery procedures described below.
The method of delivery of Old Notes, Letters of Transmittal and all
other required documents is at the election and risk of the holders. If
such delivery is by mail, it is recommended that registered mail properly
insured, with return receipt requested, be used. In all cases, sufficient
time should be allowed to insure timely delivery. No Old Notes or Letters
of Transmittal should be sent to the Company.
If tendered Old Notes are registered in the name of the signer of
the Letter of Transmittal and the Exchange Notes to be issued in exchange
therefor are to be issued (and any untendered Old Notes are to be
reissued) in the name of the registered holder (which term, for the
purposes described herein, shall include any participant in The Depository
Trust Company (also referred to as a "book-entry transfer facility") whose
name appears on a security listing as the owner of Old Notes), the
signature of such signer need not be guaranteed. In any other case, the
tendered Old Notes must be endorsed or accompanied by written instruments
of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and duly executed by the
registered holder, and the signature on the endorsement or instrument of
transfer must be guaranteed by a bank, broker, dealer, credit union,
savings association, clearing agency or other institution (each an
"Eligible Institution") that is a member of a recognized signature
guarantee medallion program within the meaning of Rule 17Ad-15 under the
Exchange Act. If the Exchange Notes and/or Old Notes not exchanged are to
be delivered to an address other than that of the registered holder
appearing on the note register for the Old Notes, the signature in the
Letter of Transmittal must be guaranteed by an Eligible Institution.
108
The Exchange Agent will make a request within two business days
after the date of receipt of this Prospectus to establish accounts with
respect to the Old Notes at the book-entry transfer facility for the
purpose of facilitating the Exchange Offer, and subject to the
establishment thereof, any financial institution that is a participant in
the book-entry transfer facility's system may make book-entry delivery of
Old Notes by causing such book-entry transfer facility to transfer such
Old Notes into the Exchange Agent's account with respect to the Old Notes
in accordance with the book-entry transfer facility's procedures for such
transfer. Although delivery of Old Notes may be effected through
book-entry transfer into the Exchange Agent's account at the book-entry
transfer facility, an appropriate Letter of Transmittal with any required
signature guarantee and all other required documents must in each case be
transmitted to and received or confirmed by the Exchange Agent at its
address set forth below on or prior to the Expiration Date, or, if the
guaranteed delivery procedures described below are complied with, within
the time period provided under such procedures.
If a holder desires to accept the Exchange Offer and time will not
permit a Letter of Transmittal or Old Notes to reach the Exchange Agent
before the Expiration Date or the procedure for book-entry transfer cannot
be completed on a timely basis, a tender may be effected if the Exchange
Agent has received at its address set forth below on or prior to the
Expiration Date, a letter, telegram or facsimile transmission (receipt
confirmed by telephone and an original delivered by guaranteed overnight
courier) from an Eligible Institution setting forth the name and address
of the tendering holder, the names in which the Old Notes are registered
and, if possible, the certificate numbers of the Old Notes to be tendered,
and stating that the tender is being made thereby and guaranteeing that
within three business days after the Expiration Date, the Old Notes in
proper form for transfer (or a confirmation of book-entry transfer of such
Old Notes into the Exchange Agent's account at the book-entry transfer
facility), will be delivered by such Eligible Institution together with a
properly completed and duly executed Letter of Transmittal (and any other
required documents). Unless Old Notes being tendered by the
above-described method are deposited with the Exchange Agent within the
time period set forth above (accompanied or preceded by a properly
completed Letter of Transmittal and any other required documents), the
Company may, at its option, reject the tender. Copies of the notice of
guaranteed delivery ("Notice of Guaranteed Delivery") which may be used by
Eligible Institutions for the purposes described in this paragraph are
available from the Exchange Agent.
A tender will be deemed to have been received as of the date when
(i) the tendering holder's properly completed and duly signed Letter of
Transmittal accompanied by the Old Notes (or a confirmation of book-entry
transfer of such Old Notes into the Exchange Agent's account at the
book-entry transfer facility) is received by the Exchange Agent, or (ii) a
Notice of Guaranteed Delivery or letter, telegram or facsimile
transmission to similar effect (as provided above) from an Eligible
Institution is received by the Exchange Agent. Issuances of Exchange Notes
in exchange for Old Notes tendered pursuant to a Notice of Guaranteed
Delivery or letter, telegram or facsimile transmission to similar effect
(as provided above) by an Eligible Institution will be made only against
deposit of the Letter of Transmittal (and any other required documents)
and the tendered Old Notes.
109
All questions as to the validity, form, eligibility (including time
of receipt) and acceptance of Old Notes tendered for exchange will be
determined by the Company in its sole discretion, which determination
shall be final and binding. The Company reserves the absolute right to
reject any and all tenders of any particular Old Notes not properly
tendered or not to accept any particular Old Notes which acceptance might,
in the judgment of the Company or its counsel, be unlawful. The Company
also reserves the absolute right to waive any defects or irregularities or
conditions of the Exchange Offer as to any particular Old Notes either
before or after the Expiration Date (including the right to waive the
ineligibility of any holder who seeks to tender Old Notes in the Exchange
Offer). The interpretation of the terms and conditions of the Exchange
Offer (including the Letter of Transmittal and the instructions thereto)
by the Company shall be final and binding on all parties. Unless waived,
any defects or irregularities in connection with tenders of Old Notes for
exchange must be cured within such reasonable period of time as the
Company shall determine. Neither the Company, the Exchange Agent nor any
other person shall be under any duty to give notification of any defect or
irregularity with respect to any tender of Old Notes for exchange, nor
shall any of them incur any liability for failure to give such
notification.
If the Letter of Transmittal is signed by a person or persons other
than the registered holder or holders of Old Notes, such Old Notes must be
endorsed or accompanied by appropriate powers of attorney, in either case
signed exactly as the name or names of the registered holder or holders
appear on the Old Notes.
If the Letter of Transmittal or any Old Notes or powers of attorney
are signed by trustees, executors, administrators, guardians,
attorneys-in-fact, officers of corporations or others acting in a
fiduciary or representative capacity, such persons should so indicate when
signing, and, unless waived by the Company, proper evidence satisfactory
to the Company of their authority to so act must be submitted.
By tendering, each holder will represent to the Company that, among
other things, the Exchange Notes acquired pursuant to the Exchange Offer
are being acquired in the ordinary course of business of the person
receiving such Exchange Notes, whether or not such person is the holder,
that neither the holder nor any such other person has an arrangement or
understanding with any person to participate in the distribution of such
Exchange Notes and that neither the holder nor any such other person is an
"affiliate," as defined under Rule 405 of the Securities Act, of the
Company, or if it is an affiliate it will comply with the registration and
prospectus requirements of the Securities Act to the extent applicable.
Each broker-dealer that receives Exchange Notes for its own account
in exchange for Old Notes where such Old Notes were acquired by such
broker-dealer as a result of market-making activities or other trading
activities must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in
connection with any resale of such Exchange Notes. See "Plan of
Distribution."
Terms and Conditions of the Letter of Transmittal
The Letter of Transmittal contains, among other things, the
following terms and conditions, which are part of the Exchange Offer.
110
The party tendering Notes for exchange (the "Transferor") exchanges,
assigns and transfers the Old Notes to the Company and irrevocably
constitutes and appoints the Exchange Agent as the Transferor's agent and
attorney-in-fact to cause the Old Notes to be assigned, transferred and
exchanged. The Transferor represents and warrants that it has full power
and authority to tender, exchange, assign and transfer the Old Notes and
to acquire Exchange Notes issuable upon the exchange of such tendered
Notes, and that, when the same are accepted for exchange, the Company will
acquire good and unencumbered title to the tendered Old Notes, free and
clear of all liens, restrictions, charges and encumbrances and not subject
to any adverse claim. The Transferor also warrants that it will, upon
request, execute and deliver any additional documents deemed by the
Exchange Agent or the Company to be necessary or desirable to complete the
exchange, assignment and transfer of tendered Old Notes or transfer
ownership of such Old Notes on the account books maintained by a
book-entry transfer facility. The Transferor further agrees that
acceptance of any tendered Old Notes by the Company and the issuance of
Exchange Notes in exchange therefor shall constitute performance in full
by the Company of certain of its obligations under the Registration Rights
Agreement. All authority conferred by the Transferor will survive the
death or incapacity of the Transferor and every obligation of the
Transferor shall be binding upon the heirs, legal representatives,
successors, assigns, executors and administrators of such Transferor.
The Transferor certifies that it is not an "affiliate" of the
Company within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act and that
it is acquiring the Exchange Notes offered hereby in the ordinary course
of such Transferor's business and that such Transferor has no arrangement
with any person to participate in the distribution of such Exchange Notes.
Each holder, other than a broker-dealer, must acknowledge that it is not
engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, a distribution of Exchange
Notes. Each Transferor which is a broker-dealer receiving Exchange Notes
for its own account must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in
connection with any resale of such Exchange Notes. By so acknowledging and
by delivering a prospectus, a broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit
that it is an "underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act. In
connection with the offering of the Old Notes, the Company agreed to file
and maintain, subject to certain limitations, a registration statement
that would allow Lehman Brothers Inc. to engage in market-making
transactions with respect to the Notes. The Company has agreed to bear
registration expenses incurred under such agreement.
Withdrawal Rights
Tenders of Old Notes may be withdrawn at any time prior to the
Expiration Date.
For a withdrawal to be effective, a written notice of withdrawal
sent by telegram, facsimile transmission (receipt confirmed by telephone)
or letter must be received by the Exchange Agent at the address set forth
herein prior to the Expiration Date. Any such notice of withdrawal must
(i) specify the name of the person having tendered the Old Notes to be
withdrawn (the "Depositor"), (ii) identify the Old Notes to be withdrawn
(including the certificate number or numbers and principal amount of such
Old Notes), (iii) specify the principal amount of Notes to be withdrawn,
(iv) include a statement that such holder is withdrawing his election to
111
have such Old Notes exchanged, (v) be signed by the holder in the same
manner as the original signature on the Letter of Transmittal by which
such Old Notes were tendered or as otherwise described above (including
any required signature guarantees) or be accompanied by documents of
transfer sufficient to have the Trustee under the Indenture register the
transfer of such Old Notes into the name of the person withdrawing the
tender and (vi) specify the name in which any such Old Notes are to be
registered, if different from that of the Depositor. The Exchange Agent
will return the properly withdrawn Old Notes promptly following receipt of
notice of withdrawal. If Old Notes have been tendered pursuant to the
procedure for book-entry transfer, any notice of withdrawal must specify
the name and number of the account at the book-entry transfer facility to
be credited with the withdrawn Old Notes or otherwise comply with the
book-entry transfer facility procedure. All questions as to the validity
of notices of withdrawals, including time of receipt, will be determined
by the Company and such determination will be final and binding on all
parties.
Any Old Notes so withdrawn will be deemed not to have been validly
tendered for exchange for purposes of the Exchange Offer. Any Old Notes
which have been tendered for exchange but which are not exchanged for any
reason will be returned to the holder thereof without cost to such holder
(or, in the case of Old Notes tendered by book-entry transfer into the
Exchange Agent's account at the book-entry transfer facility pursuant to
the book-entry transfer procedures described above, such Old Notes will be
credited to an account with such book-entry transfer facility specified by
the holder) as soon as practicable after withdrawal, rejection of tender
or termination of the Exchange Offer. Properly withdrawn Old Notes may be
retendered by following one of the procedures described under "Procedures
for Tendering Old Notes" above at any time on or prior to the Expiration
Date.
Acceptance of Old Notes for Exchange; Delivery of Exchange Notes
Upon satisfaction or waiver of all of the conditions to the Exchange
Offer, the Company will accept, promptly on the Exchange Date, all Old
Notes properly tendered and will issue the Exchange Notes promptly after
such acceptance. See "Certain Conditions to the Exchange Offer" below. For
purposes of the Exchange Offer, the Company shall be deemed to have
accepted properly tendered Old Notes for exchange when, as and if the
Company has given oral or written notice thereof to the Exchange Agent.
For each Old Note accepted for exchange, the holder of such Old Note
will receive an Exchange Note having a principal amount equal to that of
the surrendered Old Note.
In all cases, issuance of Exchange Notes for Old Notes that are
accepted for exchange pursuant to the Exchange Offer will be made only
after timely receipt by the Exchange Agent of certificates for such Old
Notes or a timely book-entry confirmation of such Old Notes into the
Exchange Agent's account at the book-entry transfer facility, a properly
completed and duly executed Letter of Transmittal and all other required
documents. If any tendered Old Notes are not accepted for any reason set
forth in the terms and conditions of the Exchange Offer or if Old Notes
are submitted for a greater principal amount than the holder desires to
112
exchange, such unaccepted or non-exchanged Old Notes will be returned
without expense to the tendering holder thereof (or, in the case of Old
Notes tendered by book-entry transfer into the Exchange Agent's account at
the book-entry transfer facility pursuant to the book-entry transfer
procedures described above, such non-exchanged Old Notes will be credited
to an account maintained with such book-entry transfer facility) as
promptly as practicable after the expiration of the Exchange Offer.
Certain Conditions to the Exchange Offer
Notwithstanding any other provision of the Exchange Offer, or any
extension of the Exchange Offer, the Company shall not be required to
accept for exchange, or to issue Exchange Notes in exchange for, any Old
Notes and may terminate or amend the Exchange Offer (by oral or written
notice to the Exchange Agent or by a timely press release) if at any time
before the acceptance of such Old Notes for exchange or the exchange of
the Exchange Notes for such Old Notes, any of the following conditions
exist:
(a) any action or proceeding is instituted or threatened
in any court or by or before any governmental agency or regulatory
authority or any injunction, order or decree is issued with respect
to the Exchange Offer which, in the sole judgment of the Company,
might materially impair the ability of the Company to proceed with
the Exchange Offer or have a material adverse effect on the
contemplated benefits of the Exchange Offer to the Company; or
(b) any change (or any development involving a
prospective change) shall have occurred or be threatened in the
business, properties, assets, liabilities, financial condition,
operations, results of operations or prospects of the Company that
is or may be adverse to the Company, or the Company shall have
become aware of facts that have or may have adverse significance
with respect to the value of the Old Notes or the Exchange Notes or
that may materially impair the contemplated benefits of the Exchange
Offer to the Company; or
(c) any law, rule or regulation or applicable
interpretations of the staff of the Commission is issued or
promulgated which, in the good faith determination of the Company,
do not permit the Company to effect the Exchange Offer; or
(d) any governmental approval has not been obtained,
which approval the Company, in its sole discretion, deems necessary
for the consummation of the Exchange Offer; or
(e) there shall have been proposed, adopted or enacted
any law, statute, rule or regulation (or an amendment to any
existing law statute, rule or regulation) which, in the sole
judgment of the Company, might materially impair the ability of the
Company to proceed with the Exchange Offer or have a material
adverse effect on the contemplated benefits of the Exchange Offer to
the Company; or
113
(f) there shall occur a change in the current
interpretation by the staff of the Commission which permits the
Exchange Notes issued pursuant to the Exchange Offer in exchange for
Old Notes to be offered for resale, resold and otherwise transferred
by holders thereof (other than any such holder that is an
"affiliate" of the Company within the meaning of Rule 405 under the
Securities Act) without compliance with the registration and
prospectus delivery provisions of the Securities Act provided that
such Exchange Notes are acquired in the ordinary course of such
holders' business and such holders have no arrangement with any
person to participate in the distribution of such Exchange Notes; or
(g) there shall have occurred (i) any general suspension
of, shortening of hours for, or limitation on prices for, trading in
securities on any national securities exchange or in the
over-the-counter market (whether or not mandatory), (ii) any
limitation by any governmental agency or authority which may
adversely affect the ability of the Company to complete the
transactions contemplated by the Exchange Offer, (iii) a declaration
of a banking moratorium or any suspension of payments in respect of
banks by Federal or state authorities in the United States (whether
or not mandatory), (iv) a commencement of a war, armed hostilities
or other international or national crisis directly or indirectly
involving the United States, (v) any limitation (whether or not
mandatory) by any governmental authority on, or other event having a
reasonable likelihood of affecting, the extension of credit by banks
or other leading institutions in the United States, or (vi) in the
case of any of the foregoing existing at the time of the
commencement of the Exchange Offer, a material acceleration or
worsening thereof.
The Company expressly reserves the right to terminate the Exchange
Offer and not accept for exchange any Old Notes upon the occurrence of any
of the foregoing conditions (which represent all of the material
conditions to the acceptance by the Company of properly tendered Old
Notes). In addition, the Company may amend the Exchange Offer at any time
prior to the Expiration Date if any of the conditions set forth above
occur. Moreover, regardless of whether any of such conditions has
occurred, the Company may amend the Exchange Offer in any manner which, in
its good faith judgment, is advantageous to holders of the Old Notes.
The foregoing conditions are for the sole benefit of the Company and
may be asserted by the Company regardless of the circumstances giving rise
to any such condition or may be waived by the Company in whole or in part
at any time and from time to time in its sole discretion. The failure by
the Company at any time to exercise any of the foregoing rights shall not
be deemed a waiver of any such right and each such right shall be deemed
an ongoing right which may be asserted at any time and from time to time.
If the Company waives or amends the foregoing conditions, it will, if
required by law, extend the Exchange Offer for a minimum of five business
days from the date that the Company first gives notice, by public
announcement or otherwise, of such waiver or amendment, if the Exchange
Offer would otherwise expire within such five business-day period. Any
determination by the Company concerning the events described above will be
final and binding upon all parties.
114
In addition, the Company will not accept for exchange any Old Notes
tendered, and no Exchange Notes will be issued in exchange for any such
Old Notes, if at such time any stop order shall be threatened or in effect
with respect to the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus
constitutes a part or the qualification of the Indenture under the Trust
Indenture Act of 1939, as amended. In any such event the Company is
required to use every reasonable effort to obtain the withdrawal of any
stop order at the earliest possible time.
The Exchange Offer is not conditioned upon any minimum principal
amount of Old Notes being tendered for exchange.
Exchange Agent
The Bank of New York has been appointed as the Exchange Agent for
the Exchange Offer. All executed Letters of Transmittal should be directed
to the Exchange Agent at one of the addresses set forth below:
By Hand/Overnight Courier: By Mail:
The Bank of New York The Bank of New York
101 Barclay Street 101 Barclay Street
Corporate Trust Services Window Corporate Trust Services Window
New York, New York 10286 New York, New York 10286
Attn: Reorganization Section Attn: Reorganization Section
By Facsimile: (212) 815-6339
Attn.: Reorganization Section
Telephone: (212) 815-4444
Questions and requests for assistance, requests for additional copies of
this Prospectus or of the Letter of Transmittal and requests for Notices
of Guaranteed Delivery should be directed to the Exchange Agent at the
address and telephone number set forth in the Letter of Transmittal.
DELIVERY TO AN ADDRESS OTHER THAN AS SET FORTH ON THE LETTER OF
TRANSMITTAL, OR TRANSMISSIONS OF INSTRUCTIONS VIA A FACSIMILE OR TELEX
NUMBER OTHER THAN THE ONES SET FORTH ON THE LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL, WILL
NOT CONSTITUTE A VALID DELIVERY.
Solicitation of Tenders; Fees and Expenses
The Company has not retained any dealer-manager in connection with
the Exchange Offer and will not make any payments to brokers, dealers or
others soliciting acceptances of the Exchange Offer. The Company, however,
will pay the Exchange Agent reasonable and customary fees for its services
and will reimburse it for its reasonable out-of-pocket expenses in
connection therewith. The Company will also pay brokerage houses and other
custodians, nominees and fiduciaries the reasonable out-of-pocket expenses
incurred by them in forwarding copies of this and other related documents
to the beneficial owners of the Old Notes and in handling or forwarding
tenders for their customers.
The estimated cash expenses to be incurred in connection with the
Exchange Offer will be paid by the Company and are estimated in the
aggregate to be approximately $500,000, which includes fees and expenses
of the Exchange Agent, Trustee, registration fees, accounting, legal,
printing and related fees and expenses.
115
No person has been authorized to give any information or to make any
representations in connection with the Exchange Offer other than those
contained in this Prospectus. If given or made, such information or
representations should not be relied upon as having been authorized by the
Company. Neither the delivery of this Prospectus nor any exchange made
hereunder shall, under any circumstances, create any implication that
there has been no change in the affairs of the Company since the
respective dates as of which information is given herein. The Exchange
Offer is not being made to (nor will tenders be accepted from or on behalf
of) holders of Old Notes in any jurisdiction in which the making of the
Exchange Offer or the acceptance thereof would not be in compliance with
the laws of such jurisdiction. However, the Company may, at its
discretion, take such action as it may deem necessary to make the Exchange
Offer in any such jurisdiction and extend the Exchange Offer to holders of
Old Notes in such jurisdiction. In any jurisdiction in which the
securities laws or blue sky laws of which require the Exchange Offer to be
made by a licensed broker or dealer, the Exchange Offer is being made on
behalf of the Company by one or more registered brokers or dealers which
are licensed under the laws of such jurisdiction.
Transfer Taxes
The Company will pay all transfer taxes, if any, applicable to the
exchange of Old Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer. If, however,
certificates representing Exchange Notes or Old Notes for principal
amounts not tendered or accepted for exchange are to be delivered to, or
are to be issued in the name of, any person other than the registered
holder of the Old Notes tendered, or if tendered Old Notes are registered
in the name of any person other than the person signing the Letter of
Transmittal, or if a transfer tax is imposed for any reason other than the
exchange of Old Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer, then the amount of
any such transfer taxes (whether imposed on the registered holder or any
other persons) will be payable by the tendering holder. If satisfactory
evidence of payment of such taxes or exemption therefrom is not submitted
with the Letter of Transmittal, the amount of such transfer taxes will be
billed directly to such tendering holder.
Accounting Treatment
The Exchange Notes will be recorded at the carrying value of the Old
Notes as reflected in the Company's accounting records on the date of the
exchange. Accordingly, no gain or loss for accounting purposes will be
recognized by the Company upon the exchange of Exchange Notes for Old
Notes. Expenses incurred in connection with the issuance of the Exchange
Notes will be amortized over the term of the Exchange Notes.
Consequences of Failure to Exchange
Holders of Old Notes who do not exchange their Old Notes for
Exchange Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer will continue to be subject
to the restrictions on transfer of such Old Notes as set forth in the
legend thereon. Old Notes not exchanged pursuant to the Exchange Offer
will continue to remain outstanding in accordance with their terms. In
general, the Old Notes may not be offered or sold unless registered under
the Securities Act, except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a
transaction not subject to, the Securities Act and applicable state
116
securities laws. The Company does not currently anticipate that it will
register the Old Notes under the Securities Act.
Participation in the Exchange Offer is voluntary, and holders of Old
Notes should carefully consider whether to participate. Holders of Old
Notes are urged to consult their financial and tax advisors in making
their own decision on what action to take.
As a result of the making of, and upon acceptance for exchange of
all validly tendered Old Notes pursuant to the terms of, this Exchange
Offer, the Company will have fulfilled a covenant contained in the
Registration Rights Agreement. Holders of Old Notes who do not tender
their Old Notes in the Exchange Offer will continue to hold such Old Notes
and will be entitled to all the rights and limitations applicable thereto
under the Indenture, except for any such rights under the Registration
Rights Agreement that by their terms terminate or cease to have further
effectiveness as a result of the making of this Exchange Offer. All
untendered Old Notes will continue to be subject to the restrictions on
transfer set forth in the Indenture. To the extent that Old Notes are
tendered and accepted in the Exchange Offer, the trading market for
untendered Old Notes could be adversely affected.
The Company may in the future seek to acquire, subject to the terms
of the Indenture, untendered Old Notes in open market or privately
negotiated transactions, through subsequent exchange offers or otherwise.
The Company has no present plan to acquire any Old Notes which are not
tendered in the Exchange Offer.
Resale of Exchange Notes
The Company is making the Exchange Offer in reliance on the position
of the staff of the Commission as set forth in certain interpretive
letters addressed to third parties in other transactions. However, the
Company has not sought its own interpretive letter and there can be no
assurance that the Staff would make a similar determination with respect
to the Exchange Offer as it has in such interpretive letters to third
parties. Based on these interpretations by the staff, the Company believes
that the Exchange Notes issued pursuant to the Exchange Offer in exchange
for Old Notes may be offered for resale, resold and otherwise transferred
by a Holder (other than any Holder who is a broker-dealer or an
"affiliate" of the Company within the meaning of Rule 405 of the
Securities Act) without further compliance with the registration and
prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act, provided that such
Exchange Notes are acquired in the ordinary course of such Holder's
business and that such Holder is not participating, and has no arrangement
or understanding with any person to participate, in a distribution (within
the meaning of the Securities Act) of such Exchange Notes. However, any
holder who is an "affiliate" of the Company or who has an arrangement or
understanding with respect to the distribution of the Exchange Notes to be
acquired pursuant to the Exchange Offer, or any broker-dealer who
purchased Old Notes from the Company to resell pursuant to Rule 144A or
any other available exemption under the Securities Act (i) could not rely
on the applicable interpretations of the staff and (ii) must comply with
the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities
Act. A broker-dealer who holds Old Notes that were acquired for its own
117
account as a result of market-making or other trading activities may be
deemed to be an "underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act and
must, therefore, deliver a prospectus meeting the requirements of the
Securities Act in connection with any resale of Exchange Notes. Each such
broker-dealer that receives Exchange Notes for its own account in exchange
for Old Notes, where such Old Notes were acquired by such broker-dealer as
a result of market-making activities or other trading activities, must
acknowledge in the Letter of Transmittal that it will deliver a prospectus
in connection with any resale of such Exchange Notes. See "Plan of
Distribution."
In addition, to comply with the securities laws of certain
jurisdictions, if applicable, the Exchange Notes may not be offered or
sold unless they have been registered or qualified for sale in such
jurisdiction or an exemption from registration or qualification is
available and is complied with. The Company has agreed, pursuant to the
Registration Rights Agreement and subject to certain specified limitations
therein, to register or qualify the Exchange Notes for offer or sale under
the securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as any holder of the
Exchange Notes reasonably requests. Such registration or qualification may
require the imposition of restrictions or conditions (including
suitability requirements for offerees or purchasers) in connection with
the offer or sale of any Exchange Notes.
118
DESCRIPTION OF THE EXCHANGE NOTES
General
The Old Notes were issued and the Exchange Notes offered hereby will
be issued under an indenture dated as of April 30, 1997 (the "Indenture")
between the Company, as issuer, and The Bank of New York, as trustee (the
"Trustee"). The terms of the Exchange Notes include those stated in the
Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust
Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the "Trust Indenture Act"). The
Exchange Notes are subject to all such terms, and holders of the Exchange
Notes are referred to the Indenture and the Trust Indenture Act for a
statement thereof. The following summary of the material provisions of the
Indenture describes the material terms of the Indenture but does not
purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by
reference to, the provisions of the Indenture, including the definitions
of certain terms contained therein and those terms made part of the
Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act. For definitions of
certain capitalized terms used in the following summary, see "--Certain
Definitions". The Indenture is an exhibit to the Registration Statement of
which this Prospectus is a part.
On April 30, 1997, the Company issued $225.0 million aggregate
principal amount of Old Notes under the Indenture. The terms of the
Exchange Notes are identical in all material respects to the Old Notes,
except for certain transfer restrictions and registration and other rights
relating to the exchange of the Old Notes for Exchange Notes. The Trustee
will authenticate and deliver Exchange Notes for original issue only in
exchange for a like principal amount of Old Notes. Any Old Notes that
remain outstanding after the consummation of the Exchange Offer, together
with the Exchange Notes, will be treated as a single class of securities
under the Indenture. Accordingly, all references herein to specified
percentages in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Exchange
Notes shall be deemed to mean, at any time after the Exchange Offer is
consummated, such percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Old
Notes and Exchange Notes then outstanding.
The Exchange Notes will be general unsecured obligations of the
Company and will be subordinated in right of payment to all current and
future Senior Debt. At December 31, 1996, on a pro forma basis giving
effect to the Acquisition and the initial borrowings under the Senior
Credit Facilities, the Company would have had Senior Debt of approximately
$175.0 million outstanding (excluding letters of credit). The Indenture
will permit the incurrence of additional Senior Debt in the future.
The Company will not have any Subsidiaries as of the Issue Date.
However, the Indenture will provide that the Company's payment obligations
under the Exchange Notes will be jointly and severally guaranteed (the
"Subsidiary Guarantees") by all of the Company's future Restricted
Subsidiaries, other than Foreign Subsidiaries (collectively, the
"Guarantors"). The Subsidiary Guarantee of each Guarantor will be
subordinated to the prior payment in full of all Senior Debt of such
Guarantor, which would include the guarantees of amounts borrowed under
the Senior Credit Facilities.
119
Principal, Maturity and Interest
The Exchange Notes will be limited in aggregate principal amount to
$225.0 million and will mature on May 1, 2007. Interest on the Exchange
Notes will accrue at the rate of 10 3/8% per annum and will be payable
semi-annually in arrears on May 1 and November 1, commencing on November
1, 1997, to Holders of record on the immediately preceding April 15 and
October 15. Interest on the Exchange Notes will accrue from the most
recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been
paid, from the date of original issuance. Interest will be computed on the
basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months. Principal,
premium, if any, and interest on the Exchange Notes will be payable at the
office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose within the
City and State of New York or, at the option of the Company, payment of
interest may be made by check mailed to the Holders of the Exchange Notes
at their respective addresses set forth in the register of Holders of
Exchange Notes; provided that all payments of principal, premium and
interest with respect to Exchange Notes the Holders of which have given
wire transfer instructions to the Company will be required to be made by
wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by
the Holders thereof if such Holders shall be registered Holders of at
least $250,000 in principal amount of Exchange Notes. Until otherwise
designated by the Company, the Company's office or agency in New York will
be the office of the Trustee maintained for such purpose. The Exchange
Notes will be issued in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples
thereof.
Optional Redemption
The Exchange Notes will not be redeemable at the Company's option
prior to May 1, 2002. Thereafter, the Exchange Notes will be subject to
redemption at any time at the option of the Company, in whole or in part,
upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days' notice, at the redemption
prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount) set forth below plus
accrued and unpaid interest to the applicable redemption date, if redeemed
during the twelve-month period beginning on May 1 of the years indicated
below:
Year Percentage
-------------------------------- -----------------
2002 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105.188%
2003 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103.458%
2004 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101.729%
2005 and thereafter . . . . . . . 100.000%
Notwithstanding the foregoing, during the first 36 months after the
Issue Date, the Company may on any one or more occasions redeem up to an
aggregate of 35% of the Exchange Notes originally issued at a redemption