Registration No. 333-
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Form S-4
Renal Care Group, Inc.
Delaware | 8092 | 62-1622383 | ||
(State or Other Jurisdiction of
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(Primary Standard Industrial | (I.R.S. Employer | ||
Incorporation or Organization)
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Classification Code Number | Identification No.) |
TABLE OF ADDITIONAL REGISTRANTS
The following subsidiaries of Renal Care Group, Inc. are guarantors of the exchange notes and are co-registrants:
Primary Standard | ||||||||||||
Industrial | ||||||||||||
State of Incorporation | I.R.S. Employer | Classification Code | ||||||||||
Name of Additional Registrant | or Organization | Identification Number | Number | |||||||||
NNA of Oklahoma, Inc.
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Nevada | 62-1842289 | 8092 | |||||||||
NNA of Georgia, Inc.
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Delaware | 62-1765493 | 8092 | |||||||||
NNA of Alabama, Inc.
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Alabama | 63-1223468 | 8092 | |||||||||
NNA Management Company of
Kentucky, Inc.
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Kentucky | 30-0005692 | 8092 | |||||||||
National Nephrology Associates Management Company
of Texas, Inc.
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Texas | 74-2928108 | 8092 | |||||||||
NNA of Nevada, Inc.
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Nevada | 88-0435032 | 8092 | |||||||||
National Nephrology Associates Credit Corporation
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Tennessee | 62-1838600 | 8092 | |||||||||
NNA of Toledo, Inc.
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Ohio | 34-1938916 | 8092 | |||||||||
NNA of Rhode Island, Inc.
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Rhode Island | 05-0513853 | 8092 | |||||||||
NNA Properties of New
Jersey, Inc.
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New Jersey | 68-0510777 | 8092 | |||||||||
NNA Management Company of
Louisiana, Inc.
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Louisiana | 62-1848873 | 8092 | |||||||||
Renex Corp.
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Florida | 65-0422087 | 8092 | |||||||||
Renex Management Services, Inc.
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Florida | 65-0837198 | 8092 | |||||||||
Dialysis Services of
Atlanta, Inc.
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Georgia | 65-0830360 | 8092 | |||||||||
Renex Dialysis Clinic of Penn
Hills, Inc.
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Pennsylvania | 25-1852225 | 8092 | |||||||||
Renex Dialysis Clinic of
Shaler, Inc.
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Pennsylvania | 25-1849434 | 8092 | |||||||||
Renex Dialysis Clinic of
Doylestown, Inc.
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Pennsylvania | 62-1851530 | 8092 | |||||||||
Renex Dialysis Clinic of
Amesbury, Inc.
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Massachusetts | 04-3257975 | 8092 | |||||||||
Renex Dialysis Clinic of North
Andover, Inc.
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Massachusetts | 04-3333073 | 8092 | |||||||||
Renex Dialysis Clinic of South
Georgia, Inc.
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Georgia | 58-2383123 | 8092 | |||||||||
Renex Dialysis Clinic of Creve
Couer, Inc.
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Missouri | 43-1690517 | 8092 | |||||||||
Renex Dialysis Clinic of
St. Louis, Inc.
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Missouri | 43-1856441 | 8092 | |||||||||
Renex Dialysis Clinic of
Bridgeton, Inc.
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Missouri | 43-1717348 | 8092 | |||||||||
Renex Dialysis Clinic of
Union, Inc.
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Missouri | 43-1808427 | 8092 | |||||||||
Renex Dialysis Homecare of Greater
St. Louis, Inc.
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Missouri | 43-1690516 | 8092 | |||||||||
Renex Dialysis Clinic of
Maplewood, Inc.
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Missouri | 43-1804718 | 8092 | |||||||||
Renex Dialysis Clinic of University
City, Inc.
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Missouri | 43-1655681 | 8092 | |||||||||
Renex Dialysis Facilities, Inc.
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Mississippi | 64-0798295 | 8092 | |||||||||
Renex Dialysis Clinic of
Bloomfield, Inc.
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New Jersey | 22-3572775 | 8092 | |||||||||
Renex Dialysis Clinic of
Orange, Inc.
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New Jersey | 22-3461798 | 8092 | |||||||||
Renex Dialysis Clinic of
Philadelphia, Inc.
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Pennsylvania | 23-2812511 | 8092 | |||||||||
Renex Dialysis Clinic of
Pittsburgh, Inc.
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Pennsylvania | 25-1732278 | 8092 | |||||||||
Renex Dialysis Clinic of
Woodbury, Inc.
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New Jersey | 22-3461795 | 8092 | |||||||||
Renex Dialysis Clinic of
Tampa, Inc.
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Florida | 59-3244925 | 8092 | |||||||||
Dialysis Associates Medical Supply, LLC
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Tennessee | 62-1735243 | 8092 | |||||||||
NNA-Saint Barnabas, L.L.C
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New Jersey | 14-1851729 | 8092 | |||||||||
NNA-Saint Barnabas Livingston, L.L.C
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New Jersey | 74-3070647 | 8092 | |||||||||
NNA of Oklahoma, L.L.C
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Oklahoma | 73-1574780 | 8092 | |||||||||
NNA of Louisiana, LLC
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Louisiana | 62-1848891 | 8092 | |||||||||
Doylestown Acute Renal Services, L.L.C
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Pennsylvania | 25-1863010 | 8092 | |||||||||
NNA of Newark, L.L.C
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New Jersey | 22-3757537 | 8092 | |||||||||
National Nephrology Associates of Texas,
L.P.
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Texas | 74-2928010 | 8092 |
Primary Standard | ||||||||||||
Industrial | ||||||||||||
State of Incorporation | I.R.S. Employer | Classification Code | ||||||||||
Name of Additional Registrant | or Organization | Identification Number | Number | |||||||||
NNA Properties of Kentucky, Inc.
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Kentucky | 68-0510773 | 8092 | |||||||||
NNA Properties of
Tennessee, Inc.
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Tennessee | 62-1869541 | 8092 | |||||||||
NNA Transportation Services Corporation
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Tennessee | 62-1820401 | 8092 | |||||||||
Renal Care Group East, Inc.
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Pennsylvania | 23-1906900 | 8092 | |||||||||
Renal Care Group Michigan, Inc.
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Delaware | 62-1738445 | 8092 | |||||||||
Michigan Home Dialysis
Center, Inc.
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Michigan | 38-2903593 | 8092 | |||||||||
Renal Care Group of the
Midwest, Inc.
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Kansas | 48-0828924 | 8092 | |||||||||
Four State Regional Dialysis
Center, Inc.
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Missouri | 43-1331335 | 8092 | |||||||||
Fort Scott Regional Dialysis
Center, Inc.
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Missouri | 43-1474377 | 8092 | |||||||||
Miami Regional Dialysis
Center, Inc.
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Missouri | 43-1750093 | 8092 | |||||||||
RCG Mississippi, Inc.
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Delaware | 62-1628022 | 8092 | |||||||||
Renal Care Group of the
Southeast, Inc.
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Florida | 59-2851389 | 8092 | |||||||||
Northeast Alabama Kidney
Clinic, Inc.
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Alabama | 63-1181899 | 8092 | |||||||||
Renal Care Group Texas, Inc.
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Texas | 75-1739434 | 8092 | |||||||||
Dialysis Management Corporation
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Texas | 74-2596786 | 8092 | |||||||||
RCG PA Merger Corp.
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Texas | 62-1710515 | 8092 | |||||||||
STAT Dialysis Corporation
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Delaware | 74-2775421 | 8092 | |||||||||
Angleton Dialysis, Inc.
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Texas | 76-0534299 | 8092 | |||||||||
Brazoria Kidney Center, Inc.
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Texas | 76-0499032 | 8092 | |||||||||
Fondren Dialysis Clinic, Inc.
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Texas | 76-0149309 | 8092 | |||||||||
Wharton Dialysis, Inc.
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Texas | 76-0534300 | 8092 | |||||||||
Jefferson County Dialysis, Inc.
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Arkansas | 71-0728066 | 8092 | |||||||||
KDCO, Inc.
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Missouri | 43-1796126 | 8092 | |||||||||
Lawton Dialysis Inc.
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Arkansas | 71-0719733 | 8092 | |||||||||
Little Rock Dialysis, Inc.
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Arkansas | 71-0672705 | 8092 | |||||||||
Northwest Dialysis, Inc.
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Arkansas | 72-1306514 | 8092 | |||||||||
RenaLab, Inc.
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Delaware | 62-1694655 | 8092 | |||||||||
RCG Finance, Inc.
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Delaware | 62-1710512 | 8092 | |||||||||
RenalPartners, Inc.
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Delaware | 72-1365907 | 8092 | |||||||||
RenalNet, Inc.
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Delaware | 72-1365902 | 8092 | |||||||||
Wound Care Group, Inc.
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Delaware | 74-2775420 | 8092 | |||||||||
Diabetes Care Group, Inc.
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Delaware | 62-1817411 | 8092 | |||||||||
Renal Care Group Arizona, Inc.
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Arizona | 86-0441493 | 8092 | |||||||||
Renal Care Group Northwest, Inc.
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Delaware | 93-1236337 | 8092 | |||||||||
RenalNet Arizona, Inc.
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Arizona | 62-1757004 | 8092 | |||||||||
RCG University Division, Inc.
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Tennessee | 62-1555316 | 8092 | |||||||||
R.C.G. Supply Company
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Tennessee | 62-1564034 | 8092 | |||||||||
Renal Care Group Alaska, Inc.
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Alaska | 92-0166049 | 8092 | |||||||||
Renal Care Group Southwest
Holdings, Inc.
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Delaware | 62-1757004 | 8092 | |||||||||
Dialysis Centers of America
Illinois, Inc.
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Illinois | 37-1341578 | 8092 | |||||||||
SSKG, Inc.
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Illinois | 36-4085833 | 8092 | |||||||||
Renal Care Group Ohio, Inc.
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Delaware | 25-1789562 | 8092 | |||||||||
Physicians Dialysis
Company, Inc.
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Pennsylvania | 23-2858927 | 8092 | |||||||||
Dialysis Licensing Corp.
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Delaware | 62-1864410 | 8092 | |||||||||
RCGIH, Inc.
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Delaware | 62-1864412 | 8092 | |||||||||
Renal Care Group Southwest, L.P.
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Delaware | 86-0960418 | 8092 | |||||||||
Arizona Renal Investments, LLC
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Delaware | 86-1017618 | 8092 | |||||||||
RCG Indiana, L.L.C
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Delaware | 62-1674489 | 8092 | |||||||||
Kidney Disease Center of the Ozarks, L.L.C
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Missouri | 43-1734859 | 8092 | |||||||||
Stuttgart Dialysis, LLC
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Arkansas | 71-0779483 | 8092 | |||||||||
RCG West Health Supply, L.C
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Arizona | 86-0738042 | 8092 | |||||||||
Renal Care Group Texas, LP
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Delaware | 84-1620338 | 8092 |
2525 West End Avenue, Suite 600
(Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Registrants Principal Executive Offices)
David M. Dill
(Name, Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent For Service)
Steven L. Pottle, Esq.
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: As soon as practicable after the effective date of the Registration Statement.
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. o
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. o
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. o
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
Proposed Maximum | Proposed Maximum | Amount of | ||||||
Title of Each Class of | Amount to be | Offering Price | Aggregate | Registration | ||||
Securities to be Registered | Registered | per Note(1) | Offering Price | Fee(2) | ||||
9% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2011
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$160,000,000 | 100% | $160,000,000 | $20,272 | ||||
Guarantees of Senior Subordinated Notes due
2011(3)
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$160,000,000 | (4) | (4) | (5) | ||||
(1) | Estimated solely for purposes of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(f), based upon the book value of such securities. |
(2) | The registration fee for the securities offered hereby has been calculated under Rule 457(f)(2) of the Securities Act. |
(3) | See Table of Additional Registrants above. |
(4) | No separate consideration will be received for the guarantees. |
(5) | Each of the subsidiary co-registrants will guarantee, on an unconditional basis, the obligations of Renal Care Group, Inc. under the 9% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2011. Pursuant to Rule 457(n), no additional registration fee is required for the guarantees. The guarantees are not being traded separately. |
The Registrants hereby amend this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrants shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
The information in this
prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell
these securities until the registration statement filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus
is not an offer to sell these securities and is not soliciting
an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or
sale is not permitted. |
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED APRIL 19, 2004
$160,000,000
OFFER TO EXCHANGE ALL OUTSTANDING UNREGISTERED $160,000,000
This exchange offer will expire at 5:00 p.m.,
| We are offering to exchange $160,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 9% senior subordinated notes due 2011, registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act) for all $160,000,000 aggregate principal amount of outstanding unregistered 9% senior subordinated notes due 2011. In this prospectus, we refer to the registered notes as the exchange notes and the unregistered notes as the original notes. Collectively, we refer to the exchange notes and the original notes as the notes. | |
| The terms of the exchange notes will be substantially identical to the terms of original notes except that the exchange notes will be registered under the Securities Act and will not be subject to transfer restrictions or registration rights. National Nephrology Associates, Inc. is our predecessor in interest, and we refer to them in this prospectus as NNA. NNA issued the original notes on October 22, 2003 without compliance with the registration requirements of the Securities Act in reliance upon an available exemption. On April 2, 2004, we acquired NNA and assumed all of its obligations under the original notes. | |
| Beginning May 1, 2004, we will pay interest on the outstanding notes on each May 1 and November 1 each year until their maturity on November 1, 2011. | |
| All of our wholly owned domestic subsidiaries will fully and unconditionally guarantee the exchange notes on a senior subordinated basis. | |
| Subject to the terms of this exchange offer, we will exchange the exchange notes for all original notes that are validly tendered and not withdrawn prior to the expiration of this exchange offer. | |
| The exchange of exchange notes for original notes pursuant to this exchange offer generally should not be a taxable event for U.S. federal income tax purposes. See Certain Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations. | |
| We will not receive any proceeds from this exchange offer. | |
| We do not intend to apply for listing of the exchange notes on any securities exchange or automated quotation system. |
Each broker-dealer that receives exchange notes for its own account in exchange for original notes, where those original notes were acquired by the 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 the exchange notes. See Plan of Distribution.
Investing in the exchange notes involves risks. You should consider carefully the risk factors beginning on page 11 of this prospectus before you tender your original notes in this exchange offer.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission, which is referred to in this prospectus as the SEC, nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of the exchange notes or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is , 2004
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
You should rely only on the information in this prospectus. We have not authorized any other person to provide different information to you. If anyone provides different or inconsistent information to you, then you should not rely on it. We are not making an offer to sell the exchange notes in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus is accurate only as of the date on the front cover of this prospectus. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospectus may have changed since that date.
This exchange offer is not being made to, and we will not accept surrenders for exchange from, holders of original notes in any jurisdiction in which this exchange offer or the acceptance of this exchange offer would violate the securities or blue sky laws of that jurisdiction.
Each broker-dealer that receives exchange notes for its own account pursuant to this exchange offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of the exchange notes. The letter of transmittal states that by making that acknowledgment and by delivering a prospectus, a broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act. This prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used by a broker-dealer in connection with resales of exchange notes received in exchange for original notes, if the original notes were acquired by the broker-dealer as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities. We have agreed that, for a period of 180 days following the effective date of this Registration Statement, we will make this prospectus available to any broker-dealer for use in connection with any such resale. See Plan of Distribution. We refer to the effective date of this Registration Statement as the effective date.
This prospectus incorporates by reference some of the documents we file with the SEC, which means that we can disclose important business and financial information to you by referring you to those documents. The information contained in the documents incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus and is available without charge by writing or telephoning us at the following address or telephone number: 2525 West End Avenue, Suite 600, Nashville, Tennessee 37203, (615) 345-5500, Attention: General Counsel.
This document contains summaries of the terms of certain agreements. We believe these summaries are accurate in all material respects, but we refer you to the actual agreements for complete information relating to those agreements. All summaries are qualified in their entirety by this reference. We will make copies of those summarized documents available to you upon your request to us or to the initial purchasers. While any of the original notes remain outstanding, we will make available to any holder or any prospective purchaser the information required pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act during any period in which we are not subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which we refer to in this prospectus as the Exchange Act.
If you would like to request documents, please do so no later than , 2004 to obtain a timely delivery of the documents before this exchange offer expires on , 2004.
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PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
Our Company
We provide dialysis services to patients with chronic kidney failure, also known as end-stage renal disease or ESRD. As of April 2, 2004, we provided dialysis and ancillary services to almost 28,000 patients at over 370 facilities in 30 states, in addition to providing acute dialysis services at more than 175 hospitals. We were formed in 1996 by a group of leading nephrologists with the objective of creating a company with the clinical and financial capability to manage the full range of care for ESRD patients on a cost-effective basis.
In our dialysis facilities, ESRD patients receive dialysis treatments, generally three times a week, in a technologically advanced outpatient setting. According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, or CMS, there were more than 4,000 facilities providing outpatient dialysis services in the United States at the end of 2001. In the 1980s and 1990s, many outpatient dialysis facilities were owned by practicing nephrologists and comprised an integral component of their practice, because of the critical role that dialysis plays in the treatment of ESRD patients. The dialysis services industry has been consolidating since before we were formed. As a result, we believe that as of December 31, 2003, approximately 66% of outpatient dialysis centers are now owned by multi-center dialysis companies, approximately 16% are owned by independent physicians, small chains and other small operators, and approximately 18% are hospital-based centers.
Renal Care Group, Inc. is a Delaware corporation. Our principal executive offices are located at 2525 West End Avenue, Suite 600, Nashville, Tennessee 37203, and our telephone number is (615) 345-5500. Our corporate website address is www.renalcaregroup.com. We are not incorporating the information on our website into this prospectus, and you should not consider our website a part of this prospectus.
The Dialysis Industry
End-Stage Renal Disease
ESRD is a state of advanced kidney failure. ESRD is irreversible and, without a kidney transplant, ultimately lethal. It is most commonly a result of complications associated with diabetes, hypertension, certain renal and hereditary diseases, aging and other factors. In order to sustain life, ESRD patients must receive either dialysis for the remainder of their lives or a successful kidney transplant. By the end of 2001, dialysis was the primary treatment for approximately 72% of all ESRD patients in the United States, and the remaining 28% of ESRD patients had functioning kidney transplants.
According to United States Renal Data System estimates, direct medical payments for ESRD totaled $22.8 billion during 2001. Of the total direct medical payments for ESRD, approximately $15.4 billion was paid by the federal government through the Medicare program. As a result of legislation enacted in 1972, the federal government provides Medicare benefits to patients who are diagnosed with ESRD, if they are eligible for Social Security, regardless of their age or financial circumstances.
According to CMS data, the number of ESRD patients in the United States who need dialysis grew from approximately 66,000 in 1982 to approximately 292,000 as of December 31, 2001. Based on data from the United States Renal Data System, the rate of ESRD incidence among Medicare-eligible patients was approximately 334 patients per million in 2001 as compared to 111 patients per million in 1984.
Based on these trends, United States Renal Data System forecasts indicate that the total number of ESRD patients, including those with functioning transplants, will grow from approximately 406,000 in 2001 to 661,000 in 2010. The growth in the number of ESRD patients is expected to result principally from the aging of the population along with better treatment of, and better survival rates for, diabetes and other illnesses that lead to chronic kidney disease, reduced somewhat by declines in incidence of ESRD among
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Treatment Options for End-Stage Renal Disease
The three current treatment options for patients with ESRD are as follows:
| hemodialysis performed in a hospital setting, an outpatient facility or a patients home; | |
| peritoneal dialysis, which is generally performed in the patients home; and | |
| kidney transplant surgery. |
According to CMS data, in 2001 approximately 91% of patients on dialysis in the United States received hemodialysis in an outpatient setting, and approximately 9% received hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis in their homes.
Hemodialysis is the most common form of ESRD treatment. It is generally performed either in a freestanding center or in a hospital. The process of hemodialysis uses a dialyzer, essentially an artificial kidney, to remove certain toxins, fluid and chemicals from the patients blood and another device that controls external blood flow and monitors the patients vital signs. The dialysis process occurs across a semi-permeable membrane that divides the dialyzer into two chambers. While the blood is circulated through one chamber, a pre-mixed dialysis fluid is circulated through the adjacent chamber. The toxins and excess fluid contained in the patients blood cross the membrane into the dialysis fluid. Hemodialysis usually takes about four hours and is usually administered three times per week for the life of the patient or until the patient receives a transplant.
Peritoneal dialysis is typically performed by the patient at home and uses the patients abdominal cavity to eliminate fluids and toxins in the patients blood. There are several forms of peritoneal dialysis. Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis and continuous cycling peritoneal dialysis are the most common. Under each method, the patients blood is circulated across the peritoneal membrane into a dialysis solution that removes toxins and excess fluid from the patients blood. Patients treated at home are monitored monthly either by a visit from a staff person from a designated outpatient dialysis center or by a visit by the patient to a dialysis center or home dialysis support facility.
Kidney transplants, when successful, are the preferred form of therapy for ESRD patients. There is a shortage of donors that severely limits the availability of this procedure as a treatment option. Only about 6% of ESRD patients receive kidney transplants each year.
Nephrology Practice
Caring for ESRD patients is typically the primary clinical activity of a physician specializing in nephrology, known as a nephrologist. A nephrologists other clinical activities include the post-surgical care of kidney transplant patients, the diagnosis and treatment of kidney diseases in patients who are at risk for developing ESRD, and the diagnosis, treatment and management of clinical disorders including hypertension, kidney stones and autoimmune diseases. Because of the complexity involved in treating patients with chronic kidney disease, the nephrologist usually assumes the role of primary care physician for the ESRD patient. While some nephrologists practice independently or are members of multi-specialty groups, most nephrologists practice in small single-specialty groups. A nephrology groups practice often covers a relatively large geographic service area. Outside metropolitan areas, a large geographic area may be served by only one nephrology group. Most nephrologists also have a significant office practice, consult on numerous hospitalized patients who are not on dialysis and follow the clinical outcomes of kidney transplant patients.
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Summary of The Exchange Offer
Background | On October 22, 2003, NNA, our predecessor in interest, completed a private offering of the original notes in a transaction exempt from registration under the Securities Act. In connection with the offering of the original notes, NNA entered into a registration rights agreement, dated as of October 22, 2003, with the initial purchasers of the original notes. In the registration rights agreement, NNA agreed to offer new 9% senior subordinated notes due 2011 registered under the Securities Act in exchange for the original notes. NNA also agreed to deliver this prospectus to the holders of the original notes. On April 2, 2004, we acquired NNA and assumed its obligations under the original notes and the registration right agreement. The exchange offer and the exchange notes are intended to satisfy our obligations under the registration rights agreement. | |
The Exchange Offer | This is an offer to exchange $1,000 in principal amount of the exchange notes for each $1,000 in principal amount of original notes. The exchange notes are substantially identical to the original notes, except that the exchange notes will generally be freely transferable. Based upon interpretations by the staff of the SEC set forth in no-action letters issued to unrelated third parties, we believe that you will be able to transfer the exchange notes without complying with the registration and prospectus delivery provisions of the Securities Act if you: | |
acquire the exchange notes in the ordinary course of your business; | ||
are not engaged in, do not intend to become engaged in and have no arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in a distribution of the exchange notes; | ||
are not an affiliate, within the meaning of the Securities Act, of Renal Care Group; and | ||
are not a broker-dealer, within the meaning of the Securities Act, that acquired the original notes from us or our affiliates. | ||
If you are a broker-dealer, within the meaning of the Securities Act, that acquired the original notes in a transaction as part of its market-making or other trading activities then you will be required to deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of the exchange notes. A broker-dealer may use this prospectus for an offer to resell or otherwise transfer the exchange notes. We have agreed that for a period of 180 days following the effective date, we will make this prospectus and any amendment or supplement to this prospectus available to any broker-dealer for use connection with such resale. | ||
If any of these conditions is not satisfied and you transfer any exchange note without delivering a proper prospectus or without qualifying for a registration exemption, you may incur liability under the Securities Act. See The Exchange Offer Purpose of the Exchange Offer. |
3
Registration Rights Agreement | NNA sold the original notes on October 22, 2003 to the initial purchasers of the original notes. Simultaneously with that sale, NNA signed a registration rights agreement with the initial purchasers that requires us to conduct this exchange offer. You have the right pursuant to the registration rights agreement to exchange your original notes for exchange notes with substantially identical terms. This exchange offer is intended to satisfy these registration rights. After the exchange offer is complete, you will no longer be entitled to any exchange or registration rights with respect to original notes you do not tender for exchange, except in limited circumstances. | |
Consequences of Failure to Exchange Your Outstanding Notes | If you do not exchange your original notes for exchange notes pursuant to the exchange offer, the original notes you hold will continue to be subject to the restrictions on transfer provided in the original notes and the indenture. In general, the original 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. We do not intend to register any untendered original notes under the Securities Act. | |
To the extent that original notes are tendered and accepted in the exchange offer, the trading market for untendered original notes and tendered but unaccepted original notes will be adversely affected. See The Exchange Other Consequences of Failure to Exchange Your Outstanding Notes. | ||
Expiration Date | This exchange offer will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on , 2004, or a later date and time if we decide to extend it. | |
Withdrawal Rights | You may withdraw your tender of original notes pursuant to this exchange offer at any time prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the expiration date. Any original notes not accepted for exchange for any reason will be returned without expense as soon as practicable after the expiration or termination of this exchange offer. | |
Conditions of this Exchange Offer | We will not be required to accept original notes for exchange if: | |
the exchange offer would violate applicable law or SEC interpretations; | ||
any legal action has been instituted or threatened that would impair our ability to proceed with the exchange offer; or | ||
you do not tender your original notes in compliance with the terms of the exchange offer. | ||
The exchange offer is not conditioned upon any minimum principal amount of original notes being tendered. We reserve the right to terminate the exchange offer if certain specified conditions have not been satisfied and to waive any condition or extend the exchange offer or otherwise amend the terms of the exchange offer in any respect. Please read the section The |
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Exchange Offer Conditions to the Exchange Offer for more information regarding the conditions to the exchange offer. | ||
Procedures for Tendering Original Notes | Each holder of the original notes wishing to accept this exchange offer must complete, sign and date the letter of transmittal, or a copy thereof, in accordance with the instructions contained in this prospectus or in the letter of transmittal, and mail or otherwise deliver the letter of transmittal, or the copy, together with the original notes and any other required documentation, to the exchange agent at the address set forth in this prospectus. Persons holding the original notes through The Depository Trust Company, which we refer to in this prospectus as DTC, and wishing to accept this exchange offer must do so pursuant to DTCs Automated Tender Offer Program, or ATOP, by which each tendering participant will electronically agree to be bound by the letter of transmittal. A letter of transmittal need not accompany tenders effected through ATOP. By executing or agreeing to be bound by the letter of transmittal, you will represent to us that, among other things: | |
any exchange notes to be received by you will be acquired in the ordinary course of your business; | ||
you have no arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in the distribution of the exchange notes; | ||
you are not engaged in and do not intend to engage in any distribution of the exchange notes; | ||
if you are a broker-dealer that will receive exchange notes for your own account in exchange for outstanding original notes, you acquired those original notes as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities, and you will deliver a prospectus, as required by law, in connection with any resale of the exchange notes; | ||
you are not an affiliate, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act, of ours; and | ||
any additional representations that in the written opinion of our counsel are necessary under existing rules or regulations or interpretations thereof of the SEC, or interpretations of such rules or regulations, in order for the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part to be declared effective. | ||
We will accept for exchange any and all original notes that are properly tendered and not withdrawn prior to the expiration date. The exchange notes will be delivered promptly following the expiration date. See The Exchange Offer Terms of the Exchange Offer. | ||
Please do not send your letter of transmittal or certificates representing your outstanding original notes to us. Those documents should only be sent to the exchange agent. | ||
Questions regarding how to tender and requests for information should be directed to the exchange agent. |
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Special Procedures For Beneficial Owners | If you own a beneficial interest in original notes that are registered in the name of a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee and you wish to tender the original notes in the exchange offer, you should contact the registered holder promptly and instruct the registered holder to tender on your behalf. | |
Use of Proceeds | We will not receive any proceeds from the issuance of the exchange notes pursuant to the exchange offer. We are making this exchange offer solely to satisfy our obligations under its registration rights agreement. | |
Exchange Agent | Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. is the exchange agent for this exchange offer. The address and telephone number of the exchange agent are on page 31 of this prospectus. | |
Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations | The exchange of exchange notes for original notes should not be a taxable exchange for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and holders should not recognize any taxable gain or loss or any interest income as a result of the exchange of exchange notes for original notes pursuant to the exchange offer. See Certain Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations. |
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Summary of The Exchange Notes
General | The form and terms of the exchange notes are substantially the same as the form and terms of the original notes, which they replace, except that: | |
the exchange notes bear a different CUSIP Number from the original notes; | ||
the exchange notes have been registered under the Securities Act and, therefore, will not bear legends restricting the transfer thereof; and | ||
the holders of exchange notes will not be entitled to certain rights under the registration rights agreement, including the provisions providing for an increase in the interest rate on the original notes in certain circumstances relating to the timing of the exchange offer, except in limited circumstances. | ||
See The Exchange Offer Purpose of the Exchange Offer. The exchange notes will evidence the same debt as the original notes and will be entitled to the benefits of the indenture. See Description of the Exchange Notes. | ||
Issuer | Renal Care Group, Inc. | |
Exchange Notes | $160,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of 9% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2011. | |
Maturity | November 1, 2011. | |
Interest Rate and Payment Dates | 9% per annum, payable semi-annually in cash in arrears on May 1 and November 1 of each year, commencing on May 1, 2004. | |
Guarantees | The notes will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a senior subordinated basis by all of our wholly owned domestic subsidiaries. | |
Ranking | The notes and the guarantees will be unsecured senior subordinated obligations. Accordingly, they will rank: | |
behind all of our and the guarantors existing and future senior debt, whether or not secured, and the debt of our non-guarantors; | ||
equally with all our and the guarantors existing and future unsecured senior subordinated obligations that do not expressly provide that they are subordinated to the notes; and | ||
ahead of any of our and the guarantors future debt that expressly provides that it is subordinated to the notes. | ||
As of April 2, 2004 giving effect to our acquisition of NNA and the debt we incurred to fund the acquisition and repurchases of our common stock, the notes and the subsidiary guarantees would have ranked junior in right of payment to approximately $342.1 million of senior indebtedness, and $140 million was available for borrowing as additional senior debt under our credit |
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facility. In the future, we may issue debt that ranks senior, equal or subordinate to the notes. | ||
Optional Redemption | After November 1, 2007, we may redeem some or all of the notes at any time at the redemption prices described under Description of the Exchange Notes Optional Redemption, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of redemption. At any time on or prior to November 1, 2007, we may redeem some or all of the notes at any time at a price equal to 100% of their outstanding principal amount plus the make-whole premium described under Description of the Exchange Notes Optional Redemption. | |
Prior to November 1, 2006, we may redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of the notes with the net cash proceeds from public equity offerings at the redemption price described under Description of the Exchange Notes Optional Redemption. | ||
Change of Control | If we experience a change of control (as that term is defined in the indenture entered into in connection with the issuance of the original notes), we must offer to purchase the notes at a purchase price of 101% of the aggregate principal amount of the notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of purchase. We intend to make such an offer in connection with our recently completed acquisition of NNA. See Description of the Exchange Notes Change of Control. | |
Basic Covenants of Indenture | We will issue the notes under an indenture that, among other things, restricts our and our guarantors ability to: | |
incur additional debt; | ||
pay dividends on, or redeem or repurchase stock; | ||
create liens; | ||
make specified types of investments; | ||
apply net proceeds from certain asset sales; | ||
engage in transactions with our affiliates; | ||
merge or consolidate; | ||
restrict dividends or other payments from subsidiaries; and | ||
sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or dispose of assets. | ||
These covenants are subject to a number of important exceptions, limitations and qualifications that are described under Description of the Exchange Notes Certain Covenants. | ||
Absence of a Public Market | There is no public market for the notes. We do not intend to apply for the notes to be listed on any securities exchange or to arrange for any quotation system to quote them. The initial purchasers have advised us that they intend to make a market for the notes, but they are not obligated to do so. The initial purchasers may discontinue any market-making in the notes at any time in their sole discretion. Accordingly, if an active public |
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market does not develop, the market price and liquidity of the notes may be adversely affected. | ||
Risk Factors | Participating in the exchange offer involves substantial risks. See Risk Factors beginning on page 11 of this prospectus for a description of certain of the risks you should consider before investing in the exchange notes. | |
You should carefully consider all of the information contained in this prospectus, including the discussion in the Risk Factors section, before participating in the exchange offer to ensure you understand the risks associated with tendering your original notes in this exchange offer and receiving exchange notes.
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Selected Financial Data
The selected financial data for the years ended December 31, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003 are derived from the audited consolidated financial statements of Renal Care Group and our subsidiaries. The consolidated financial statements and related notes for the years ended December 31, 2001, 2002 and 2003, together with the related Report of Independent Auditors are included in our current report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 19, 2004. Please read the following data in conjunction with those financial statements and related notes and Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations that appear in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003.
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||
1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | ||||||||||||||||
(In thousands, except per share data) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Income Statement Data:
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Net revenue
|
$ | 541,895 | $ | 622,575 | $ | 755,082 | $ | 903,387 | $ | 1,005,319 | ||||||||||
Patient care costs
|
351,367 | 402,009 | 489,271 | 589,696 | 653,307 | |||||||||||||||
General and administrative expenses
|
51,315 | 57,104 | 64,530 | 78,079 | 90,249 | |||||||||||||||
Provision for doubtful accounts
|
14,632 | 16,949 | 20,290 | 23,501 | 26,200 | |||||||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization
|
27,835 | 32,321 | 38,945 | 40,432 | 44,905 | |||||||||||||||
Restructuring charge
|
| 9,235 | | | | |||||||||||||||
Merger expenses
|
4,300 | 3,766 | | | | |||||||||||||||
Total operating costs and expenses
|
$ | 449,449 | $ | 521,384 | $ | 613,036 | $ | 731,708 | $ | 814,661 | ||||||||||
Income from operations
|
$ | 92,446 | $ | 101,191 | $ | 142,046 | $ | 171,679 | $ | 190,658 | ||||||||||
Interest expense, net
|
6,224 | 5,015 | 2,636 | 1,140 | 629 | |||||||||||||||
Income before minority interest and income taxes
|
$ | 86,222 | $ | 96,176 | $ | 139,410 | $ | 170,539 | $ | 190,029 | ||||||||||
Minority interest
|
7,768 | 10,011 | 15,478 | 21,410 | 25,431 | |||||||||||||||
Income before income taxes
|
$ | 78,454 | $ | 86,165 | $ | 123,932 | $ | 149,129 | $ | 164,598 | ||||||||||
Provision for income taxes
|
31,367 | 34,706 | 47,331 | 56,669 | 62,542 | |||||||||||||||
Net income
|
$ | 47,087 | $ | 51,459 | $ | 76,601 | $ | 92,460 | $ | 102,056 | ||||||||||
Basic net income per share
|
$ | 1.05 | $ | 1.12 | $ | 1.59 | $ | 1.89 | $ | 2.11 | ||||||||||
Basic weighted average shares outstanding
|
45,015 | 46,048 | 48,113 | 48,978 | 48,479 | |||||||||||||||
Diluted net income per share
|
$ | 1.00 | $ | 1.07 | $ | 1.52 | $ | 1.82 | $ | 2.05 | ||||||||||
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding
|
47,052 | 47,948 | 50,433 | 50,767 | 49,835 | |||||||||||||||
December 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||
1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | ||||||||||||||||
Balance Sheet Data:
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Working capital
|
$ | 73,651 | $ | 108,915 | $ | 104,047 | $ | 110,481 | $ | 122,667 | ||||||||||
Total assets
|
500,906 | 582,672 | 651,049 | 740,123 | 819,873 | |||||||||||||||
Long-term debt
|
79,690 | 58,316 | 3,776 | 10,161 | 2,652 | |||||||||||||||
Stockholders equity
|
311,839 | 394,122 | 510,251 | 543,888 | 570,845 |
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RISK FACTORS
Risks Relating to Our Debt, Including the Notes
We may not have sufficient cash flow from our business to pay our substantial debt. |
After the closing of our acquisition of NNA, we and our subsidiaries had total consolidated debt of approximately $502.1 million and cash of $52.6 million. Also, subject to limitations, including those contained in the indenture governing the notes and those contained in our credit facility, we are not and will not be prohibited from incurring additional debt, some of which may be secured.
Due to the large amount of our consolidated debt, we may not generate enough cash from our operations to meet these obligations or to fund other liquidity needs. Our ability to generate cash in the future is, to some extent, subject to risks and uncertainties that are beyond our control. If we are unable to meet our debt obligations, we may need to refinance all or a portion of our indebtedness, sell assets or raise funds in the capital markets. However, we cannot assure you that, if we are unable to pay our debt, we will be able to refinance it, obtain additional equity capital or sell assets, in each case on commercially reasonable terms, or at all, or otherwise to fund our liquidity needs.
If for any reason we are unable to meet our debt obligations, we would be in default under the terms of our agreements governing our outstanding debt. If such a default were to occur, the lenders under our credit facility could elect to declare all amounts outstanding under the credit facility immediately due and payable, and the lenders would not be obligated to continue to advance funds under our credit facility. In addition, if such a default were to occur, the notes would become immediately due and payable. If the amounts outstanding under these debt agreements are accelerated, we cannot assure you that our assets will be sufficient to repay in full the money owed to the banks or to our other debt holders, including holders of the notes.
If a change of control occurs, such as our acquisition of NNA, we may have to spend a substantial amount of cash or incur additional indebtedness to satisfy our obligation to repurchase the notes from holders who choose to tender their notes pursuant to certain procedures in the indenture. |
Upon specified change of control events the holders of the notes have the right to require us to repurchase all or any part (equal to $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof) of the notes they hold at an offer price in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of the notes plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any, to the date of purchase. Our acquisition of NNA qualified as a change of control under the terms of the indenture governing the notes, so the holders of the notes have the right to require us to repurchase their notes at these terms. We cannot predict how many holders will require us to repurchase their notes.
When a change of control, such as our acquisition of NNA, occurs, we may not be able to pay the purchase price for all of the notes tendered for repurchase. Our failure to purchase tendered notes would constitute an event of default under the indenture, which in turn would constitute a default under our credit facility. In addition, the terms of our credit facility restrict our ability to purchase notes. Future credit agreements or other agreements relating to debt may contain similar or more restrictive provisions. We may not be able to secure the consent of our lenders to repurchase the notes or refinance the borrowings that prohibit us from repurchasing the notes. If we do not obtain a consent or repay the borrowings, we could not repurchase the notes.
Alternatively, even if we are able to pay the purchase price for the notes tendered for repurchase, we may have to use a substantial amount of cash to do so, which will deplete our funds to meet our other cash obligations or cause us to incur additional indebtedness to repurchase the notes.
These repurchase requirements may also delay or make it harder for others to obtain control of us. For more details, see the heading Certain Covenants Repurchase at the Option of Holders Change of Control in the Description of the Exchange Notes section.
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The large amount and terms of our outstanding debt may prevent us from taking actions we would otherwise consider in our best interest. |
The indenture governing the notes and our credit facility contain numerous financial and operating covenants that limit our ability to engage in activities such as:
| incurring additional debt; | |
| acquiring and developing new dialysis centers; | |
| making investments; | |
| creating liens; | |
| creating restrictions on the ability of our subsidiaries to pay dividends or other amounts to us; | |
| disposing of assets; | |
| paying dividends on our capital stock; | |
| repurchasing our capital stock; | |
| engaging in certain transactions with our affiliates; or | |
| consolidating, merging or selling all or substantially all of our assets. |
Our credit facility also requires us to comply with financial covenants including a net worth test, a leverage ratio test and a fixed charge coverage ratio test. Our ability to comply with these covenants may be affected by events beyond our control, including those described in this Risk Factors section. A breach of any of the covenants contained in our credit facility or our inability to comply with the required financial covenants could result in an event of default, which would allow the lenders under our credit facility to declare all borrowings outstanding to be due and payable, which would, in turn, trigger an event of default under the indenture governing the notes. In addition, our lenders could require us to apply all of our available cash to repay our borrowings or they could prevent us from making debt service payments on the notes. If the amounts outstanding under our credit facility or the notes are accelerated, we cannot assure you that our assets would be sufficient to repay in full the money owed to the banks or to our other debt holders, including you as a holder of the notes.
The large amount of our outstanding debt and the limitations our credit facility impose on us could have adverse consequences, including:
| we will have to use much of our cash flow for scheduled debt service rather than for operations, future business opportunities or other purposes, such as funding working capital and capital expenditures; | |
| we may not be able to increase our borrowings under our credit facility or obtain other debt financing for future working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions or other corporate purposes; | |
| we could be less able to take advantage of significant business opportunities, including acquisitions or divestitures; | |
| it may be difficult for us to satisfy our obligations under the notes; | |
| our vulnerability to general adverse economic and industry conditions could be increased; and | |
| we could be at a competitive disadvantage to competitors with less debt. |
The notes are not secured by any of our assets, and any secured creditors, including lenders under our credit facility, have a prior claim on any assets securing our obligations to them. |
The notes are not secured by any of our assets. Our credit facility is secured by a pledge of all of the capital stock and equity interests that we own in our subsidiaries (limited in the case of voting stock of any foreign subsidiary to 65% of the voting stock of that subsidiary). Subject to some limitations, the
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Despite our substantial debt, we and our subsidiaries may incur additional indebtedness, including senior debt, which would intensify the risks described above. |
We and our subsidiaries will likely be able to incur substantial additional debt, including senior and senior secured debt, in the future. Although the terms of our credit facility and the indenture governing the notes contain restrictions on the incurrence of additional debt, these restrictions are subject to a number of important exceptions, and debt incurred in compliance with these restrictions could be substantial. Our credit facility permits term borrowings of up to $325 million and revolving borrowings of up to $150 million. As of April 2, 2004, all $325 million of our term borrowings were outstanding, and $10 million of our revolving borrowings were outstanding. All borrowings under the credit facility, including the $335 million that was outstanding as of April 2, 2004, will be senior to the notes and the subsidiary guarantees. If additional debt is added to our and our subsidiaries currently anticipated debt levels, the related risks that we and they now face could intensify.
Your right to receive payment on the notes from us or our subsidiary guarantors is junior to our and their existing and future senior debt. |
The notes and the guarantees rank junior to all of our and the subsidiary guarantors existing and future senior indebtedness, including all indebtedness under our credit facility and all of our future borrowings, except for any future indebtedness that expressly provides that it ranks equally with, or is subordinated in right of payment to, the notes. As a result of the subordination of the notes, if we or our subsidiary guarantors become insolvent or enter into a bankruptcy or similar proceeding, then the holders of our senior indebtedness must be paid in full before you are paid. In addition, we may be blocked from making any cash payments to you if we have failed to make payments to holders of our senior indebtedness. See Description of the Exchange Notes Subordination.
If we are declared bankrupt, become insolvent or are liquidated, reorganized or involved in a similar proceeding, then holders of the notes will participate with trade creditors and all other holders of our senior subordinated indebtedness in the assets remaining after we have paid all of the senior indebtedness. The indenture governing the notes requires that amounts otherwise payable to holders of the notes in a bankruptcy or similar proceeding be paid first to holders of any remaining senior indebtedness. In any of these cases, if our assets are insufficient to pay all of our creditors, then the holders of the notes will receive a proportional payment only if the holders of our senior indebtedness, including the lenders under our credit facility, are paid in full. We may not have sufficient assets after we make payments on our senior debt and senior debt of our subsidiary guarantors to make any payments to the holders of the notes.
Giving effect to our acquisition of NNA and the debt we incurred to fund recent repurchases of our common stock, the notes and the subsidiary guarantees would have ranked junior in right of payment to approximately $342.1 million of senior indebtedness, and $140 million was available for borrowing as additional senior debt under our credit facility. In addition, we and our subsidiary guarantors may be permitted to incur substantial additional indebtedness, including senior indebtedness, in the future under the terms of the indenture that governs the notes and the terms of our credit facility.
Claims of creditors of our subsidiaries which do not guarantee the notes will be structurally senior and have priority over holders of the notes with respect to the assets and earnings of such subsidiaries. |
Claims of creditors of our non-guarantor subsidiaries, including trade creditors, generally will effectively rank senior and have priority with respect to the assets and earnings of such subsidiaries over
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Future subsidiaries may not be required to guarantee the notes. Future joint ventures will not be required to guarantee the notes. In addition, subsidiaries which are guarantors and any future guarantors may be released from their guarantees in certain circumstances as more fully described in the Description of the Exchange Notes section under the heading Guarantees.
Our ability to repay the notes and our other debt depends on cash flow from our subsidiaries. |
We are a holding company. Our only material non-cash assets are our ownership interests in our subsidiaries. Consequently, we depend on distributions or other intercompany transfers of funds from our subsidiaries to meet our debt service and other obligations, including with respect to the notes. Our non-guarantor subsidiaries are not obligated to make funds available to us for payment on the notes. Only our wholly owned domestic subsidiaries are required to guarantee the notes. For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003, wholly owned domestic subsidiaries generated approximately 75% of our income from operations excluding the loss from operations of the parent company. We cannot assure you that the operating results of our subsidiaries will be sufficient to enable us to make payments on the notes.
Fraudulent transfer statutes may limit your rights as a noteholder. |
Federal and state fraudulent transfer laws permit a court, in some instances, to allow us to:
| avoid all or a portion of our obligations to you; | |
| subordinate our obligations to you to our other existing and future indebtedness, entitling other creditors to be paid in full before any payment is made on the notes; and | |
| take other action detrimental to you, including invalidating the notes and directing the return of any amounts paid thereunder to us or to a fund for the benefit of our creditors. In that event, we cannot assure you that you would ever be repaid. |
Under federal and state fraudulent transfer laws, in order to take any of those actions, courts will typically need to find that, at the time the notes were issued, or, in some states, when payments became due thereunder, we:
| issued the notes with the intent of hindering, delaying or defrauding current or future creditors; or | |
| received less than fair consideration or reasonably equivalent value for incurring the indebtedness represented by the notes; and |
| were insolvent or were rendered insolvent by reason of the issuance of the notes; | |
| were engaged, or about to engage, in a business or transaction for which our assets were unreasonably small; | |
| intended to incur, or believed or should have believed we would incur, debts beyond our ability to pay as such debts mature; or | |
| were a defendant in an action for money damages, or had a judgment for money damages entered against us, if, in either case, after final judgment the judgment was unsatisfied. |
Many of the foregoing terms are defined in or interpreted under those fraudulent transfer statutes. To the extent that proceeds from the sale of the original notes were used to make payments to former stockholders of NNA or to refinance debt incurred to make such payments, a court could find that we, as
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Various jurisdictions define insolvency differently. However, NNA generally would be considered insolvent at the time NNA issued the original notes if:
| its liabilities exceeded its assets, at a fair valuation, or | |
| the present saleable value of its assets is less than the amount required to pay its total existing debts and liabilities, including the probable liability related to contingent liabilities, as they become absolute or matured. |
We cannot assure you as to what standard a court would apply to determine whether NNA was insolvent as of the date the original notes were issued. Regardless of the method of valuation, a court may determine that NNA was insolvent on that date or, regardless of whether NNA was insolvent on the date the original notes were issued, that the payments constituted fraudulent transfers on some other grounds.
In addition, our subsidiary guarantors may also be subject to review under various laws for the protection of creditors. It is possible that creditors of the subsidiary guarantors may challenge the guarantees as a fraudulent transfer or conveyance, applying the analysis set forth above. In addition, the guarantees could also be subject to the claim that, because the guarantees were incurred for our benefit, and only indirectly for the benefit of the guarantors, the obligations of the guarantors were incurred for less than reasonably equivalent value or fair consideration. A court could void a guarantors obligation under its guarantee, subordinate the guarantee to the other indebtedness of a guarantor, direct that holders of the notes return any amounts paid under a guarantee to the relevant guarantor or to a fund for the benefit of its creditors, or take other action detrimental to the holders of the notes. In addition, the liability of each guarantor under the indenture governing the notes is limited to the amount that will result in its guarantee not constituting a fraudulent conveyance or improper corporate distribution, and there can be no assurance as to what standard a court would apply in determining the maximum liability of each guarantor. If a court voids a subsidiary guarantee or holds it unenforceable, you will cease to be a creditor of, and you may be required to return payments received from, that subsidiary guarantor, and you will be a creditor solely of us and the other subsidiary guarantors whose guarantees have not been voided.
The failure of a market to develop could affect your ability to, and the price at which you may, resell your notes. |
The exchange notes will be a new issue of securities for which there is no existing trading market. We cannot assure you about the liquidity of any market that may develop for the exchange notes, your ability to sell the exchange notes or the price at which you would be able to sell the exchange notes. If a market for the exchange notes develops, the exchange notes could trade at a discount from their face value depending on many factors, including prevailing interest rates and the markets for similar securities. In addition, any market-making by the initial purchasers of the original notes may be limited during any registered exchange offer or the pendency of any resale registration statement and may be discontinued at any time without notice. The initial purchasers of the original notes have advised us that they intend to make a market in the exchange notes after the completion of the exchange offer. However, they are not obligated to do so and may discontinue market-making at any time without notice. We do not intend to apply for listing of the exchange notes on any securities exchange. As a result, we cannot assure you that an active trading market will ultimately develop for the exchange notes. The liquidity of, and trading market for, the exchange notes also may be adversely affected by:
| the number of holders of the exchange notes; | |
| the interest of securities dealers in making a market in the exchange notes; | |
| changes in the market for high yield securities; and |
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| changes in our financial performance or prospects or in the prospects for companies in our industry generally. |
Historically, the market for non-investment grade debt has been subject to disruptions that have caused substantial volatility in the prices of securities similar to the exchange notes. Any market for the exchange notes may be subject to similar disruptions. Any such disruptions may adversely affect you as a holder of the exchange notes.
Risks Associated with the Exchange Offer
You may not be able to sell your original notes if you do not exchange them for registered exchange notes in the exchange offer. |
If you do not exchange your original notes for exchange notes in the exchange offer, your original notes will continue to be subject to the restrictions on transfer as stated in the legends on the original notes. In general, you may not offer, sell or otherwise transfer the original notes in the United States unless they are:
| registered under the Securities Act: | |
| offered or sold under an exemption from the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws; or | |
| offered or sold in a transaction not subject to the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. |
We have no plan to register the original notes under the Securities Act. Except for limited instances involving the initial purchasers or holders of original notes who are not eligible to participate in the exchange offer or who do not receive freely transferable exchange notes in the exchange offer, we will not be under any obligation to register the original notes under the Securities Act under the registration rights agreement or otherwise. Also, if the exchange offer is completed on the terms and within the time period contemplated by this prospectus, no liquidated damages will be payable on your original notes.
Your ability to sell your original notes may be significantly more limited and the price at which you may be able to sell your original notes may be significantly lower if you do not exchange them for registered exchange notes in the exchange offer. |
To the extent that original notes are exchanged in the exchange offer, the trading market for the original notes that remain outstanding may be significantly more limited. As a result, the liquidity of the original notes not tendered for exchange in the exchange offer could be adversely affected. The extent of the market for original notes will depend upon a number of factors, including the number of holders of original notes remaining outstanding and the interest of securities firms in maintaining a market in the original notes. An issue of securities with a similar outstanding market value available for trading, which is called the float, may command a lower price than would be comparable to an issue of securities with a greater float. As a result, the market price for original notes that are not exchanged in the exchange offer may be affected adversely because original notes exchanged in the exchange offer will reduce the float for the original notes. The reduced float also may make the trading price of the original notes that are not exchanged more volatile.
Some holders who exchange their original notes may be deemed to be underwriters. |
If you exchange your original notes in the exchange offer for the purpose of participating in a distribution of the exchange notes, you may be deemed to have received restricted securities and, if so, will be required to comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any resale transaction.
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We will not accept your original notes for exchange if you fail to follow the exchange offer procedures and, as a result, you may not be able to sell your original notes because they will continue to be subject to existing transfer restrictions. |
We will issue exchange notes as part of the exchange offer only after a timely receipt of your original notes, a properly completed and duly executed letter of transmittal and all other required documents. Therefore, if you want to tender your original notes, please allow sufficient time to ensure timely delivery. If we do not receive your original notes, letter of transmittal and other required documents by the expiration date of the exchange offer, we will not accept your original notes for exchange. We are under no duty to give notification of defects or irregularities with respect to the tenders of original notes for exchange. If there are defects or irregularities with respect to your tender of original notes, we will not accept your original notes for exchange. See The Exchange Offer.
Risks Related to Our Business
If Congress or CMS changes the Medicare or Medicaid programs for dialysis, then our revenue and earnings could decrease. |
If the government changes the Medicare, Medicaid or similar government programs or the rates those programs pay for our services, then our revenue and earnings may decline. We estimate that approximately 49% of our net revenue for 2001, 50% of our net revenue for 2002 and 49% of our net revenue for 2003 consisted of reimbursements from Medicare, including reimbursement for the administration of EPOGEN® (erythropoietin alfa), a bio-engineered hormone used to treat anemia, which we refer to as EPO. We also estimate that approximately 6% of our net revenue for 2001, 7% of our net revenue for 2002 and 6% of our net revenue for 2003 consisted of reimbursements from Medicaid or comparable state programs. Any of the following actions in connection with government programs could cause our revenue and earnings to decline:
| a reduction of the amount paid to us under government programs; | |
| an increase in the costs associated with performing our services that are subject to inflation, such as labor and supply costs, without a corresponding increase in reimbursement rates; | |
| the inclusion of some or all ancillary services, for which we are now reimbursed separately, in the flat composite rate for a dialysis treatment; or | |
| changes in laws, or the interpretations of laws, which could cause us to modify our operations. |
Specifically, Congress and CMS have proposed expanding the drugs and services that are included in the flat composite rate. CMS has indicated that it believes such a mechanism would be fairer and easier to administer. In addition, Congress mandated a change in the way we will be paid beginning in 2005 for some of the drugs, including EPO, that we bill for outside of the flat composite rate. This change will result in lower reimbursement for these drugs and a higher composite rate. Congress stated that these changes are not intended to reduce overall reimbursement to dialysis providers, but until actual rates are set, we do not know how the changes will affect us.
If states lower Medicaid reimbursement, then we would be less profitable. |
The Medicaid programs in some of the states in which we operate have formerly reimbursed us, or currently reimburse us, at rates higher than those paid by Medicare. Some of these programs, like Washingtons and Wisconsins, have approved and implemented reductions in reimbursement. Other programs have proposed reductions or have announced that they are considering reductions. In addition, a number of the states where we operate are experiencing budget shortfalls, and some of these states may consider reducing Medicaid reimbursement or changing their Medicaid programs to cut costs. We are unable to predict whether and, if so, when any reductions in Medicaid reimbursement, other than those approved and implemented in Washington and Wisconsin, might occur and what their precise effect will be.
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If reimbursement for EPO decreases, then we could be less profitable. |
If government or private payors decrease reimbursement rates for EPO, for which we are currently reimbursed separately outside of the flat composite rate, then our revenue and earnings will decline. Revenues from the administration of EPO were approximately 25% of our net revenue for 2001, 23% of our net revenue for 2002, and 24% of our net revenue for 2003. Most of our payments for EPO come from government programs. For the year ended December 31, 2003, Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement represented approximately 55% of the total revenue we derived from EPO. A reduction in the reimbursement rate for EPO could materially and adversely affect our revenue and earnings.
If Amgen raises the price for EPO or if EPO becomes in short supply, then we could be less profitable. |
EPO is produced by a single manufacturer, Amgen, Inc., and there are no substitute products currently marketed to dialysis providers in the United States. In April 2002, Amgen announced a 3.9% increase in the price of EPO. This price increase did not affect our earnings in 2002 because our contract with Amgen had pricing protection through 2002, but did adversely affect our earnings in 2003. If Amgen imposes additional EPO price increases or if Amgen or other factors interrupt the supply of EPO, then our revenue and earnings will decline.
If Amgen markets Aranesp® for ESRD patients, then we could be less profitable. |
Amgen has developed and obtained FDA approval for a new drug to treat anemia that is marketed as Aranesp® (darbepoetin alfa). Aranesp® is a longer acting form of bio-engineered protein that, like EPO, can be used to treat anemia. EPO is usually administered in conjunction with each dialysis treatment. Aranesp® can remain effective for between two and three weeks. If Amgen markets Aranesp® for the treatment of dialysis patients, then our earnings could be materially and adversely affected by either of the following factors:
| our margins realized from the administration of Aranesp® could be lower than the margins realized on the administration of EPO; or | |
| physicians could decide to administer Aranesp® in their offices, and we would not recognize revenue or profit from the administration of EPO or Aranesp®. |
If payments by private insurers, hospitals or managed care organizations decrease, then our revenue and earnings could decrease. |
If private insurers, managed care organizations or hospitals reduce their rates or if we experience a significant shift in our revenue mix toward additional Medicare or Medicaid reimbursement, then our revenue and earnings will decline. We estimate that approximately 45% of our net revenue for 2001, 43% of our net revenue for 2002 and 45% of our net revenue for 2003 were derived from sources other than Medicare and Medicaid. In general, payments we receive from private insurers and hospitals for our services are at rates significantly higher than the Medicare or Medicaid rates. Payments we receive from managed care organizations are also at rates higher than Medicare and Medicaid rates but lower than those paid by private insurers. In addition, we have been able to implement annual price increases for these private payors that we have not been able to implement for federal programs. Management believes that health insurance pricing is cyclical and that we may be at or near the top of the cycle. As a result, management believes that our ability to maintain or raise rates to private insurers and managed care companies will likely be more limited over the next several years than it has been in the recent past. We have recently experienced reductions in reimbursement from two commercial insurers, and management believes that the reductions in reimbursement by these two commercial insurers along with pricing pressure from other commercial insurers and managed care organizations will likely adversely impact our
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| any number of economic or demographic factors could cause private insurers, hospitals or managed care companies to reduce the rates they pay us or to refuse to pay price increases or work to reduce the rate of our price increases; | |
| a portion of our business that is currently reimbursed by private insurers or hospitals may become reimbursed by managed care organizations, which generally have lower rates for our services; | |
| a portion of our business that is currently reimbursed by private insurers at rates based on our billed charges may become reimbursed under a contract at lower rates; or | |
| the scope of coverage by Medicare or Medicaid under the flat composite rate could expand and, as a result, reduce the extent of our services being reimbursed at the higher private-insurance rates. |
If local physicians stop sending patients to our centers or were prohibited from doing so for regulatory reasons, then our revenue and earnings would decline. |
Our dialysis centers depend on local nephrologists sending patients to the centers. Typically, one or a few physicians patients make up all or a significant portion of the patient base at each of our dialysis centers, and the loss of the patient base of one or more of these physicians could have a material adverse effect on the operations of that center. The loss of the patient base of a significant number of local physicians could cause our revenue and earnings to decline. In many instances, the primary referral sources for our centers are physicians who also serve as medical directors of our centers and may be shareholders. If the medical director relationship or stock ownership were found to violate applicable federal or state law, including fraud and abuse laws and laws prohibiting self-referrals, then the physicians acting as medical directors or owning our stock could be forced to stop referring patients to our centers.
A number of our medical director agreements will expire over the next three years, unless they are renewed or renegotiated. We were not able to renew or renegotiate a small number of our medical director agreements that expired in 2003, and we may not be able to renew or renegotiate expiring medical director agreements successfully, or we may not be able to enforce the non-competition provisions of some of our medical director or other agreements. Any of these factors could result in a loss of patients, since dialysis patients are typically treated at a center where their physician or a member of his or her practice group serves as medical director. We believe that our future success will depend in part on our ability to attract and retain qualified physicians to serve as medical directors of our dialysis centers.
If our business is alleged or found to violate heath care or other applicable laws, our revenue and earnings could decrease. |
We are subject to extensive federal, state and local regulation. The laws that apply to our operations include, but are not limited to, the following:
| fraud and abuse prohibitions under state and federal health care laws; | |
| prohibitions and limitations on patient referrals; | |
| billing and reimbursement rules, including false claims prohibitions under health care reimbursement laws; | |
| rules regarding the collection, use, storage and disclosure of patient health information, including the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, referred to as HIPAA, and state law equivalents of HIPAA; | |
| facility licensure; | |
| health and safety requirements; |
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| environmental compliance; and | |
| medical and toxic waste disposal. |
Much of the regulation of our business, particularly in the areas of fraud and abuse and patient referral, is complex and open to differing interpretations. Due to the broad application of the statutory provisions and the absence in many instances of regulations or court decisions addressing the specific arrangements by which we conduct our business, including our arrangements with medical directors, physician stockholders and physician joint venture partners, governmental agencies could challenge some of our practices under these laws.
New regulations governing electronic transactions and the collection, use, storage, and disclosure of health information impose significant administrative and financial obligations on our business. If, after the required compliance date, we are found to have violated these regulations, we could be subject to:
| criminal or civil penalties, including significant fines; | |
| claims by people who believe their health information has been improperly used or disclosed; and | |
| administrative penalties by payors. |
Government investigations of health care providers, including dialysis providers, have continued to increase. We have been the subject of investigations in the past, and the government may investigate our business in the future. One of our competitors, DaVita, Inc., has announced that it is the subject of an investigation by the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, and another competitor, Gambro Healthcare, Inc., has announced that it is the subject of an investigation by the U.S. Attorneys Office in St. Louis, Missouri. If any of our operations are found to violate applicable laws, then we may be subject to severe sanctions, or we could be required to alter or discontinue the challenged conduct or both. If we are required to alter our practices, we may not be able to do so successfully. If any of these events occurs, our revenue and earnings could decline.
If our joint ventures are found to violate the law, our business could be damaged. |
A number of the dialysis centers we operate are owned by joint ventures in which we own a controlling interest and one or more physicians or physician practice groups maintain a minority interest. The physician owners may also provide medical director services to those centers or other centers we own and operate. Because our relationships with physicians are governed by the Anti-Kickback Statute, we have sought to satisfy as many safe harbor requirements as possible in structuring these joint venture arrangements. However, our joint venture arrangements do not satisfy all elements of a safe harbor. Also, we believe we have structured the physician relationships in these joint ventures in a way that meets applicable exceptions under the Stark Law or that otherwise complies with the Stark Law. If the joint ventures were found to be in violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute or the Stark Law, we could be required to restructure them or refuse to accept referrals for designated health services from the physicians with whom the joint venture centers have a relationship. We also could be required to repay to Medicare amounts received by the joint ventures pursuant to prohibited referrals, and we could be subject to monetary penalties. If the joint venture centers are subject to any of these penalties, our business could be damaged.
Changes in the health care delivery, financing or reimbursement systems could adversely affect our business. |
The health care industry in the United States may be entering a period of change and uncertainty. Health care organizations, public or private, may dramatically change the way they operate and pay for services. Our business is designed to function within the current health care financing and reimbursement system. During the past several years, the health care industry has been subject to increasing levels of government regulation of, among other things, reimbursement rates and relationships with referring physicians. In addition, proposals to reform the health care system have been considered by Congress. In
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The dialysis business is highly competitive. If we do not compete effectively in our markets, then we could lose market share and our rate of growth could slow. |
The dialysis industry is largely consolidated, and the consolidation trend continues as large providers acquire smaller providers. There is a small number of large dialysis companies that compete for the acquisition of outpatient dialysis centers and the development of relationships with referring physicians. Two of our major competitors are part of larger companies that also manufacture dialysis equipment, which allows them to benefit from lower equipment costs. Several of our competitors, including these equipment manufacturers, are larger than we are and have greater financial resources and more established operations. We may also face competition from new entrants into the market, including centers established by former medical directors or other referring physicians. We cannot assure you that we will be able to compete effectively with any of our competitors.
If we lose any of our executive officers, then our ability to run our business could be adversely affected, and our revenue and earnings could decline. |
We depend on the services of our executive officers William P. Johnston, our chairman of the board, Gary A. Brukardt, our president and chief executive officer, Raymond M. Hakim, M.D., Ph.D., David M. Dill and Timothy P. Martin, each an executive vice president, and Douglas B. Chappell, our general counsel. Mr. Brukardt and Dr. Hakim have each been with us since 1996. The services of our executive officers would be difficult to replace. We selected Mr. Johnston as our chairman, Mr. Brukardt as our president and chief executive officer, Mr. Dill as our chief financial officer and Mr. Martin as executive vice president of operations in 2003.
If we are unable to make acquisitions in the future, then our rate of growth will slow. |
Much of our historical growth has come from acquisitions. Although we intend to continue to pursue growth through the acquisition of dialysis centers, we may be unable to identify and complete suitable acquisitions at prices we are willing to pay, or we may be unable to obtain the necessary financing. Further, due to the increased size of our business, the amount that acquired businesses contribute to our revenue and profits will continue to be smaller on a percentage basis. Also, as a result of consolidation in the dialysis industry, giving effect to our acquisition of NNA, we believe the four largest providers of outpatient dialysis services now own approximately 66% of the outpatient dialysis facilities in the United States. We compete with these other companies to identify and complete suitable acquisitions. We expect this competition to intensify in light of the smaller pool of available acquisition candidates and other market forces. As a result, we believe it will be more difficult for us to acquire suitable companies on favorable terms. Further, the businesses we acquire may not perform well enough to justify our investment. If we are unable to make additional acquisitions on suitable terms, then we may not meet our growth expectations.
If we complete future acquisitions, we may dilute existing stockholders by issuing more of our common stock or we may incur expenses related to debt and goodwill, which could reduce our earnings. |
We may issue equity securities in future acquisitions that could be dilutive to our shareholders. We also may incur additional debt in future acquisitions. Interest expense on debt incurred to fund our acquisitions may significantly reduce our profitability. While goodwill and other intangible assets with indefinite lives are not amortized to expense under generally accepted accounting principles, we are required to review all of these assets at regular intervals for impairment and to charge an appropriate amount to expense when we identify impairment. If we identify impairment and are required to write off a
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If we fail to integrate acquired companies, then we will be less profitable. |
We have grown significantly by acquisitions of other dialysis providers since our formation. We recently acquired Midwest Kidney Centers and NNA, and we intend to pursue acquisitions of more dialysis businesses in the future. We are unable to predict the number and size of any future acquisitions. We face significant challenges in integrating an acquired companys management and other personnel, clinical operations, and financial and operating systems with ours, often without the benefit of continued services from key personnel of the acquired company. We face these challenges particularly in larger acquisitions like the acquisition of NNA. We may be unable to integrate the businesses we acquire successfully or to achieve anticipated benefits from an acquisition in a timely manner, which could lead to substantial costs and delays or other operational, technical or financial problems, including diverting managements attention from our existing business. Any of these results could damage our profitability and our prospects for future growth.
If acquired businesses have unknown liabilities, then we could be exposed to liabilities that could harm our business and profitability. |
Businesses we acquire may have unknown or contingent liabilities, including liabilities for failure to comply with health care laws. Although we generally attempt to identify practices that may give rise to unknown or contingent liabilities and conform them to our standards after the acquisition, private plaintiffs or governmental agencies may still assert claims. Even though we generally seek to obtain indemnification from the sellers of businesses we buy, unknown and contingent liabilities may not be covered by indemnification or may exceed contractual limits or the financial capacity of the indemnifying party.
If our costs of insurance and claims increase, then our earnings could decrease. |
We currently maintain programs of general and professional liability insurance and directors and officers insurance with significant deductible or self-insured retention amounts on each claim. In addition, we generally self-insure our employee health plan and workers compensation program, while maintaining excess insurance for some very large claims. We have accepted higher deductibles and self-insurance exposure in each of the last several years to offset part of the increases in premiums for the programs. These deductibles and premiums increased substantially in 2002 and 2003. The rate of increase in deductibles and premiums has moderated somewhat in 2004, but there have been increases, and there may be larger increases in the future. Our earnings could be materially and adversely affected by any of the following:
| further increases in premiums, deductibles and self-insurance retentions; | |
| increases in the number of liability claims against us or the cost of settling or trying cases related to those claims; and | |
| an inability to obtain one or more types of insurance on acceptable terms. |
If our board of directors does not approve an acquisition or change in control, then our shareholders may not realize the full value of their stock. |
Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws contain a number of provisions that may delay, deter or inhibit a future acquisition or change in control that is not first approved by our board of directors. This could occur even if our shareholders receive an attractive offer for their shares or if a substantial number or even a majority of our shareholders believe the takeover is in their best interest. These provisions are intended to encourage any person interested in acquiring us to negotiate with and obtain approval from our
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| a staggered board of directors that would require two annual meetings to replace a majority of the board of directors; | |
| restrictions on calling special meetings at which an acquisition or change in control might be brought to a vote of the shareholders; | |
| blank check preferred stock that may be issued by our board of directors without shareholder approval and that may be substantially dilutive or contain preferences or rights objectionable to an acquiror; and | |
| a poison pill that would substantially dilute the interest sought by an acquiror. |
These provisions could also discourage bids for our common stock at a premium and cause the market price of our common stock to decline.
Our stock price is volatile and as a result, the value of your investment may go down for reasons unrelated to the performance of our business. |
Our common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange. The market price of our common stock has been volatile, ranging from a low closing price of $28.05 per share to a high closing price of $41.62 per share during the year ended December 31, 2003. The market price for our common stock could fluctuate substantially based on a variety of factors, including the following:
| future announcements concerning us, our competitors or the health care market; | |
| the threat of litigation or government investigation; | |
| changes in government regulations; and | |
| changes in earnings estimates by analysts. |
Furthermore, stock prices for many companies fluctuate widely for reasons that may be unrelated to their operating results. These fluctuations, coupled with changes in demand or reimbursement levels for our services and general economic, political and market conditions, could cause the market price of our common stock to decline.
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CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference into it contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements relate to expectations, beliefs, future plans and strategies, anticipated events or trends and similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts or that necessarily depend upon future events. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by words like may, will, should, could, would, expect, plan, anticipate, believe, estimate, project, predict, potential, intend, contemplate, possible,, attempt, seek and similar expressions. Specifically, this prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus contain, among others, forward-looking statements about:
| our expectations regarding financial condition or results of operations for periods after December 31, 2003; | |
| our critical accounting policies; | |
| our business strategies and our ability to grow our business; | |
| the reimbursement levels of third-party payors; and | |
| our future sources of and needs for liquidity and capital resources. |
The forward-looking statements included in this prospectus and documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus reflect our current views about future events. They are based on assumptions and are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause actual results or achievements to differ materially from future results or achievements that may be expressed in or implied by our forward-looking statements. Many of the factors that will determine future events or achievements are beyond our ability to control or predict. Important factors that could cause actual results or achievements to differ materially from the results or achievements reflected in our forward-looking statements include, among other things, the factors discussed beginning on page 11 under the heading Risk Factors in this prospectus.
You should read this prospectus, the information incorporated by reference into this prospectus and the documents filed as exhibits to this prospectus completely and with the understanding that our actual future results or achievements may be materially different from what we expect or anticipate.
The forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus reflect our views and assumptions only as of the date this prospectus is filed with the SEC. Except as required by law, we assume no responsibility to update any forward-looking statements.
Before you invest in the exchange notes, you should understand that the occurrence of any of the events described in the risk factors, in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003 or incorporated by reference into this prospectus and other events that we have not predicted or assessed could have a material adverse effect on our earnings, financial condition and business. If the events described in the risk factors or other unpredicted events occur, then we may not be able to fulfill our obligations under the exchange notes.
We qualify all of our forward-looking statements by these cautionary statements. In addition, with respect to all of our forward looking statements, we claim the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
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THE EXCHANGE OFFER
Purpose of the Exchange Offer
On October 22, 2003, NNA, our predecessor in interest, offered the original notes in a transaction exempt from registration under the Securities Act. Accordingly, the original notes may not be reoffered, resold or otherwise transferred in the United States, unless they are registered or unless an exemption from the Securities Act registration requirements is available. On April 2, 2004, we acquired NNA and assumed its obligations under the original notes and the registration rights agreement that NNA entered into with the initial purchasers of the original notes. Pursuant to that registration rights agreement, we and the guarantors agreed, for the benefit of the holders of the original notes, to:
| no later than 180 days after the closing of the offering of the original notes, file a registration statement with the SEC with respect to an offer to exchange the original notes for exchange notes that will be issued under the same indenture, in the same aggregate principal amount as, and with terms that are substantially identical in all material respects to, the original notes, except that they will not be entitled to certain rights under the registration rights agreement; | |
| use reasonable best efforts to cause the registration statement to be declared effective under the Securities Act within 270 days after the closing of the offering; and | |
| as soon as practicable after the effectiveness of the registration statement, offer the exchange notes in exchange for surrender of the original notes. |
For each original note tendered to us pursuant to the exchange offer, we will issue to the holder of such original note an exchange note having a principal amount equal to that of the surrendered original note. Interest on each exchange note will accrue from the last interest payment date on which interest was paid on the original note surrendered in exchange therefor, or, if no interest has been paid on such original note, from the date of its initial issuance. Original notes accepted for exchange will not receive accrued interest thereon at the time of the exchange.
Based upon interpretations by the staff of the SEC set forth in no-action letters issued to unrelated third parties, we believe that the exchange notes will be freely transferable by holders other than our affiliates after the exchange offer without further registration under the Securities Act, if the holder of the exchange notes represents to us in the exchange offer that:
| it is acquiring the exchange notes in the ordinary course of its business; | |
| it is not engaged in, does not intend to engage in and has no arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in the distribution of the exchange notes; and | |
| it is not an affiliate, as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act, of ours; | |
| it is not a broker-dealer (within the meaning of the Securities Act) who purchased the original notes from us or our affiliates for resale pursuant to Rule 144A or any other available exemption under the Securities Act; | |
| if it is a broker-dealer receiving exchange notes for its own account (Exchanging Dealers), the original notes were acquired as a result of market-making or other trading activities, and it will deliver a prospectus, as required by law, in connection with any resale of the exchange notes. |
If you wish to participate in this exchange offer, you must represent to us in the letter of transmittal or through ATOP procedures that the conditions above have been met. However, we do not intend to request the SEC to consider, and the SEC has not considered, this exchange offer in the context of a no-action letter, and we cannot assure you that the staff of the SEC would make a similar determination with respect to this exchange offer. Therefore, if you transfer any exchange note delivered to you in this exchange offer without delivering a prospectus meeting the requirements of the Securities Act or without an exemption from such requirements for registration of your exchange notes, you may incur liability under
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If any holder is an affiliate of ours, or is engaged in or intends to engage in or has any arrangement or understanding with respect to the distribution of the exchange notes to be acquired pursuant to the exchange offer, that holder:
| may not rely on the applicable interpretations of the staff of the SEC; and | |
| must comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any resale transaction. |
The SEC has taken the position that Exchanging Dealers may fulfill their prospectus delivery requirements with respect to exchange notes (other than with respect to a resale of an unsold allotment of the original notes) by delivery of the prospectus contained in the exchange offer registration statement. Under the registration rights agreement, we are required to allow Exchanging Dealers to use the prospectus contained in the exchange offer registration statement in connection with the resale of such exchange notes for 180 days following the effective date (or any shorter period during which Exchanging Dealers are required by law to deliver this prospectus). See Plan of Distribution.
Except as described above, this prospectus may not be used for an offer to resell, a resale or other transfer of exchange notes.
Terms of the Exchange Offer
We are offering to exchange $1,000 in principal amount of exchange notes for each $1,000 in principal amount of outstanding original notes, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this prospectus and in the accompanying letter of transmittal.
The form and terms of the exchange notes are the same as the form and terms of the original notes except that:
| the exchange notes will be registered under the Securities Act and will not bear legends restricting the transfer of the exchange notes; and | |
| holders of the exchange notes will not be entitled to most of the registration rights of holders of original notes under the registration rights agreement. |
The exchange notes will evidence the same indebtedness as the original notes, which they replace, and will be issued under, and be entitled to the benefits of, the same indenture under which the original notes were issued. As a result, both series of notes will be treated as a single class of debt securities under the indenture.
We will accept for exchange any and all original notes that are validly tendered on or before 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the expiration date. Tenders of the original notes may be withdrawn at any time before 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the expiration date. The exchange offer is not conditioned upon any minimum principal amount of original notes being tendered for exchange. However, the exchange offer is subject to the terms of the registration rights agreement and the satisfaction of the conditions described under The Exchange Offer Conditions of the Exchange Offer. Original notes may be tendered only in multiples of $1,000. Holders of original notes may tender less than the aggregate principal amount represented by their original notes if they appropriately indicate this fact on the letter of transmittal accompanying the tendered original notes or indicate this fact pursuant to the procedures for book-entry transfer described below.
As of the date of this prospectus, $160 million in aggregate principal amount of the original notes were outstanding. Solely for reasons of administration, we have fixed the close of business on , 2004 as the record date for the purpose of determining the persons to whom this prospectus and the letter of transmittal will be mailed initially. Only a holder of the original notes, or the holders legal representative or attorney-in-fact, whose ownership is reflected in the records of Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.,
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We will be deemed to have accepted validly tendered original notes when, as and if we give oral or written notice of our acceptance to the exchange agent. The exchange agent will act as agent for the tendering holders of original notes and for purposes of receiving the exchange notes from us. If any tendered original notes are not accepted for exchange because of an invalid tender or otherwise, certificates for the unaccepted original notes will be returned, without expense, to the tendering holder as promptly as practicable after the expiration date.
Holders of original notes do not have appraisal or dissenters rights under applicable law or the indenture governing the original notes as a result of the exchange offer. We intend to conduct the exchange offer in accordance with the applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations under the Exchange Act, including Rule 14e-1.
Holders who tender their original notes in the exchange offer will not be required to pay brokerage commissions or fees or, if they follow the instructions in the letter of transmittal, transfer taxes with respect to the exchange of original notes under the exchange offer. We will pay all charges and expenses, other than transfer taxes in some circumstances, in connection with the exchange offer. See The Exchange Offer Solicitation of Tenders; Expenses for more information about the costs of the exchange offer.
We do not make any recommendation to holders of original notes about whether they should tender any of their original notes in the exchange offer. In addition, we have not authorized anyone to make any recommendation of that sort. Holders of original notes must make their own decision about whether to participate in the exchange offer and, if the holder chooses to participate in the exchange offer, the aggregate principal amount of original notes to tender. A holder of original notes should make a decision about participating in the exchange offer only after reading this prospectus and the letter of transmittal carefully and consulting with the holders advisors, if any, based on their own financial position and requirements.
Expiration Date; Extensions; Termination; Amendments
The exchange offer expires on the expiration date. The expiration date is 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on , 2004, unless we, in our sole discretion, extend the period during which the exchange offer is open. If we extend the exchange offer, then the expiration date will be the latest time and date on which the exchange offer, as extended, expires. We reserve the right to extend the exchange offer at any time and from time to time prior to the expiration date by giving written notice to Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as the exchange agent, and by timely public announcement communicated in accordance with applicable law or regulation. During any extension of the exchange offer, all original notes previously tendered pursuant to the exchange offer and not validly withdrawn will remain subject to the exchange offer.
The exchange date will occur promptly after the expiration date. We expressly reserve the right to:
| terminate the exchange offer and not accept for exchange any original notes if any of the events set forth below under The Exchange Offer Conditions to the Exchange Offer shall not have occurred and shall not have been waived by us; and | |
| amend the terms of the exchange offer in any manner, whether before or after any tender of the original notes. |
If we terminate or amend the exchange offer in any way, then we will notify the exchange agent in writing and either will issue a press release or will give written notice to the holders of the original notes as
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Subject to compliance with Rule 14e-1(b) of the Exchange Act, if we waive any material condition to the exchange offer, or amend the exchange offer in any other material respect, and if at the time that notice of such waiver or amendment is first published, sent or given to holders of original notes in the manner specified above, the exchange offer is scheduled to expire at any time earlier than the expiration of a period ending on the fifth business day from, and including, the date that the notice of waiver or amendment is first published, sent or given, then the exchange offer will be extended until the expiration of that five business day period.
We will have not obligation to publish, advertise or otherwise communicate any public announcement of any delay, extension, amendment (other than amendments constituting a material change to this exchange offer) or termination that we may choose to make, other than by making a timely release to an appropriate news agency.
How to Tender
Your tender of original notes to us pursuant to one of the procedures set forth below will constitute an agreement between you and us in accordance with the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this prospectus and in the letter of transmittal.
General Procedures. |
A holder of an original note may tender that original note by:
| 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 facsimiles thereof) and delivering the letter of transmittal, together with the certificate or certificates representing the original notes being tendered and any required signature guarantees, to the exchange agent at the addresses set forth on the letter of transmittal on or prior to the expiration date; | |
| comply with ATOP procedures for book-entry transfer described below on or prior to the expiration date; or | |
| complying with the guaranteed delivery procedures described below. |
If tendered original 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 original notes are to be reissued) in the name of the registered holder, then the signature of that signer need not be guaranteed. In any other case, the tendered original notes must be endorsed or accompanied by written instruments of transfer in form satisfactory to us and duly executed by the registered holder and the signature on the endorsement or instrument of transfer must be guaranteed by a firm, which we refer to in this prospectus as an Eligible Institution, that is a member of a recognized signature guarantee medallion program, which we refer to in this prospectus as an Eligible Program, within the meaning of Rule 17Ad-15 under the Exchange Act. If the exchange notes or original notes not exchanged are to be delivered to an account other than that of the registered holder appearing on the note register for the original notes, the signature on the letter of transmittal must be guaranteed by an Eligible Institution.
Any beneficial owner whose original notes are registered in the name of a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee and who wishes to tender original notes should contact that registered holder promptly and instruct that holder to tender original notes on the beneficial owners behalf. If the beneficial owner wishes to tender original notes himself, then the beneficial owner must, prior to completing and executing the letter of transmittal and delivering original notes, either make appropriate arrangements to register ownership of the original notes in the beneficial owners name or follow the procedures described in the immediately preceding paragraph. The transfer of record ownership may take considerable time. The method of delivery of original notes and all other documents is at your
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Book-Entry Transfer. |
Any institution that is a participant in DTCs Book-Entry Transfer Facility system may make book-entry delivery of the old notes through DTCs Automated Tender Offer Program, or ATOP. ATOP enables a custodial entity, and the beneficial owner on whose behalf the custodial entity is acting, to electronically agree to be bound by the letter of transmittal. A letter of transmittal need not accompany tenders effected through ATOP.
Guaranteed Delivery Procedures. |
If a holder desires to accept the exchange offer and time will not permit a letter of transmittal or original notes to reach the exchange agent before the expiration date, a tender may be effected if the exchange agent has received at the office listed on the notice of guaranteed delivery included with this prospectus on or prior to the expiration date a letter or facsimile transmission from an Eligible Institution setting forth the name and address of the tendering holder, the names in which the original notes are registered, the principal amount of the original notes and, if possible, the certificate numbers of the original notes to be tendered. That letter or facsimile transmission must state that the tender is being made thereby and guarantee that within three business days after the date that letter or facsimile transmission is executed by the Eligible Institution, the original notes, in proper form for transfer, will be delivered by that Eligible Institution together with a properly completed and duly executed letter of transmittal (and any other required documents). Unless original 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), we may, at our option, reject the tender. Copies of a Notice of Guaranteed Delivery that may be used by Eligible Institutions for the purposes described in this paragraph are being delivered with this prospectus and the related letter of transmittal.
A tender will be deemed to have been received as of the date when the exchange agent receives the tendering holders properly completed and duly signed letter of transmittal accompanied by the original notes. Issuances of exchange notes in exchange for original notes tendered pursuant to a Notice of Guaranteed Delivery or letter 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 original notes.
All questions as to the validity, form, eligibility (including time of receipt) and acceptance for exchange of any tender of original notes will be determined by us and our determination will be final and binding. We reserve the absolute right to reject any or all tenders not in proper form or the acceptances for exchange of which may, in the opinion of our counsel, be unlawful. We also reserve the absolute right to waive any defect or irregularities in tenders of any particular holder, provided we waive similar defects or irregularities in the case of other holders. None of us, the exchange agent or any other person will be under any duty to give notification of any defects or irregularities in tenders or shall incur any liability for failure to give any such notification. Our reasonable interpretation of the terms and conditions of the exchange offer (including the letters of transmittal and the instructions thereto) will be final and binding.
Withdrawal Rights
Original notes tendered pursuant to the exchange offer may be withdrawn at any time prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the expiration date. For a withdrawal to be effective, a written or facsimile transmission notice of withdrawal must be timely received by the exchange agent at the address set forth in this prospectus. Any notice of withdrawal must specify the person named in the letter of
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Acceptance of Original Notes for Exchange; Delivery of Exchange Notes
Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the exchange offer, we will accept original notes validly tendered for exchange and not withdrawn, and we will issue the exchange notes on the exchange date. For the purposes of the exchange offer, we will be deemed to have accepted for exchange validly tendered original notes when, as and if we have given oral or written notice of acceptance to the exchange agent.
The exchange agent will act as agent for the tendering holders of original notes for the purposes of receiving exchange notes from us and causing the original notes to be assigned, transferred and exchanged. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the exchange offer, the exchange agent will deliver exchange notes to be issued in exchange for accepted original notes promptly after acceptance of the tendered original notes.
All exchange notes will be delivered only in book-entry form through DTC. Accordingly, if you anticipate tendering other than through DTC, you are urged to contact promptly a bank, broker or other intermediary that has the capability to hold securities custodially through DTC to arrange for receipt of any exchange notes to be delivered to you pursuant to the exchange offer and to obtain the information necessary to provide the required DTC participant with account information for the letter of transmittal. Original notes that we do not accept for exchange will be returned without expense to the tendering holders promptly following the expiration date or, if we terminate the exchange offer prior to the expiration date, promptly after the exchange offer is terminated.
Conditions to the Exchange Offer
We are not required to accept or exchange, or to issue exchange notes in exchange for, any outstanding original notes. We may terminate or extend the exchange offer by oral or written notice to the exchange agent and by timely public announcement communicated in accordance with applicable law or regulation, if:
| any federal law, statute, rule, regulation or interpretation of the staff of the SEC has been proposed, adopted or enacted that, in our judgment, might impair our ability to proceed with the exchange offer; | |
| an action or proceeding has been instituted or threatened in any court or by any governmental agency that, in our judgment might impair our ability to proceed with the exchange offer; | |
| there has occurred a material adverse development in any existing action or proceeding that might impair our ability to proceed with the exchange offer; | |
| any stop order is threatened or in effect with respect to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part or the qualification of the indenture governing the exchange notes under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939; | |
| all governmental approvals necessary for the consummation of the exchange have not been obtained; |
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| there is a change in the current interpretation by the staff of the SEC that permits holders who have made the required representations to us to resell, offer for resale, or otherwise transfer exchange notes issued in the exchange offer without registration of the exchange notes and delivery of a prospectus; or | |
| a material adverse change shall have occurred in our business, condition, operations or prospects. |
These foregoing conditions are for our sole benefit. We may assert them with respect to the exchange offer regardless of the circumstances giving rise to such condition, or we may waive them in whole or in part at any time, or from time to time, prior to the expiration of the exchange offer, other than the receipt of necessary governmental approvals which may be waived after the expiration of the exchange offer, in our sole discretion. Our failure at any time to exercise any of the foregoing rights will not be deemed a waiver of any such right, and each right will be deemed an ongoing right that we may assert at any time or from time to time. In addition, we have reserved the right, notwithstanding the satisfaction of each of the foregoing conditions, to amend the exchange offer.
Any reasonable determination by us concerning the fulfillment or non-fulfillment of any conditions will be final and binding upon all parties.
Exchange Agent
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. has been appointed as the exchange agent for the exchange offer. Letters of transmittal and all correspondence in connection with this exchange offer should be sent or delivered by each holder of original notes, or a beneficial owners commercial bank, broker, dealer, trust company or other nominee, to the exchange agent as follows:
By Registered and Certified Mail:
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. | |
MAC # N9303-121 | |
Corporate Trust Operations | |
P. O. Box 1517 | |
Minneapolis, MN 55480-1517 |
By Regular Mail or Overnight Courier:
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. | |
MAC # N9303-121 | |
Corporate Trust Operations | |
6th & Marquette Avenue | |
Minneapolis, MN 55479 |
By Hand Delivery Only:
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. | |
608 Second Avenue South | |
Corporate Trust Operations | |
12th Floor | |
Minneapolis, MN 55402 |
Banks and Brokers:
Toll Free: (800) 344-5128
Delivery to an address other than the one set forth in this prospectus, or transmissions of instructions via a facsimile number other than the one set forth in this prospectus, will not constitute a valid delivery.
Solicitation of Tenders; Expenses
We have not retained any dealer-manager or similar agent in connection with the exchange offer and will not make any payments to brokers, dealers or others for soliciting acceptances of the exchange offer.
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We have not authorized any dealer, salesperson or other individual to give any information or to make any representations not contained in this prospectus in connection with the exchange offer. If anyone gives or makes any information or representation to you outside of this prospectus, you must not rely on that information or representations as having been authorized by us. 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 our affairs since the dates as of which information is given in this prospectus.
The exchange offer is not being made to (nor will tenders be accepted from or on behalf of) holders of original 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. At our discretion, however, we may take such action as we may deem necessary to make the exchange offer in any such jurisdiction and extend the exchange offer to holders of original notes in such jurisdiction. In any jurisdiction where the securities laws or blue sky laws require the exchange offer to be made by a licensed broker or dealer, the exchange offer is being made on our behalf by one or more registered brokers or dealers that are licensed under the laws of such jurisdiction.
Appraisal Rights
You will not have appraisal rights in connection with the exchange offer.
Federal Income Tax Consequences
The exchange of original notes for exchange notes should not be a taxable exchange for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and holders should not recognize any taxable gain or loss or any interest income as a result of such exchange. See Certain Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations.
Regulatory Approvals
Other than the federal securities laws, to our knowledge there are no federal or state regulatory requirements that we must comply with, and there are no approvals that we must obtain in connection with, the exchange offer.
Accounting Treatment
The exchange notes will be recorded at the same carrying value as the original notes. Accordingly, we will recognize no gain or loss for accounting purposes in connection with the exchange offer.
Consequences of Failure to Exchange Your Outstanding Notes
Participation in the exchange offer is voluntary, and you should consider carefully whether to accept. We urge you to consult your legal, financial and tax advisors in making your own decisions on what action to take.
As a result of the making of, and upon acceptance for exchange of all validly tendered original notes pursuant to the terms of the exchange offer, we will have fulfilled a covenant contained in the terms of the original notes and the registration rights agreement. Holders of the original notes who do not tender their original notes in the exchange offer will continue to hold such original notes and will be entitled to all the rights, and limitations applicable to the original notes under the indenture governing the original notes, except for any registration rights agreements, which by their terms, generally terminate or cease to have further effect as a result of the making of this exchange offer. See Description of the Exchange Notes. All untendered original notes will continue to be subject to the restriction on transfer provided in the
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| to us; | |
| to a person who the seller reasonably believes is a qualified institutional buyer within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Securities Act purchasing for its own account or for the account of a qualified institutional buyer in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144A; | |
| pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act; or | |
| pursuant to any other available exemption from the registration requirements under the Securities Act. |
We do not intend to register any untendered original notes under the Securities Act.
To the extent that original notes are tendered and accepted in the exchange offer, the trading market, if any, for the original notes not tendered and accepted in the exchange offer could be adversely affected. See Risk Factors Risks Associated with the Exchange Offer Your ability to sell your original notes may be significantly more limited and the price at which you may be able to sell your original notes may be significantly lower if you do not exchange them for registered exchange notes in the exchange offer.
We may in the future seek to acquire untendered original notes in open market or privately negotiated transactions, through subsequent exchange offers or otherwise. We have no present plan to acquire any original notes that are not tendered in the exchange offer.
Change of Control Offer
Our acquisition of NNA constituted a change of control of NNA under the terms of the indenture governing the notes. You, as a holder of the notes, have the right to require us to repurchase all or any part (equal to $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof) of your notes at an offer price in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of your notes plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon, if any, to the date of purchase. Your right to require us to repurchase the notes pursuant to the change of control of NNA is referred to in this prospectus as the NNA change of control offer. If you choose to participate in the NNA change of control offer, the portion of your notes repurchased by us can no longer be tendered in the exchange offer pursuant to this prospectus. You should have already received, or will receive, a notice from us detailing the NNA change of control offer procedures to have your notes repurchased by us, including the date by which you must tender your notes for participation in the NNA change of control offer.
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RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
The table below sets forth the ratio of earnings to fixed charges of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries on a historical basis for each for the periods presented.
Year Ended December 31 | ||||||||
1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | ||||
8.8x
|
10.4x | 15.1x | 23.6x | 25.0x |
For the purpose of computing the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, earnings consist of income before provision for income taxes plus fixed charges other than interest capitalized during the period. Fixed charges are defined as the total of interest expense, amortization of financing costs, and the estimated interest portion of rental expense on operating leases.
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DESCRIPTION OF THE EXCHANGE NOTES
The original notes were, and the exchange notes will be, issued under an Indenture, dated October 22, 2003, as supplemented, entered into among us, as successor in interest to NNA, certain of our subsidiaries and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., successor in interest to Wells Fargo Bank Minnesota, N.A., as trustee (the Indenture). The form and terms of the exchange notes are substantially identical to the form and terms of the original notes, except that the exchange notes:
| will be registered under the Securities Act; and | |
| will not bear any legends restricting transfer. |
You can find definitions of certain capitalized terms used in this section under Description of the Exchange Notes Certain Definitions. For purposes of this section, references to the word Company means only Renal Care Group, Inc., but not any of our subsidiaries.
The following is a summary of the material provisions of the Indenture. It does not include all of the provisions of the Indenture. We urge you to read the Indenture because it defines your rights. The terms of the notes include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, or the TIA, as in effect on the date of the Indenture. A copy of the Indenture may be obtained from the Company.
In this summary, Company means Renal Care Group, Inc. and not any of the Guarantors or other of its subsidiaries.
Brief Description of the Notes and the Guarantees
The Notes |
The notes:
| are general unsecured obligations of the Company; | |
| are subordinated in right of payment to all existing and future Senior Indebtedness of the Company; | |
| rank equally in right of payment with any future senior subordinated Indebtedness of the Company; and | |
| are guaranteed by the Guarantors. |
The Guarantees |
The notes are guaranteed by all of the Companys Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiaries.
Each guarantee of the notes by a Guarantor:
| is a general unsecured obligation of such Guarantor; | |
| is subordinated in right of payment to all existing and future Senior Indebtedness of such Guarantor; and | |
| ranks equally in right of payment with any future senior subordinated Indebtedness of such Guarantor. |
Giving effect to the Companys acquisition of NNA and our recent repurchases of common stock and the debt we incurred to fund both the acquisition and the repurchases, as of December 31, 2003, the notes were subordinated to approximately $342.1 million of our and the guarantors senior debt and there was no other senior subordinated or subordinated debt. In addition, our non-guarantor subsidiaries had no debt (other than intercompany liabilities, capital leases and trade payables) to which the notes were structurally subordinated. As indicated above and as discussed in more detail below under the caption Description of the Exchange Notes Subordination, payments on the notes and under the guarantees of the notes are
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Principal, Maturity and Interest
The notes mature on November 1, 2011, are limited in aggregate principal amount to $160 million (excluding any Additional Notes, defined below) and are senior subordinated unsecured obligations of the Company. The Indenture provides for the issuance of up to an unlimited amount of Additional Notes having identical terms and conditions to the notes offered hereby (the Additional Notes), subject to compliance with the covenants contained in the Indenture. For purposes of this Description of the Exchange Notes, reference to the notes includes Additional Notes unless otherwise indicated; however, no offering of any such Additional Notes is being or shall in any manner be deemed to be made, by this prospectus. In addition, there can be no assurance as to when or whether the Company will issue any such Additional Notes or as to the aggregate principal amount of such Additional Notes. Interest on the notes accrues at the rate of 9% per annum and is payable semiannually on each May 1st and November 1st, commencing May 1, 2004, to the Holders of record on the immediately preceding April 15th and October 15th. Interest on the notes accrues from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from the original date of issuance (the Issue Date). Interest is computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprising twelve 30-day months.
The principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the notes are payable, and the notes are exchangeable and transferable at the office or agency of the Company in the city of New York, New York maintained for such purposes (which initially will be the office of the Trustee located at 608 Second Avenue South, Corporate Trust Operations, 12th Floor, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402) or, at the option of the Company, payment of interest may be paid by check mailed to the address of the person entitled thereto as such address appears in the security register. The notes are issued only in registered form without coupons and only in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof. No service charge will be made for any registration of transfer or exchange or redemption of notes, but the Company may require payment in certain circumstances of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection therewith.
The notes and any Additional Notes are treated as a single class of securities under the Indenture, including, without limitation, for purposes of waivers, amendments, redemptions and offers to purchase.
The notes are not be entitled to the benefit of any sinking fund.
Guarantees
Each of the Companys Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiaries is a Guarantor, and payment of the principal of, premium, if any and interest on the notes, when and as the same become due and payable, are guaranteed, jointly and severally, on a senior subordinated and unsecured basis (the Guarantees) by the Guarantors. If the Company or any of its Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiaries shall acquire or create another Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary (other than any Foreign Subsidiary), then such Subsidiary is required to become a Guarantor, in accordance with the terms of the Indenture. In addition, if any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company becomes a guarantor or obligor in respect of any other Indebtedness of the Company or any of the Guarantors, or secures the payment of any Indebtedness of the Company, the Company is required to cause such Restricted Subsidiary to guarantee the Companys obligations under the notes jointly and severally with any other such Restricted Subsidiary, fully and unconditionally, on a senior subordinated basis. Each Guarantee is subordinated in right of payment, as set forth in the Indenture, to the prior payment in full of Senior Indebtedness of the relevant Guarantor. See Description of the Exchange Notes Certain Covenants Guarantees of Indebtedness by Restricted Subsidiaries. The obligations of the Guarantors under the Guarantees are limited so as not to constitute fraudulent conveyances under applicable statutes. See Risk Factors Risks Relating to the Exchange Notes Fraudulent transfer statutes may limit your rights as a noteholder.
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The Indenture provides that if a Guarantor sells or otherwise disposes of all or substantially all of its assets to a Person that is not an Affiliate of the Company by way of merger, consolidation or otherwise, or if the Company or a Guarantor sells or otherwise disposes of all the Capital Stock of any Guarantor to a Person that is not an Affiliate of the Company by way of merger, consolidation or otherwise, and if the sale or other disposition is carried out in accordance with the covenants described below under the caption Description of the Exchange Notes Repurchase at the Option of Holders Asset Sales, then that Guarantor is deemed automatically and unconditionally released and discharged from all of its obligations under its Guarantee without any further action on the part of the Trustee or any Holder. Any such termination shall occur only to the extent that all obligations of such Guarantor under all of its guarantees of, and under all of its pledges of assets or other security interests which secure any, Indebtedness of the Company shall also terminate upon such sale, disposition or release. The guarantees may also be released in other situations. See Description of the Exchange Notes Certain Covenants Guarantees of Indebtedness by Restricted Subsidiaries.
Subordination
The notes are unsecured senior subordinated obligations of the Company. The payment of Indebtedness evidenced by the notes and any other payment obligations on or with respect to the notes (including any obligation to repurchase the notes) is subordinated in right of payment, as set forth in the Indenture, to the prior payment of Senior Indebtedness in full. The Guarantee of a Guarantor is subordinated to obligations of the Guarantor similar to the subordination provisions relating to the notes described in this prospectus.
The holders of Senior Indebtedness are entitled to receive payment in full of all Obligations due in respect of Senior Indebtedness (including interest after the commencement of any bankruptcy at the rate specified in the applicable Senior Indebtedness) before the Holders are entitled to receive any payment in respect of the notes (except that Holders may receive and retain equity securities of the Company or debt securities of the Company or a Guarantor that are subordinated at least to the same extent as the notes and Guarantees are subordinated to Senior Indebtedness and any debt securities issued in exchange for Senior Indebtedness (Permitted Junior Securities) and except that Holders may recover payments made from the trust described under the caption Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance), in the event of any distribution to creditors of the Company:
(a) in a liquidation or dissolution of the Company; | |
(b) in a bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, receivership or similar proceeding relating to the Company or its property; | |
(c) in an assignment for the benefit of creditors; or | |
(d) in any marshaling of the Companys assets and liabilities. |
The Company also may not make any payment upon or in respect of the notes (except in Permitted Junior Securities or from the trust described under the caption Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance) if:
(a) a default in the payment of principal of, interest or premium, if any, on Designated Senior Indebtedness occurs; or | |
(b) any other default occurs and is continuing with respect to Designated Senior Indebtedness which permits holders of the Designated Senior Indebtedness as to which such default relates to accelerate its maturity and the Trustee receives a notice of such default (a Payment Blockage Notice) from (A) with respect to the Designated Senior Indebtedness arising under the Credit Agreement, the Agent Bank or (B) with respect to any other Designated Senior Indebtedness, the holders or the representative of the holders of any such Designated Senior Indebtedness. |
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Payments on the notes may and shall be resumed:
(a) in the case of a payment default, upon the date on which such default is cured or waived; and | |
(b) in case of a nonpayment default, upon the earlier of the date on which such nonpayment default is cured or waived or 179 days after the date on which the applicable Payment Blockage Notice is received unless the maturity of any Designated Senior Indebtedness has been accelerated. |
No new period of payment blockage may be commenced by a Payment Blockage Notice unless and until:
(a) 360 days have elapsed since the first day of the effectiveness of the immediately prior Payment Blockage Notice; and | |
(b) all scheduled payments of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the notes that have come due have been paid in full in cash. |
No nonpayment default that existed or was continuing on the date of delivery of any Payment Blockage Notice to the Trustee shall be, or be made, the basis for a subsequent Payment Blockage Notice, unless such default has been cured or waived for a period of not less than 90 days.
If the Trustee or any Holder receives a payment of any Obligations with respect of the notes (except (i) for Permitted Junior Securities or (ii) from the trust described under Description of the Exchange Notes Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance) when:
(a) the payment is prohibited by these subordination provisions; and | |
(b) the Trustee or the Holder has actual knowledge that the payment is prohibited by these subordinate provisions; |
then the Trustee or the Holder, as the case may be, shall hold the payment in trust for the benefit of the holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Company. Upon the proper written request of the holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Company, the Trustee or the Holder, as the case may be, shall deliver the amounts in trust to the holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Company or their proper representative.
The Indenture requires that the Company promptly notify holders of Senior Indebtedness if payment of the notes is accelerated because of any Event of Default.
As a result of the subordination provisions described above, in the event of an insolvency, bankruptcy, reorganization or liquidation of the Company, creditors of the Company who are holders of Senior Indebtedness and holders of trade payables may recover more, ratably, than the Holders, and assets that would otherwise be available to pay obligations in respect of the notes will be available only after all Senior Indebtedness has been paid in full. In this event, there may not be sufficient assets remaining to pay amounts due on any or all of the notes.
Payments under the Guarantee of each Guarantor are subordinated to the prior payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness of such Guarantor, including Senior Indebtedness of such Guarantor incurred after the Closing Date, on the same basis as provided above with respect to the subordination of payments on the notes by the Company to the prior payment in full of Senior Indebtedness of the Company. See Risk Factors Risks Relating to the Exchange Notes Your right to receive payment on the notes from us or our subsidiary guarantors will be junior to our and their existing and future senior debt.
The terms of the Indenture permit the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries to incur additional Senior Indebtedness, subject to certain limitations, including Indebtedness that may be secured by Liens on property of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries. See the discussion below under the captions Description of the Exchange Notes Certain Covenants Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Description of the Exchange Notes Certain Covenants Liens. See Risk Factors Risks Relating to the Exchange Notes Despite our substantial debt, we and our subsidiaries may incur additional indebtedness, including senior debt, which would intensify the risks described above.
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Optional Redemption
At any time on or prior to November 1, 2007, the Company may, on any one or more occasions, redeem all or a portion of the notes, on not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior notice, in amounts of $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof, at a price equal to the greater of:
(a) 100% of the aggregate principal amount of the notes to be redeemed, together with accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of redemption, and | |
(b) as determined by an Independent Investment Banker, the sum of the present values of 104.500% of the principal of the notes being redeemed plus scheduled payments of interest (not including any portion of such payments of interest accrued as of the date of redemption) from the date of redemption to November 1, 2007 discounted for each such amount to the redemption date on a semiannual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Adjusted Treasury Rate plus 50 basis points, together with accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of redemption. |
For purposes of calculating the redemption price, the following terms have the meanings set forth below:
Adjusted Treasury Rate means the rate per annum equal to the semiannual equivalent yield to maturity of the Comparable Treasury Issue, assuming a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of the principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for the redemption date, calculated in accordance with standard market practice.
Comparable Treasury Issue means the U.S. treasury security selected by an Independent Investment Banker that would be used, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the remaining term of the notes to November 1, 2007.
Comparable Treasury Price means, with respect to any redemption date, (a) the average of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) on the third business day preceding such redemption date, as set forth in the most recently published statistical release designated H.15(519) (or any successor release) published by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and which establishes yields on actively traded United States treasury securities adjusted to constant maturity under the caption Treasury Constant Maturities or (b) if such release (or any successor release) is not published or does not contain such prices on such business day, the average of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such redemption date.
Independent Investment Banker means one of the Reference Treasury Dealers that the Company appoints.
Reference Treasury Dealer means each of Banc of America Securities LLC (and its successors) and any other nationally recognized firm that is a primary U.S. government securities dealer specified from time to time by the Company.
Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any redemption date, the average, as determined by the Trustee, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the Trustee by such Reference Treasury Dealer as of 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the third business day preceding the redemption date.
In addition, after November 1, 2007, the Company may, on any one or more occasions, redeem all or a portion of the notes, on not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior notice to the Holders at the following redemption prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount), together with accrued interest, if any, to the redemption date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to
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Redemption | ||||
Year | Price | |||
2007
|
104.500 | % | ||
2008
|
102.250 | % | ||
2009 and thereafter
|
100.000 | % |
Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any time or from time to time prior to November 1, 2006, the Company may redeem, on one or more occasions, up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of the notes issued under the Indenture with the net proceeds of one or more Public Equity Offerings at a redemption price equal to 109% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued interest, if any, to the redemption date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on an interest payment date); provided that, immediately after giving effect to such redemption, at least 65% of the aggregate principal amount of the notes issued under the Indenture remains outstanding; provided further that such redemptions shall occur within 90 days of the date of closing of each such Public Equity Offering.
If less than all the notes are to be redeemed, the particular notes to be redeemed will be selected not more than 90 days prior to the redemption date by the Trustee by such method as the Trustee deems fair and appropriate, provided that no note of $1,000 in principal amount at maturity or less shall be redeemed in part.
Mandatory Redemption
Except as set forth below under Description of the Exchange Notes Repurchase at the Option of Holders, the Company is not required to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the notes.
Repurchase at the Option of Holders
Change of Control |
If a Change of Control occurs at any time, then each Holder has the right to require that the Company purchase such Holders notes in whole or in part in integral multiples of $1,000, at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount of such notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of purchase, pursuant to the offer described below (the Change of Control Offer) and the other procedures set forth in the Indenture.
Within 30 days following any Change of Control, or at the Companys option, prior to such Change of Control but after it is publicly announced, the Company will notify the Trustee thereof and give written notice of such Change of Control to each Holder by first-class mail, postage prepaid, at its address appearing in the security register, stating, among other things:
(a) the purchase price and the purchase date, which will be a Business Day (i) no earlier than the later of (a) 30 days from the date such notice is mailed and (b) the date of the Change of Control, and (ii) no later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed or such later date as is necessary to comply with the requirements under the Exchange Act; | |
(b) that any note not tendered will continue to accrue interest; | |
(c) that, unless the Company defaults in the payment of the purchase price, any notes accepted for payment pursuant to the Change of Control Offer will cease to accrue interest after the Change of Control purchase date; and | |
(d) certain other procedures that a Holder must follow to accept a Change of Control Offer or to withdraw such acceptance. |
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If a Change of Control Offer is made, there can be no assurance that the Company will have available funds sufficient to pay the purchase price for all of the notes that might be tendered by Holders seeking to accept the Change of Control Offer. The failure of the Company to make or consummate the Change of Control Offer or pay the applicable Change of Control purchase price when due would result in an Event of Default and would give the Trustee and the Holders the rights described under Description of the Exchange Notes Events of Default and Remedies.
The Credit Agreement provides that certain change of control events with respect to the Company would constitute a default thereunder. A default under the Credit Agreement may result in a default under the Indenture if the lenders accelerate the debt under the Credit Agreement. Any future credit agreements or other agreements relating to Senior Indebtedness to which the Company becomes a party may contain similar restrictions and provisions. If a Change of Control occurs at a time when the Company is prohibited from purchasing notes, the Company could seek the consent of its lenders to the purchase of notes or could attempt to refinance the borrowings that contain such prohibition. If the Company does not obtain such a consent or refinance such borrowings, the Company will remain prohibited from purchasing notes. In such case, the Companys failure to purchase tendered notes would constitute an Event of Default under the Indenture, which would, in turn, constitute a default under the Credit Agreement. In such circumstances, the subordination provisions in the Indenture would likely restrict payments to the Holders.
One of the events that constitutes a Change of Control under the Indenture is the disposition of all or substantially all of the Companys and its Subsidiaries assets. This term has not been interpreted under New York law (which is the governing law of the Indenture) to represent a specific quantitative test. As a consequence, if Holders elect to require the Company to purchase the notes and the Company elects to contest such election, there can be no assurance as to how a court interpreting New York law would interpret the phrase in many circumstances.
The Company is not required to make a Change of Control Offer upon a Change of Control if a third party makes the Change of Control Offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in the Indenture applicable to a Change of Control Offer made by the Company and purchases all the notes validly tendered and not withdrawn under such Change of Control Offer.
The definition of Change of Control in the Indenture is limited in scope. The provisions of the Indenture may not afford Holders the right to require the Company to repurchase such notes in the event of a highly leveraged transaction or certain transactions with the Companys management or its Affiliates, including a reorganization, restructuring, merger or similar transaction involving the Company (including, in certain circumstances, an acquisition of the Company by management or its Affiliates) that may adversely affect Holders, if the transaction is not a transaction defined as a Change of Control. See Description of the Exchange Notes Certain Definitions below for the definition of Change of Control. A transaction involving the Companys management or its Affiliates, or a transaction involving a recapitalization of the Company, would result in a Change of Control if it is the type of transaction specified in such definition.
The Company will comply with the applicable tender offer rules, including Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act, and any other applicable securities laws and regulations in connection with a Change of Control Offer. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the Change of Control provisions of the Indenture, the Company will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under the Change of Control provisions of the Indenture by virtue of its compliance with the applicable laws and regulations.
The existence of a Holders right to require the Company to purchase such Holders notes upon a Change of Control may deter a third party from acquiring the Company in a transaction that constitutes a Change of Control.
Restrictions in the Indenture on the ability of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries to incur additional Indebtedness, to grant Liens on its or their property, to make Restricted Payments and to make
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Asset Sales |
The Company will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, engage in any Asset Sale unless:
(a) the consideration received by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary for such Asset Sale is not less than the fair market value of the assets sold as evidenced by a resolution of the board of directors of such entity set forth in an officers certificate delivered to the Trustee; and | |
(b) the consideration received by the Company or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary in respect of such Asset Sale consists of at least 75% cash or cash equivalents. For purposes of this provision, cash and cash equivalents includes: |
(i) any liabilities (as reflected in the Companys consolidated balance sheet) of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than contingent liabilities and liabilities that are by their terms subordinated to the notes or any Guarantee or the notes) that are assumed by any transferee of any such assets or other property in such Asset Sale, and where the Company or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary is released from any further liability in connection therewith with respect to such liabilities; | |
(ii) any securities, notes or other similar obligations received by the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary from such transferee that are converted within 180 days of the related Asset Sale by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary into cash or cash equivalents (to the extent of the net cash proceeds or the cash equivalents (net of related costs) received upon such conversion); and | |
(iii) any Designated Noncash Consideration received by the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary in the Asset Sale having an aggregate fair market value, as determined by the Board, taken together with all other Designated Noncash Consideration received pursuant to this clause that is at that time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of: |
(A) $7.5 million; and | |
(B) 10% of Consolidated Tangible Assets at the time of the receipt of such Designated Noncash Consideration (with the fair market value of each item of such Designated Noncash Consideration being measured at the time received and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value). |
If the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary engages in an Asset Sale, the Company may, at its option, within 12 months after such Asset Sale:
(a) apply all or a portion of the Net Cash Proceeds to the permanent reduction of amounts outstanding under its Credit Agreement (and to correspondingly reduce the commitments, if any, with respect thereto) or to the repayment of other Senior Indebtedness of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, provided that the repayment of any Indebtedness incurred under its Credit Agreement with the proceeds of any Sale and Leaseback Transaction shall not be required to result in the permanent reduction of the amounts outstanding under its Credit Agreement or correspondingly |
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permanently reduce the commitments under the Credit Agreement so long as the Company would at such time after giving effect thereto be permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Test set forth in the first paragraph of the covenant described under the caption Description of the Exchange Notes Certain Covenants Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock; or | |
(b) invest (or enter into a legally binding agreement to invest) all or a portion of such Net Cash Proceeds in properties and assets to replace the properties and assets that were the subject of the Asset Sale or in properties and assets that will be used in businesses of the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries, as the case may be, existing on the Closing Date or in businesses the same, similar or reasonably related thereto. |
If any such legally binding agreement to invest such Net Cash Proceeds is terminated, the Company may, within 90 days of such termination or within 12 months of such Asset Sale, whichever is later, invest such Net Cash Proceeds as provided in clause (i) or (ii) (without regard to the parenthetical contained in such clause (ii)) above. Pending the final application of any such Net Cash Proceeds, the Company may temporarily reduce revolving credit borrowings or otherwise invest such Net Cash Proceeds in a manner that is not prohibited by the Indenture. The amount of such Net Cash Proceeds not so used as set forth above in this paragraph constitutes Excess Proceeds.
When the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $10 million, the Company will, within 30 days thereafter, make an offer to purchase (an Excess Proceeds Offer) from all Holders and any other Pari Passu Indebtedness of the Company (to the extent the terms of such Pari Passu Indebtedness so require) on a pro rata basis, in accordance with applicable procedures set forth in the Indenture, the maximum principal amount (expressed as a multiple of $1,000) of notes and Pari Passu Indebtedness that may be purchased with the Excess Proceeds, at a purchase price in cash equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued interest, if any, to the date such offer to purchase is consummated. To the extent that the aggregate principal amount of notes and Pari Passu Indebtedness tendered pursuant to such offer to purchase is less than the Excess Proceeds, the Company may use such deficiency for general corporate purposes not prohibited under the Indenture. If the aggregate principal amount of notes and Pari Passu Indebtedness validly tendered and not withdrawn by Holders thereof exceeds the Excess Proceeds, the notes and Pari Passu Indebtedness to be purchased will be selected on a pro rata basis. Upon completion of such offer to purchase, the amount of Excess Proceeds will be reset to zero.
The Indenture provides that the Company will comply with the applicable tender offer rules, including Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act, and any other applicable securities laws or regulations in connection with an Excess Proceeds Offer. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the Asset Sales provisions of the Indenture, the Company shall comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to have breached its obligations under the Asset Sales provisions of the Indenture by virtue thereof.
Certain Covenants
Restricted Payments |
The Company will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, take any of the following actions:
(a) declare or pay any dividend on, or make any distribution to holders of, any shares of the Capital Stock of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, other than (i) dividends or distributions payable solely in Qualified Equity Interests or (ii) dividends or distributions by a Restricted Subsidiary payable to the Company or a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary or to all holders of Capital Stock of such Restricted Subsidiary on a pro rata basis, taking into account the relative preferences, if any, of the various classes of equity interests in such Restricted Subsidiary; | |
(b) purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire or retire for value, directly or indirectly, any shares of Capital Stock, or any options, warrants or other rights to acquire such shares of Capital Stock, of the |
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Company, any direct or indirect parent of the Company or any Unrestricted Subsidiary of the Company; | |
(c) make any principal payment on, or repurchase, redeem, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value, prior to any scheduled principal payment, sinking fund payment or maturity, any Subordinated Indebtedness (other than repurchases, redemptions, defeasances or other acquisitions of any Subordinated Indebtedness purchased in anticipation of satisfying a scheduled maturity, sinking fund or amortization or other installment obligation or mandatory redemption, in each case due within one year of the date of acquisition and other than any Subordinated Indebtedness owed to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary); and | |
(d) make any Investment (other than a Permitted Investment) in any Person. |
We refer to such payments or other actions described in (but not excluded from) clauses (a) through (d) above as Restricted Payments unless at the time of, and immediately after giving effect to, the proposed Restricted Payment: |
(i) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, | |
(ii) the Company would, at the time of such Restricted Payment and after giving pro forma effect thereto as if such Restricted Payment had been made at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period, have been permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in the first paragraph of the covenant described under the caption Description of the Exchange Notes Certain Covenants Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock, and | |
(iii) the aggregate amount of all Restricted Payments made after the Closing Date does not exceed the sum of: |
(A) 50% of the aggregate Consolidated Net Income of the Company during the period (taken as one accounting period) from the first day of the Companys first fiscal quarter commencing after the Closing Date to the last day of the Companys most recently ended fiscal quarter for which internal financial statements are available at the time of such proposed Restricted Payment (or, if such aggregate cumulative Consolidated Net Income is a loss, minus 100% of such amount); plus | |
(B) 100% of the aggregate net cash proceeds received by the Company after the Closing Date as a capital contribution or from the issuance or sale (other than to a Subsidiary) of either (1) Qualified Equity Interests of the Company (except to the extent such proceeds are used to purchase, redeem or otherwise retire Capital Stock or Subordinated Indebtedness as set forth below in clause (b) or (c) of the following paragraph) or (2) debt securities or Disqualified Stock that have been converted into or exchanged for Qualified Stock of the Company, together with the aggregate net cash proceeds received by the Company at the time of such conversion or exchange (and in the case of clauses (1) and (2), excluding the net cash proceeds from the issuance of Qualified Equity Interests or the issuance of converted or exchanged debt or Disqualified Stock if and to the extent such net proceeds were directly or indirectly proceeds of funds borrowed from the Company or any Subsidiary, until and to the extent such borrowing is repaid); plus | |
(C) any amount which previously qualified as a Restricted Payment on account of any Guarantee entered into by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary; provided that such Guarantee has not been called upon and the obligation arising under such Guarantee no longer exists. |
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Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries may take the following actions, so long as no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would occur:
(a) the payment of any dividend within 60 days after the date of declaration thereof, if at the declaration date such payment would not have been prohibited by the foregoing provisions; | |
(b) the repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of any shares of Capital Stock of the Company, in exchange for (including any such exchange pursuant to the exercise of a conversion right or privilege in connection with which cash is paid in lieu of the issuance of fractional shares or scrip), or out of the net cash proceeds of a substantially concurrent issuance and sale (other than to a Subsidiary) of, Qualified Equity Interests of the Company; provided that the net cash proceeds from the issuance of such shares of Qualified Equity Interests are excluded from clause (iii)(B) of the preceding paragraph; | |
(c) the purchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement for value of any Subordinated Indebtedness in exchange for, or out of the net cash proceeds of a substantially concurrent issuance and sale (other than to a Subsidiary) of, shares of Qualified Equity Interests of the Company; provided that the net cash proceeds from the issuance of such shares of Qualified Equity Interests are excluded from clause (iii)(B) of the preceding paragraph; | |
(d) the purchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement for value of Subordinated Indebtedness in exchange for, or out of the net cash proceeds of a substantially concurrent issuance or sale (other than to a Restricted Subsidiary) of, Subordinated Indebtedness, so long as the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary would be permitted to refinance such original Subordinated Indebtedness with such new Subordinated Indebtedness pursuant to clause (d) of the definition of Permitted Indebtedness set forth in the covenant described under the caption Description of the Exchange Notes Certain Covenants Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock; | |
(e) the repurchase of any Subordinated Indebtedness at a purchase price not greater than 101% of the principal amount of such Subordinated Indebtedness in the event of a Change of Control in accordance with provisions similar to the Change of Control covenant; provided that, prior to or simultaneously with such repurchase, the Company has made the Change of Control Offer as provided in such covenant with respect to the notes and has repurchased all notes validly tendered for payment in connection with such Change of Control Offer; | |
(f) the purchase, redemption, acquisition, cancellation or other retirement for value of shares of Capital Stock of the Company, options on any such shares or related stock appreciation rights or similar securities, in each case held by officers, directors or employees or former officers, directors or employees (or their spouses, descendants (natural or adopted), any trust established and maintained for the benefit of such Person, his spouse or descendants, or their estates or beneficiaries under their estates) of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, as applicable, or by any employee benefit plan of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company, as applicable, upon death, disability, retirement or termination of employment or pursuant to the terms of any employee benefit plan or any other agreement under which such shares of stock or related rights were issued; provided that the aggregate amount of cash applied by the Company for such purchase, redemption, acquisition, cancellation or other retirement of such shares of Capital Stock of the Company after the Closing Date does not exceed (i) $2.5 million in any given year, provided however, that any unused amount in any given year pursuant to this clause (i) may be carried forward to increase the amount available pursuant to this clause (i) in the next succeeding year (including successive carryforwards), and (ii) $7.5 million in the aggregate during the term of the notes (excluding for purposes of calculating such amount the aggregate amount received by any Person in connection with such purchase, redemption, acquisition, cancellation or other retirement of such shares that is concurrently used to repay loans made to such Person by the Company pursuant to clause (f) of the definition of Permitted Investment); |
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(g) payment to the Equity Sponsors in an annual amount not to exceed $500,000 as consideration for management consulting or financial advisory services provided to the Company or any of the Subsidiaries; | |
(h) the repurchase of Capital Stock deemed to occur upon the exercise of stock options to the extent such Capital Stock represents a portion of the exercise price of those stock options; | |
(i) the declaration and payment of regularly scheduled or accrued dividends to holders of any class or series of Disqualified Stock of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or to holders of any class of preferred stock of any Restricted Subsidiary, in each case issued on or after the Closing Date in accordance with the covenant described under the caption Description of the Exchange Notes Certain Covenants Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock; and | |
(j) other Restricted Payments not to exceed $5 million during the life of the Indenture. |
The actions described in clauses (e) and (f) of the preceding paragraph will be Restricted Payments that will be permitted to be made in accordance with this paragraph but will reduce the amount that would otherwise be available for Restricted Payments under clause (iii) of the first paragraph of this covenant and the actions described in clauses (a), (b), (c), (d), (g), (h), (i) and (j) of the preceding paragraph will be Restricted Payments that will be permitted to be made in accordance with this paragraph and will not reduce the amount that would otherwise be available for Restricted Payments under clause (iii) of the first paragraph of this covenant.
For the purpose of making any calculations under the Indenture:
(a) if a Restricted Subsidiary is designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary, the Company will be deemed to have made an Investment in an amount equal to the greater of the fair market value or net book value of the net assets of such Restricted Subsidiary at the time of such designation as determined by the Board; and | |
(b) any property transferred to or from an Unrestricted Subsidiary will be valued at fair market value at the time of such transfer, as determined by the Board. |
The amount of all Restricted Payments (other than cash) shall be the fair market value on the date of the Restricted Payment of the asset(s) or securities proposed to be transferred or issued by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, pursuant to the Restricted Payment. The fair market value of any noncash Restricted Payment shall be determined by the Board whose resolution with respect thereto shall be delivered to the Trustee, such determination to be based upon an opinion or appraisal issued by an accounting, appraisal or investment banking firm of national standing if such fair market value exceeds $10 million. Not later than the date of making any Restricted Payment, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee an officers certificate stating that such Restricted Payment is permitted and setting forth the basis upon which the calculations required under Certain Covenants Restricted Payments were computed, together with a copy of any fairness opinion or appraisal required by the Indenture.
If the aggregate amount of all Restricted Payments calculated under the foregoing provision includes an Investment in an Unrestricted Subsidiary or other Person that thereafter becomes a Restricted Subsidiary, the aggregate amount of all Restricted Payments calculated under the foregoing provision will be reduced by the lesser of (x) the greater of the fair market value or net book value of such Subsidiary at the time it becomes a Restricted Subsidiary and (y) the initial amount of such Investment.
If an Investment resulted in the making of a Restricted Payment, the aggregate amount of all Restricted Payments calculated under the foregoing provision will be reduced by the amount of any net reduction in such Investment (resulting from the payment of interest or dividends, loan repayment, transfer of assets or otherwise), to the extent such net reduction is not included in the Companys Consolidated Net Income; provided that the total amount by which the aggregate amount of all Restricted Payments may be reduced may not exceed the lesser of (x) the cash proceeds received by the Company
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In computing the Consolidated Net Income of the Company for purposes of the foregoing clause (iii)(A) of the first paragraph of this covenant:
(a) the Company may use audited financial statements for the portions of the relevant period for which audited financial statements are available on the date of determination and unaudited financial statements and other current financial data based on the books and records of the Company for the remaining portion of such period and | |
(b) the Company will be permitted to rely in good faith on the financial statements and other financial data derived from its books and records that are available on the date of determination. |
If the Company makes a Restricted Payment that, at the time of the making of such Restricted Payment, would in the good faith determination of the Company be permitted under the requirements of the Indenture, such Restricted Payment will be deemed to have been made in compliance with the Indenture notwithstanding any subsequent adjustments made in good faith to the Companys financial statements affecting Consolidated Net Income of the Company for any period.
Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock |
The Company will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, create, issue, assume, guarantee or in any manner become directly or indirectly liable for the payment of, or otherwise incur (collectively, incur), any Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness and the issuance of Disqualified Stock), except that the Company and any Guarantors may incur Indebtedness if, at the time of such event, the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the immediately preceding four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available, taken as one accounting period, would have been equal to at least 2.0 to 1.0.
In making the foregoing calculation, pro forma effect will be given to:
(a) the incurrence of such Indebtedness and (if applicable) the application of the net proceeds therefrom, including to refinance other Indebtedness, as if such Indebtedness was incurred and the application of such proceeds occurred at the beginning of such four-quarter period; | |
(b) the incurrence, repayment or retirement of any other Indebtedness by the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries since the first day of such four-quarter period as if such Indebtedness was incurred, repaid or retired at the beginning of such four-quarter period; and | |
(c) the acquisition (whether by purchase, merger or otherwise) or disposition (whether by sale, merger or otherwise) of any company, entity or business acquired or disposed of by the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries, as the case may be, since the first day of such four-quarter period, as if such acquisition or disposition occurred at the beginning of such four-quarter period; provided that, in the case of this clause (c), such adjustments in connection with any acquisition of any company, entity or business will be based on the financial statements or other information of the company, business or entity acquired, if available, as adjusted in the good faith judgment of the chief financial or accounting officer of the Company and set forth in an officers certificate delivered to the Trustee to reflect the revenue per patient, cost and operating structure of the Company for similar assets or businesses consistent with past practice. | |
In making a computation under the foregoing clause (a) or (b): |
(i) the amount of Indebtedness under a revolving credit facility will be computed based on the average daily balance of such Indebtedness during such four-quarter period; | |
(ii) if such Indebtedness bears, at the option of the Company, a fixed or floating rate of interest, interest thereon will be computed by applying, at the option of the Company, either the fixed or floating rate; and |
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(iii) the amount of any Indebtedness that bears interest at a floating rate will be calculated as if the rate in effect on the date of determination had been the applicable rate for the entire period (taking into account any Hedging Obligations applicable to such Indebtedness if such Hedging Obligations have a remaining term at the date of determination in excess of 12 months). |
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may, and may permit its Restricted Subsidiaries to, incur the following Indebtedness (Permitted Indebtedness):
(a) Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor under a Credit Facility (and the incurrence by any Guarantor of guarantees thereof) in an aggregate principal amount at any one time outstanding not to exceed $125 million; | |
(b) Indebtedness represented by the original notes (other than the Additional Notes) and the Guarantees and the exchange notes and related guarantees issued in respect of the original notes; | |
(c) Existing Indebtedness not otherwise referred to in this definition of Permitted Indebtedness; | |
(d) the incurrence by the Company of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in exchange for, or the net cash proceeds of which are used to refund, refinance or replace, any Indebtedness that is permitted to be incurred under clause (b) or (c) above; | |
(e) Indebtedness owed by the Company to any Restricted Subsidiary or owed by any Restricted Subsidiary to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary (provided that such Indebtedness is held by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary); provided, however, that: |
(i) any Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor owing to any such Restricted Subsidiary is unsecured and subordinated in right of payment from and after such time as the notes shall become due and payable (whether at Stated Maturity, acceleration, or otherwise) to the payment and performance of the Companys obligations under the notes or the Guarantors obligations under its Guarantee, as the case may be; and | |
(ii) (A) any subsequent issuance or transfer of Equity Interests that results in any such Indebtedness being held by a Person other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary thereof and (B) any sale or other transfer of any such Indebtedness to a Person that is not either the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary thereof, shall be deemed, in each case, to constitute an incurrence of such Indebtedness by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, that was not permitted by this clause (e); |
(f) Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary under Hedging Obligations not incurred for speculative purposes; | |
(g) Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary consisting of guarantees, earn-outs, indemnities or obligations in respect of purchase price adjustments in connection with the acquisition or disposition of assets, including, without limitation, shares of Capital Stock; | |
(h) Guarantees by any Restricted Subsidiary made in accordance with the provisions of the covenant described under the caption Description of the Exchange Notes Certain Covenants Guarantees of Indebtedness by Restricted Subsidiaries or Description of the Exchange Notes Certain Covenants Issuances of Guarantees by New Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiaries; | |
(i) Indebtedness arising from the honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft or similar instrument inadvertently (except in the case of daylight overdrafts) drawn against insufficient funds in the ordinary course of business; provided, however, that such Indebtedness is extinguished within five business days of incurrence; | |
(j) Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries represented by letters of credit for the account of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, in order to |
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provide security for workers compensation claims, payment obligations in connection with self-insurance or similar requirements in the ordinary course of business; provided that, in each case contemplated by this clause (j), upon the drawing of such letters of credit or other instrument, such obligations are reimbursed within 30 days following such drawing; | |
(k) the incurrence of Non-Recourse Indebtedness by Permitted Joint Ventures that are Restricted Subsidiaries; | |
(l) obligations in respect of performance, bid and surety bonds and completion guarantees provided by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business; and | |
(m) Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary not permitted by any other clause of this definition, in an aggregate principal amount, in each case calculated as of the time such Indebtedness is incurred, not to exceed at any one time outstanding the Consolidated EBITDA for the immediately preceding four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available, taken as one accounting period. |
For purposes of determining compliance with this Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock covenant, in the event that any proposed Indebtedness meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of Permitted Indebtedness described in clauses (a) through (m) above, or is entitled to be incurred pursuant to the first paragraph of this covenant, the Company will be permitted to classify all or a portion of such item of Indebtedness on the date of its incurrence, or later reclassify all or a portion of such item of Indebtedness, in any manner that complies with this covenant. Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement incurred on the Closing Date was deemed to have been incurred on the Closing Date in reliance on the exception provided by clause (a) above.
Accrual of interest, accrual of dividends, accretion or amortization of original issue discount or other value and the payment of interest on any Indebtedness in the form of additional Indebtedness, and the payment of dividends on any Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock in the form of additional shares of Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock will not be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness for purposes of this covenant; provided, in each such case, that the amount thereof as accrued is included in the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio.
The amount of Indebtedness issued at a price less than the amount of the liability thereof shall be determined in accordance with GAAP.
Liens |
The Company will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien securing Pari Passu Indebtedness or Subordinated Indebtedness of the Company on or with respect to any of its property or assets, including any shares of stock or Indebtedness of any Restricted Subsidiary, whether owned at the Closing Date or thereafter acquired, or any income, profits or proceeds therefrom, or assign or otherwise convey any right to receive income thereon, unless:
(a) in the case of any Lien securing Subordinated Indebtedness, the notes are secured by a Lien on such property, assets or proceeds that is senior in priority to such Lien; and | |
(b) in the case of any Lien securing Pari Passu Indebtedness, the notes are secured by a Lien on such property, assets or proceeds that is senior in priority to or ranks equally with such Lien. |
The Company will not permit any Guarantor, directly or indirectly, to create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Lien securing Pari Passu Indebtedness or Subordinated Indebtedness of such Guarantor on or with respect to such Guarantors properties or assets, including any shares of stock or Indebtedness of any other Restricted Subsidiary owned by such Guarantor, whether owned at the Closing Date or thereafter
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(a) in the case of any Lien securing Pari Passu Indebtedness of such Guarantor, each Guarantee of such Guarantor is secured by a Lien on such property, assets or proceeds that is senior in priority to or ranks equally with such Lien; and | |
(b) in the case of any Lien securing Subordinated Indebtedness of such Guarantor, each Guarantee of such Guarantor is secured by a Lien on such property, assets or proceeds that is senior in priority to such Lien. |
Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Lien securing the notes required to be granted pursuant to this covenant shall be automatically and unconditionally released and discharged upon the release by the holders of the applicable Pari Passu Indebtedness or Subordinated Indebtedness of their Lien on the property or assets of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or Guarantor (including any deemed release upon payment in full of all obligations under such Indebtedness), at such time as the holders of such Pari Passu Indebtedness or Subordinated Indebtedness also release their Lien on the property or assets of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary or such Guarantor, or upon any sale, exchange or transfer to any Person not an Affiliate of the Company of the property or assets secured by such Lien, or of all of the Capital Stock held by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or any Guarantor in, or all or substantially all the assets of, any Restricted Subsidiary creating such Lien.
Dividends and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Restricted Subsidiaries |
The Company will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, to create or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or restriction of any kind on the ability of any Restricted Subsidiary to:
(a) pay dividends, in cash or otherwise, or make any other distributions on or in respect of its Capital Stock to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; | |
(b) pay any Indebtedness owed to the Company or any other Restricted Subsidiary; | |
(c) make loans or advances to, or any Investment in, the Company or any other Restricted Subsidiary; or | |
(d) transfer any of its properties or assets to the Company or any other Restricted Subsidiary. |
The preceding restrictions, however, will not apply to encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of:
(a) any agreement (including the Credit Agreement) in effect on the Closing Date; | |
(b) customary non-assignment provisions of any lease, license or other contract entered into in the ordinary course of business by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary; | |
(c) the refinancing or successive refinancing of Indebtedness incurred under any of the agreements in effect on the Closing Date (including the Credit Agreement), so long as such encumbrances or restrictions are no more restrictive, taken as a whole, than those contained in such original agreement; | |
(d) any agreement or other instrument of a Person acquired by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in existence at the time of such acquisition (but not created in contemplation thereof), which encumbrance or restriction is not applicable to any Person, or the properties or assets of any Person, other than the Person, or the property or assets of the Person, so acquired; | |
(e) Capitalized Lease Obligations and purchase money obligations for acquired property permitted under the covenant entitled Description of the Exchange Notes Certain Covenants Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock that impose restrictions of the nature described in clause (d) of the preceding paragraph on the property so acquired; |
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(f) any agreement for the sale of a Restricted Subsidiary or an asset that restricts distributions by that Restricted Subsidiary or transfers of such asset pending its sale; | |
(g) secured Indebtedness otherwise permitted to be incurred pursuant to the provisions of the covenant described above under the caption Description of the Exchange Notes Certain Covenants Liens that limits the right of the debtor to dispose of the assets securing such Indebtedness; | |
(h) restrictions on cash or other deposits or net worth imposed by leases or supply contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business; | |
(i) Non-Recourse Indebtedness of any Permitted Joint Venture permitted to be incurred under the Indenture; | |
(j) applicable law or regulation; | |
(k) a Receivables Program with respect to a Receivables Subsidiary; and | |
(l) customary provisions in joint venture, limited liability company, operating, partnership, shareholder and other similar agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary. |
Limitation on Layering Debt |
Neither the Company nor any Guarantor will incur, create, issue, assume, guarantee or otherwise become liable for any Indebtedness or guarantee, as applicable, that is subordinate or junior in right of payment to any Senior Indebtedness and senior in any respect in right of payment to the notes or such Guarantors Guarantee, respectively.
Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets |
The Company will not, in a single transaction or series of related transactions, consolidate or merge with or into, or directly or indirectly through its Subsidiaries, sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets (determined on a consolidated basis for the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole) in one or more related transactions to, another corporation, Person or entity unless:
(a) | either: |
(i) the Company is the surviving corporation; or | |
(ii) the entity or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Company) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition shall have been made (the Surviving Entity) is a corporation organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia and assumes all the obligations of the Company under the notes and the Indenture and the Registration Rights Agreement, as the case may be, pursuant to a supplemental indenture in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, and the notes and the Indenture and the Registration Rights Agreement will remain in full force and effect as so supplemented (and any Guarantees will be confirmed as applying to such Surviving Entitys obligations); |
(b) immediately after giving effect to such transaction and treating any obligation of the Company in connection with or as a result of such transaction as having been incurred as of the time of such transaction, no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing; | |
(c) the Company (or the Surviving Entity if the Company is not the continuing obligor under the Indenture) could, at the time of such transaction and after giving pro forma effect thereto as if such transaction had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period, incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness (other than Permitted Indebtedness) pursuant to the first paragraph |
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of Description of the Exchange Notes Certain Covenants Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock; | |
(d) each Guarantor, unless it is the other party to the transaction described above or the Company is the continuing obligor under the Indenture, has by supplemental indenture confirmed that its Guarantee applies to the Surviving Entitys obligations under the Indenture and the notes; | |
(e) if any of the property or assets of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries would thereupon become subject to any Lien, the provisions of the covenant described above under the caption Description of the Exchange notes Certain Covenants Liens are complied with; and | |
(f) the Company delivers, or causes to be delivered, to the Trustee, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, an officers certificate and an opinion of counsel, each stating that such transaction complies with the requirements of the Indenture. |
The Indenture provides that no Guarantor may consolidate with or merge with or into any other Person or convey, sell, assign, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any other Person (other than the Company or another Guarantor) unless:
(a) subject to the provisions of the following paragraph, the Person formed by or surviving such consolidation or merger or to which such properties and assets are transferred assumes all of the obligations of such Guarantor under the Indenture and its Guarantee and the Registration Rights Agreement, pursuant to a supplemental indenture in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, and such Guarantee, Indenture and Registration Rights Agreement will remain in full force and effect; | |
(b) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing; and | |
(c) the Guarantor delivers, or causes to be delivered, to the Trustee, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, an officers certificate and an opinion of counsel, each stating that such transaction complies with the requirements of the Indenture and that all conditions precedent therein provided for relating to such transaction have been complied with. |
For purposes of the foregoing, the transfer (by lease, assignment, sale or otherwise, in a single transaction or series of transactions) of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of one or more Restricted Subsidiaries, the Capital Stock of which constitutes all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company, shall be deemed to be the transfer of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company.
In the event of any transaction described in and complying with the conditions listed in the first paragraph of this covenant in which the Company is not the continuing obligor under the Indenture, the Surviving Entity will succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under the Indenture, the notes and the Registration Rights Agreement, and thereafter the Company will, except in the case of a lease, be discharged from all of its obligations and covenants under the Indenture, notes and Registration Rights Agreement.
Transactions with Affiliates |
The Company will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, enter into or suffer to exist any transaction with, or for the benefit of, any Affiliate of the Company (Interested Persons), unless:
(a) the transaction is on terms that are no less favorable to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, than those that could have been obtained in an arms length transaction with third parties who are not Interested Persons; and |
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(b) the Company delivers to the Trustee |
(i) with respect to any transaction or series of related transactions entered into after the Closing Date involving aggregate payments in excess of $5 million, a resolution of the Board set forth in an officers certificate certifying that such transaction or transactions complies with clause (a) above and that such transaction or transactions have been approved by the Board (including a majority of the Disinterested Directors) and | |
(ii) with respect to a transaction or series of related transactions involving aggregate payments equal to or greater than $15 million, a written opinion as to the fairness to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary of such transaction or series of transactions from a financial point of view issued by an accounting, appraisal or investment banking firm, in each case of national standing. |
The foregoing covenant will not restrict:
(a) transactions among the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries; | |
(b) the Company from paying reasonable and customary regular compensation, including under any stock option or stock incentive plans, indemnification, reimbursement and fees to officers of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary and to directors of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary who are not employees of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary; | |
(c) transactions permitted by the provisions of the covenant described under the caption Description of the Exchange Notes Certain Covenants Restricted Payments; | |
(d) advances to employees for moving, entertainment and travel expenses and similar expenditures in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice; | |
(e) any Receivables Program of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary; | |
(f) the agreements in effect as of the Closing Date or any amendment thereto (so long as the amended agreement, taken as a whole, is not more disadvantageous to the Holders in any material respect than such agreement immediately prior to such amendment) or any transaction contemplated thereby; | |
(g) sales of Equity Interests; and | |
(h) loans and advances permitted by clause (f)(ii) of the definition of Permitted Investments. |
Limitation on Issuances and Sales of Capital Stock of Restricted Subsidiaries |
The Company:
(a) will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to issue any Capital Stock unless after giving effect thereto the Companys percentage interest (direct and indirect) in the Capital Stock of such Restricted Subsidiary is at least equal to its percentage interest prior thereto; and | |
(b) will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, transfer, convey, sell, lease or otherwise dispose of any Capital Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary to any Person (other than the Company or a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary); provided, however,that this covenant will not prohibit: |
(i) the sale or other disposition of all, but not less than all, of the issued and outstanding Capital Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary owned by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in compliance with the other provisions of the Indenture; | |
(ii) the sale or other disposition of a portion of the issued and outstanding Capital Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary, whether or not as a result of such sale or disposition such Restricted Subsidiary continues or ceases to be a Restricted Subsidiary, if (A) such sale or disposition is of a portion of the issued and outstanding Capital Stock of a Guarantor, such Guarantor continues |
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to guarantee the notes, and (B) such sale or disposition is permitted under, and the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary applies the Net Cash Proceeds of any such sale in accordance with, the Asset Sales covenant; or | |
(iii) the ownership by directors of directors qualifying shares or the ownership by foreign nationals of Capital Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary, to the extent mandated by applicable law. |
Payments for Consent |
The Indenture provides that neither the Company nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries will, directly or indirectly, pay or cause to be paid any consideration, whether by way of interest, fee or otherwise, to any Holder for or as an inducement to any consent, waiver or amendment of any of the terms or provisions of the Indenture or the notes unless such consideration is offered to be paid or is paid to all Holders that consent, waive or agree to amend in the time frame set forth in the solicitation documents relating to such consent, waiver or agreement.
Guarantees of Indebtedness by Restricted Subsidiaries |
The Company will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor, directly or indirectly, to guarantee, assume or in any other manner become liable for the payment of any Indebtedness of the Company or any Indebtedness of any Guarantor or secure the payment of any Indebtedness of the Company, including pledging any intercompany notes, unless:
(a) such Restricted Subsidiary simultaneously executes and delivers a supplemental indenture providing for a guarantee of payment of the notes by such Restricted Subsidiary on a senior subordinated basis on the same terms as set forth in the Indenture; and | |
(b) with respect to any guarantee of Subordinated Indebtedness by a Restricted Subsidiary, any such guarantee is subordinated to such Restricted Subsidiarys guarantee with respect to the notes at least to the same extent as such Subordinated Indebtedness is subordinated to the notes, provided that the foregoing provision will not be applicable to any guarantee by any Restricted Subsidiary that existed at the time such Person became a Restricted Subsidiary and was not incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary. |
Any guarantee by a Restricted Subsidiary of the notes pursuant to the preceding paragraph may provide by its terms that it will automatically and unconditionally be released and discharged upon:
(a) any sale, exchange or transfer to any Person not an Affiliate of the Company of all of the Companys and the Restricted Subsidiaries Capital Stock in, or all or substantially all the assets of, such Restricted Subsidiary, or the designation of such Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary (in any such case which transaction is not prohibited by the Indenture); or | |
(b) the release by the Holders of the Indebtedness described in the prior paragraph of their security interest or their guarantee by such Restricted Subsidiary, at such time as: |
(i) no other Indebtedness described in the prior paragraph has been secured or guaranteed by such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be; or | |
(ii) the holders of all such other Indebtedness that is secured or guaranteed by such Restricted Subsidiary also release their security interest in or guarantee by such Restricted Subsidiary, except a discharge or release by or as a result of payment under such guarantee. |
Issuances of Guarantees by New Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiaries |
The Company will provide to the Trustee, within 30 days after the date that any Person (other than a Foreign Subsidiary) becomes a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary, a supplemental indenture to the Indenture, executed by such new Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary, providing for a full and
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Unrestricted Subsidiaries |
The Board may designate any Subsidiary (including any newly acquired or newly formed Subsidiary) to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary so long as:
(a) such Subsidiary has no Indebtedness other than Non-Recourse Indebtedness, except that such Subsidiary may Guarantee the notes; | |
(b) no default with respect to any Indebtedness of such Subsidiary would permit (upon notice, lapse of time or otherwise) any holder of any other Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to declare a default on such other Indebtedness or cause the payment thereof to be accelerated or payable prior to its stated maturity; | |
(c) any Investment in such Subsidiary made as a result of designating such Subsidiary an Unrestricted Subsidiary will not violate the provisions of the covenant described under the caption Description of the Exchange Notes Certain Covenants Restricted Payments; | |
(d) neither the Company nor any Restricted Subsidiary has a contract, agreement, arrangement, understanding or obligation of any kind, whether written or oral, with such Subsidiary other than those that might be obtained at the time from Persons who are not Affiliates of the Company; and | |
(e) neither the Company nor any Restricted Subsidiary has any obligation to subscribe for additional shares of Capital Stock or other equity interests in such Subsidiary, or to maintain or preserve such Subsidiarys financial condition or to cause such Subsidiary to achieve certain levels of operating results. |
The Board may designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that:
(a) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing following such designation; and | |
(b) the Company would, at the time of making such designation and giving such pro forma effect as if such designation had been made at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period, have been permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test set forth in the first paragraph of the covenant described under the caption Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock (treating any Indebtedness of such Unrestricted Subsidiary as the incurrence of Indebtedness by a Restricted Subsidiary). |
Lines of Business |
Neither the Company nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries will directly or indirectly engage in any line or lines of business activity other than a Permitted Business.
Reports |
Whether or not the Company is required to file reports with the Commission, the Company will file with the Commission all such annual reports, quarterly reports and other documents that the Company would be required to file if it were subject to Section 13(a) or 15(d) under the Exchange Act. The Company is also required:
(a) to supply to the Trustee and each Holder, or supply to the Trustee for forwarding to each such Holder, without cost to such Holder, copies of such reports and other documents within 15 days after the date on which the Company files such reports and documents with the Commission or the date on which the Company would be required to file such reports and documents if the Company were so required; and |
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(b) if filing such reports and documents with the Commission is not accepted by the Commission or is prohibited under the Exchange Act, to supply at the Companys cost copies of such reports and documents to any prospective Holder promptly upon written request. |
If any Guarantors or secured partys financial statements would be required to be included in the financial statements filed or delivered pursuant to the Indenture if the Company were subject to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the Company shall include such Guarantors or secured partys financial statements in any filing or delivery pursuant to the Indenture.
The Indenture also provides that, so long as any of the notes remain outstanding, the Company will, upon request, make available to any prospective purchaser of notes or beneficial owner of 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 notes for securities identical in all material respects which have been registered under the Securities Act or until such time as the holders thereof have disposed of such notes pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act.
Events of Default and Remedies
The following are Events of Default under the Indenture:
(a) default in the payment of any interest on any note when it becomes due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days (whether or not prohibited by the subordination provisions of the Indenture); | |
(b) default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any note when due whether at maturity, upon redemption, by acceleration or otherwise (whether or not prohibited by the subordination provisions of the Indenture); | |
(c) failure to perform or comply with the Indenture provisions described under the captions Description of the Exchange Notes Repurchase at the Option of Holders Change of Control, Description of the Exchange Notes Repurchase at the Option of Holders Asset Sales or Description of the Exchange Notes Certain Covenants Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets; | |
(d) default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant or agreement of the Company or any Guarantor contained in the Indenture or in any Guarantee (other than a default in the performance, or breach, of a covenant or agreement that is specifically dealt with elsewhere in the Indenture), and continuance of such default or breach for a period of 60 days (or 30 days in the case of the failure to perform or comply with the Indenture provisions described under the captions Certain Covenants Restricted Payments or Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock) after written notice has been given to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the notes then outstanding; | |
(e) (i) an event of default has occurred under any mortgage, bond, indenture, loan agreement or other document evidencing an issue of Indebtedness of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary, which issue individually or in the aggregate has an aggregate outstanding principal amount of not less than $10 million, and such default has resulted in such Indebtedness becoming, whether by declaration or otherwise, due and payable prior to the date on which it would otherwise become due and payable or (ii) a default in any payment when due at final maturity of any such Indebtedness; | |
(f) failure by the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries to pay one or more final judgments the uninsured portion of which exceeds in the aggregate $10 million, which judgment or judgments are not paid, discharged or stayed for a period of 60 days; | |
(g) any Guarantee ceases to be in full force and effect or is declared null and void or any such Guarantor denies that it has any further liability under any Guarantee, or gives notice to such effect |
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(other than by reason of the termination of the Indenture or the release of any such Guarantee in accordance with the Indenture); or | |
(h) the occurrence of certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization with respect to the Company or any Significant Subsidiary. |
If an Event of Default (other than as specified in clause (h) above) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the notes then outstanding may, and the Trustee at the request of such Holders will, declare the principal of, and accrued interest on, all of the outstanding notes immediately due and payable and, upon any such declaration, such principal and such interest will become due and payable immediately.
If an Event of Default specified in clause (h) above occurs and is continuing, then the principal of and accrued interest on all of the outstanding notes will ipso facto become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holder.
At any time after a declaration of acceleration under the Indenture, but before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the Trustee, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding notes, by written notice to the Company and the Trustee, may rescind such declaration and its consequences if:
(a) the Company has paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay: |
(i) all overdue interest on all notes; | |
(ii) all unpaid principal of (and premium, if any, on) any outstanding notes that has become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration and interest thereon at the rate borne by the notes; | |
(iii) to the extent that payment of such interest is lawful, interest upon overdue interest and overdue principal at the rate borne by the notes; and | |
(iv) all sums paid or advanced by the Trustee under the Indenture and the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel; and |
(b) all Events of Default, other than the non-payment of amounts of principal of (or premium, if any, on) or interest on the notes that have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived. |
No such rescission will affect any subsequent default or impair any right consequent on a subsequent default.
Notwithstanding the preceding paragraph, if a declaration of acceleration, because of an Event of Default specified in clause (e) above, has occurred, provided that no judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the Trustee, such declaration of acceleration shall be automatically annulled if the Indebtedness causing such Event of Default has been discharged or the holders thereof have rescinded their declaration of acceleration, provided further that written notice from the Company of such discharge or recession shall have been given to the Trustee and countersigned by the holders within 30 days after such declaration of acceleration.
No Holder has any right to pursue any remedy with respect to the Indenture or any remedy under it, unless the Holder gives to the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default, the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding notes have made written request, and offered reasonable indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against any loss, liability or expense that might be incurred by it in connection with the request or direction, to the Trustee to institute such proceeding, the Trustee has failed to institute any such proceeding within 60 days after receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity and the Trustee, within such 60-day period, has not received directions inconsistent with such written request by Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding notes. These limitations do not apply, however, to a suit instituted by a Holder for the enforcement of the
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The Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding notes by notice to the Trustee may, on behalf of the Holders of all of the notes, waive any existing Default or Event of Default under the Indenture, except a Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on any note, or in respect of a covenant or provision that under the Indenture cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each note outstanding.
If a Default or an Event of Default occurs and is continuing and is known to the Trustee, the Trustee will mail to each Holder notice of the Default or Event of Default within 90 days after the Default or Event of Default occurs. Except in the case of a Default or an Event of Default in payment of principal of (and premium, if any, on) or interest on any notes, the Trustee may withhold the notice to the Holders if a committee of its trust officers in good faith determines that withholding such notice is in the interests of the Holders.
In the case of any Event of Default occurring by reason of any willful action or inaction taken or not taken by or on behalf of the Company with the intention of avoiding payment of the premium that the Company would have had to pay if the Company had then elected to redeem the notes pursuant to the optional redemption provisions of the Indenture, an equivalent premium shall also become and be immediately due and payable to the extent permitted by law upon the acceleration of the notes. If an Event of Default occurs during any time that the notes are outstanding, by reason of any willful action (or inaction) taken (or not taken) by or on behalf of the Company with the intention of avoiding the limitation on redemptions of notes specified in the Indenture, then the premium specified in the Indenture shall also become immediately due and payable to the extent permitted by law upon the acceleration of the notes.
The Company is required to furnish to the Trustee annual statements as to the performance by the Company and the Guarantors of their obligations under the Indenture and as to any default in such performance. The Company is also required to notify the Trustee within five days after it becomes aware of any Default.
No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Stockholders
No past, present or future director, officer, employee, incorporator or stockholder of the Company or any Guarantor, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Company or the Guarantors under the notes, the Indenture, the Guarantees or the Registration Rights Agreement, as applicable, or any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting a note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the notes. This waiver and release may not be effective to waive liabilities under the federal securities laws, and it is the view of the Commission that such a waiver is against public policy.
Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance
The Company may, at its option and at any time, terminate the obligations of the Company and the Guarantors with respect to the outstanding notes (legal defeasance). Such legal defeasance means that the Company will be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire Indebtedness represented by the outstanding notes and related Guarantees, except for:
(a) the rights of Holders of outstanding notes to receive solely from the trust fund described below in clause (a) payments in respect of the principal of (and premium, if any, on) and interest on such notes when such payments are due; | |
(b) the Companys obligations to issue temporary notes, register the transfer or exchange of any notes, replace mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen notes, maintain an office or agency for payments in respect of the notes and segregate and hold such payments in trust; |
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(c) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee and the Companys corresponding obligations; and | |
(d) the legal defeasance provisions of the Indenture. |
In addition, the Company may, at its option and at any time, elect to terminate the obligations of the Company and any Guarantor with respect to certain covenants set forth in the Indenture most of which are described under Certain Covenants above, and any omission to comply with such obligations would not constitute a Default or an Event of Default with respect to the notes (covenant defeasance).
In order to exercise either legal defeasance or covenant defeasance:
(a) the Company must irrevocably deposit or cause to be deposited with the Trustee, as trust funds in trust, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefit of the Holders, money in an amount, or U.S. Government Obligations (as defined in the Indenture) that through the scheduled payment of principal and interest thereon will provide money in an amount, or a combination thereof, sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants, investment bank or appraisal firm to pay and discharge the principal of (and premium, if any, on) and interest on the outstanding notes at maturity (or upon redemption, if applicable) of such principal or installment of interest; | |
(b) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing on the date of such deposit or, insofar as an event of bankruptcy under clause (h) of Events of Default above is concerned, at any time during the period ending on the 91st day after the date of such deposit; | |
(c) such legal defeasance or covenant defeasance may not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, the Indenture, the Credit Agreement or any other material agreement or instrument to which the Company or any Guarantor is a party or by which it is bound; | |
(d) in the case of legal defeasance, the Company must deliver to the Trustee an opinion of counsel stating that the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or since the Closing Date, there has been a change in applicable federal income tax law, to the effect, and based thereon such opinion must confirm that, the Holders of the outstanding notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such legal defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such legal defeasance had not occurred; | |
(e) in the case of covenant defeasance, the Company must have delivered to the Trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that the Holders of the outstanding notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such covenant defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such covenant defeasance had not occurred; and | |
(f) the Company must have delivered to the Trustee an officers certificate and an opinion of counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent provided for relating to either the legal defeasance or the covenant defeasance, as the case may be, have been complied with. |
Transfer and Exchange
A Holder may transfer or exchange notes in accordance with the Indenture. The Registrar and the Trustee may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents and the Company may require a Holder to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture. The Company is not required to transfer or exchange any note for a period of 15 days before a selection of notes to be redeemed.
The registered Holder is treated as the owner of it for all purposes.
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Amendment, Supplement and Waiver
Modifications and amendments of the Indenture, any Guarantee or the notes may be made by the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the notes (including Additional Notes, if any) then outstanding (including, without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, notes), and, subject to Article Six of the Indenture, waive any existing Default or Event of Default or compliance with any provision of the Indenture or the notes; provided, however, that no such modification or amendment may, without the consent of the Holder of each outstanding note affected thereby:
(a) change the Stated Maturity of the principal of, or any installment of interest on, any note, or reduce the principal amount thereof or the rate of interest thereon or any premium payable upon the redemption thereof, or change the coin or currency in which any note or any premium or the interest thereon is payable, or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment after the Stated Maturity thereof (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the redemption date); | |
(b) amend, change or modify the covenant described under the caption Description of the Exchange Notes Certain Covenants Payments for Consent, or the obligation of the Company to make and consummate a Change of Control Offer in the event of a Change of Control in accordance with the covenant entitled Description of the Exchange Notes Repurchase at the Option of Holders Change of Control, including amending, changing or modifying any definition relating thereto; | |
(c) reduce the percentage in principal amount of outstanding notes, the consent of whose Holders is required for any waiver of compliance with certain provisions of, or certain defaults and their consequences provided for under, the Indenture; | |
(d) waive a Default or Event of Default in the payment of principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on the notes; | |
(e) modify the subordination provisions of the notes or the Guarantee of any Guarantor; | |
(f) release any Guarantor from any of its obligations under its Guarantee or the Indenture other than in accordance with the terms of the Indenture; or | |
(g) make any change in the preceding amendment and waiver provisions. |
The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the notes outstanding may waive compliance with other restrictive covenants and provisions of the Indenture.
The Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee may amend or supplement the Indenture or the notes, without the consent of any Holders, for any of the following purposes:
(a) to evidence the succession of another Person to the Company and the assumption by any such successor of the covenants of the Company in the Indenture and in the notes; | |
(b) to add to the covenants of the Company for the benefit of the Holders, or to surrender any right or power conferred upon the Company in the Indenture; | |
(c) to add additional Events of Default; | |
(d) to provide for uncertificated notes in addition to or in place of the certificated notes; | |
(e) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment under the Indenture by a successor Trustee; | |
(f) to secure the notes; | |
(g) to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision in the Indenture that may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision in the Indenture, or to make any other provisions |
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with respect to matters or questions arising under the Indenture, provided that such actions pursuant to this clause do not adversely affect the interests of the Holders in any material respect; | |
(h) to comply with any requirements of the Commission in order to effect and maintain the qualification of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act; | |
(i) to provide for the issuance of Additional Notes in accordance with the limitations set forth in the Indenture; | |
(j) to allow any Guarantor to execute a supplemental indenture and a Guarantee with respect to the notes; or | |
(k) to provide for the issuance of the exchange notes pursuant to the terms of this Indenture. |
Notwithstanding the foregoing and so long as the Credit Agreement is outstanding, neither the Company nor the Trustee may amend any provisions of the Indenture or the notes concerning the subordination of the notes and the Guarantees without the prior written consent of the Agent Bank, acting on behalf of the Banks under the Credit Agreement.
Concerning the Trustee
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., the Trustee under the Indenture, will be the paying agent and registrar for the notes.
The Indenture provides that, except during the continuance of an Event of Default, the Trustee will perform only such duties as are specifically set forth in the Indenture. Under the Indenture, the Holders of a majority in outstanding principal amount of the notes will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for exercising any remedy available to the Trustee, subject to certain exceptions. If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee will exercise such rights and powers vested in it under the Indenture and use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise as a prudent person would exercise under the circumstances in the conduct of such persons own affairs.
The Indenture and provisions of the Trust Indenture Act, incorporated by reference therein, contain limitations on the rights of the Trustee, should it become a creditor of the Company, to obtain payment of claims in certain cases or to realize on certain property received by it in respect of any such claims, as security or otherwise. The Trustee is permitted to engage in other transactions; provided, however, that, if it acquires any conflicting interest (as defined in the Trust Indenture Act), it must eliminate such conflict upon the occurrence of an Event of Default or else resign.
Certain Definitions
Acquired Indebtedness means Indebtedness of a Person:
(a) existing at the time such Person is merged with or into the Company or a Subsidiary or becomes a Subsidiary; or | |
(b) assumed in connection with the acquisition of assets from such Person. |
Affiliate means:
(a) with respect to any specified person; |
(i) any other person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified person; or | |
(ii) any other person that owns, directly or indirectly, 10% or more of such specified persons Capital Stock; or |
(b) any executive officer or director of any person specified in clause (a) hereof. |
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For the purposes of this definition, control, when used with respect to any specified person, means the power to direct the management and policies of such person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms controlling and controlled have meanings correlative to the foregoing.
Agent Bank means Bank of America, N.A. and its successors under the Credit Agreement, in its capacity as administrative agent.
Asset Sale means
(a) the sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of any assets (including, without limitation, by way of merger, consolidation, sale and leaseback transaction or similar arrangement) (collectively, a transfer) by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary other than in the ordinary course of business; and | |
(b) the issue or sale by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Shares of Capital Stock of any of the Companys Restricted Subsidiaries (which shall be deemed to include the sale, grant or conveyance of any interest in the income, profits or proceeds therefrom), in the case of either clause (a) or (b), whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions: |
(i) that have a fair market value in excess of $2 million; or | |
(ii) for Net Cash Proceeds in excess of $2 million. |
For the purposes of this definition, the term Asset Sale does not include
(a) any transfer of properties or assets: |
(i) that is governed by the provisions of the Indenture described under the captions Description of the Exchange Notes Certain Covenants Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets, Description of the Exchange Notes Certain Covenants Limitation on Issuances and sales of Capital Stock of Restricted Subsidiaries (to the extent of clause (a) thereof) or Description of the Exchange Notes Certain Covenants Restricted Payments; | |
(ii) between or among the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to transactions that do not violate any other provision of the Indenture; or | |
(iii) representing obsolete or permanently retired equipment and facilities; or |
(b) the sale or exchange of equipment in connection with the purchase or other acquisition of other equipment, in each case used or useful in a Permitted Business. |
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth above, a disposition of Receivables and Related Assets other than pursuant to a Receivables Program contemplated under the provisions described under the caption Description of the Exchange Notes Certain Covenants Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock shall be deemed to be an Asset Sale.
Banks means the banks and other financial institutions that from time to time are lenders under the Credit Agreement.
Board means the Companys Board of Directors or any committee of the Board of Directors authorized with respect to any particular matter to exercise powers of the Companys Board of Directors.
Business Day means each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday which is not a day on which banking institutions in New York are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.
Capital Stock of any Person means any and all shares, interests, partnership interests, membership interests, participations, rights (in each case other than debt securities convertible into Capital Stock) in or other equivalents (however designated) of such Persons equity interest (however designated), whether now outstanding or issued after the Closing Date.
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Capitalized Lease Obligation means, with respect to any Person, any lease of any property (whether real, personal or mixed) by that Person as lessee which, in accordance with GAAP, is required to be accounted for as a capital lease on the balance sheet of that Person.
Change of Control means the occurrence of any of the following:
(a) the consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any merger or consolidation): |
(i) prior to a Public Equity Offering by the Company, the result of which is that: |
(A) the Principals and their Related Parties become the beneficial owner (as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 and Rule 13d-5 under the Exchange Act) of less than 40% of the Voting Stock of the Company (measured by voting power rather than the number of shares); and | |
(B) the Principals and their Related Parties no longer have the power to nominate a majority of the members of the Board; or |
(ii) after a Public Equity Offering of the Company, any person or group (as such terms are used in Section 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act), other than the Principals and their Related Parties, become the beneficial owner (as defined above), directly or indirectly, of 35% or more of the Voting Stock of the Company (measured by voting power rather than the number of shares), and such person is or becomes, directly or indirectly, the beneficial owner of a greater percentage of the voting power of the Voting Stock of the Company, calculated on a fully diluted basis, than the percentage beneficially owned by the Principals and their Related Parties; |
(b) the direct or indirect sale, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any person (as the term is defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) other than the Principals or Related Parties of the Principals; | |
(c) the first day on which a majority of the members of the Board are not Continuing Directors; or | |
(d) the Company is liquidated or dissolved or adopts a plan of liquidation or dissolution, other than in a transaction that complies with the provisions described under Certain Covenants Consolidation, Merger or Sale of Assets. |
Closing Date means October 22, 2003, which is the date the notes were first issued under the Indenture.
Consolidated EBITDA means, for any period, the sum of, without duplication, Consolidated Net Income for such period, plus (or, in the case of clause (d) below, plus or minus) the following items to the extent included in computing Consolidated Net Income for such period:
(a) Fixed Charges for such period; plus | |
(b) the provision for federal, state, local and foreign income taxes of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period; plus | |
(c) the aggregate depreciation and amortization expense of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period; plus | |
(d) any other non-cash charges for such period, and minus non-cash items increasing Consolidated Net Income for such period, other than non-cash charges or items increasing Consolidated Net Income resulting from changes in prepaid assets or accrued liabilities in the ordinary course of business; plus | |
(e) Minority Interest; |
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provided that fixed charges, income tax expense, depreciation and amortization expense and non-cash charges of a Restricted Subsidiary will be included in Consolidated EBITDA only to the extent (and in the same proportion) that the net income of such Subsidiary was included in calculating Consolidated Net Income for such period.
Consolidated Net Income means, for any period, the net income (or net loss) of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period as determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, adjusted to the extent included in calculating such net income or loss by excluding:
(a) any net after-tax extraordinary or nonrecurring gains or losses (less all fees and expenses relating thereto); | |
(b) any net after-tax gains or losses (less all fees and expenses relating thereto) attributable to Asset Sales or discontinued operations; | |
(c) the portion of net income (or loss) of any Person (other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary), including Unrestricted Subsidiaries, in which the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary has an ownership interest, except to the extent of the amount of dividends or other distributions actually paid to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in cash during such period; | |
(d) the net income (or loss) of any Person combined with the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary on a pooling of interests basis attributable to any period prior to the date of combination; | |
(e) the net income (but not the net loss) of any Restricted Subsidiary to the extent that the declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by such Restricted Subsidiary is at the date of determination restricted, directly or indirectly, except to the extent that such net income is actually paid to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary thereof by loans, advances, intercompany transfers, principal repayments or otherwise; and | |
(f) the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles. |
Consolidated Tangible Assets means, as of the date of determination, the total assets, less goodwill and other intangibles, shown on the balance sheet of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of the most recent date for which such a balance sheet is available, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.
Continuing Directors means, as of any date of determination, any member of the Board who:
(a) was a member of the Board on the Closing Date; | |
(b) was nominated for election or elected to such Board with the approval of the majority of the Continuing Directors who were members of such Board at the time of such nomination or election; or | |
(c) was nominated by one or more of the Principals and the Related Parties. |
Credit Agreement means the credit agreement, dated October 22, 2003, among the Company, the Guarantors, the lenders named therein, Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent, JP Morgan Chase Bank and Royal Bank of Canada, as syndication agents, and Harris Trust and Savings Bank, as documentation agent as such credit agreement (and related notes, guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith) may be amended, restated, supplemented, refinanced, replaced (including after termination of a prior agreement), extended or otherwise modified from time to time.
Credit Facility means one or more debt facilities (including, without limitation, the Credit Agreement), commercial paper facilities or other debt instruments, indentures, notes or other agreements, providing for revolving credit loans, term loans, receivables financing, letters of credit or other debt obligations, in each case, as amended, restated, supplemented, refinanced, replaced (including after termination of a prior agreement), extended or otherwise modified from time to time, including without limitation any amendment, restatement, supplement, refinancing, replacement, extension or modification (in each case whether before or after termination of a prior agreement) increasing the amount of
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Default means any event that is, or after notice or passage of time or both would be, an Event of Default.
Designated Noncash Consideration means the fair market value of noncash consideration received by the Company or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with an Asset Sale that is so designated as Designated Noncash Consideration pursuant to an officers certificate, setting forth the basis of such valuation, executed by the principal executive officer or the principal financial officer of the Company, less the amount of cash or cash equivalents received in connection with a sale of such Designated Noncash Consideration.
Designated Senior Indebtedness means:
(a) the obligations under the Credit Agreement; and | |
(b) any other Senior Indebtedness permitted under the Indenture the principal amount of which is $25 million or more and that has been specifically designated by the Company, in the instrument creating or evidencing such Senior Indebtedness or in an officers certificate delivered to the Trustee, as Designated Senior Indebtedness. |
Disinterested Director means, with respect to any transaction or series of transactions in respect of which the Board is required to deliver a resolution of the Board, to make a finding or otherwise take action under the Indenture, a member of the Board who does not have any material direct or indirect financial interest in or with respect to such transaction or series of transactions.
Disqualified Stock means any class or series of Capital Stock that, either by its terms, by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or exchangeable or by contract or otherwise:
(a) is or upon the happening of an event or passage of time would be, required to be redeemed prior to the final Stated Maturity of the notes; | |
(b) is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof, at any time prior to such final Stated Maturity; or | |
(c) at the option of the holder thereof is convertible into or exchangeable for debt securities at any time prior to such final Stated Maturity; |
provided that any Capital Stock that would constitute Disqualified Stock solely as a result of the provisions therein giving holders thereof the right to cause the issuer thereof to repurchase or redeem such Capital Stock upon the occurrence of an asset sale or change of control occurring prior to the Stated Maturity of the notes will not constitute Disqualified Stock if the asset sale or change of control provisions applicable to such Capital Stock are no more favorable to the holders of such Capital Stock than the provisions contained in the covenants described under the captions Repurchase at the Option of Holders Change of Control and Asset Sales described in this prospectus and such Capital Stock specifically provides that the issuer will not repurchase or redeem any such stock pursuant to such provision prior to the Companys repurchase of such notes as are required to be repurchased pursuant to the provisions contained in the covenants described under the captions Description of the Exchange Notes Repurchase at the Option of Holders Change of Control and Description of the Exchange Notes Repurchase at the Option of Holders Asset Sales.
Equity Interests means Capital Stock and all warrants, options and other rights to acquire Capital Stock (but excluding any debt security that is convertible into, or exchangeable for, Capital Stock).
Equity Sponsors means J.W. Childs Associates, L.P., J.W. Childs Equity Partners II, L.P, JWC Equity Funding II, Inc. and the Indosuez Group.
Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
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Existing Indebtedness means the Indebtedness of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement) outstanding on the Closing Date, until such amounts are repaid.
Fixed Charges means, for any period, without duplication, the sum of:
(a) the amount that, in conformity with GAAP, would be set forth opposite the caption interest expense (or any like caption) on a consolidated statement of operations of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, including, without limitation: |
(i) amortization of debt discount; | |
(ii) the net cash payments under interest rate contracts (including, amortization of discounts); | |
(iii) the interest portion of any deferred payment obligation; | |
(iv) amortization of debt issuance costs; and | |
(v) the interest component of Capitalized Lease Obligations; plus |
(b) all dividends and distributions paid (whether or not in cash) on Preferred Stock and Disqualified Stock by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (to any Person other than the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries), other than dividends on Equity Interests payable solely in Qualified Equity Interests, computed on a tax effected basis; plus | |
(c) all interest on any Indebtedness of any Person guaranteed by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or secured by a lien on the assets of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; |
provided, however, that Fixed Charges will not include:
(a) any gain or loss from extinguishment of debt, including the write off of debt issuance costs; and | |
(b) the fixed charges of a Restricted Subsidiary to the extent (and in the same proportion) that the net income of such Subsidiary was excluded in calculating Consolidated Net Income pursuant to clause (e) of the definition thereof for such period. |
Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio means, for any period, the ratio of Consolidated EBITDA for such period to Fixed Charges for such period.
Foreign Subsidiary means a Restricted Subsidiary:
(a) that is incorporated in a jurisdiction other than the United States or a state thereof or the District of Columbia and that has no material operations or assets in the United States; or | |
(b) was organized under the laws of the United States of America or any State thereof or the District of Columbia that has no material assets other than Capital Stock of one or more foreign entities of the type described in clause (a) above and is not a guarantor of Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement. |
Generally Accepted Accounting Principles or GAAP means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, consistently applied, that are in effect:
(a) with respect to periodic reporting requirements, from time to time; and | |
(b) otherwise on the Closing Date. |
Guarantee means a guarantee (other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business), direct or indirect, in any manner (including, without limitation, letters of credit and reimbursement agreements in respect thereof), of all or any part of any Indebtedness.
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Guarantors means, collectively, all Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiaries that are incorporated in the United States or a state thereof or the District of Columbia (other than any Unrestricted Subsidiary which is not a Guarantor) and any other Restricted Subsidiary that becomes a Guarantor pursuant to the terms of the Indenture.
Hedging Obligations means, with respect to any Person, the obligations of such Person entered into for nonspeculative purposes under:
(a) interest rate swap agreements, interest rate cap agreements and interest rate collar agreements and other similar financial agreements or arrangements designed to protect such Person against, or manage the exposure of such Person to, fluctuations in interest rates; and | |
(b) forward exchange agreements, currency swap, currency option and other similar financial agreements or arrangements designed to protect such Person against, or manage the exposure of such Person to, fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates. |
Holder means the Person in whose name a note is, at the time of determination, registered on the Registrars books.
Indebtedness means (without duplication), with respect to any Person, whether recourse is to all or a portion of the assets of such Person and whether or not contingent:
(a) every obligation of such Person for money borrowed; | |
(b) every obligation of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments; | |
(c) every reimbursement obligation of such Person with respect to letters of credit, bankers acceptances or similar facilities issued for the account of such Person; | |
(d) every obligation of such Person issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property or services; | |
(e) the attributable value of every Capitalized Lease Obligation of such Person; | |
(f) all Disqualified Stock of such Person valued at its maximum fixed repurchase price, plus accrued and unpaid dividends thereon; | |
(g) all Preferred Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary of such Person held by Persons other than the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; | |
(h) all obligations of such Person under or in respect of Hedging Obligations; and | |
(i) every obligation of the type referred to in clauses (a) through (h) of another Person and all dividends of another Person the payment of which, in either case, such Person has: |
(i) guaranteed; or | |
(ii) secured, provided that in the case of this clause (ii) the amount of such Indebtedness shall be limited to the lesser of: |
(A) the fair market value of the asset securing such Indebtedness; or | |
(B) the amount of such Indebtedness. |
For purposes of this definition, the maximum fixed repurchase price of any Disqualified Stock that does not have a fixed repurchase price will be calculated in accordance with the terms of such Disqualified Stock as if such Disqualified Stock were purchased on any date on which Indebtedness is required to be determined pursuant to the Indenture, and if such price is based upon, or measured by, the fair market value of such Disqualified Stock, such fair market value will be determined in good faith by the board of directors of the issuer of such Disqualified Stock. Notwithstanding the foregoing, trade accounts payable and accrued liabilities arising in the ordinary course of business and any liability for federal, state or local
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Indosuez Group means Indosuez NNA Partners, Indosuez NNA Partners II, SCP II Associates, SEI Associates, Suez Capital Partners II, L.P. and Suez Equity Investors, L.P.
Investment in any Person means:
(a) directly or indirectly, any advance, loan or other extension of credit (including, without limitation, by way of guarantee or similar arrangement) or capital contribution to such Person, the purchase or other acquisition of any stock, bonds, notes, debentures or other securities issued by such Person, the acquisition (by purchase or otherwise) of all or substantially all of the business or assets of such Person, or the making of any investment in such Person; and | |
(b) the fair market value of the Capital Stock (or any other Investment), held by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, of (or in) any Person that has ceased to be a Restricted Subsidiary, including the designation of any Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary. Investments exclude endorsements for deposit or collection in the ordinary course of business and extensions of trade credit on commercially reasonable terms in accordance with normal trade practices. |
Lien means any mortgage, charge, pledge, lien (statutory or otherwise), privilege, security interest, hypothecation, assignment for security, claim, or other encumbrance upon, or with respect to, any property of any kind, real or personal, movable or immovable, now owned or hereafter acquired. A Person will be deemed to own subject to a Lien any property that such Person has acquired or holds subject to the interest of a vendor or lessor under any conditional sale agreement, capital lease or other title retention agreement.
Minority Interest means, with respect to any Person, interests in income of any of such Persons Subsidiaries held by one or more Persons other than such Person or another Subsidiary of such Person, as reflected on such Persons consolidated financial statements.
Net Cash Proceeds means, with respect to any Asset Sale, the proceeds thereof in the form of cash or cash equivalents, including payments in respect of deferred payment obligations when received in the form of, or stock or other assets when disposed for, cash or cash equivalents (except to the extent that such obligations are financed or sold with recourse to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary), net of:
(a) brokerage commissions and other fees, transaction costs and expenses (including fees and expenses of legal counsel and investment banks) related to such Asset Sale; | |
(b) provisions for all taxes payable as a result of such Asset Sale; | |
(c) payments made to retire Indebtedness where such Indebtedness is secured by the assets that are the subject of such Asset Sale; |
(d) | amounts required to be paid to any Person (other than the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary) owning a beneficial interest in the assets that are subject to the Asset Sale; and | |
(e) | cash escrows (until released from escrow to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries) and appropriate amounts to be provided by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, as a reserve required in accordance with GAAP against any liabilities associated with such Asset Sale and retained by the seller after such Asset Sale, including pension and other post-employment benefit liabilities, liabilities related to environmental matters and liabilities under any indemnification obligations associated with such Asset Sale. |
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Non-Recourse Indebtedness means Indebtedness of a Person:
(a) | as to which neither the Company nor any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than such Person): |
(i) | provides any guarantee or credit support of any kind (including any undertaking, guarantee, indemnity, agreement or instrument that would constitute Indebtedness); or |
(ii) | is directly or indirectly liable (as a guarantor or otherwise); and |
(b) | the obligees of which will have recourse for repayment of the principal of and interest on such Indebtedness and any fees, indemnities, expense reimbursements or other amount of whatsoever nature accrued or payable in connection with such Indebtedness not against any of the assets of the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than such Person). |
Obligations means any principal, interest, penalties, fees, indemnifications, reimbursements, damages and other liabilities payable under the documentation governing any Indebtedness.
Pari Passu Indebtedness means:
(a) | with respect to the notes, Indebtedness that ranks pari passu in right of payment to the notes; and | |
(b) | with respect to any Guarantee, Indebtedness that ranks pari passu in right of payment to such Guarantee. |
Permitted Business means the business conducted by the Company, its Restricted Subsidiaries and Permitted Joint Ventures as of the Closing Date and any and all other businesses that in the good faith judgment of the Board are reasonably related, ancillary or complementary thereto.
Permitted Investments means any of the following:
(a) Investments in; |
(i) United States dollars (including such dollars as are held as overnight bank deposits and demand deposits with banks); | |
(ii) securities with a maturity of one year or less issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States or any agency or instrumentality thereof (provided that the full faith and credit of the United States is pledged in support thereof); | |
(iii) certificates of deposit, time deposits or acceptances with a maturity of one year or less of any financial institution that is a member of the Federal Reserve System having combined capital and surplus of not less than $500,000,000; | |
(iv) any shares of money market mutual or similar funds having assets in excess of $500,000,000; | |
(v) repurchase obligations with a term not exceeding seven days for underlying securities of the types described in clauses (ii) and (iii) above entered into with any financial institution meeting the qualifications specified in clause (iii) above; and | |
(vi) commercial paper with a maturity of one year or less issued by a corporation that is not an Affiliate of the Company and is organized under the laws of any state of the United States or the District of Columbia and having a rating: |
(A) from Moodys Investors Service, Inc. of at least P-1; or | |
(B) from Standard & Poors Ratings Group of at least A-1; |
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(b) Investments by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in another Person, if as a result of such Investment: |
(i) such other Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary; or | |
(ii) such other Person is merged or consolidated with or into, or transfers or conveys all or substantially all of its assets to, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary; |
(c) Investments by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary in the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary; | |
(d) Investments in existence on the Closing Date; | |
(e) Investments in any Person to the extent such Investment represents the non-cash portion of the consideration received for an Asset Sale permitted under the covenant entitled Repurchase at the Option of Holders Asset Sales; | |
(f) loans or advances to officers, directors and employees of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries: |
(i) in the ordinary course of business for bona fide business purposes of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries made in compliance with applicable law in an amount not to exceed $5 million in the aggregate at any one time outstanding; or | |
(ii) in connection with the purchase by such Persons of Equity Interests of the Company; |
(g) any Investment by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company in Permitted Joint Ventures made after the Closing Date having an aggregate fair market value, when taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (g) that are at the time outstanding, not exceeding the greater of: |
(i) $20 million; and | |
(ii) 15% of the Consolidated Tangible Assets of the Company as of the last day of the most recent full fiscal quarter ending immediately prior to the date of such Investment (with the fair market value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value); |
(h) any Investment by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in a trust, limited liability company, special purpose entity or other similar entity in connection with a Receivables Program; provided that: |
(i) such Investment is made by a Receivables Subsidiary; and | |
(ii) the only assets transferred to such trust, limited liability company, special purpose entity or other similar entity consists of Receivables and Related Assets of such Receivables Subsidiary; |
(i) stock, obligations or securities received in settlement of debts created in the ordinary course of business and owing to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or in satisfaction of judgments; | |
(j) Investments consisting of Hedging Obligations otherwise permitted under the caption Certain Covenants Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock; | |
(k) Investments in prepaid expenses, negotiable instruments held for collection and lease, endorsements for deposit or collection in the ordinary course of business, utility or workers compensation, performance and similar deposits entered into as a result of the operations of the business in the ordinary course of business; and | |
(l) other Investments that do not exceed $10 million in the aggregate at any one time outstanding. |
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Permitted Joint Venture means any joint venture, partnership or other Person designated by the Board:
(a) at least 20% of whose Capital Stock with voting power under ordinary circumstances to elect directors (or Persons having similar or corresponding powers and responsibilities) is at the time owned (beneficially or directly) by the Company or by one or more Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company and if the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries owns more than 50% of the Capital Stock of the Permitted Joint Venture, such Permitted Joint Venture is either a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or has been designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary of the Company in accordance with the provisions described under the caption Description of the Exchange Notes Certain Covenants Unrestricted Subsidiaries; and | |
(b) which is engaged in a Permitted Business. |
Any such designation (other than with respect to the Persons identified in the preceding sentence) shall be evidenced to the Trustee by promptly filing with the Trustee a copy of the resolution giving effect to such designation and an officers certificate certifying that such designation complied with the foregoing provisions.
Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness means any Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries issued in exchange for, or the net proceeds of which are used to extend, refinance, renew, replace, defease or refund other Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that:
(a) the principal amount of such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount of the Indebtedness so extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded plus accrued interest plus the lesser of the amount of any premium required to be paid in connection with such refinancings pursuant to the terms of such indebtedness or the amount of any premium reasonably determined by the Company as necessary to accomplish such refinancing (in each case plus the amount of reasonable expenses incurred in connection therewith); | |
(b) such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity equal to or greater than the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of, the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded; | |
(c) if the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded is subordinated in right of payment to the notes, such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness has a final maturity date not earlier than the final maturity date of, and is subordinated in right of payment to, the notes on terms, taken as a whole, at least as favorable to the Holders as those contained in the documentation governing the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded; and | |
(d) such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness shall not include: |
(i) Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary that refinances Indebtedness of the Company; or | |
(ii) Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary (that is not a Guarantor) that refinances Indebtedness of a Guarantor. |
Person means any individual, corporation, limited or general partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, association, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.
Preferred Stock means, with respect to any Person, any and all shares, interests, partnership interests, participation, rights in or other equivalents (however designated) of such Persons preferred or preference stock, whether now outstanding or issued after the Closing Date, and including, without limitation, all classes and series of preferred or preference stock of such Person.
Principals means the Equity Sponsors and their respective Affiliates.
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Public Equity Offering means an offer and sale of Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company pursuant to a registration statement that has been declared effective by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act (other than a registration statement on Form S-8 or otherwise relating to equity securities issuable under any employee benefit plan of the Company).
Qualified Equity Interest means any Qualified Stock and all warrants, options or other rights to acquire Qualified Stock (but excluding any debt security that is convertible into or exchangeable for Capital Stock).
Qualified Stock of any Person means any and all Capital Stock of such Person, other than Disqualified Stock.
Receivables and Related Assets means accounts receivable, instruments, chattel paper, health care insurance receivables, obligations, general intangibles and other similar assets, including interest in merchandise or goods, the sale or lease of which give rise to the foregoing, related contractual rights, guarantees, insurance proceeds, collections, other related assets and proceeds of all the foregoing.
Receivables Program means with respect to any Person, any securitization program pursuant to which such Person pledges, sells or otherwise transfers or encumbers its Receivables and Related Assets, including a trust, limited liability company, special purpose entity or other similar entity.
Receivables Subsidiary means a Wholly Owned Subsidiary (i) created for the purpose of financing Receivables and Related Assets created in the ordinary course of business of the Company and its Subsidiaries and (ii) the sole assets of which consist of Receivables and Related Assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries and Permitted Investments.
Related Party means:
(a) any controlling stockholder, partner, member, 80% (or more) owned Subsidiary, or immediate family member (in the case of an individual) of any Principal; or | |
(b) any trust, corporation, partnership or other entity, the beneficiaries, stockholders, partners, owners or Persons beneficially holding an 80% or more controlling interest of which consist of any one or more Principals or such other Persons referred to in the immediately preceding clause. |
Restricted Subsidiary means any Subsidiary other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary.
Sale and Leaseback Transaction means any transaction or series of related transactions pursuant to which the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary sells or transfers any property or asset in connection with the leasing, or the resale against installment payments, of such property or asset to the seller or transferor.
Securities Act means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Senior Indebtedness means:
(a) the obligations under the Credit Agreement and any Hedging Obligations owing by the Company or any Guarantor to any lender which is a party to the Credit Agreement (or to any Affiliate of any such lender); and | |
(b) any other Indebtedness permitted to be incurred by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary under the terms of the Indenture, unless the instrument under which such Indebtedness is incurred expressly provides that it is subordinated in right of payment to any Indebtedness for money borrowed. |
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing, Senior Indebtedness will not include:
(a) Indebtedness evidenced by the notes or the Guarantees; | |
(b) Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor that is expressly subordinated in right of payment to any Senior Indebtedness of the Company or such Guarantor or the notes or such Guarantors Guarantee; |
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(c) Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor that by operation of law is subordinate to any general unsecured obligations of the Company or any Guarantor; | |
(d) Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor to the extent incurred in violation of the Indenture (but as to any such Indebtedness, no such violation shall be deemed to exist for purposes of this clause (d) if the Holder(s) of such Indebtedness or their representative shall have in good faith received a certificate from an officer of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary to the effect that the incurrence of such Indebtedness does not and would not violate such provisions of the Indenture); | |
(e) any liability for foreign, federal, state or local taxes or other taxes, owed or owing by the Company or any Guarantor; | |
(f) trade account payables owed or owing by the Company or any Guarantor to the extent constituting Indebtedness; | |
(g) amounts owed by the Company or any Guarantor for compensation to employees or for services rendered to the Company or such Guarantor; | |
(h) Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor to any Restricted Subsidiary or any other Affiliate of the Company; | |
(i) Disqualified Stock of the Company or any Guarantor; and | |
(j) Indebtedness which when incurred and without respect to any election under Section 1111(b) of Title 11 of the United States Code is without recourse to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary. |
Significant Subsidiary means, at any time, any Restricted Subsidiary that qualifies at such time as a significant subsidiary within the meaning of Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X promulgated by the Commission (as in effect on the Closing Date).
Stated Maturity means, when used with respect to any note or any installment of interest thereon, the date specified in that note as the fixed date on which the principal of that note or such installment of interest is due and payable and, when used with respect to any other Indebtedness, means the date specified in the instrument governing that Indebtedness as the fixed date on which the principal of that Indebtedness or any installment of interest on that Indebtedness is due and payable.
Subordinated Indebtedness means Indebtedness of the Company or a Guarantor that is subordinated in right of payment to the notes or the Guarantee issued by such Guarantor, as the case may be.
Subsidiary means any Person a majority of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of which is at the time owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company or one or more other Subsidiaries of the Company.
Unrestricted Subsidiary means:
(a) any Subsidiary that is designated by the Board as an Unrestricted Subsidiary in accordance with the Unrestricted Subsidiaries covenant; and | |
(b) any Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary. |
Voting Stock means any class or classes of Capital Stock pursuant to which the holders thereof have the general voting power under ordinary circumstances to elect at least a majority of the board of directors, managers or trustees of any Person (irrespective of whether or not, at the time, stock of any other class or classes has, or might have, voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency).
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Weighted Average Life to Maturity means, as of the date of determination with respect to any Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock, the quotient obtained by dividing:
(a) the sum of the products of: |
(i) the number of years from the date of determination to the date or dates of each successive scheduled principal or liquidation value payment of such Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock, respectively; multiplied by | |
(ii) the amount of each such principal or liquidation value payment; by |
(b) the sum of all such principal or liquidation value payments. |
Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary means any Restricted Subsidiary, all of the outstanding Voting Stock (other than directors qualifying shares or shares of foreign Restricted Subsidiaries required to be owned by foreign nationals pursuant to applicable law) of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company.
Wholly Owned Subsidiary means any Subsidiary, all of the outstanding Voting Stock (other than directors qualifying shares or shares of foreign Subsidiaries required to be owned by foreign nationals pursuant to applicable law) of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company.
Book-Entry, Delivery and Form
The exchange notes will be issued in registered, global form in minimum denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess of $1,000 (Global Notes). Exchange notes will be issued at the closing of this exchange offer only upon valid tenders of original notes. The Global Notes will be deposited upon issuance with the Trustee as custodian for DTC in New York, New York and registered in the name of DTC or its nominee, in each case for credit to an account of a direct or indirect participant in DTC as described below.
Except as set forth below, the Global Notes may be transferred, in whole and not in part, only to another nominee of DTC or to a successor of DTC or its nominee. Beneficial interests in the Global Notes may not be exchanged for exchange notes in certificated form except in the limited circumstances described below. See Description of the Exchange Notes Exchange of Global Notes for Certificated Notes. Except in the limited circumstances described below, owners of beneficial interests in the Global Notes will not be entitled to receive physical delivery of exchange notes in certificated form.
Depositary Procedures |
The following description of the operations and procedures of DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream are provided solely as a matter of convenience. These operations and procedures are solely within the control of the respective settlement systems and are subject to changes by them. The Company takes no responsibility for these operations and procedures and urges investors to contact the system or its participants directly to discuss these matters.
DTC has advised the Company that DTC is a limited-purpose trust company that was created to hold securities for its participating organizations (collectively, Participants) and to facilitate the clearance and settlement of transactions in such securities between Participants through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of its Participants. Participants include securities brokers and dealers (including the initial purchasers), banks and trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations. Access to DTCs system is also available to other entities such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies (collectively, Indirect Participants) that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Participant, either directly or indirectly. Persons who are not Participants may beneficially own securities held by or on behalf of the Depositary only through Participants or Indirect Participants. The ownership interests in, and transfers of ownership interests in, each security held by or on behalf of DTC are recorded on the records of Participants or Indirect Participants.
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DTC has also advised the Company that pursuant to procedures established by it:
(a) upon deposit of the Global Notes, DTC will credit the accounts of Participants designated by the Initial Purchasers with portions of the principal amount of the Global Notes; and | |
(b) ownership of the Global Notes will be shown on, and the transfer of ownership thereof will be effected only through, records maintained by DTC (with respect to Participants), or by Participants and Indirect Participants (with respect to other owners of beneficial interests in the Global Notes). |
Investors in the Global Notes who are Participants in DTCs system may hold their interests therein directly through DTC. Investors in the Global Notes who are not Participants may hold their interests therein indirectly through organizations (including Euroclear and Clearstream) which are Participants in such system. Those interests held through Euroclear or Clearstream may also be subject to the procedures and requirements of such systems. The laws of some states require that certain Persons take physical delivery in definitive form of securities that they own. Consequently, the ability to transfer beneficial interests in a Global Note to such Persons will be limited to that extent. Because DTC can act only on behalf of Participants, which in turn act on behalf of Indirect Participants, the ability of a Person having beneficial interest in a Global Note to pledge such interests to Persons that do not participate in DTC system, or otherwise take actions in respect of such interests, may be affected by the lack of a physical certificate evidencing such interests.
Except as described below, owners of interest in Global Notes will not have exchange notes registered in their names, will not receive physical delivery of exchange notes in certificated form and will not be considered the registered owners or Holders thereof under the Indenture for any purpose.
Payments in respect of the principal, premium, if any, and interest on a Global Note registered in the name of DTC or its nominee will be payable to DTC in its capacity as the registered Holder under the Indenture. Under the terms of the Indenture, the Company and the Trustee will treat the persons in whose names the exchange notes, including the Global Notes, are registered as the owners thereof for the purpose of receiving payments and for all other purposes. Consequently, neither the Company, the Trustee nor any agent of the Company or the Trustee has or will have any responsibility or liability for:
(a) any aspect of DTCs records or any Participants or Indirect Participants records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interest in the Global Notes or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any of DTCs records or any Participants or Indirect Participants records relating to the beneficial ownership interests in the Global Notes; or | |
(b) any other matter relating to the actions and practices of DTC or any of its Participants or Indirect Participants. |
DTC has advised the Company that its current practice, upon receipt of any payment in respect of securities such as the exchange notes (including principal and interest), is to credit the accounts of the relevant Participants with the payment on the payment date unless DTC has reason to believe it will not receive payment on such payment date. Each relevant Participant is credited with an amount proportionate to its beneficial ownership of an interest in the principal amount of the relevant security as shown on the records of DTC. Payments by Participants and Indirect Participants to the beneficial owners of exchange notes will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices and will be the responsibility of Participants or Indirect Participants and will not be the responsibility of DTC, the Trustee or the Company. Neither the Company nor the Trustee will be liable for any delay by DTC or any of its Participants in identifying the beneficial owners of the exchange notes, and the Company and the Trustee may conclusively rely on and will be protected in relying on instructions from DTC or its nominee for all purposes.
Transfers between Participants in DTC will be effected in accordance with DTCs procedures and will be settled in same day funds, and transfers between participants in Euroclear and Clearstream will be effected in accordance with their respective rules and operating procedures.
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Cross-market transfers between Participants in DTC, on the one hand, and Euroclear or Clearstream participants, on the other hand, will be effected through DTC in accordance with DTCs rules on behalf of Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, by its respective depositary; however, such cross-market transactions will require delivery of instructions to Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, by the counterparty in such system in accordance with the rules and procedures and within the established deadlines (Brussels time) of such system. Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, will, if the transaction meets its settlement requirements, deliver instructions to its respective depositary to take action to effect final settlement on its behalf by delivering or receiving interests in the relevant Global Note in DTC, and making or receiving payment in accordance with normal procedures for same-day funds settlement applicable to DTC. Euroclear participants and Clearstream participants may not deliver instructions directly to the depositories for Euroclear or Clearstream.
DTC has advised the Company that it will take any action permitted to be taken by a Holder only at the direction of one or more Participants to whose account DTC has credited the interests in the Global Notes and only in respect of such portion of the aggregate principal amount of the notes as to which such Participant or Participants has or have given such direction. However, if there is an Event of Default under the exchange notes, DTC reserves the right to exchange the Global Notes for notes in certificated form, and to distribute such notes to its Participants.
Although DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream have agreed to the foregoing procedures to facilitate transfers of interests in the Global Notes and the Offshore Global Notes among participants in DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream, they are under no obligation to perform or to continue to perform such procedures, and may discontinue such procedures at any time. Neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any of their respective agents will have any responsibility for the performance by DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream or their respective participants or indirect participants of their respective obligations under the rules and procedures governing their operations.
Exchange of Global Notes for Certificated Notes |
A Global Note is exchangeable for definitive notes in registered certificated form (Certificated Notes) if:
(a) | DTC: |
(i) notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depositary for the Global Notes and the Company fails to appoint a successor depositary within 90 days; or | |
(ii) has ceased to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act; |
(b) the Company, at its option, notifies the Trustee in writing that it elects to cause the issuance of the Certificated Notes; or | |
(c) there shall have occurred and be continuing a Default or Event of Default with respect to the notes. |
In addition, beneficial interests in a Global Note may be exchanged for Certificated Notes upon prior written notice given to the Trustee by or on behalf of DTC in accordance with the Indenture. In all cases, Certificated Notes delivered in exchange for any Global Note or beneficial interests in Global Notes will be registered in the names, and issued in any approved denominations, requested by or on behalf of the depositary (in accordance with its customary procedures).
Exchange of Certificated Notes for Global Notes |
Certificated Notes may not be exchanged for beneficial interests in any Global Note unless the transferor first delivers to the Trustee a written certificate (in the form provided in the Indenture) to the effect that such transfer will comply with the appropriate transfer restrictions applicable to such notes.
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Same-Day Settlement and Payment |
The Indenture requires that payments in respect of the notes represented by the Global Notes (including principal, premium, if any, and interest) be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by the Global Note holder. With respect to Certificated Notes, the Company will make all payments of principal, premium, if any, and interest, by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by the holders thereof or, if no such account is specified, by mailing a check to each such holders registered address. The Company expects that secondary trading in any Certificated Notes will also be settled in immediately available funds.
Because of time zone differences, the securities account of a Euroclear or Clearstream participant purchasing an interest in a Global Note from a Participant in DTC will be credited, and any such crediting will be reported to the relevant Euroclear or Clearstream participant, during the securities settlement processing day (which must be a business day for Euroclear or Clearstream) immediately following the settlement date of DTC. DTC has advised the Company that cash received in Euroclear or Clearstream as a result of sales of interests in a Global Note by or through a Euroclear or Clearstream participant to a Participant in DTC will be received with value on the settlement date of DTC but will be available in the relevant Euroclear or Clearstream cash account only as of the business day for Euroclear or Clearstream following DTCs settlement date.
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CERTAIN MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
United States Tax Consequences
The following is a general discussion of certain material United States federal income tax consequences associated with the exchange offer and the ownership and disposition of the exchange notes offered in this prospectus. Except where noted, it deals only with those holders who acquire the exchange notes pursuant to this offering and who hold the original notes and will hold the exchange notes as capital assets and does not deal with special situations, such as those of brokers, dealers in securities or currencies, financial institutions, tax-exempt entities, insurance companies, persons liable for alternative minimum tax, U.S. persons whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar, persons holding original notes or exchange notes, as the case may be, as part of a hedging, integrated, conversion or constructive sale transaction or a straddle, and traders in securities that elect to use a mark-to-market method of accounting for their securities holdings. The following summary does not address specific state or local or non United States tax consequences or United States federal tax consequences (e.g., estate or gift tax) other than those pertaining to the income tax.
We have not sought any ruling from the Internal Revenue Service (the IRS) or an opinion of counsel with respect to the statements made and the conclusions reached in the following discussion, and there can be no assurance that the IRS will agree with such statements and conclusions. In addition, the IRS is not precluded from successfully adopting a contrary position.
This discussion addresses only the tax considerations associated with the exchange offer and the ownership of the exchange notes offered herein. In particular, it does not address the tax considerations associated with our acquisition of NNA, assumption of all of its obligations under the original notes, or the guarantee by our subsidiaries of our obligations. Each holder should consult its own tax advisor as to the tax consequences of these events.
Furthermore, this discussion is based on provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code), the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, and administrative and judicial interpretations of the foregoing, all as in effect as of the date hereof and all of which are subject to change, possibly with retroactive effect. This discussion does not address tax consequences of the purchase, ownership, or disposition of the exchange notes to holders of exchange notes other than those holders who acquired their exchange notes pursuant to the exchange offer. If a partnership holds the original notes or exchange notes, the tax treatment of a partner will generally depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. Partners of partnerships that hold original notes or will receive exchange notes pursuant to the exchange offer should consult their own tax advisors.
As used in this prospectus, the term U.S. Holder means a holder of original notes or exchange notes, as the case may be, that is, for United States federal income tax purposes:
(a) an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States (including an alien resident who is a lawful permanent resident of the United States or meets the substantial presence test under Section 7701(b) of the Code); | |
(b) a corporation (or entity taxed as a corporation) created or organized in or under the law of the United States or of any political subdivision thereof; | |
(c) any estate the income of which is includible in gross income for United States tax purposes, regardless of its source; or | |
(d) a trust if: |
(i) a United States court is able to exercise primary supervision over the administration of the trust and one or more United States persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust; or |
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(ii) the trust was in existence on August 20, 1996, was treated as a United States person prior to that date, and elected to continue to be treated as a United States person. |
For purposes of this discussion, the term Non-U.S. Holder means a holder of original notes or exchange notes that, for United States federal income tax purposes, is an individual, corporation, estate, or trust that is neither a U.S. Holder nor a person subject to rules applicable to former citizens and long-term residents of the United States.
Each U.S. Holder and Non-U.S. Holder should consult its tax advisor regarding the particular tax consequences to such holder of the exchange offer, the ownership and disposition of the exchange notes, as well as any tax consequences that may arise under the laws of any other relevant foreign, state, local, or other taxing jurisdiction.
U.S. Holders
Exchange Offer |
The exchange of original notes for exchange notes pursuant to the exchange offer should not constitute a material modification of the terms of the notes and, therefore, should not constitute a taxable event for U.S. federal income tax purposes. As a result, the exchange should not have any U.S. federal income tax consequences to a U.S. Holder, so that the U.S. Holders holding period and adjusted tax basis for a note should not be affected, and the U.S. Holder should continue to take into account income in respect of a note in the same manner as before the exchange.
Payment of Interest |
Stated interest payable on the exchange notes generally will be included in the gross income of a U.S. Holder as ordinary interest income at the time such interest is accrued or received in accordance with the U.S. Holders method of accounting for United States federal income tax purposes.
Sale, Exchange and Retirement of Exchange Notes |
Unless a nonrecognition provision applies, upon the sale, exchange (subsequent to this exchange offer), retirement at maturity, or other taxable disposition of the exchange notes, a U.S. Holder generally will recognize capital gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount realized by such holder (less an amount equal to any accrued and unpaid interest not previously included in income, which will be treated as ordinary interest income) and such holders adjusted tax basis in the exchange notes. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.
In addition, an amount to any accrued but unpaid interest not previously included in income will be treated as ordinary interest income.
Backup Withholding and Information Reporting |
In general, information reporting requirements will apply to payments of principal and interest on the exchange notes and to the proceeds of the sale of exchange notes made by U.S. Holders other than certain exempt recipients (such as corporations). A backup withholding tax will apply to such payments if the U.S. Holder fails to provide a taxpayer identification number on a Form W-9, furnishes an incorrect taxpayer identification number, fails to certify foreign or other exempt status from backup withholding or receives notification from the Internal Revenue Service that the holder is subject to backup withholding as a result of a failure to report all interest or dividends.
Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld from a payment to a U.S. Holder under the backup withholding rules will be allowed as a credit against the holders United States federal income tax liability and may entitle the holder to a refund, provided that the required information is timely furnished to the Internal Revenue Service.
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Non-U.S. Holders
For purposes of the discussion below, interest and gain on the sale, exchange, redemption or repayment of the notes will be considered to be U.S. trade or business income if such income or gain is:
(a) effectively connected with the conduct of a U.S. trade or business; or | |
(b) in the case of a treaty resident, attributable to a U.S. permanent establishment (or, in the case of an individual, a fixed base) in the United States. |
Payments of Interest |
Generally, interest paid on the notes to a Non-U.S. Holder should not be subject to U.S. federal income or withholding tax if such interest is not U.S. trade or business income and is portfolio interest. Generally, interest on the notes will qualify as portfolio interest if the Non-U.S. Holder:
(a) does not actually or constructively own 10% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of our equity interests entitled to vote; | |
(b) is not a controlled foreign corporation with respect to which we are a related person within the meaning of the Code; | |
(c) is not a bank that is receiving the interest on a loan made in the ordinary course of its trade or business; and | |
(d) certifies under penalties of perjury on an IRS Form W-8BEN (or such successor form as the IRS designates), prior to the payments that such holder is not a U.S. person and provides such holders name and address. |
The gross amount of payments of interest that do not qualify for the portfolio interest exception and that are not U.S. trade or business income will be subject to U.S. withholding tax at a rate of 30% unless a treaty applies to reduce or eliminate withholding. U.S. trade or business income will be taxed at regular, graduated U.S. federal income tax rates rather than the 30% gross rate. In the case of a Non-U.S. Holder that is a corporation, such U.S. trade or business income may also be subject to the branch profits tax. To claim exemption from withholding or to claim the benefits of a treaty, a Non-U.S. Holder must provide a properly executed IRS Form W-8BEN (claiming treaty benefits) or IRS Form W-8ECI (claiming exemption from withholding because income is U.S. trade or business income) (or such successor forms as the IRS designates), as applicable, prior to the payment of interest. These forms must be periodically updated. A Non-U.S. Holder who is claiming the benefits of a treaty may be required in certain instances to obtain and provide a U.S. taxpayer identification number or to provide certain documentary evidence issued by foreign governmental authorities to prove residence in the foreign country. Also, under applicable Treasury Regulations, special procedures are provided for payments through qualified intermediaries or certain financial institutions that hold customers securities in the ordinary course of their business.
Sale, Exchange or Redemption |
Subject to the discussion below concerning backup withholding, a Non-U.S. Holder will generally not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on gain recognized on a sale, redemption, repayment or discharge of a note unless:
(a) the gain is U.S. trade or business income (in which case the branch profits tax may also apply to a corporate Non-U.S. Holder); or | |
(b) the Non-U.S. Holder is an individual who is present in the United States for 183 or more days in the taxable year of the disposition and certain other requirements are met. |
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Backup Withholding and Information Reporting |
In general, information reporting requirements will apply to payments of interest on the notes to Non-U.S. Holders. Copies of these information returns may also be made available under the provisions of a specific treaty or other agreement to the tax authorities of the country in which the Non-U.S. Holder resides.
Treasury Regulations provide that the backup withholding tax and certain information reporting will not apply to such payments of interest with respect to which either the requisite certification, as described above, has been received or an exemption has otherwise been established; provided that neither we or our payment agent has actual knowledge, or reason to know, that the holder is a U.S. person or that the conditions of the exemption relied upon are not in fact satisfied. The payment of the gross proceeds from the sale, exchange, redemption or repayment of the notes to or through the U.S. office of any broker, U.S. or foreign, will be subject to information reporting and possible backup withholding unless the owner certifies as to its non-U.S. status under penalties of perjury or otherwise establishes an exemption, provided that the broker does not have actual knowledge, or reason to know, that the holder is a U.S. person or that the conditions of the exemption relied upon are not in fact satisfied. The payment of the gross proceeds from the sale, exchange, redemption or repayment of the notes to or through a non U.S. office of a non-U.S. broker will not be subject to information reporting or backup withholding unless the non-U.S. broker has certain types of relationships with the United States which we refer to as a U.S. Related Person.
In the case of the gross payment of proceeds from the sale, exchange, redemption or repayment of the notes to or through the non-U.S. office of a broker that is either a U.S. person or a U.S. Related Person, applicable Treasury Regulations require information reporting (but not backup withholding) on the payment unless the broker has documentary evidence in its files that the owner is a Non-U.S. Holder and the broker has no knowledge, or reason to know, to the contrary.
Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld from a payment to a Non-U.S. Holder under the backup withholding rules will be allowed as a credit against the holders U.S. federal tax liability and may entitle the holder to a refund, provided that the required information is timely furnished to the Internal Revenue Service.
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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
We are not using any underwriters for this exchange offer, and we are bearing the expenses of the exchange.
Each broker-dealer that receives exchange notes for its own account pursuant to this exchange offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such exchange notes. A broker-dealer may use this prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, in connection with resales of exchange notes received in exchange for original notes where such original notes were acquired as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities. We have agreed that, for a period of 180 days after the effective date, we will make this prospectus, as amended or supplemented, available to any broker-dealer for use in connection with any such resale. In addition, until forty days after the effectiveness of this registration statement all dealers effecting transactions in the exchange notes may be required to deliver a prospectus.
We will not receive any proceeds from any sale of exchange notes by broker-dealers. Exchange notes received by broker-dealers for their own account pursuant to this exchange offer may be sold from time to time in one or more transactions in the over-the-counter market, in negotiated transactions, through the writing of options on the exchange notes or a combination of these methods of resale, at market prices prevailing at the time of resale, at prices related to the prevailing market prices or negotiated prices. Any resale may be made directly to purchasers or to or through brokers or dealers who may receive compensation in the form of commissions or concessions from any broker-dealer or the purchasers of any exchange notes. Any broker-dealer that resells exchange notes that were received by it for its own account pursuant to this exchange offer and any broker or dealer that participates in a distribution of exchange notes may be deemed to be an underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act, and any profit of any resale of exchange notes and any commissions or concessions received by any these persons may be deemed to be underwriting compensation under the Securities Act. The letter of transmittal states that by acknowledging that it will deliver and by delivering a prospectus, a broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act.
For a period of 180 days after the effective date, we shall promptly send additional copies of this prospectus and any amendment or supplement to this prospectus to any broker-dealer that requests these documents in the letter of transmittal. We have agreed to pay all expenses incident to this exchange offer and will indemnify the holders of the original notes (including any broker-dealers) against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.
LEGAL MATTERS
The validity of the exchange notes offered hereby will be passed upon for us by Alston & Bird LLP, Atlanta, Georgia. A copy of this legal opinion will be filed as an exhibit to the registration statement containing this prospectus.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements of Renal Care Group, Inc. for the three years ended December 31, 2003 incorporated in the Registration Statement by reference to the report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 19, 2004, have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of Ernst & Young LLP, independent accountants, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting. The consolidated financial statements of NNA for the three years ended December 31, 2003 incorporated in the Registration Statement by reference to the report on Form 8-K/A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 19, 2004, have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of KPMG LLP, independent accountants, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We file annual, quarterly and current reports and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any reports, statements or other information on file at the SECs public reference room at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549. You can request copies of those documents upon payment of a duplicating fee to the SEC. You may also review a copy of those documents at the SECs regional offices in Chicago, Illinois and New York, New York. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the operation of the public reference rooms. You can review our SEC filings by accessing the SECs Internet site at http://www.sec.gov.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference into this prospectus the information we file with the SEC. This means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents without restating that information in this document. The information incorporated by reference into this prospectus is considered to be part of this prospectus, and information we file with the SEC from the date of this prospectus to the end of the exchange offering under this prospectus will automatically update and supersede the information contained in this prospectus and documents listed below. We are incorporating by reference in this prospectus the documents listed below and any future filings we may make with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, prior to the completion or termination of this offering:
| our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003 and filed on March 4, 2004, as amended by Amendment No. 1 on Form 10-K/A filed on March 9, 2004; and | |
| our current report on Form 8-K filed on April 16, 2004, as amended by our current report Form 8-K/A filed on April 19, 2004; and | |
| our current report on Form 8-K filed on April 19, 2004. |
Information contained in this prospectus supplements, modifies or supersedes, as applicable, the information contained in earlier-dated documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus. Information in documents that we file with the SEC after the date of this prospectus will automatically update and supersede information in this prospectus or in earlier-dated documents incorporated by reference.
You may request a copy of any of these filings, at no cost, by writing or telephoning us at the following address or telephone number: 2525 West End Avenue, Suite 600, Nashville, Tennessee 37203, (615) 345-5500, Attention: General Counsel.
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$160,000,000
Renal Care Group, Inc.
Offer to Exchange
PROSPECTUS
, 2004
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 20. | Indemnification of Directors and Officers |
Our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation provides that we shall to the fullest extent permitted by Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as amended from time to time, indemnify our officers and directors.
Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware permits a corporation, under specified circumstances, to indemnify its directors, officers, employees or agents against expenses (including attorneys fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlements actually and reasonably incurred by them in connection with any action, suit or proceeding brought by third parties by reason of the fact that they were or are directors, officers, employees or agents acted in good faith and in a manner they reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reason to believe their conduct was unlawful. In a derivative action, i.e., one by or in the right of the corporation, indemnification may be made only for expenses actually and reasonably incurred by directors, officers, employees or agents in connection with the defense or settlement of an action or suit, and only with respect to a matter as to which they shall have acted in good faith and in a manner they reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, except that no indemnification shall be made if such person shall have been adjudged liable to the corporation, unless and only to the extent that the court in which the action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that the defense directors, officers, employees or agents are fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnify for such expenses despite such adjudication of liability.
Our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, contains a provision which eliminates, to the fullest extent permitted by the General Corporation Law of Delaware, director liability for monetary damages for breaches of the fiduciary duty of care or any other duty as a director.
Item 21. | Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules |
(a) The following exhibits are filed as part of this Registration Statement:
Exhibit No. | Description of Exhibit | |||
2 | .1 | Agreement and Plan of Merger dated February 2, 2004 by and among Renal Care Group, Inc., Titan Merger Subsidiary, Inc., National Nephrology Associates, Inc. and certain equity holders of National Nephrology Associates, Inc. (incorporated by reference to the Companys Form 8-K, dated as of April 16, 2004) (Commission File No. 0-27640)) | ||
3 | .1 | Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (incorporated by reference to the Companys Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Reg. No. 333-80221) effective February 6, 1996) | ||
3 | .1.1 | Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (incorporated by reference to the Companys Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1997 (Commission File No. 0-27640)) | ||
3 | .1.2 | Certificate of Designation, Preferences, and Rights of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock of the Company (incorporated by reference to the Companys Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1997 (Commission File No. 0-27640)) | ||
3 | .1.3 | Certificate of Amendment of Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (incorporated by reference to the Companys Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1999 (Commission File No. 0-27640)) | ||
3 | .2 | Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Renal Care Group, Inc. (Incorporated by reference to the Companys Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Reg. No. 333-80221) effective February 6, 1996) |
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Exhibit No. | Description of Exhibit | |||
4 | .1 | Indenture, dated as of October 22, 2003, by and among National Nephrology Associates, Inc., the Guarantors named therein, and Wells Fargo Bank Minnesota, N.A. (incorporated by reference to the Companys Form 8-K, dated as of April 16, 2004 (Commission File No. 0-27640)) | ||
4 | .2 | First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of April 2, 2004, by and among Renal Care Group, Inc., the Guarantors named therein and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., (incorporated by reference to the Companys Form 8-K, dated as of April 16, 2004 (Commission File No. 0-27640)) | ||
4 | .3 | Reserved | ||
4 | .4 | Purchase Agreement, dated as of October 16, 2003, by and among National Nephrology Associates, Inc., the Guarantors named therein and the Initial Purchasers named therein (incorporated by reference to the Companys Form 8-K, dated as of April 16, 2004 (Commission File No. 0-27640)) | ||
4 | .5 | Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of October 22, 2003, by and among National Nephrology Associates, Inc., the Guarantors named therein and the Initial Purchasers named therein (incorporated by reference to the Companys Form 8-K of, dated as of April 16, 2004 (Commission File No. 0-27640)) | ||
4 | .6 | Form of 9% Senior Subordinated Note Due 2011, including Form of Guarantee (included in Exhibit 4.1) | ||
5 | .1 | Opinion of Alston & Bird LLP* | ||
10 | .1 | Employment Agreement, effective as of December 15, 2003, between the Company and Raymond Hakim, M.D. (incorporated by reference to the Companys Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003 (Commission File No. 0-27640)) | ||
10 | .2 | Medical Director Services Agreement, dated February 12, 1996, between the Company and Indiana Dialysis Management, P.C. (incorporated by reference to the Companys Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1996 (Commission File No. 0-27640)) | ||
10 | .2.1 | Amendment Number 1, to Medical Director Services Agreement, effective as of January 1, 1999, between the Company and Indiana Dialysis Management, P.C. (incorporated by reference to the Companys Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003 (Commission File No. 0-27640)) | ||
10 | .2.2 | Amendment Number 2 to Medical Director Services Agreement, effective as of February 12, 2002, between the Company and Indiana Dialysis Management (incorporated by reference to the Companys Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003 (Commission File No. 0-27640)) | ||
10 | .3 | Medical Director Services Agreement, effective as of February 12, 2003, between the Company and Tyler Nephrology Associates, P.A. (incorporated by reference to the Companys Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003 (Commission File No. 0-27640)) | ||
10 | .4 | Lease Agreement, dated February 12, 1996, among the Company and Thomas A. Lowery, M.D., James R. Cotton, M.D., Roy D. Gerard, M.D. and Kevin A. Curran, M.D., relating to property in Carthage, Texas (incorporated by reference to the Companys Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1996 (Commission File No. 0-27640)) | ||
10 | .5 | Lease Agreement, dated February 12, 1996, among the Company and Thomas A. Lowery, M.D., James R. Cotton, M.D., Roy D. Gerard, M.D., and Kevin A. Curran, M.D., relating to property in Tyler, Texas (incorporated by reference to the Companys Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1996 (Commission File No. 0-27640)) | ||
10 | .6 | Sublease Agreement, dated February 12, 1996, with Tyler Nephrology Associates, Inc. (incorporated by reference to the Companys Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1996 (Commission File No. 0-27640)) | ||
10 | .7 | Dialysis Center Management Agreement, effective as of July 1, 2001, between Renal Care Group, Inc. and Vanderbilt University (incorporated by reference to the Companys Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002 (Commission File No. 0-27640)) | ||
10 | .8 | 1996 Stock Option Plan for Outside Directors (incorporated by reference to the Companys Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Reg. No. 333-80221) effective February 6, 1996) |
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Exhibit No. | Description of Exhibit | |||
10 | .9 | Fourth Amended and Restated 1996 Stock Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Appendix A to the Companys definitive Proxy Statement filed April 27, 1998 relating to the 1998 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (Commission File No. 0-27640)) | ||
10 | .10 | Amended and Restated Employee Stock Purchase Plan (incorporated by reference to the Companys Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1997 (Commission File No. 0-27640)) | ||
10 | .11 | Employment Agreement, April 28, 2003, between the Company and Gary Brukardt (incorporated by reference to the Companys Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2003 (Commission File No. 0-27640)) | ||
10 | .12 | Credit Agreement, dated as of February 10, 2004, by and among Renal Care Group, Inc., the Guarantors (as defined therein), the Lenders (as defined therein) and Bank of America, N.A. as Administrative Agent (incorporated by reference to the Companys Form 8-K, dated as of April 16, 2004 (Commission File No. 0-27640)) | ||
10 | .13 | Stock Option Agreement, dated April 30, 1997, between the Company and Gary Brukardt (incorporated by reference to the Companys Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1997 (Commission File No. 0-27640)) | ||
10 | .14 | Asset Purchase Agreement with an effective date of February 1, 1997 among the Company, RCG Indiana, LLC, Eastern Indiana Kidney Center, Indiana Kidney Center, Indiana Kidney Center South, LLC, St. Vincent Dialysis Center, Saint Joseph Dialysis Center and Indiana Dialysis Services PC and Community Hospitals of Indiana, Inc., Seton Health Corporation of Central Indiana, Inc., Reid Hospital & Health Care Services, Inc., and Saint Joseph Hospital and Health Care Center of Kokomo, Indiana, Inc. and Indiana Dialysis Services, PC, Reid Hospital Physicians, Greenwood Dialysis Services, PC and certain individuals named on the signature pages thereto and Indiana Nephrology & Internal Medicine, P.C. (incorporated by reference to the Companys Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1996 (Commission File No. 0-27640)) | ||
10 | .15 | Stock Option Agreement, dated May 22, 1998, between the Company and Gary A. Brukardt (incorporated by reference to the Companys Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1998 (Commission File No. 0-27640)) | ||
10 | .16 | Stock Option Agreement, dated May 22, 1998, between the Company and Raymond Hakim, M.D. (incorporated by reference to the Companys Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1998 (Commission File No. 0-27640)) | ||
10 | .17 | Stock Option Agreement, dated June 5, 1998, between the Company and Joseph C. Hutts (incorporated by reference to the Companys Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1998 (Commission File No. 0-27640)) | ||
10 | .18 | Stock Option Agreement, dated June 5, 1998, between the Company and Harry R. Jacobson, M.D. (incorporated by reference to the Companys Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1998 (Commission File No. 0-27640)) | ||
10 | .19 | Agreement No. 20010240, between Renal Care Group, Inc. and Amgen Inc. effective January 2, 2002 (The Company has requested confidential treatment of certain portions of this Exhibit.)(incorporated by reference to the Companys Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001 (Commission File No. 0-27640)) | ||
10 | .19.1 | Amendment #2 dated February 10, 2003 to Agreement No. 200010240 between Renal Care Group, Inc. and Amgen Inc. (The Company has requested confidential treatment of certain portions of this Exhibit.) (incorporated by reference to the Companys Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2003 (Commission File No. 0-27640)) | ||
10 | .20 | Restricted Stock Award Agreement, dated January 25, 1999, between the Company and Harry R. Jacobson (incorporated by reference to the Companys Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1999 (Commission File No. 0-27640)) | ||
10 | .21 | Restricted Stock Award Agreement, dated January 25, 1999, between the Company and Stephen D. McMurray (incorporated by reference to the Companys Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1999 (Commission File No. 0-27640)) |
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Exhibit No. | Description of Exhibit | |||
10 | .22 | Renal Care Group, Inc. 1999 Long-Term Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Appendix A to the Companys definitive Proxy Statement filed April 27, 1999 relating to the 1999 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (Commission File No. 0-27640)) | ||
10 | .22.1 | Amendment to the Renal Care Group, Inc. 1999 Long-Term Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to the Companys definitive Proxy Statement filed April 28, 2000 relating to the 2001 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (Commission File No. 0-27640)) | ||
10 | .22.2 | Amended and Restated Renal Care Group, Inc. 1999 Long-Term Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to the Companys Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2003 (Commission File No. 0-27640)) | ||
10 | .23 | Stock Option Agreement, dated August 30, 1999, between the Company and Gary A. Brukardt (Incorporated by reference to the Companys Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 1999 (Commission File No. 0-27640)) | ||
10 | .24 | Stock Option Agreement, dated August 30, 1999, between the Company and Raymond Hakim, M.D. (incorporated by reference to the Companys Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 1999 (Commission File No. 0-27640)) | ||
10 | .25 | Stock Option Agreement, dated June 2, 1999, between the Company and Joseph C. Hutts (incorporated by reference to the Companys Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 1999 (Commission File No. 0-27640)) | ||
10 | .26 | Stock Option Agreement, dated June 2, 1999, between the Company and Harry R. Jacobson, M.D. (incorporated by reference to the Companys Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 1999 (Commission File No. 0-27640)) | ||
10 | .27 | Stock Option Agreement, dated July 22, 1999, between the Company and William V. Lapham (incorporated by reference to the Companys Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 1999 (Commission File No. 0-27640)) | ||
10 | .28 | Stock Option Agreement, dated June 8, 2000, between the Company and Joseph C. Hutts (incorporated by reference to the Companys Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2000 (Commission File No. 0-27640)) | ||
10 | .29 | Stock Option Agreement, dated June 8, 2000, between the Company and Harry R. Jacobson, M.D. (incorporated by reference to the Companys Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2000 (Commission File No. 0-27640)) | ||
10 | .30 | Stock Option Agreement, dated June 8, 2000, between the Company and William V. Lapham (incorporated by reference to the Companys Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2000 (Commission File No. 0-27640)) | ||
10 | .31 | Stock Option Agreement, dated September 19, 2000, between the Company and Gary A. Brukardt (incorporated by reference to the Companys Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2000 (Commission File No. 0-27640)) | ||
10 | .32 | Stock Option Agreement, dated September 19, 2000, between the Company and Raymond Hakim, M.D. (incorporated by reference to the Companys Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2000 (Commission File No. 0-27640)) | ||
10 | .33 | Stock Option Agreement dated August 2, 2001 between the Company and Gary Brukardt (incorporated by reference to the Companys Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2001 (Commission File No. 0-27640)) | ||
10 | .34 | Stock Option Agreement dated August 2, 2001 between the Company and Raymond Hakim (incorporated by reference to the Companys Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2001 (Commission File No. 0-27640)) | ||
10 | .35 | Stock Option Agreement dated June 7, 2001 between the Company and Joseph C. Hutts (incorporated by reference to the Companys Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001 (Commission File No. 0-27640)) | ||
10 | .36 | Stock Option Agreement dated June 7, 2001 between the Company and William V. Lapham (incorporated by reference to the Companys Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001 (Commission File No. 0-27640)) |
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Exhibit No. | Description of Exhibit | |||
10 | .37 | Form of Stock Option Agreement for stock option grants to executive employees under the Companys 1999 Long-Term Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to the Companys Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2002 (Commission File No. 0-27640)) | ||
10 | .38 | Form of Stock Option Agreement for stock option grants to non-management directors under the Companys 1996 Stock Option Plan for Outside Directors (incorporated by reference to the Companys Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2002 (Commission File No. 0-27640)) | ||
10 | .39 | Medical Director Services Agreement, dated May 1, 2002, between the Company and Tyler Nephrology Associates, P.A. (incorporated by reference to the Companys Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002 (Commission File No. 0-27640)) | ||
10 | .40 | Medical Director Services Agreement, dated July 11, 2002 between the Company and Tyler Nephrology Associates, P.A. (incorporated by reference to the Companys Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002 (Commission File No. 0-27640)) | ||
10 | .41 | Renal Care Group Supplemental Benefit Plan (incorporated by reference to the Companys Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2003 (Commission File No. 0-27640)) | ||
10 | .42 | Plan Agreement dated February 25, 2003 between Renal Care Group, Inc. and Sam A. Brooks (incorporated by reference to the Companys Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2003 (Commission File No. 0-27640)) | ||
10 | .42.1 | Amendment #1 to Plan Agreement under the Renal Care Group, Inc. Supplemental Benefit Plan dated as of May 29, 2003 (incorporated by reference to the Companys Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2003 (Commission File No. 0-27640)) | ||
10 | .43 | Form of Indemnity Agreement between the Company and directors and certain officers (incorporated by reference to the Companys Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2003 (Commission File No. 0-27640)) | ||
10 | .44 | Employment Agreement, effective as of November 3, 2003, between the Company and David M. Dill (incorporated by reference to the Companys Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003 (Commission File No. 0-27640)) | ||
10 | .45 | Employment Agreement, effective as of November 30, 2003, between the Company and Timothy P. Martin (incorporated by reference to the Companys Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003 (Commission File No. 0-27640)) | ||
10 | .46 | Employment Agreement effective as of December 31, 2003 between the Company and Douglas B. Chappell (incorporated by reference to the Companys Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003 (Commission File No. 0-27640)) | ||
12 | .1 | Statement of the Computation of the Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges | ||
21 | .1 | Subsidiaries of Renal Care Group, Inc. | ||
23 | .1 | Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors | ||
23 | .2 | Consent of KPMG LLP, Independent Auditors | ||
24 | .1 | Power of Attorney for the Directors and Officers of Renal Care Group, Inc. (included on page II-8 hereof) | ||
24 | .2 | Powers of Attorney for the Directors and Officers of the Subsidiary Guarantors | ||
25 | .1 | Statement of Eligibility of Trustee on Form T-1 | ||
99 | .1 | Form of Letter of Transmittal | ||
99 | .2 | Form of Notice of Guaranteed Delivery | ||
99 | .3 | Form of Instruction to Registered Holder or Book Entry Participant from Beneficial Owner |
* | To be filed by amendment |
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Item 22. | Undertakings |
A. Rule 415 Offering
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
| To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933; | |
| To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of Securities offered (if the total dollar value of Securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the Calculation of Registration Fee table in the effective registration statement; and | |
| To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement. | |
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
B. Subsequent Documents Incorporated By Reference
The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), each filing of the Registrants annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plans annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new Registration Statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
C. Indemnification of Officers, Directors and Controlling Persons
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers, and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer, or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit, or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer, or controlling person of the registrant in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
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D. Information Requests
The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes to respond to requests for information that is incorporated by reference into the prospectus pursuant to Items 4, 10(b), 11, or 13 of Form S-4, within one business day of receipt of such request, and to send the incorporated documents by first class mail or other equally prompt means. This includes information contained in documents filed subsequent to the effective date of the registration statement through the date of responding to the request.
The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes to supply by means of a post-effective amendment all information concerning a transaction, and the company being acquired involved therein, that was not the subject of and included in the registration statement when it became effective.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Nashville, State of Tennessee, on April 19, 2004.
RENAL CARE GROUP, INC. |
By: | /s/ GARY A. BRUKARDT |
|
|
Gary A. Brukardt | |
President and Chief Executive Officer |
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that we, the undersigned officers and directors of Renal Care Group, Inc. hereby severally constitute Gary A. Brukardt and David M. Dill and each of them singly, our true and lawful attorneys with full power to them, and each of them singly, to sign for us and in our names in the capacities indicated below, the Registration Statement filed herewith and any and all amendments to said Registration Statement, including any registration statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b), and generally to do all such things in our names and in our capacities as officers and directors to enable Renal Care Group, Inc. to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, and all requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying and confirming our signature as they may be signed by our said attorneys, or any of them, to said Registration Statement and any and all amendments thereto.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on April 19, 2004:
Name | Title | |||
/s/ GARY A. BRUKARDT Gary A. Brukardt |
President and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) |
|||
/s/ DAVID M. DILL David M. Dill |
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) | |||
/s/ PETER J. GRUA Peter J. Grua |
Director | |||
/s/ JOSEPH C. HUTTS Joseph C. Hutts |
Director | |||
/s/ HARRY R. JACOBSON, M.D. Harry R. Jacobson, M.D. |
Director | |||
/s/ WILLIAM P. JOHNSTON William P. Johnston |
Director | |||
/s/ WILLIAM V. LAPHAM William V. Lapham |
Director |
II-8
Name | Title | |||
/s/ THOMAS A. LOWERY, M.D. Thomas A. Lowery, M.D. |
Director | |||
/s/ STEPHEN D. MCMURRAY, M.D. Stephen D. McMurray, M.D. |
Director | |||
/s/ C. THOMAS SMITH C. Thomas Smith |
Director |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Nashville, State of Tennessee, on [ ], 2004.
[GUARANTOR] |
By: |
|
|
[Name] | |
[Title] |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on [ ], 2004:
Name | Title | |||
President and Director (Principal Executive Officer) | ||||
Executive Vice President (Principal Financial Officer) | ||||
Senior Vice President (Principal Accounting Officer) | ||||
Director | ||||
*By: |
Attorney-in-Fact |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Nashville, State of Tennessee, on April 19, 2004.
NNA OF OKLAHOMA, INC. | |
NNA OF GEORGIA, INC. | |
NNA OF ALABAMA, INC. | |
NNA MANAGEMENT COMPANY OF KENTUCKY, INC. | |
NATIONAL NEPHROLOGY ASSOCIATES MANAGEMENT COMPANY OF TEXAS, INC. |
II-9
NNA OF NEVADA, INC. | |
NATIONAL NEPHROLOGY ASSOCIATES CREDIT CORPORATION | |
NNA OF TOLEDO, INC. | |
NNA PROPERTIES OF NEW JERSEY, INC. | |
NNA MANAGEMENT COMPANY OF LOUISIANA, INC. | |
RENEX CORP. | |
RENEX MANAGEMENT SERVICES, INC. | |
DIALYSIS SERVICES OF ATLANTA, INC. | |
RENEX DIALYSIS CLINIC OF PENN HILLS, INC. | |
RENEX DIALYSIS CLINIC OF SHALER, INC. | |
RENEX DIALYSIS CLINIC OF DOYLESTOWN, INC. | |
RENEX DIALYSIS CLINIC OF AMESBURY, INC. | |
RENEX DIALYSIS CLINIC OF NORTH ANDOVER, INC. | |
RENEX DIALYSIS CLINIC OF SOUTH GEORGIA, INC. | |
RENEX DIALYSIS CLINIC OF CREVE COUER, INC. | |
RENEX DIALYSIS CLINIC OF ST. LOUIS, INC. | |
RENEX DIALYSIS CLINIC OF BRIDGETON, INC. | |
RENEX DIALYSIS CLINIC OF UNION, INC. | |
RENEX DIALYSIS HOMECARE OF GREATER ST. LOUIS, INC. | |
RENEX DIALYSIS CLINIC OF MAPLEWOOD, INC. | |
RENEX DIALYSIS CLINIC OF UNIVERSITY CITY, INC. | |
RENEX DIALYSIS FACILITIES, INC. | |
RENEX DIALYSIS CLINIC OF BLOOMFIELD, INC. | |
RENEX DIALYSIS CLINIC OF ORANGE, INC. | |
RENEX DIALYSIS CLINIC OF PHILADELPHIA, INC. | |
RENEX DIALYSIS CLINIC OF PITTSBURGH, INC. | |
RENEX DIALYSIS CLINIC OF WOODBURY, INC. | |
RENEX DIALYSIS CLINIC OF TAMPA, INC. | |
NNA PROPERTIES OF KENTUCKY, INC. | |
NNA PROPERTIES OF TENNESSEE, INC. | |
NNA TRANSPORTATION SERVICES CORPORATION | |
RENAL CARE GROUP EAST, INC. | |
RENAL CARE GROUP MICHIGAN, INC. | |
MICHIGAN HOME DIALYSIS CENTER, INC. | |
RENAL CARE GROUP OF THE MIDWEST, INC. | |
FOUR STATE REGIONAL DIALYSIS CENTER, INC. | |
FORT SCOTT REGIONAL DIALYSIS CENTER, INC. | |
MIAMI REGIONAL DIALYSIS CENTER, INC. | |
RCG MISSISSIPPI, INC. | |
RENAL CARE GROUP OF THE SOUTHEAST, INC. | |
NORTHEAST ALABAMA KIDNEY CLINIC, INC. | |
RENAL CARE GROUP TEXAS, INC. | |
DIALYSIS MANAGEMENT CORPORATION | |
RCG PA MERGER CORP. | |
STAT DIALYSIS CORPORATION | |
ANGLETON DIALYSIS, INC. | |
BRAZORIA KIDNEY CENTER, INC. | |
FONDREN DIALYSIS CLINIC, INC. | |
WHARTON DIALYSIS, INC. |
II-10