AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON JUNE 22, 2004
Registration No. 333-_____
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
under
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
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FINANCIAL FEDERAL CORPORATION
(Exact Names of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
Nevada 88-0244792
(State or Other Jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer
Incorporation or Organization) Identification Number)
733 Third Avenue
New York, New York 10017
(212) 599-8000
(Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area
Code, of each Registrant's Principal Executive Offices)
STEVEN F. GROTH
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
FINANCIAL FEDERAL CORPORATION
733 Third Avenue
New York, New York 10017
(212) 599-8000
(Name, Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number,
Including Area Code, of Agent for Service)
Copy to:
LAWRENCE B. FISHER, ESQ.
CHRISTOPHER J. MOORE, ESQ.
ORRICK, HERRINGTON & SUTCLIFFE LLP
666 Fifth Avenue
New York, New York 10103
(212) 506-5300
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time
to time after this registration statement becomes effective as determined by
market conditions.
If the only securities being registered on this form are being offered
pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following
box. |_|
If any of the securities being registered on this form are to be offered
pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following
box. |_|
If any of the securities being registered on this form are to be offered
on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act
of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or
interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. |X|
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box
and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier
effective registration statement for the same offering. |_|
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c)
under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement
for the same offering. |_|
If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434,
please check the following box. |_|
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CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
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Proposed Maximum
Amount to be Aggregate Price Per Proposed Maximum Amount of
Title of Securities to be Registered Registered Certificate(1) Aggregate Offering Price(1) Registration Fee
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2.0% Convertible Senior Debentures due 2034 $175,000,000 100% $175,000,000 $22,173
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Common Stock 3,968,615(2) -- -- None(3)
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(1) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee.
(2) Plus such additional indeterminate number of shares as may become issuable
upon conversion of the Debentures being registered hereunder as a result
of adjustments to the conversion price.
(3) Pursuant to Rule 457(i), there is no filing fee with respect to the shares
of common stock issuable upon conversion of the Debentures because no
additional consideration will be received in connection with the exercise
of the conversion rights.
The registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates
as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file
a further amendment which specifically states that this registration statement
shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the
Securities Act of 1933, or until this Registration Statement shall become
effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a),
may determine.
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Information contained herein is subject to completion or amendment. A
registration statement relating to these securities has been filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. These securities may not be sold nor may
offers to buy be accepted prior to the time the registration statement becomes
effective. This prospectus shall not constitute an offer to sell or the
solicitation of any offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of these securities
in any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior
to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state.
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED June 22, 2004
$175,000,000
[LOGO] Financial Federal Corporation
2.0% Convertible Senior Debentures Due 2034
and Shares of Common Stock Issuable upon Conversion of the Debentures
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This prospectus relates to $175,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 2.0%
Convertible Senior Debentures due 2034 of Financial Federal Corporation and the
shares of our common stock, par value $.50 per share, issuable upon conversion
of the Debentures. The Debentures and our common stock issuable upon conversion
of the Debentures may be offered from time to time for the accounts of the
selling securityholders named herein. The Debentures are our senior unsecured
obligations and rank equally in right of payment with all of our other existing
and future obligations that are unsecured and unsubordinated.
We originally issued the Debentures on April 12, 2004. The initial
purchasers resold the Debentures to qualified institutional buyers in accordance
with Rule 144A under the Securities Act. The Debentures and the common stock
that are offered for resale by this prospectus are offered for the accounts of
the current holders, who we refer to as the selling securityholders. The selling
securityholders may sell the Debentures and the common stock issuable upon
conversion of the Debentures directly to purchasers or through underwriters,
broker-dealers or agents, who may receive compensation in the form of discounts,
concessions or commissions. The Debentures and the common stock may be sold in
one or more transactions at fixed prices, prevailing market prices at the time
of sale, prices related to the prevailing market prices, or varying prices
determined at the time of sale or negotiated prices. We will not receive any of
the proceeds from the sale of the Debentures or the common stock by selling
securityholders.
The Debentures have been designated for trading on the Private Offerings,
Resales and Trading through Automated Linkages ("PORTAL") Market. Debentures
sold pursuant to this prospectus will not remain eligible for trading on the
PORTAL Market. Shares of our common stock are traded on the New York Stock
Exchange under the symbol "FIF." The last reported sale price of our common
stock on June 21, 2004 was $34.40 per share.
Investing in the Debentures and our common stock involves risks. See "Risk
Factors" beginning on page 8.
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These securities have not been approved or disapproved by the Securities
and Exchange Commission or any state securities commission, nor has the
Securities and Exchange Commission or any state securities commission passed
upon the accuracy or adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the
contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is June 22, 2004.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
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Forward-Looking Statements ................................................ i
Summary ................................................................... 1
Risk Factors .............................................................. 8
Price Range of Common Stock ............................................... 16
Dividend Policy ........................................................... 16
Use of Proceeds ........................................................... 16
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges ........................................ 17
Capitalization ............................................................ 17
Selling Securityholders ................................................... 18
Description of Debentures ................................................. 20
Description of Capital Stock .............................................. 42
United States Federal Income Tax Considerations ........................... 45
Plan of Distribution ...................................................... 50
Legal Matters ............................................................. 51
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.............................. 51
Epxerts.................................................................... 51
Where You Can Find More Information ....................................... 52
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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus and the documents incorporated herein by reference include
statements reflecting assumptions, expectations, projections, intentions, and/or
beliefs about future events and future performance that are intended as
"forward-looking statements" under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
of 1995. You can identify these statements by the fact that they do not relate
strictly to historical or current facts. They use words such as "anticipate,"
"estimate," "project," "forecast," "may," "will," "intend," "should," "could,"
"would," "expect," "believe" and other words of similar meaning. In particular,
these include, but are not limited to, statements relating to the following:
o adequacy of our allowance for credit losses;
o market interest rates;
o asset (receivables) quality;
o projected operating or financial results;
o the effects of competition in our markets;
o general economic conditions; and
o economic conditions in the markets served by us and our customers.
Any or all of our forward-looking statements may turn out to be wrong.
They can be affected by inaccurate assumptions and by known or unknown risks and
uncertainties, including the following:
o general economic, financial and market conditions and the duration
and extent of any future economic downturns;
o the cost of borrowing, availability of credit, terms of and
compliance with debt covenants;
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o the value of the collateral we own, finance or lease;
o changes in economic conditions;
o renewal of sources of funding as they expire and the availability of
replacement funding;
o technological changes that could reduce the demand for the services
we provide;
o our ability to effectively compete for market share;
o our ability to generate growth;
o retention of key executives and personnel;
o the collectibility of receivables and adequacy of our allowance for
credit losses;
o changes in laws and regulations to which we are subject;
o the outlook for markets we serve; and
o the other risks and uncertainties as are described under "Risk
Factors" and as may be detailed from time to time in our public
filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Many of these factors will be important in determining our actual future
results. Consequently, no forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. Our
actual future results may vary materially from those expressed or implied in any
forward-looking statements.
All of our forward-looking statements, whether written or oral, are
expressly qualified by these cautionary statements and any other cautionary
statements that may accompany such forward-looking statements. In addition, we
disclaim any obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect
events or circumstances after the date of this prospectus.
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Summary
The following summary is not intended to be a complete description of the
matters covered in this prospectus and is subject to and is qualified in its
entirety by the more detailed information and historical consolidated financial
statements, including the notes to those financial statements, appearing
elsewhere or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. Investors should
carefully consider the information set forth under "Risk Factors." Unless the
context otherwise requires, the terms "Financial Federal Corporation,"
"company," "we," "us" and "our" refer only to Financial Federal Corporation and
not our subsidiaries, except that, for purposes of the information under "Our
Business" below and "Risk Factors - Risks Related to Our Business," the terms
"Financial Federal Corporation," "company," "we," "us" and "our" refer to
Financial Federal Corporation and its subsidiaries unless the context otherwise
requires. Investors should be aware that Financial Federal Corporation's
subsidiaries do not guarantee the Debentures.
Our Business
We are an independent nationwide financial services company and we conduct
substantially all of our business operations through our wholly-owned
subsidiaries. We finance industrial and commercial equipment through installment
sales and leasing programs for manufacturers, dealers and end users of such
equipment. We also make capital loans to equipment users, secured by the same
types of equipment and other collateral. We provide our services to
middle-market businesses located throughout the nation, generally with annual
revenues of up to $25 million, in the general construction, road and
infrastructure construction and repair, road transportation, waste disposal and
manufacturing industries. Virtually all of our finance receivables are secured
by a first lien on such equipment collateral. Equipment financed by us includes
air compressors, bulldozers, buses, cement mixers, compactors, crawler cranes,
earth-movers, excavators, generators, hydraulic truck cranes, loaders, machine
tools, motor graders, pavers, personnel and material lifts, recycling equipment,
resurfacers, rough terrain cranes, sanitation trucks, scrapers, trucks, truck
tractors and trailers. We focus on financing a wide range of new and used
revenue-producing/essential-use equipment of major manufacturers that is
movable, has an economic life longer than the term of the financing, is not
subject to rapid technological obsolescence, has applications in multiple
industries and has a broad resale market. These characteristics of such
underlying equipment collateral, coupled with the expertise of management in
underwriting, structuring and collecting our portfolio of finance receivables,
have enabled us to minimize our losses. We may expand the types of collateral we
finance and lease.
We generate profits to the extent that our finance income exceeds our
interest, administrative and other operating expenses and provision for credit
losses. Our portfolio of finance receivables was approximately $1.4 billion at
April 30, 2004. For the fiscal year ended July 31, 2003 and the nine months
ended April 30, 2004, we reported net earnings of $30.1 million and $23.0
million, respectively.
We market our finance and leasing services through marketing personnel
based in more than twenty domestic locations, including five full service
operations centers. We compete by focusing on providing prompt, responsive and
customized service to our prospects and customers. Our senior management has an
average of more than 20 years experience in the field of equipment finance and
leasing, and their knowledge and experience enable us to profitably structure
financings that meet the needs of our customers while maintaining our
underwriting standards.
The finance receivables we originate typically range from $50,000 to $1.0
million per transaction with fixed or floating interest rates and terms of two
to five years. Our finance receivables provide for monthly payments and may
include prepayment premium provisions. The average transaction size of finance
receivables we originated was $209,000 in the fiscal year ended July 31, 2003,
$188,000 in the fiscal year ended July 31, 2002 and $172,000 in the fiscal year
ended July 31, 2001.
Our portfolio of receivables is supported by term debt, asset
securitization financings, commercial paper and borrowings under short-term (one
year or less) or long-term (two to five years) committed unsecured revolving
bank credit facilities. As of April 30, 2004, we had $520.0 million of term
notes, $175.0 million of convertible debentures and $286.0 million outstanding
under a $325.o million asset securitization facility. Unless renewed, the asset
securitization facility expires on April 30, 2005, at which time, we could elect
to repay the borrowings outstanding or convert them into term debt. In addition,
at April 30, 2004, we had commercial paper outstanding aggregating $80.9 million
and had $310.0 million of committed unsecured revolving bank credit facilities,
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under which $16.0 million was outstanding and which had unused availability
totaling $213.1 million (excluding $80.9 million which represents 100% coverage
for commercial paper outstanding). Our committed unsecured revolving bank credit
facilities expire on various dates through January 2007.
The term notes and commercial paper of our major, wholly-owned operating
subsidiary, Financial Federal Credit Inc., are currently rated "BBB" and "F2,"
respectively, by Fitch Ratings, Inc. (a Nationally Recognized Statistical
Ratings Organization) with a positive outlook. All of our term notes and a
majority of our commercial paper were issued by Financial Federal Credit Inc.
The convertible debentures are rated "BBB" with a positive outlook by Fitch
Ratings.Our access to capital markets at competitive rates is partly dependent
on these investment grade credit ratings.
Our business strategy is to increase the size of our portfolio of finance
receivables and our share of the domestic market for equipment financing and
leasing by (i) continuing our commitment to customer service, (ii) maintaining
our underwriting standards, (iii) continuing to concentrate on specified types
of collateral, (iv) further penetrating our existing markets and (v) improving
our borrowing spread and diversifying our funding sources.
Risk Factors
You should read the "Risk Factors" section, beginning on page 8 of this
prospectus, to understand the risks associated with an investment in the
securities being offered hereby.
Our Company
We were incorporated under the laws of the State of Nevada in 1989. Our
principal executive offices are located at 733 Third Avenue, New York, New York
10017. Our telephone number is (212) 599-8000.
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THE OFFERING
Issuer ............................................ Financial Federal Corporation.
Securities Offered ................................ $175,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 2.0% Convertible
Senior Debentures Due 2034 and the shares of our common stock
issuable upon conversion of the Debentures.
Maturity Date ..................................... April 15, 2034.
Ranking ........................................... The Debentures are senior unsecured obligations of Financial
Federal Corporation and rank equally in right of payment with
our existing and future unsecured and unsubordinated
indebtedness and other liabilities. At April 30, 2004, our
other senior indebtedness totaled approximately $12.5 million.
The Debentures will be subordinate in right of payment from
assets of Financial Federal Corporation to any future secured
indebtedness of Financial Federal Corporation secured by such
assets.
The Debentures are not guaranteed by Financial Federal Credit
Inc. or any of our other subsidiaries and, accordingly, the
Debentures are structurally subordinated to all existing and
future indebtedness and other liabilities of our subsidiaries,
including trade creditors. As of April 30, 2004, Financial
Federal Credit Inc. had indebtedness and other liabilities of
approximately $949.4 million, excluding intercompany
indebtedness and approximately $186.7 million in loans from
Financial Federal Corporation which are not subordinated to
such indebtedness.
Interest .......................................... We will pay interest on the Debentures on April 15 and October
15 of each year, beginning October 15, 2004. In addition, we
may be required to pay contingent interest, as set forth below
under "Description of the Debentures--Contingent Interest".
Liquidated damages are payable if we fail to comply with
certain obligations set forth below under "Description of the
Debentures--Registration Rights."
Contingent Interest ............................... We will pay contingent interest to the holders of Debentures
for the period commencing on April 20, 2009 and ending October
14, 2009 and thereafter for any six-month period from and
including an interest payment date to but excluding the next
interest payment date commencing with the six-month period
beginning October 15, 2009, if the average trading price of a
Debenture for each of the last five trading days immediately
preceding April 20, 2009 or the first day of such six-month
period, as applicable, equals 120% or more of the principal
amount of the Debentures.
The amount of contingent interest payable per Debenture in
respect of any period will equal 0.25% per annum of the
average trading price of a Debenture during the relevant five
consecutive trading-day period referred to above used to
determine whether contingent interest must be paid. Such
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payments will be paid on the regular interest payment date
with respect to the relevant period.
Conversion Rights ................................. You may convert your Debentures prior to stated maturity only
under the following circumstances:
o during any fiscal quarter commencing after July 31,
2004, if the closing sale price of our common stock for
at least 20 trading days in the 30 trading-day period
ending on the last trading day of the preceding fiscal
quarter is more than 130% of the conversion price on
that 30th trading day; or
o during any period in which the Debentures are rated at
or below BB by Fitch Ratings, Inc. We are under no
obligation, however, to maintain the rating of the
Debentures by Fitch Ratings, Inc., and this conversion
right shall terminate if Fitch Ratings, Inc. withdraws
its rating, is no longer rating the Debentures or ceases
to exist; or
o if we have called those Debentures for redemption; or
o upon the occurrence of specified corporate transactions
described under "Description of the
Debentures--Conversion Rights."
For each $1,000 principal amount of Debentures surrendered for
conversion, you will receive 22.6778 shares of our common
stock. This represents an initial conversion price of
approximately $44.10 per share of common stock. As described
in this prospectus, the conversion rate may be adjusted for
certain reasons.
Upon conversion, you will not receive any cash payment
representing accrued and unpaid interest, if any, or accrued
and unpaid contingent interest, if any. Instead, any such
amounts will be deemed paid by the common stock received by
you on conversion. You will, however, receive accrued and
unpaid liquidated damages to the conversion date.
Upon conversion, we will have the right to deliver, in lieu of
our common stock, cash or a combination of cash and shares of
our common stock.
Debentures called for redemption may be surrendered for
conversion until the close of business on the redemption date.
Payment at Maturity ............................... For each $1,000 principal amount of the Debentures that you
hold, you shall be entitled to receive $1,000 at maturity,
plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, accrued and unpaid
contingent interest, if any, and accrued and unpaid liquidated
damages, if any.
Sinking Fund ...................................... None.
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Optional Redemption by Financial Federal
Corporation ....................................... We may not redeem the Debentures prior to April 20, 2009. We
may redeem some or all of the Debentures for cash on or after
April 20, 2009, upon at least 30 days but not more than 60
days notice by mail to the trustee and the holders of
Debentures at the principal amount of the Debentures redeemed,
plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, accrued and unpaid
contingent interest, if any, and accrued and unpaid liquidated
damages, if any, to the redemption date.
Repurchase of Debentures by Financial
Federal Corporation at the Option of the
Holder ............................................ You may require us to repurchase all or a portion of your
Debentures on April 15, 2009, April 15, 2014, April 15, 2019,
April 15, 2024 and April 15, 2029 at a price equal to 100% of
the principal amount of the Debentures plus accrued and unpaid
interest, if any, accrued and unpaid contingent interest, if
any, and accrued and unpaid liquidated damages, if any, to the
date of repurchase.
Designated Event Put .............................. If a designated event occurs with respect to Financial Federal
Corporation, which is defined as the occurrence of either a
change of control or a termination of trading, each as defined
under "Description of Debentures--Designated Event," you may
require us, subject to certain conditions, to repurchase all
or a portion of the Debentures. We will pay a repurchase price
equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Debentures plus
accrued interest, if any, accrued contingent interest, if any,
and accrued and unpaid liquidated damages, if any, to the
repurchase date.
United States Federal Income Tax Considerations ... We and each holder of the Debentures agree to treat the
Debentures as contingent payment debt instruments for U.S.
federal income tax purposes, subject to the original issue
discount rules applicable to such instruments for U.S. federal
income tax purposes. Based on this treatment, you will
generally be required to accrue original issue discount with
respect to the Debentures in the manner described in "United
States Federal Income Tax Considerations - Accrual of
Interest," regardless of whether you normally use the cash or
accrual method of tax accounting. As a result, you will
generally be required to include original issue discount in
income based on the rate at which we would issue a
noncontingent, nonconvertible, fixed-rate debt instrument with
terms and conditions otherwise similar to those of the
Debentures (which we have determined to be 7.375%), which rate
will be substantially in excess of the stated interest rate on
the Debentures. As a result, you will be required to include
amounts in taxable income each year substantially in excess of
the stated interest payable on the Debentures. Further, upon a
sale, exchange, conversion, repurchase or redemption of a
Debenture, you will be required to recognize gain or loss
equal to the difference between your amount realized (which
will include the value of our common stock if you exercise
your conversion rights) and your adjusted tax basis in the
Debenture, with any such gain (and with all or a portion of
any such loss) being
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classified as ordinary income (or ordinary loss) rather than
as capital gain (or capital loss). See "United States Federal
Income Tax Considerations." You should consult your tax
advisor as to the United States federal, state and local (as
well as foreign) tax consequences of acquiring, owning and
disposing of the Debentures.
Use of Proceeds ................................... We will not receive any proceeds from the sale by the selling
securityholders of the Debentures or of the shares issuable
upon conversion.
Registration Rights ............................... We have agreed to file with the Commission within 90 days
after the original issuance of the Debentures and use our best
efforts to cause to become effective within 210 days after the
original issuance of the Debentures, a registration statement
with respect to the resale of the Debentures and the common
stock issuable upon conversion of the Debentures, of which
this prospectus forms a part. We have agreed to keep the
registration statement effective until the earlier of:
o the date when the holders of the Debentures and the
common stock issuable upon conversion of the Debentures
are able to sell all such securities immediately
pursuant to Rule 144(k) under the Securities Act; and
o the date when all of the Debentures and common stock
issuable upon conversion of the Debentures are sold
pursuant to the registration statement or pursuant to
Rule 144 under the Securities Act or any similar
provision then in effect.
If we do not fulfill certain of our obligations under the
registration rights agreement, we will be required to pay
liquidated damages to holders of Debentures. If you convert
some or all of your Debentures into common stock, you will not
be entitled to liquidated damages with respect to the common
stock. However, if you convert your Debentures when a
registration default exists, you will receive additional
shares upon conversion (except to the extent we elect to
deliver cash upon conversion). See "Description of the
Debentures--Registration Rights."
Trading ........................................... We do not presently intend to list the Debentures on any
national securities exchange or include them in any automated
quotation system. The Debentures, however, are designated for
inclusion in the PORTAL(R) market.
NYSE Symbol for our
Common Stock ...................................... Our common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange
under the symbol "FIF."
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Summary of Historical Consolidated Financial Data
The summary of historical consolidated financial data set forth below for
each of the years in the five-year period ended July 31, 2003 are derived from
our audited consolidated financial statements for the periods indicated which
have been included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for each
respective period. The summary of historical consolidated financial data set
forth below for the nine-month periods ended April 30, 2004 and 2003 and as of
April 30, 2004, are derived from our unaudited consolidated financial
statements included in our April 30, 2004 Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. The
summary of historical consolidated financial data should be read in conjunction
with the consolidated financial statements and note disclosures in our Annual
Reports on Form 10-K for each respective period and the Company's April 30,
2004 Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
Nine months Ended
Year Ended July 31, April 30,
----------------------------------------------------------- -------------------
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2003 2004
------- -------- -------- -------- -------- ------- -------
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
Consolidated Statements of
Income Data:
Finance Income .................. $89,118 $111,513 $138,278 $138,777 $130,247 $98,941 $88,840
Interest Expense ................ 39,169 52,205 64,397 51,007 43,534 33,725 25,453
------- -------- -------- -------- -------- ------- -------
Net Interest Margin ............. $49,949 $ 59,308 $ 73,881 $ 87,770 $ 86,713 $65,216 $63,387
======= ======== ======== ======== ======== ======= =======
Net Earnings .................... $22,598 $ 26,722 $ 31,616 $ 37,068 $ 30,088 $23,178 $22,979
======= ======== ======== ======== ======== ======= =======
Diluted earnings per share ...... $ 1.30 $ 1.52 $ 1.75 $ 1.99 $ 1.65 $ 1.27 $ 1.25
======= ======== ======== ======== ======== ======= =======
Basic earnings per share ........ $ 1.52 $ 1.79 $ 1.99 $ 2.23 $ 1.67 $ 1.29 $ 1.27
======= ======== ======== ======== ======== ======= =======
As of July 31, As of April 30,
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1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004
-------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- -----------------
Consolidated Balance Sheets Data: (In thousands)
Finance Receivables, Net ............. $932,525 $1,118,087 $1,289,865 $1,412,298 $1,391,734 $1,410,198
Total Assets ......................... 942,185 1,127,785 1,313,663 1,447,846 1,426,082 1,432,712
Total Senior Debt .................... 647,652 791,348 931,598 1,030,396 1,042,276 1,075,319
Stockholders' Equity ................. 144,982 172,423 206,411 248,569 316,396 294,595
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RISK FACTORS
This section describes risks involved in purchasing our securities,
including the Debentures and our common stock. Before you invest in our
securities, you should consider carefully the following risks, in addition to
the other information presented elsewhere in this prospectus and the documents
incorporated by reference into this prospectus, in evaluating us and our
business. Any of the following risks could seriously harm our business and
financial results and cause the value of our securities to decline, which in
turn could cause you to lose all or part of your investment. For purposes of the
information below under the section, "Risk Factors - Risks Related to Our
Business", the terms "Financial Federal Corporation," "company," "we," "us" and
"our" refer to Financial Federal Corporation and its subsidiaries unless the
context otherwise requires. You should be aware that our subsidiaries will not
guarantee the Debentures.
Risks Related to Our Business
Our ability to grow our business depends on our ability to obtain external
financing.
We require a substantial amount of cash to originate loans, leases and
other funding obligations. We are and will continue to be dependent on funding
our business through senior term debt, asset securitization financings,
commercial paper, bank credit facilities and other debt. Our committed unsecured
revolving bank credit facilities expire on various dates through January 2007.
There can be no assurance that these funding sources will not be suspended or
reduced at maturity or that these funding sources will be renewed (as to which
there are no obligations to do so) when they expire or mature or, if necessary,
replaced on terms acceptable to us, if at all. Final scheduled maturities of
most of our finance receivables exceed the average term of these funding
sources. If we cannot renew or replace these funding sources, our funds from
scheduled payments or dispositions of our finance receivables may not be
sufficient to pay amounts becoming due under these funding sources. Moreover,
there can be no assurance that we could obtain increases in our existing funding
sources or obtain additional funding sources to support the growth of our
portfolio of finance receivables. Our inability to obtain adequate financing
could cause us to curtail or cease operations.
We may not recover amounts that we lend.
We have suffered charge-offs on some of our receivables since our
inception. A charge-off occurs when all or part of the principal of a particular
transaction is no longer recoverable and will not be repaid. A significant
increase in charge-offs could have a material adverse effect on our ability to
fund our business and on our net earnings and assets.
Delinquencies and credit losses affect our financial performance.
In addition to general economic and other conditions affecting the
industries and geographic regions in which our obligors operate, major factors
affecting our ability to maintain profitability include risks associated with:
o the effectiveness of our underwriting procedures;
o the creditworthiness and integrity of the obligors of our finance
receivables;
o the adequacy of the documentation relating to such receivables and
collateral;
o disputes and litigation with such obligors or with their other
creditors;
o the ability to repossess and remarket collateral supporting our
loans and leases upon a default;
o the ability to enforce our lien position in the event of the
bankruptcy of such obligors or otherwise; and
o the value of leased assets and pledged collateral securing our
receivables.
8
We provide an allowance for credit losses on finance receivables. The
allowance for credit losses on finance receivables is estimated by management
based on total finance receivables, charge-offs, non-accrual/delinquent finance
receivables and management's current assessment of the risks inherent in the our
finance receivables from national and regional economic conditions, industry
conditions, concentrations, the financial condition of counterparties (includes
the obligor/lessee and other parties we may have recourse to such as equipment
vendors/manufacturers and owners/affiliates of the obligor/lessee), equipment
collateral values and other factors. Although management periodically reviews
our allowance for credit losses, we cannot be certain that our allowance for
credit losses will be adequate to cover actual losses because of the risks
described above.
Our access to capital at competitive rates is dependent on our credit ratings.
A ratings downgrade could increase our funding costs, and limit access to
capital markets and adversely affect our ability to renew or replace existing
bank credit facilities.
Interest rate fluctuations can hurt our profitability.
Our profitability depends in large part upon the extent to which our
average yield on finance receivables exceeds our average cost of borrowed funds
("net interest spread"). Because our borrowed funds mature or reprice at a
faster rate than our finance receivables, a rapid and sustained rise in market
interest rates, increasing our cost of funds, could materially reduce our net
interest spread and, therefore, our profitability. In addition, increases in
market interest rates could materially reduce the volume of originations of new
financings and leases because customers and prospects may refrain from
borrowings as a result of having to pay a higher rate of interest.
We lend to privately owned small and medium-sized companies, which could present
a greater risk of loss than larger companies.
We provide financings primarily to small and medium-sized, privately owned
businesses. Compared to larger, publicly owned firms, these companies generally
have more limited access to capital and higher funding costs, may be in a weaker
financial position and may need more capital to expand or compete. Accordingly,
receivables from these types of customers may entail higher risks.
A customer's dishonesty could cause us to suffer losses.
A customer's dishonesty in reporting its financial position or the
condition/existence of the financed and leased collateral could result in the
loss of some or all of the principal of a particular receivable.
An economic downturn could result in less demand for our services and negatively
affect our receivables.
An economic downturn could result in a decline in the demand for some of
the types of equipment which we finance with a corresponding decline in
originations of related finance receivables. In addition, a downturn could
result in an increase in defaults by obligors and guarantors of our finance
receivables and a decrease in the value of collateral which we realize upon
disposition following such a default. If an economic downturn were to occur, our
ability to maintain and grow our portfolio could be materially adversely
affected.
We face intense competition.
Our business is highly competitive. We compete with banks,
manufacturer-owned and independent finance and leasing companies, as well as
other financial institutions. These competitors may have sources of funds
available at a lower cost than those available to us, thereby enabling them to
provide financing at rates lower than we may be willing to provide. In addition,
these competitors may be better positioned than we are to market their services
and financing programs to vendors and users of equipment because of their
ability to offer additional services and products, and more favorable rates and
terms. These competitors may have longer operating histories and may possess
greater financial and other resources than we do. These factors could adversely
effect our ability to maintain or grow our portfolio.
9
Economic difficulties within a particular industry or region could impair our
profitability and asset quality.
Defaults by our customers may be correlated with economic conditions
affecting particular industries or geographic locations. As a result, if any
particular industry or geographic region were to experience economic
difficulties, the overall timing and amount of collections from customers
operating in those industries or geographic regions may differ from what we
expect. Our finance receivables at April 30, 2004, were concentrated in the
following industries: construction (41%), road transportation (34%), waste
services (12%) and manufacturing (7%). Of our finance receivables at April 30,
2004, 30% were attributable to obligors located in the Southeast, 23% in the
Southwest and 19% in the Northeast. We could be negatively affected by adverse
economic conditions affecting any of these industries or regions.
Legal proceedings and related costs could negatively affect our financial
results.
As a lender we are at risk of governmental proceedings and litigation,
including class action lawsuits, challenging our contracts, rates, disclosures,
and collections or other practices, under state and federal statutes and other
laws, as well as actions relating to federal securities laws.
In recent years, a number of judicial decisions, not involving us, have
upheld the right of borrowers to sue lending institutions on the basis of
various evolving legal theories, collectively termed "lender liability."
Generally, lender liability is founded on the premise that a lender has either
violated a duty, whether implied or contractual, of good faith and fair dealing
owed to the borrower or has assumed a degree of control over the borrower
resulting in the creation of a fiduciary duty owed to the borrower or its other
creditors or shareholders. We may be subject to allegations of lender liability.
We cannot assure you that these claims will not arise or that we will not be
subject to significant liability if a claim of this type did arise.
We are dependent on our management and operations personnel.
Our success has been and will be largely dependent on Paul R. Sinsheimer,
our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and other key personnel. Competition
for qualified personnel in the financial services industry is intense. We have
not entered into retention agreements with any employees, and there can be no
assurance that we will be able to retain existing personnel.
Our growth is subject to uncertainty.
In order to profitably grow, we will be required to further penetrate the
markets in which we presently operate and/or enter new markets. Our ability to
do so depends upon a number of factors, including identification of new markets
in which we can successfully compete, the continued growth of the United States
economy, and the hiring of marketing and other qualified personnel.
We are implementing new software.
We are replacing our portfolio administration software. If material
problems with the new software used to manage the portfolio arise, it could
adversely effect our business operations.
Our operations could be negatively affected by increased costs relating to
accidents or equipment misuse.
Use of some of the equipment which we lease to our customers involves
inherent risks from accidents or misuse which could result in property damage,
personal injury or other losses. Although we typically require lessees to
maintain insurance against such claims, in the event of an accident or the
misuse of such equipment, the aggrieved party could attempt to hold us liable
for damages.
Risks Related to the Debentures
The Debentures are structurally subordinated to indebtedness and liabilities of
our subsidiaries.
Because we operate primarily through our subsidiaries, we derive our
revenues from, and hold our assets through, those subsidiaries. As a result, we
are dependent upon distributions and advances from and repayment of advances to
our subsidiaries in order to meet our payment obligations under the Debentures
and our other
10
obligations. In general, these subsidiaries are separate and distinct legal
entities and will have no obligation to pay any amounts due on our debt
securities, including the Debentures, or to provide us with funds for our
payment obligations, whether by dividends, distributions, loans or otherwise.
Our right to receive any assets of any subsidiary in the event of a bankruptcy
or liquidation of the subsidiary, and therefore the right of our creditors to
participate in those assets, will be structurally subordinated to the claims of
that subsidiary's creditors, including trade creditors, to the extent that we
are not a creditor of such subsidiary. In addition, even where we are a creditor
of a subsidiary, our rights as a creditor with respect to certain advances are
subordinated to other indebtedness of that subsidiary, including secured
indebtedness to the extent of the assets securing such indebtedness. As of
April 30, 2004, our subsidiaries had total indebtedness of approximately $949
million, $286 million of which was secured indebtedness, excluding intercompany
indebtedness.
We may be unable to repay or repurchase the Debentures if our subsidiaries are
unable to pay interest and dividends or make advances to or repay advances from
us.
At maturity, the entire outstanding principal amount of the Debentures
will become due and payable by us. In addition, each holder of the Debentures
may require us to repurchase all or a portion of that holder's Debentures on
April 15, 2009, April 15, 2014, April 15, 2019, April 15, 2024 and April 15,
2029, or, if a "Designated Event," as defined in the indenture, occurs. A
"Designated Event" also may constitute an event of default under, and result in
the acceleration of the maturity of, indebtedness under another indenture or
other indebtedness that we have or may incur in the future.
We, as a holding company, are dependent upon payment of principal and
interest on advances to and dividends from our subsidiaries to enable us to
service our outstanding debt, including the Debentures. At maturity or upon a
repurchase request, if we do not have sufficient funds on hand or available
through existing borrowing facilities or through the declaration and payment of
dividends by our subsidiaries we will need to seek additional financing.
Additional financing may not be available to us on terms favorable to us, if at
all.
The debt agreements of our major operating subsidiary contain certain
restrictive covenants including limitations on the subsidiary's dividends and
other distributions. In the event that the maturity date or repurchase request
occurs at a time when our subsidiary is restricted from paying us interest or
dividends, we could attempt to obtain the consent of the lenders under those
arrangements or could attempt to refinance the borrowings that contain the
restrictions. If we do not obtain the necessary consents or refinance these
borrowings, we will be unable to repay or repurchase the Debentures. Failure by
us to repay or repurchase the Debentures when required will result in an event
of default with respect to the Debentures.
We have a substantial amount of indebtedness, which could adversely affect our
financial performance and impact our ability to make payments on the Debentures.
As of April 30, 2004, we, including our subsidiaries, had total debt of
approximately $1.1 billion. Our level of indebtedness could have important
consequences to the holders of the Debentures. For example, it:
o may limit our ability to obtain additional financing for working
capital, capital expenditures or general corporate purposes,
particularly if the ratings assigned to our debt securities by
rating organizations were revised downward;
o will require us to dedicate a substantial portion of our cash flow
from operations to the payment of principal and interest on our
debt, reducing the funds available to us for other purposes,
including expansion through acquisitions, capital expenditures,
marketing spending and expansion of our product offerings; and
o may limit our flexibility to adjust to changing business and market
conditions and make us more vulnerable to a downturn in general
economic conditions as compared to our competitors.
Our ability to make scheduled payments or to refinance our obligations
with respect to our indebtedness will depend on our financial and operating
performance, which, in turn, is subject to prevailing economic conditions and to
financial, business and other factors beyond our control.
11
Our stock price, and therefore the price of the Debentures, may be subject to
significant fluctuations and volatility.
The market price of the Debentures is expected to be significantly
affected by the market price of our common stock. This may result in greater
volatility in the trading value of the Debentures than would be expected for
non-convertible debt securities that we issue. Among the factors that could
affect our common stock price are those discussed above under "--Risks Related
to Our Business", as well as:
o interest rate volatility;
o variations in our operating results;
o federal or state legislative, licensing or regulatory changes;
o changes in revenue or earnings estimates or publication of research
reports by analysts;
o speculation in the press or investment community;
o strategic actions by us or our competitors;
o general market conditions; and
o domestic and international factors unrelated to our performance.
In addition, the stock markets have experienced extreme volatility that
has often been unrelated to the operating performance of particular companies.
These broad market fluctuations may adversely affect the trading price of our
common stock and of the Debentures.
The trading prices for the Debentures will be directly affected by the trading
prices for our common stock, which are impossible to predict.
The price of our common stock could be affected by possible sales of our
common stock by investors who view the Debentures as a more attractive means of
equity participation in our company and by hedging or arbitrage trading activity
that may develop involving our common stock. The hedging or arbitrage could, in
turn, affect the trading prices of the Debentures.
The conditional conversion feature of the Debentures could result in you not
receiving the value of the common stock into which the Debentures are
convertible.
The Debentures are convertible into common stock only if specific
conditions are met. If the specific conditions for conversion are not met, you
may not be able to receive the value of the common stock into which your
Debentures would otherwise be convertible. One of these conditions occurs if the
credit rating assigned to the Debentures by Fitch Ratings, Inc. is at or below
BB. Since we are not required to maintain a rating on the Debenture, this
condition for conversion may not be available to you.
You should consider the United States federal income tax consequences of owning
Debentures.
We and each holder of the Debentures agree to treat the Debentures as
contingent payment debt instruments for U.S. federal income tax purposes,
subject to the original issue discount rules applicable to such instruments for
U.S. federal income tax purposes. The discussion below, and the discussion under
the heading "United States Federal Income Tax Considerations," assume that the
Debentures will be so treated. However, the U.S. federal income tax
characterization of the Debentures is uncertain and, thus, no assurance can be
given that the Internal Revenue Service will not assert that the Debentures
should be treated in a different manner. Such an alternative characterization
could affect the amount, timing and character of income, gain or loss in respect
of an investment in the Debentures.
12
Pursuant to the rules applicable to contingent payment debt instruments,
you will generally be required to accrue original issue discount with respect to
the Debentures in the manner described in "United States Federal Income Tax
Considerations - Accrual of Interest," regardless of whether you normally use
the cash or accrual method of tax accounting. As a result, you will generally be
required to include original issue discount in income based on the rate at which
we would issue a noncontingent, nonconvertible, fixed-rate debt instrument with
terms and conditions otherwise similar to those of the Debentures (which we have
determined to be 7.375%), which rate will be substantially in excess of the
stated interest rate on the Debentures. As a result, you will be required to
include amounts in taxable income each year substantially in excess of the
stated interest payable on the Debentures. Further, upon a sale, exchange,
conversion, repurchase or redemption of a Debenture, you will be required to
recognize gain or loss equal to the difference between your amount realized
(which will include the value of our common stock if you exercise your
conversion rights) and your adjusted tax basis in the Debenture, with any such
gain (and with all or a portion of any such loss) being classified as ordinary
income (or ordinary loss) rather than as capital gain (or capital loss). See
"United States Federal Income Tax Considerations." You should consult your tax
advisor as to the United States federal, state and local (as well as foreign)
tax consequences of acquiring, owning and disposing of the Debentures.
A downgrading, suspension or loss of the rating on the Debentures by Fitch
Ratings, Inc. could cause the liquidity and/or market value of the Debentures to
decline significantly.
The Debentures have only been rated by Fitch Ratings, Inc. and we are not
obligated to maintain such rating. A downgrading, suspension or withdrawal of
such rating could adversely affect the liquidity and/or the market price of the
Debentures. There can be no assurance that the current rating will not be
lowered or withdrawn entirely.
A liquid trading market for the Debentures may not develop.
We do not presently intend to apply for listing of the Debentures on any
securities exchange or any automated quotation system. Although certain of the
initial purchasers currently make a market in the Debentures, they are not
obligated to do so and may discontinue their market-making activities at any
time without notice. Consequently, we cannot be sure that any market for the
Debentures will develop or, if one does develop, that it will be maintained. If
an active market for the Debentures fails to develop or be sustained, the
trading price and liquidity of the Debentures could be adversely affected.
If you are able to resell your Debentures, many other factors may affect the
price you receive, which may be lower than you believe to be appropriate.
If you are able to resell your Debentures, the price you receive will
depend on many other factors that may vary over time, including:
o the number of potential buyers;
o the level of liquidity of the Debentures;
o ratings published by major credit rating agencies;
o our financial performance;
o the amount of indebtedness we have outstanding;
o the level, direction and volatility of market interest rates
generally;
o the market for similar securities;
o the redemption and repayment features of the Debentures to be sold;
and
o the time remaining to the maturity of your Debentures.
13
As a result of these factors, you may only be able to sell your Debentures
at prices below those you believe to be appropriate, including prices below the
price you paid for them.
The conversion rate of the Debentures may not be adjusted for all dilutive
events.
The conversion rate of the Debentures is subject to adjustment for certain
events, including, but not limited to, the issuance of stock dividends on our
common stock, the issuance of rights or warrants, subdivisions, combinations,
distributions of capital stock, indebtedness or assets, certain cash dividends
and certain tender or exchange offers as described under "Description of the
Debentures--Conversion Rights--Conversion Rate Adjustments." The conversion rate
will not be adjusted for other events, such as an issuance of common stock or
additional indebtedness convertible into common stock for cash, that may
adversely affect the trading price of the Debentures or the common stock. There
can be no assurance that an event that adversely affects the value of the
Debentures, but does not result in an adjustment to the conversion rate, will
not occur.
If we adjust the conversion rate, you may have to pay taxes with respect to
amounts that you do not receive.
The conversion rate of the Debentures is subject to adjustment for certain
events arising from stock splits and combinations, stock dividends, certain cash
dividends and certain other actions by us that modify our capital structure. See
"Description of the Debentures --Conversion Rights--Conversion Rate
Adjustments." If the conversion rate is adjusted as a result of a distribution
that is taxable to our common stock holders, such as a cash dividend, you will
be required to include an amount in income for federal income tax purposes,
notwithstanding the fact that you do not actually receive such distribution. If
the conversion rate is increased at our discretion or in certain other
circumstances, such increase also may be deemed to be the payment of a taxable
dividend to you, notwithstanding the fact that you do not receive a cash
payment. See "United States Federal Income Tax Considerations - Adjustment of
Conversion Rate."
The Debentures do not restrict our ability to incur additional debt or to take
other action that could negatively impact holders of the Debentures.
We are not restricted under the terms of the indenture and the Debentures
from incurring additional indebtedness or securing indebtedness other than the
Debentures. In addition, the Debentures do not require us to achieve or maintain
any minimum financial results relating to our financial position or results of
operations. Our ability to recapitalize, incur additional debt, secure existing
or future debt and take a number of other actions that are not limited by the
terms of the indenture and the Debentures could have the effect of diminishing
our ability to make payments on the Debentures when due. In addition, we are not
restricted from repurchasing subordinated indebtedness or common stock by the
terms of the indenture and the Debentures.
Conversion of the Debentures will dilute the ownership interest of existing
stockholders, including holders who had previously converted their Debentures.
The conversion of some or all of the Debentures will dilute the ownership
interests of existing stockholders. Any sales in the public market of the common
stock issuable upon such conversion could adversely affect prevailing market
prices of our common stock. In addition, the existence of the Debentures may
encourage short selling by market participants because the conversion of the
Debentures could depress the price of our common stock.
If you hold Debentures, you will not be entitled to any rights with respect to
our common stock, but you will be subject to all changes made with respect to
our common stock.
If you hold Debentures, you will not be entitled to any rights with respect to
our common stock (including, without limitation, voting rights and rights to
receive any dividends or other distributions on our common stock), but you will
be subject to all changes affecting the common stock. You will have rights with
respect to our common stock only if and when we deliver shares of common stock
to you upon conversion of your Debentures and, in limited cases, under the
conversion rate adjustments applicable to the Debentures. For example, in the
event that an amendment is proposed to our articles of incorporation or by-laws
requiring stockholder approval and the record date for determining the
stockholders of record entitled to vote on the amendment occurs prior to
delivery of
14
common stock to you, you will not be entitled to vote on the amendment, although
you will nevertheless be subject to any changes in the powers, preferences or
special rights of our common stock.
You are unlikely to be able to seek remedies against Arthur Andersen LLP, our
former independent auditor.
Our consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended July 31,
2001 were audited by Arthur Andersen LLP, our former independent auditor. Arthur
Andersen LLP has ceased operations and is no longer in a position to reissue its
audit reports or to provide consent to include financial statements reported on
by it in this prospectus. Because Arthur Andersen LLP has not reissued its
report and because we are not able to obtain a consent from Arthur Andersen LLP,
you will be unable to sue Arthur Andersen LLP for material misstatements or
omissions, if any, in this prospectus, including the financial statements
covered by its previously issued report. Even if you have a basis for asserting
a remedy against, or seeking to recover from, Arthur Andersen LLP, we believe
that it is unlikely that you would be able to recover damages from Arthur
Andersen LLP.
15
PRICE RANGE OF COMMON STOCK
Our common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange, or NYSE, under
the symbol "FIF." The following table sets forth, for each of the quarterly
periods indicated, the high and low sales prices of our common stock as reported
by the NYSE.
High Low
------ ------
Fiscal Year 2004
1st Quarter ended October 31, 2003 $34.15 $29.70
2nd Quarter ended January 31, 2004 $35.00 $29.22
3rd Quarter ended April 30, 2004 $34.91 $31.31
4th Quarter through June 21, 2004 $34.40 $29.60
Fiscal Year 2003
1st Quarter ended October 31, 2002 $34.70 $27.90
2nd Quarter ended January 31, 2003 $29.42 $24.21
3rd Quarter ended April 30, 2003 $25.96 $17.95
4th Quarter ended July 31, 2003 $30.30 $22.40
Fiscal Year 2002
1st Quarter ended October 31, 2001 $28.38 $23.74
2nd Quarter ended January 31, 2002 $31.25 $24.25
3rd Quarter ended April 30, 2002 $35.17 $29.25
4th Quarter ended July 31, 2002 $35.98 $25.99
On June 21, 2004, the last sale price for our common stock as reported by
the NYSE was $34.40 per share. As of June 21, 2004, there were 84 holders of
record of our common stock.
DIVIDEND POLICY
We have not paid cash dividends on our common stock since our initial
public offering. Further, we currently intend to retain our future earnings, if
any, to finance the growth, development and expansion of our business.
Accordingly, we do not intend to declare or pay any cash dividends on our common
stock in the immediate future. The declaration, payment and amount of future
cash dividends, if any, will be at the discretion of our board of directors
after taking into account various factors. These factors include our financial
condition, results of operations, cash flows from operations, current and
anticipated capital requirements and expansion plans, the income tax laws then
in effect and the requirements of Nevada law.
USE OF PROCEEDS
We will not receive any proceeds from the sale by the selling
securityholders of the Debentures or the shares of common stock issuable upon
conversion of the Debentures.
16
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
The following table sets forth our ratio of earnings to fixed charges for
the indicated periods.
Nine Months Ended
Year Ended July 31, April 30,
------------------------------------------------ -----------------
1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2003 2004
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
1.93 1.83 1.80 2.19 2.13 2.13 2.46
For purposes of computing the ratios of earnings to fixed charges,
earnings consist of income before taxes plus fixed charges (less capitalized
interest), and fixed charges consist of interest expense, capitalized interest
and the portion of rental expense under operating leases representative of an
interest factor.
CAPITALIZATION
The following table sets forth our total capitalization (including
the issuance of the Debentures) as of April 30, 2004. This table should
be read in conjunction with the other information presented in this
prospectus.
As of
April 30, 2004
--------------
(In thousands,
except par
value)
--------------
Total indebtedness .................................................... $1,075,319
----------
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock, $1.00 par value; 5,000 shares authorized; no
shares issued and outstanding, actual and pro forma ............. --
Common stock, $.50 par value; 100,000 shares authorized; 17,253
shares issued and outstanding (net of 1,672 treasury shares)..... 8,626
Additional paid-in capital ......................................... 100,844
Retained earnings .................................................. 185,125
----------
Total stockholders' equity .................................... 294,595
----------
Total capitalization .......................................... $1,369,914
==========
Neither the sale of the Debentures nor of the common stock issuable
upon conversion of the Debentures by the selling securityholders will have any
effect on our capitalization as of April 30, 2004.
17
SELLING SECURITYHOLDERS
We originally issued the Debentures on April 12, 2004. The initial
purchasers resold the Debentures to qualified institutional buyers in accordance
with Rule 144A under the securities Act. The Debentures and the common stock
that are offered for resale by this prospectus are offered for the accounts of
the selling securityholders. These subsequent purchasers, or their transferees,
pledgees, donees or successors, may from time to time offer and sell any or all
of the Debentures and/or the common stock issuable upon conversion of the
Debentures pursuant to this prospectus. The following table sets forth certain
information as of June 21, 2004 concerning the principal amount of Debentures
beneficially owned by each selling securityholder and the number of shares of
common stock issuable upon conversion of the Debentures that may be offered from
time to time pursuant to this prospectus.
Except as indicated below, no selling securityholders have had any
position, office or other material relationship with us or our affiliates within
the past three years.
Number of Number of
Debentures Percentage of Conversion Shares Percentage of
Beneficially Owned Debentures that May be Common Stock
Name That May Be Sold Outstanding Sold (1) Outstanding (2)
---- ---------------- ----------- -------- ---------------
A M Master Fund 1 LP. ................................... $ 7,524,000 4.30% 170,627 *
Akela Capital Master Fund, Ltd. ......................... 1,000,000 * 22,677 *
American Aadvantage Funds ............................... 285,000 * 6,463 *
Aventis Pension Master Trust ............................ 320,000 * 7,256 *
Aviva Life Insurance Co.................................. 2,000,000 1.14 45,355 *
Black Diamond Convertible Offshore LDC................... 1,627,000 * 36,896 *
Black Diamond Offshore Ltd............................... 1,019,000 * 23,108 *
BNP Paribas Equity Strategies, SNC....................... 3,670,000 2.10 83,227 *
Boilermaker - Blacksmith Pension Trust .................. 3,400,000 1.94 77,104 *
CALAMOS Convertible Fund - CALAMOS Investment Trust...... 10,500,000 6.00 238,116 1.36
Cemex Pension Plan ...................................... 165,000 * 3,741 *
Citigroup Global Markets Inc. ........................... 3,000,000 1.71 68,033 *
City of Knoxville Pension System ........................ 340,000 * 7,710 *
CNH CA Master Account, L.P. ............................. 250,000 * 5,669 *
Context Convertible Arbitrage Fund, LP. ................. 1,200,000 * 27,213 *
Context Convertible Arbitrage Offshore, Ltd. ............ 2,675,000 1.53 60,663 *
CooperNeff Convertible Strategies (Cayman) Master Fund,LP 3,880,000 2.22 87,989 *
Delta Airlines Master Trust ............................. 1,400,000 * 31,748 *
Delta Pilots Disability and Survivorship Trust .......... 490,000 * 11,112 *
Deutsche Bank Securities ................................ 1,600,000 * 36,284 *
Dorinco Reinsurance Company ............................. 965,000 * 21,884 *
Double Black Diamond Offshore LDC........................ 5,183,000 2.96 117,539 *
Genesee County Empoyees' Retirement System .............. 790,000 * 17,915 *
Healthnow New York Inc. ................................. 330,000 * 7,483 *
Highbrige International LLC ............................. 3,000,000 1.71 68,033 *
Jackson County Employees' Retirement System ............. 460,000 * 10,431 *
JMG Capital ............................................. 5,750,000 3.29 130,397 *
JMG Triton Offshore Fund, Ltd. .......................... 5,750,000 3.29 130,397 *
Ketterint Medical Center Funded Depreciation Account .... 110,000 * 2,494 *
Knoxville Utilities Board Retirement System ............. 165,000 * 3,741 *
Louisiana Workers Compensation Corporation .............. 435,000 * 9,864 *
Louisiana Workers Compensation #2 ....................... 65,000 * 1,474 *
Lyxor/Am Investment Fund Ltd. ........................... 1,386,000 * 31,431 *
Lyxor/Context Fund Ltd. ................................. 750,000 * 17,008 *
Lyxor/Convertible Arbitrage Fund Limited................. 650,000 * 14,740 *
Macomb County Employees' Retirement System .............. 365,000 * 8,277 *
MLGA Convertible Securities Arbitrage Ltd. .............. 5,000,000 2.86 113,389 *
National Bank Of Canada ................................. 225,000 * 5,102 *
18
National Bank Of Canada C/O Putnam Lovell NBF
Securities Inc. ......................................... 1,500,000 * 34,016 *
Norcal Mutual Insurance Company ......................... 800,000 * 18,142 *
Piper Jaffray & Co. ..................................... 3,000,000 1.71 68,033 *
Port Authority of Allegheny County Retirement and
Disability Allowance Plan for the Employees Represented
by Local 85 of the Amalgamated Transit Union ............ 745,000 * 16,894 *
Prisma Foundation ....................................... 155,000 * 3,515 *
R 2 Investments, LDC .................................... 990,000 * 22,451 *
Royal Bank Of Canada (Norshield) ........................ 300,000 * 6,803 *
S.A.C. Capital Associates, LLC .......................... 5,000,000 2.86 113,389 *
SCI Endowment Care Common Trust Fund - National
Fiduciary Services ...................................... 185,000 * 4,195 *
SCI Endowment Care Common Trust Fund - Suntrust ......... 100,000 * 2,267 *
SCI Endowment Care Common Trust Fund - Wachovia ......... 45,000 * 1,020 *
Singlehedge US Convertible Arbitrage Fund................ 900,000 * 20,410 *
Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company ............. 1,700,000 * 38,552 *
SPT ..................................................... 2,100,000 1.20 47,623 *
Sturgeon Limited......................................... 750,000 * 17,008 *
Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America ... 6,000,000 3.43 136,066 *
The California Wellness Foundation ...................... 510,000 * 11,565 *
The Cockrell Foundation ................................. 90,000 * 2,041 *
The Dow Chemical Company Employees' Retirement Plan ..... 2,700,000 1.54 61,230 *
The Fondren Foundation .................................. 140,000 * 3,174 *
Triborough Partners International Ltd. .................. 5,495,000 3.14 124,614 *
Triborough Partners LLC ................................. 2,355,000 1.35 53,406 *
Union Carbide Retirement Account ........................ 1,430,000 * 32,429 *
United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1262
and Employers Pension Fund .............................. 775,000 * 17,575 *
Univar USA Inc. Retirement Plan ......................... 400,000 * 9,071 *
Univest Convertible Arbitrage Fund II Ltd (Norshield) ... 100,000 * 2,267 *
Worldwide Transactions Ltd. ............................. 171,000 * 3,877 *
Other Selling Securityholders ........................... $58,840,000 33.62% 1,334,361 7.17%
----------
* Less than 1%
(1) Assumes conversion of the full amount of Debentures held by such holder at
the initial conversion rate of 22.6778; such conversion rate is subject
to adjustment as described under "Description of the Debentures -
Conversion Rights." Accordingly, the number of shares of common stock
issuable upon conversion of the Debentures may increase or decrease from
time to time. Under the terms of the Indenture, fractional shares will not
be issued upon conversion of the Debentures; cash will be paid in lieu of
fractional shares, if any.
(2) Computed in accordance with Rule 13d-3(d)(1) promulgated under the
Exchange Act and based upon 17,266,338 shares of common stock outstanding
as of June 21, 2004, treating as outstanding the number of shares issuable
upon conversion of the Debentures shown as being issuable upon the assumed
conversion by the named holder of the full amount of such holder's
Debentures but not assuming the conversion of the Debentures of any other
holder.
The preceding table has been prepared based upon the information furnished
to us by Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as trustee for the Debentures, by
The Depository Trust Company ("DTC"), and by the selling securityholders, listed
above.
The selling securityholders identified above may have sold, transferred or
otherwise disposed of, in transactions exempt from the registration requirements
of the Securities Act, all or a portion of their Debentures since the date on
which the information in the preceding table is presented. Information
concerning the selling securityholders may change from time to time and any such
changed information will be set forth in supplements to this prospectus if and
when necessary. Because the selling securityholders may offer all or some of the
Debentures that they hold and/or the common stock issuable upon conversion of
the Debentures pursuant to the offering contemplated by this prospectus, no
estimate can be given as to the amount of the Debentures or the common stock
issuable upon conversion of the Debentures that will be held by the selling
securityholders upon the termination of this offering.
19
DESCRIPTION OF DEBENTURES
We issued the Debentures under an indenture, dated as of April 12, 2004,
between us and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, a New York banking
corporation, as trustee. Initially, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas will
also act as paying agent and conversion agent for the Debentures. The terms of
the Debentures include those provided in the indenture and those provided in the
registration rights agreement, which we entered into with the initial
purchasers.
The following description is only a summary of the material provisions of
the Debentures, the indenture and the registration rights agreement. We urge you
to read these documents in their entirety because they, and not this
description, define your rights as holders of the Debentures. You may request a
copy of the indenture and the registration rights agreement from the trustee.
When we refer to "Financial Federal Corporation," "we," "our" or "us" in
this "Description of the Debentures", we refer only to Financial Federal
Corporation, a Nevada corporation, and not our subsidiaries.
Brief Description of the Debentures
The Debentures:
o are $175,000,000 in aggregate principal amount;
o were offered and sold to investors at 100.0% of their principal
amount, plus accrued interest, if any, from April 12, 2004;
o bear interest at a rate of 2.0% per annum, payable on each April 15
and October 15, beginning October 15, 2004;
o bear contingent interest which may be payable as set forth below
under "--Contingent Interest";
o are issued only in denominations of $1,000 principal amount and
integral multiples thereof;
o are senior unsecured obligations of Financial Federal Corporation,
ranking equally with all of our existing and future unsecured and
unsubordinated indebtedness (including indebtedness to our
subsidiaries); indebtedness of our subsidiaries (other than to us)
is effectively senior to the Debentures:
o subject to our right to deliver, in lieu of common stock, cash or a
combination of cash and common stock, are convertible into our
common stock, par value $.50 per share, initially at a conversion
rate of 22.6778 shares per $1,000 principal amount of Debentures
(equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately $44.10
per share), under the conditions and subject to such adjustments as
are described under "--Conversion Rights";
o are redeemable at our option in whole or in part beginning on April
20, 2009 upon the terms set forth under "--Optional Redemption by
Us";
o are subject to repurchase by us at your option on April 15, 2009,
2014, 2019, 2024 and 2029 or upon a designated event with respect to
Financial Federal Corporation, upon the terms and at the repurchase
price set forth below under "--Repurchase of Debentures at the
Option of Holders";
o are due on April 15, 2034, unless earlier converted, redeemed by us
at our option or repurchased by us at your option; and
20
o benefit from the provisions of a registration rights agreement and
bear liquidated damages if we fail to comply with certain of our
obligations under such agreement as set forth under "--Registration
Rights."
The indenture does not contain any financial covenants and does not
restrict us from paying dividends, incurring additional indebtedness or issuing
or repurchasing our securities. The indenture also does not protect you in the
event of a highly leveraged transaction or a change of control of Financial
Federal Corporation, except to the extent described under "--Repurchase of
Debentures at the Option of Holders--Designated Event Put" below.
No sinking fund is provided for the Debentures and the Debentures are not
be subject to defeasance. The Debentures were issued only in registered form,
without coupons, in denominations of $1,000 principal amount and integral
multiples thereof.
Definitive Debentures will only be issued under the limited circumstances
described under "Book-Entry System." You may present definitive Debentures for
conversion and registration of transfer and exchange at our office or agency in
New York City, which shall initially be the principal corporate trust office of
the trustee currently located at 60 Wall Street, New York, New York 10005. For
information regarding conversion, registration of transfer and exchange of
global Debentures, see "--Form, Denomination and Registration." No service
charge will be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of Debentures,
but we may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other
governmental charge payable in connection therewith.
We will make all payments on global Debentures to DTC in immediately
available funds.
You may not sell or otherwise transfer the Debentures or the common stock
issuable upon conversion of the Debentures except in compliance with the
provisions set forth under "Notice to Investors" and "--Registration Rights."
Interest
The Debentures bear interest at a rate of 2.0% per annum from April 12,
2004. We will also pay contingent interest on the Debentures in the
circumstances described under "--Contingent Interest." We will pay interest
semi-annually on April 15 and October 15 of each year, beginning October 15,
2004, to the holders of record at the close of business on the preceding April 1
and October 1, respectively. There is one exception to the preceding sentence:
In general, we will not pay accrued and unpaid interest, including
contingent interest, if any, on any Debentures that are converted into our
common stock. Instead, accrued interest, including contingent interest, if any,
will be deemed paid by the common stock received by holders on conversion. You
will receive, however, accrued and unpaid liquidated damages to, but not
including, the conversion date. However, if you surrender Debentures for
conversion after a record date for an interest payment but prior to the
corresponding interest payment date, you will receive on that interest payment
date accrued and unpaid interest, including contingent interest, if any, on
those Debentures, notwithstanding your conversion of those Debentures prior to
that interest payment date, because you will have been the holder of record on
the corresponding record date. Therefore, at the time you surrender Debentures
for conversion, you must pay to us an amount equal to the interest that has
accrued, including contingent interest, if any, and that will be paid on the
related interest payment date. No such payment need be made (1) if we have
specified a redemption date that is after a record date for an interest payment
but on or prior to the corresponding interest payment date, (2) if we have
specified a designated event repurchase date that is after a record date for an
interest payment but on or prior to the corresponding interest payment date or
(3) to the extent of any overdue interest if any overdue interest exists at the
time of conversion with respect to the Debentures converted.
Except as provided below, we will pay interest, including contingent
interest, if any, on:
o global Debentures to DTC in immediately available funds;
o any definitive Debentures having an aggregate principal amount of
$5,000,000 or less by check mailed to the holders of those
Debentures; and
21
o any definitive Debentures having an aggregate principal amount of
more than $5,000,000 by wire transfer in immediately available funds
if requested by the holders of those Debentures.
At maturity we will pay interest on the definitive Debentures at our
office or agency in New York City which initially will be the principal
corporate trust office of the trustee presently located at 60 Wall Street, New
York, New York 10005.
Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of
twelve 30-day months.
If any interest payment date of a Debenture falls on a day that is not a
business day, such interest payment date will be postponed to the next
succeeding business day without any interest or other payment in respect of the
delay. The term "business day" means, with respect to any Debenture, any day
other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in The
City of New York are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive
order to close.
Contingent Interest
We will pay contingent interest to the holders of Debentures for the
period commencing April 20, 2009 and ending October 14, 2009 if the average
trading price of a Debenture for each of the last five trading days immediately
preceding April 20, 2009 equals 120% or more of the principal amount of the
Debenture. Thereafter, we will pay contingent interest to the holders of
Debentures for any six-month period from and including an interest payment date
to but excluding the next interest payment date, commencing with the six-month
period beginning October 15, 2009, if the average trading price of a Debenture
for each of the last five trading days immediately preceding the first day of
the relevant six-month period equals 120% or more of the principal amount of the
Debenture. For any period when contingent interest shall be payable, the
contingent interest payable per $1,000 principal amount of Debentures will equal
0.25% per annum calculated on the average trading price of $1,000 principal
amount of Debentures during the relevant five consecutive trading-day period
referred to above used to determine whether contingent interest must be paid.
"Trading day" means a day during which trading in securities generally
occurs on the New York Stock Exchange or, if our common stock is not listed on
the New York Stock Exchange, on the principal other national or regional
securities exchange on which our common stock is then listed or, if our common
stock is not listed on a national or regional securities exchange, on the
National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System or, if our
common stock is not quoted on the National Association of Securities Dealers
Automated Quotation System, on the principal other market on which our common
stock is then traded.
The "trading price" of a Debenture on any date of determination means the
average of the secondary market bid quotations obtained by us for $5,000,000
principal amount of the Debentures at approximately 3:30 p.m., New York City
time, on such determination date from three independent nationally recognized
securities dealers we select; provided that if three such bids cannot reasonably
be obtained by us, but two such bids are obtained, then the average of the two
bids shall be used, and if only one such bid can reasonably be obtained by us,
that one bid shall be used. If we cannot reasonably obtain at least one bid for
$5,000,000 principal amount of the Debentures from a nationally recognized
securities dealer on such date of determination, then the trading price per
$1,000 principal amount of Debentures for such date of determination will be
deemed to be the closing sale price per share of our common stock on such date
of determination multiplied by the number of shares of our common stock that
would be received upon conversion of such $1,000 principal amount of Debentures
on such date.
Contingent interest, if any, will accrue and be payable to holders of
Debentures as of the regular interest record date occurring immediately prior to
the end of the relevant six-month period. Such payments will be paid on the
regular interest payment date with respect to the relevant six-month period.
Payments of contingent interest shall be made in the same manner, and subject to
the same restrictions, including those restrictions in respect of payments of
accrued and unpaid interest on any Debentures that are converted into our common
stock, as set forth above under "--Interest."
22
Upon determination that holders of Debentures will be entitled to receive
contingent interest for a six-month period, on or prior to the start of such
six-month period, we will issue a press release stating the contingent interest
for such period or publish such information on our website.
In addition, we will issue a press release setting forth the amount of
contingent interest payable per $1,000 principal amount of Debentures and the
manner in which such amount was calculated or publish such information on our
website on the applicable interest payment date.
Conversion Rights
General
Subject to the conditions and during the periods described below, you may
convert any outstanding Debentures into shares of our common stock, initially at
a conversion rate of 22.6778 shares per $1,000 principal amount of the
Debentures (equal to an initial conversion price of approximately $44.10 per
share). The conversion rate and the corresponding conversion price in effect at
any given time will be subject to adjustment as described below. We will not
issue fractional shares of common stock upon conversion of the Debentures.
Instead, we will pay the cash value of such fractional shares based upon the
closing sale price of our common stock on the trading day immediately preceding
the conversion date. You may convert Debentures only in denominations of $1,000
principal amount and integral multiples thereof.
If you have exercised your right to require us to repurchase your
Debentures in the circumstances described under "--Repurchase of Debentures at
the Option of Holders," you may convert your Debentures into our common stock
only if you withdraw your repurchase notice or designated event repurchase
notice and convert your Debentures prior to the close of business on the
repurchase date or designated event repurchase date, as applicable.
You may surrender Debentures for conversion into our common stock prior to
the stated maturity only under the following circumstances:
Conversion Upon Satisfaction of Market Price Condition
You may surrender any of your Debentures for conversion into our common
stock during any fiscal quarter (and only during such fiscal quarter) commencing
after July 31, 2004 if the closing sale price of our common stock for at least
20 trading days in the 30 trading-day period ending on the last trading day of
the preceding fiscal quarter is more than 130% of the conversion price as of
that 30th trading day.
The "closing sale price" of our common stock on any date means the closing
price per share (or if no closing price is reported, the average of the closing
bid and ask prices or, if there is more than one closing bid or ask price, the
average of the average closing bid and the average closing ask prices) as
reported in composite transactions for the principal United States securities
exchange on which our common stock is traded or, if our common stock is not
listed on a United States national or regional securities exchange, the closing
price as reported by the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated
Quotation system or by the National Quotation Bureau Incorporated. In the
absence of such a quotation, we will determine the closing sale price on the
basis we consider appropriate.
Conversion Upon Credit Rating Event
You will have the right, at your option, to convert any of your Debentures
into shares of our common stock during any period in which the Debentures are
rated at or below BB by Fitch Ratings, Inc. We are under no obligation, however,
to maintain the rating of the Debentures by Fitch Ratings, Inc. This conversion
right shall terminate if Fitch Ratings, Inc. withdraws its rating, is no longer
rating the Debentures or ceases to exist.
23
Conversion Upon Notice of Redemption
You may surrender for conversion any of your Debentures that have been
called for redemption at any time prior to the close of business on the
redemption date, even if the Debentures are not otherwise convertible at that
time.
Conversion Upon Specified Corporate Transactions
In the event:
o we distribute to all holders of our common stock certain rights
entitling them to purchase, for a period expiring within 60 days,
common stock at less than the closing sale price of the common stock
on the business day immediately preceding the announcement of such
distribution, or
o we elect to distribute to all holders of our common stock, cash or
other assets, debt securities or certain rights to purchase our
securities, which distribution has a per share value exceeding 10%
of the closing sale price of the common stock on the business day
preceding the announcement date for the distribution, then
at least 20 days prior to the ex-dividend date for the distribution, we must
notify the holders of the Debentures and the trustee of the occurrence of such
event. Once we have given that notice, holders may surrender their Debentures
for conversion at any time until the earlier of the close of business on the
business day immediately prior to the ex-dividend date or the date of our
announcement that the distribution will not take place. No adjustment to the
conversion rate or the ability of a holder of Debentures to convert will be made
if we provide that holders of Debentures will participate in the distribution
without conversion or in certain other cases.
In addition, if we are party to a consolidation, merger or binding share
exchange pursuant to which our common stock would be converted into cash,
securities or other property, a holder may surrender Debentures for conversion
at any time from and after the date which is 15 days prior to the anticipated
effective date of the transaction until 15 days after the actual date of the
transaction, or if the transaction also constitutes a change of control, until
the designated event repurchase date. We will notify holders and the trustee at
the same time we publicly announce such transaction (but in no event less than
15 days prior to the effective date of such transaction).
If we are a party to a consolidation, merger or binding share exchange
pursuant to which our common stock is converted into cash, securities or other
property, then at the effective time of the transaction, the right to convert a
Debenture into common stock will be changed into a right to convert the
Debentures into the kind and amount of cash, securities or other property which
the holder would have received if the holder had converted such Debentures
immediately prior to the transaction.
If the transaction described in the preceding paragraph also constitutes a
change of control, the holder can, subject to certain conditions, require us to
repurchase all or a portion of its Debentures as described under "--Repurchase
of Debentures at the Option of Holders--Designated Event Put."
Conversion Procedures
By delivering to the holder the number of shares issuable upon conversion
or the amount of cash determined as set forth below under "--Payment Upon
Conversion," together with a cash payment in lieu of any fractional shares, we
will satisfy our obligation with respect to the Debentures. That is, accrued
interest, if any, and accrued contingent interest, if any, will be deemed to be
paid in full rather than canceled, extinguished or forfeited.
You will not be required to pay any taxes or duties relating to the
issuance or delivery of our common stock if you exercise your conversion rights,
but you will be required to pay any tax or duty which may be payable relating to
any transfer involved in the issuance or delivery of the common stock in a name
other than your own. Certificates representing shares of common stock will be
issued or delivered only after all applicable taxes and duties, if any, payable
by you have been paid. We and each holder of a Debenture also agree that
delivery to the holder of the full number of shares of common stock into which
the Debenture is convertible or the amount of cash determined as set forth below
under "--Payment Upon Conversion," together with any cash payment of such
holder's fractional shares, will be treated as a payment (in an amount equal to
the sum of the then fair market value of such shares and
24
such cash payment, if any) on the Debenture for purposes of the regulations
governing contingent payment debt instruments. See "United States Federal Income
Tax Considerations."
Upon conversion, we may choose to deliver, in lieu of shares of our common
stock, cash or a combination of cash and shares of our common stock, as
described below under "--Payment Upon Conversion."
To convert a definitive Debenture, you must:
o complete the conversion notice on the back of the Debentures (or a
facsimile thereof);
o deliver the completed conversion notice and the Debentures to be
converted to the specified office of the conversion agent;
o pay all funds required, if any, relating to interest on the
Debentures to be converted to which you are not entitled, as
described in "--Interest;"
o pay all funds required, if any, relating to contingent interest on
the Debentures to be converted to which you are not entitled, as
described in "--Contingent Interest;" and
o pay all taxes or duties payable by you, if any, as described above.
To convert interests in a global Debenture, you must comply with the last
three bullets above and deliver to DTC the appropriate instruction form for
conversion pursuant to DTC's conversion program.
The "conversion date" will be the date on which all of the foregoing
requirements have been satisfied. The Debentures will be deemed to have been
converted immediately prior to the close of business on the conversion date. A
certificate will be delivered to you, or a book-entry transfer through DTC will
be made, for the number of shares of common stock into which the Debentures are
converted or the amount of cash determined as set forth below under "--Payment
Upon Conversion" (and cash in lieu of any fractional shares) as soon as
practicable on or after the conversion date.
Payment Upon Conversion
Conversion on or Prior to the Final Notice Date. In the event that we
receive your notice of conversion on or prior to the day that is 45 calendar
days prior to stated maturity or, with respect to Debentures being redeemed, the
applicable redemption date (the "final notice date"), the following procedures
will apply:
If we choose to satisfy all or any portion of our obligation to deliver
common stock upon conversion (the "conversion obligation") in cash, we will
notify you through the trustee of the dollar amount to be satisfied in cash
(which must be expressed either as 100% of the conversion obligation or as a
fixed dollar amount) at any time on or before the date that is two business days
following receipt of your notice of conversion ("cash settlement notice
period"). If we timely elect to pay cash for any portion of the shares otherwise
issuable to you, you may retract the conversion notice at any time during the
two business day period immediately following the cash settlement notice period
("conversion retraction period"). If no such election is made, no such
retraction can be made (and a conversion notice shall be irrevocable).
Settlement amounts will be computed as follows:
o If we elect to satisfy the entire conversion obligation in shares,
we will deliver to you a number of shares, for each $1,000 principal
amount of Debentures, equal to the then current conversion rate;
provided that if on the date you submit your notice of conversion
(x) you hold Debentures that are neither registered under the
Securities Act nor immediately freely saleable pursuant to rule
144(k) under the Securities Act and (y) there exists a registration
default as defined under "--Registration Rights," the conversion
rate shall be multiplied by 103% (including for the purpose of
calculating the number of shares delivered under clause (ii) of the
last bullet of this paragraph). We will pay cash for all fractional
shares of common stock, as described above under "--General."
25
o If we elect to satisfy the entire conversion obligation in cash, we
will deliver to you, for each $1,000 principal amount of Debentures,
cash in an amount equal to the product of the then current
conversion rate and the average closing sale price of our common
stock for the 20 trading-day period beginning the day after the
expiration of the conversion retraction period (the "cash settlement
averaging period").
o If we elect to satisfy a fixed portion (other than 100%) of the
conversion obligation in cash, we will deliver to you, for each
$1,000 principal amount of Debentures, such cash amount (the "cash
amount") and a number of shares of our common stock equal to the
greater of (i) zero and (ii) the excess, if any, of the number of
shares calculated as set forth in the first bullet of this paragraph
over the number of shares equal to the sum, for each day of the cash
settlement averaging period, of (x) 5% of the cash amount, divided
by (y) the closing sale price of our common stock on such day. We
will pay cash for all fractional shares of common stock. The cash
payment for fractional shares will be based on the closing sale
price of our common stock on the trading day immediately prior to
the conversion date.
If we choose to satisfy all or any portion of the conversion obligation in
cash and the conversion notice has not been retracted, then settlement (in cash
and/or shares) will occur on the business day following the cash settlement
averaging period. If we choose to satisfy the entire conversion obligation in
shares of our common stock then settlement will occur on the third business day
following the conversion date.
Our Right to Irrevocably Elect Payment. At any time prior to maturity, we
may irrevocably elect to satisfy in cash up to 100% of the principal amount of
the Debentures converted after the date of such election, with any remaining
amount to be satisfied in shares of our common stock. Such election shall be in
our sole discretion without the consent of the holders of the Debentures, by
notice to the trustee and the holders of the Debentures. If we make such
election, we will not have to make any further election prior to the final
notice date and the description set forth under "--Payment Upon
Conversion--Conversion after the Final Notice Date" shall not be applicable.
In the event that we receive your notice of conversion after the date of
such election, your notice of conversion will not be retractable and settlement
amounts will be computed and settlement dates will be determined in the same
manner as set forth above under "--Payment Upon Conversion--Conversion on or
Prior to the Final Notice Date" except that:
o the "cash settlement averaging period" shall be the 20 trading-day
period beginning on the day after receipt of your notice of
conversion; and
o the "cash amount" shall be the lesser of (i) (x) the then current
conversion rate, multiplied by (y) the average closing sale price of
our common stock during the cash settlement averaging period and
(ii) 100% of the principal amount of a Debenture.
Conversion after the Final Notice Date. In the event that we receive your
notice of conversion after the final notice date, we will not send individual
notices of our election to satisfy all or any portion of the conversion
obligation in cash. Instead, if we choose to satisfy all or any portion of the
conversion obligation in cash after the final notice date, we will send, on or
prior to the final notice date, a single notice to the trustee of the dollar
amount to be satisfied in cash (which must be expressed either as 100% of the
conversion obligation or as a fixed dollar amount). Settlement amounts will be
computed and settlement dates will be determined in the same manner as set forth
above under "--Payment Upon Conversion--Conversion on or Prior to the Final
Notice Date" except that the "cash settlement averaging period" shall be the 20
trading-day period beginning on the day after receipt of your notice of
conversion. If we do not elect to satisfy all or any portion of the conversion
obligation in cash, then settlement will occur on the first business day
following the conversion date.
Conversion Rate Adjustments
We will adjust the conversion rate if any of the following events occur:
26
(1) We issue our common stock as a dividend or distribution on our common
stock.
(2) We issue to all holders of common stock certain rights or warrants
entitling them to purchase, for a period expiring within 60 days after the date
of the distribution, shares of our common stock at a price per share less than
the closing sale price of a share of our common stock on the record date for the
distribution.
(3) We subdivide or combine our common stock.
(4) We distribute to all holders of our common stock, shares of capital
stock, evidences of indebtedness or other assets, including securities (but
excluding rights or warrants listed in (2) above, dividends or distributions
listed in (1) above and distributions consisting exclusively of cash), the
conversion rate will be increased by multiplying it by a fraction,
o the numerator of which will be the current market price of our
common stock; and
o the denominator of which will be the current market price of our
common stock minus the fair market value, as determined by our board
of directors, of the portion of those assets, debt securities,
shares of capital stock or rights or warrants so distributed
applicable to one share of common stock.
If we distribute capital stock of, or similar equity interests in, a
subsidiary or other business unit of ours, then the conversion rate will be
adjusted based on the market value of the securities so distributed relative to
the market value of our common stock, in each case based on the average closing
sales price of those securities (where such closing sale prices are available)
for the 10 trading days commencing on and including the fifth trading day after
the "ex-dividend date" for such distribution on the New York Stock Exchange or
such other national or regional exchange or market on which the securities are
then listed or quoted.
(5) We distribute cash, excluding any dividend or distribution in
connection with our liquidation, dissolution or winding up in which event the
conversion rate will be increased by multiplying it by a fraction,
o the numerator of which will be the current market price of our
common stock plus the amount per share of such dividend or
distribution; and
o the denominator of which will be the current market price of our
common stock.
(6) We or one of our subsidiaries makes a payment in respect of a tender
offer or exchange offer for our common stock to the extent that the cash and
value of any other consideration included in the payment per share of our common
stock exceeds the closing sale price of our common stock on the trading day next
succeeding the last date on which tenders or exchanges may be made pursuant to
such tender or exchange offer, the conversion rate will be increased by
multiplying it by a fraction,
o the numerator of which will be the sum of (i) the fair market value,
as determined by our board of directors, of the aggregate
consideration payable for all shares of our common stock we purchase
in such tender or exchange offer and (ii) the product of the number
of shares of our common stock outstanding less any such purchased
shares and the closing price of our common stock on the trading day
next succeeding the expiration of the tender or exchange offer; and
o the denominator of which will be the product of the number of shares
of our common stock outstanding, including any such purchased
shares, and the closing price of our common stock on the trading day
next succeeding the expiration of the tender or exchange offer.
(7) Someone other than us or one of our subsidiaries makes a payment in
respect of a tender offer or exchange offer in which, as of the closing date of
the offer, our board of directors is not recommending rejection of the offer, in
which event each conversion rate will be increased by multiplying such
conversion rate by a fraction,
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o the numerator of which will be the sum of (i) the fair market value,
as determined by our board of directors, of the aggregate
consideration payable to our stockholders based on the acceptance
(up to any maximum specified in the terms of the tender or exchange
offer) of all shares validly tendered or exchange and not withdrawn
as of the expiration of the offer and (ii) the product of the number
of shares of our common stock outstanding less any such purchased
shares and the closing sale price of our common stock on the trading
day next succeeding the expiration of the tender or exchange offer;
and
o the denominator of which will be the product of the number of shares
of our common stock outstanding, including any such purchased
shares, and the closing sale price of our common stock on the
trading day next succeeding the expiration of the tender or exchange
offer.
The adjustment referred to in this clause (7) will be made only if:
o the tender offer or exchange offer is for an amount that increases
the offeror's ownership of common stock to more than 25% of the
total shares of common stock outstanding; and
o the cash and value of any other consideration included in the
payment per share of common stock exceeds the current market price
per share of common stock on the trading day next succeeding the
last date on which tenders or exchanges may be made pursuant to the
tender or exchange offer.
However, the adjustment referred to in this clause (7) will generally not
be made if, as of the closing of the offer, the offering documents disclose a
plan or an intention to cause us to engage in a consolidation or merger or a
sale of all or substantially all of our assets.
"Current market price" of our common stock on any day means the average of
the closing sale price of our common stock (as defined above under
"--Conversion--General") for each of the 10 consecutive trading days ending on
the earlier of the day in question and the day before the "ex-dividend date"
with respect to the issuance or distribution requiring such computation.
To the extent that we have a rights plan in effect upon conversion of the
Debentures into common stock, you will receive, in addition to the common stock,
the rights under the rights plan, unless prior to any conversion, the rights
have separated from the common stock, in which case each conversion rate will be
adjusted at the time of separation as described in clause (4) above, as if we
distributed to all holders of our common stock, shares of our capital stock,
evidences of indebtedness or assets as described above, subject to readjustment
in the event of the expiration, termination or redemption of such rights.
In the event of:
o any reclassification of our common stock;
o a consolidation, merger, binding share exchange or combination
involving us; or
o a sale or conveyance to another person or entity of all or
substantially all of our property or assets;
in which holders of common stock would be entitled to receive stock, other
securities, other property, assets or cash for their common stock, upon
conversion of your Debentures you will be entitled to receive the same type of
consideration that you would have been entitled to receive if you had converted
the Debentures into our common stock immediately prior to any of these events.
The conversion rate will not be adjusted:
o upon the issuance of any shares of our common stock pursuant to any
present or future plan providing for the reinvestment of dividends
or interest payable on our securities and the investment of
additional optional amounts in shares of our common stock under any
plan;
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o upon the issuance of any shares of our common stock or options or
rights to purchase those shares pursuant to any present or future
employee, director or consultant benefit plan or program of or
assumed by us or any of our subsidiaries;
o upon the issuance of any shares of our common stock pursuant to any
option, warrant, right or exercisable, exchangeable or convertible
security not described in the preceding bullet and outstanding as of
the date the Debentures were first issued;
o for a change in the par value of the common stock; or
o for accrued and unpaid interest, including contingent interest or
liquidated damages, if any.
The holders of the Debentures may, in certain circumstances, be deemed to
have received a distribution subject to U.S. federal income tax as a dividend in
connection with an adjustment of the conversion rate. See "United States Federal
Income Tax Considerations--Adjustment of Conversion Rate."
To the extent permitted by law, we may, from time to time, increase the
conversion rate for a period of at least 20 days if our board of directors has
made a determination that this increase would be in our best interests. Any such
determination by our board will be conclusive. We would give holders and the
trustee at least 15 days notice of any increase in the conversion rate. In
addition, we may increase the conversion rate if our board of directors deems it
advisable to avoid or diminish any income tax to holders of common stock
resulting from any stock distribution.
Payment at Maturity
Each holder of $1,000 principal amount of the Debentures shall be entitled
to receive $1,000 at maturity, plus accrued and unpaid interest, contingent
interest and liquidated damages, if any. We will pay principal on:
o global Debentures to DTC in immediately available funds; and
o any definitive Debentures at our office or agency in New York City,
which initially will be the office or agency of the trustee in New
York City.
Optional Redemption by Us
Prior to April 20, 2009, the Debentures will not be redeemable at our
option. Beginning on April 20, 2009, we may redeem the Debentures for cash at
any time as a whole, or from time to time in part, at a redemption price equal
to 100% of the principal amount of the Debentures plus any accrued and unpaid
interest, contingent interest, if any, and liquidated damages, if any, on the
Debentures to, but not including, the redemption date. We will give at least 30
days, but not more than 60 days, notice of redemption by mail to holders of
Debentures and the trustee. Debentures or portions of Debentures called for
redemption will be convertible by the holder until the close of business on the
redemption date. Accordingly, payment for Debentures called for redemption will
be made on the business day following the redemption date.
If we do not redeem all of the Debentures, the trustee will select the
Debentures to be redeemed in principal amounts of $1,000 or integral multiples
thereof, by lot, on a pro rata basis or by such other method the trustee
considers fair and appropriate, so long as such method is not prohibited by the
rules of the stock exchange on which the Debentures are then traded. If any
Debentures are to be redeemed in part only, we will issue a new Debenture or
Debentures with a principal amount equal to the unredeemed principal portion
thereof. If a portion of your Debentures is selected for partial redemption and
you convert a portion of your Debentures, the converted portion will be deemed
to be taken from the portion selected for redemption
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Repurchase of Debentures at the Option of Holders
Optional Put
On April 15, 2009, April 15, 2014, April 15, 2019, April 15, 2024 and
April 15, 2029 (each, a "repurchase date"), you may require us to repurchase any
outstanding Debentures for which you have properly delivered and not withdrawn a
written repurchase notice, subject to certain additional conditions, at a
repurchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Debentures plus
accrued and unpaid interest, contingent interest and liquidated damages, if any,
to, but not including, the repurchase date. Payment for Debentures to be
repurchased will be made on the business day following the repurchase date.
You may submit a repurchase notice to the paying agent (which will
initially be the trustee) at any time from the opening of business on the date
that is 20 business days prior to the repurchase date until the close of
business on the repurchase date.
Any repurchase notice given by you electing to require us to repurchase
Debentures shall be given so as to be received by the paying agent no later than
the close of business on the repurchase date and must state:
o if definitive Debentures have been issued, the certificate numbers
of the holders' Debentures to be delivered for repurchase (or, if
the Debentures are not issued in definitive form, the notice of
repurchase must comply with appropriate DTC procedures);
o the portion of the principal amount of Debentures to be repurchased,
which must be $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof; and
o that the Debentures are to be repurchased by us pursuant to the
applicable provisions of the Debentures.
You may withdraw your repurchase notice by delivering a written notice of
withdrawal to the paying agent prior to the close of business on the repurchase
date. The notice of withdrawal shall state:
o the principal amount of Debentures being withdrawn;
o if definitive Debentures have been issued, the certificate numbers
of the Debentures being withdrawn (or, if the Debentures are not
issued in definitive form, the notice of withdrawal must comply with
appropriate DTC procedures); and
o the principal amount of the Debentures, if any, that remain subject
to the repurchase notice.
In connection with any repurchase, we will, to the extent applicable:
o comply with the provisions of Rule 13e-4, Rule 14e-1 and any other
tender offer rules under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, which may then be applicable; and
o file Schedule TO or any other required schedule under the Exchange
Act.
Our obligation to pay the repurchase price for Debentures for which a
repurchase notice has been delivered and not validly withdrawn is conditioned
upon you effecting book entry transfer of the Debentures or delivering
definitive Debentures, together with necessary endorsements, to the paying agent
at any time after delivery of the repurchase notice. We will cause the
repurchase price for the Debentures to be paid promptly following the later of
the business day following the repurchase date and the time of book entry
transfer or delivery of definitive Debentures, together with such endorsements.
If the paying agent holds money sufficient to pay the repurchase price of
the Debentures for which a repurchase notice has been delivered and not validly
withdrawn in accordance with the terms of the indenture, then, immediately after
the repurchase date, the Debentures will cease to be outstanding and interest
and contingent interest and liquidated damages, if any, on the Debentures will
cease to accrue, whether or not the Debentures are transferred by book entry or
delivered to the paying agent. Thereafter, all other your rights shall
terminate, other than the right to receive the repurchase price upon book entry
transfer of the Debentures or delivery of the Debentures. Our ability to
repurchase Debentures for cash may be limited by restrictions on the ability of
Financial
30
Federal Corporation to obtain funds for such repurchase through dividends from
its subsidiaries and the terms of our then existing borrowing agreements.
Designated Event Put
If a designated event, as defined below, occurs, you will have the right
on the designated event repurchase date (subject to certain exceptions set forth
below) to require us to repurchase all of your Debentures not previously called
for redemption, or any portion of those Debentures that is equal to $1,000 in
principal amount or integral multiples thereof, at a designated event repurchase
price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Debentures plus any accrued
and unpaid interest, including contingent interest, if any, and liquidated
damages, if any, on the Debentures to but not including the designated event
repurchase date.
Within 30 days after the occurrence of a designated event, we are required
to give notice to you and the trustee of such occurrence and of your resulting
repurchase right and the procedures that you must follow to require us to
repurchase your Debentures as described below. The designated event repurchase
date specified by us will be 30 days after the date on which we give this
notice. Notice will be given to DTC as provided under "--Form, Denomination and
Registration" or, if Debentures were issued in definitive form, to the holders
of record.
The designated event repurchase notice given by you electing to require us
to repurchase your Debentures shall be given so as to be received by the paying
agent no later than the close of business on the designated event repurchase
date and must state:
o if definitive Debentures have been issued, the certificate numbers
of the holders' Debentures to be delivered for repurchase (or, if
the Debentures are not issued in definitive form, the designated
event repurchase notice must comply with appropriate DTC
procedures);
o the portion of the principal amount of Debentures to be repurchased,
which must be $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof; and
o that the Debentures are to be repurchased by us pursuant to the
applicable provisions of the Debentures.
You may withdraw your designated event repurchase notice by delivering a
written notice of withdrawal to the paying agent prior to the close of business
on the designated event repurchase date. The notice of withdrawal shall state:
o the principal amount at maturity of Debentures being withdrawn;
o if definitive Debentures have been issued, the certificate numbers
of the Debentures being withdrawn (or, if the Debentures are not
issued in definitive form, the notice of withdrawal must comply with
appropriate DTC procedures); and
o the principal amount of the Debentures, if any, that remain subject
to the designated event repurchase notice.
A "designated event" will be deemed to have occurred upon a change of
control or a termination of trading.
A "change of control" will be deemed to have occurred at such time after
the original issuance of the Debentures when any of the following has occurred:
(1) as indicated by the filing of a Schedule TO or any other schedule,
form or report under the Exchange Act disclosing the acquisition by any person,
including any syndicate or group deemed to be a "person" under Section 13(d)(3)
of the Exchange Act of beneficial ownership, directly or indirectly, through a
purchase, merger or other acquisition transaction or series of purchase, merger
or other acquisition transactions, of shares of our capital stock entitling that
person to exercise 50% or more of the total voting power of all shares of our
capital stock entitled to vote generally in elections of directors, other than
any acquisition by us, any of our subsidiaries or
31
any of our employee benefit plans (except that any of those persons shall be
deemed to have beneficial ownership of all securities it has the right to
acquire, whether the right is currently exercisable or is exercisable only upon
the occurrence of a subsequent condition); or
(2) our consolidation or merger with or into any other person, any merger
of another person into us, or any conveyance, transfer, sale, lease or other
disposition of all or substantially all of our properties and assets to another
person, other than:
o any transaction:
(i) that does not result in any reclassification, conversion,
exchange or cancellation of outstanding shares of our capital stock; and
(ii) pursuant to which holders of our capital stock immediately
prior to the transaction have the entitlement to exercise, directly or
indirectly, 50% or more of the total voting power of all shares of capital
stock entitled to vote generally in elections of directors of the
continuing or surviving person immediately after giving effect to such
issuance; or
o any merger, share exchange, transfer of assets or similar
transaction solely for the purpose of changing our jurisdiction of
incorporation and resulting in a reclassification, conversion or
exchange of outstanding shares of common stock, if at all, solely
into shares of common stock, ordinary shares or American Depositary
Shares of the surviving entity or a direct or indirect parent of the
surviving corporation; or
o any consolidation or merger with or into any of our subsidiaries, so
long as such merger or consolidation is not part of a plan or a
series of transactions designed to or having the effect of merging
or consolidating with any other person.
Beneficial ownership shall be determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3
promulgated by the Commission under the Exchange Act. The term "person" includes
any syndicate or group that would be deemed to be a "person" under Section
13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act.
The definition of change of control includes a phrase relating to the
conveyance, transfer, sale, lease or disposition of "all or substantially all"
of our assets. There is no precise, established definition of the phrase
"substantially all" under applicable law. Accordingly, your ability to require
us to repurchase your Debentures as a result of a conveyance, transfer, sale,
lease or other disposition of less than all our assets may be uncertain.
However, notwithstanding the foregoing, you will not have the right to
require us to repurchase your Debentures upon a change of control if:
(1) the closing sale price per share of our common stock (as defined above
under "--Conversion--General") for any five trading days within:
o the period of 10 consecutive trading days ending immediately after
the later of the change of control or the public announcement of the
change of control, in the case of a change of control described in
clause (1) above of the definition of a change of control, or
o the period of 10 consecutive trading days ending immediately before
the change of control, in the case of a change of control described
in clause (2) above of the definition of a change of control,
equals or exceeds 130% of the conversion price of the Debentures on each
of those five trading days; or
(2) 90% or more of the consideration in the transaction or transactions
(other than cash payments for fractional shares and cash payments made in
respect of dissenters' appraisal rights) constituting a change of control
described in clause (2) above consists of shares of common stock traded or to be
traded immediately following a
32
change of control on a national securities exchange or the NASDAQ National
Market, and, as a result of the transaction or transactions, the Debentures
become convertible into that common stock (and any rights attached thereto).
A "termination of trading" will be deemed to have occurred if our common
stock (or other common stock into which the Debentures are then convertible) is
neither listed for trading on a United States national securities exchange nor
approved for trading on the NASDAQ National Market or trading on any similar
system of automated dissemination of quotations of securities prices.
Rule 13e-4 under the Exchange Act requires the dissemination of certain
information to security holders if an issuer tender offer occurs and may apply
if the repurchase option becomes available to holders of the Debentures. We will
comply with this rule and file Schedule TO (or any similar schedule) to the
extent applicable at that time.
If the paying agent holds money sufficient to pay the designated event
repurchase price of the Debentures which holders have elected to require us to
repurchase on the business day following the designated event repurchase date in
accordance with the terms of the indenture, then, immediately after the
designated event repurchase date, those Debentures will cease to be outstanding
and interest, contingent interest and liquidated damages, if any, on the
Debentures will cease to accrue, whether or not the Debentures are transferred
by book entry or delivered to the paying agent. Thereafter, all other rights of
the holder shall terminate, other than the right to receive the designated event
repurchase price upon book entry transfer of the Debentures or delivery of the
Debentures.
The term "designated event" is limited to specified transactions and may
not include other events that might adversely affect our financial condition or
business operations. The foregoing provisions would not necessarily protect
holders of the Debentures if highly leveraged or other transactions involving us
occur that may affect holders adversely. We could, in the future, enter into
certain transactions, including certain recapitalizations, that would not
constitute a designated event with respect to the designated event repurchase
feature of the Debentures but that would increase the amount of our (or our
subsidiaries') outstanding indebtedness.
Our ability to repurchase Debentures for cash upon the occurrence of a
designated event is subject to important limitations. Our ability to repurchase
the Debentures for cash may be limited by restrictions on the ability of
Financial Federal Corporation to obtain funds for such repurchase through
dividends from its subsidiaries and the terms of our then existing borrowing
agreements. In addition, the occurrence of a designated event could cause an
event of default under, or be prohibited or limited by the terms of, our then
existing borrowing arrangements. We cannot assure you that we would have the
financial resources, or would be able to arrange financing, to pay the
designated event repurchase price in cash for all the Debentures that might be
delivered by holders of Debentures seeking to exercise the repurchase right.
The designated event purchase feature of the Debentures may in certain
circumstances make more difficult or discourage a takeover of our company. The
designated event purchase feature, however, is not the result of our knowledge
of any specific effort:
o to accumulate shares of our common stock;
o to obtain control of us by means of a merger, tender offer
solicitation or otherwise; or
o by management to adopt a series of anti-takeover provisions.
Instead, the designated event repurchase feature is a standard term
contained in securities similar to the Debentures.
Merger and Sales of Assets
The indenture provides that Financial Federal Corporation may not
consolidate with or merge into any other person or convey, transfer, sell, lease
or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties and assets to
another person unless, among other things:
33
o the resulting, surviving or transferee person is organized and
existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or
the District of Columbia;
o such person assumes all obligations of Financial Federal Corporation
under the Debentures and the indenture; and
o Financial Federal Corporation or such successor is not then or
immediately thereafter in default under the indenture.
The occurrence of certain of the foregoing transactions could constitute a
change of control.
This covenant includes a phrase relating to the conveyance, transfer,
sale, lease or disposition of "all or substantially all" of our assets. There is
no precise, established definition of the phrase "substantially all" under
applicable law. Accordingly, there may be uncertainty as to whether a
conveyance, transfer, sale, lease or other disposition of less than all our
assets is subject to this covenant. For purposes of this covenant,
securitizations which we or our subsidiaries undertake in the ordinary course of
our business shall not be deemed to be the transfer of all or substantially all
our assets.
Events of Default
Each of the following constitutes an event of default under the indenture:
o default in our obligation to deliver shares of our common stock or
cash in lieu thereof upon conversion of any Debentures;
o default in our obligation to provide timely notice of a designated
event to the holders of the Debentures under the indenture;
o default in our obligation to repurchase Debentures at the option of
holders or following a designated event;
o default in our obligation to redeem Debentures after we have
exercised our redemption option;
o default in our obligation to pay the principal amount of the
Debentures at maturity, when due and payable;
o default in our obligation to pay any interest, contingent interest
or liquidated damages on the Debentures when due and payable, and
continuance of such default for a period of 30 days;
o our failure to perform or observe any other term, covenant or
agreement contained in the Debentures or the indenture for a period
of 60 days after written notice of such failure, provided that such
notice requiring us to remedy the same shall have been given to us
by the trustee or to us and the trustee by the holders of at least
25% in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures then
outstanding;
o a failure to pay when due at maturity or a default that results in
the acceleration of maturity of any indebtedness for borrowed money
of Financial Federal Corporation or our designated subsidiaries in
an aggregate amount of $25,000,000 or more, unless the acceleration
is rescinded, stayed or annulled within 30 days after written notice
of default is given to us by the trustee or holders of not less than
25% in aggregate principal amount of the Debentures then
outstanding;
o we or any of our subsidiaries that is a designated subsidiary
commences a voluntary case or other proceeding seeking liquidation,
reorganization or other relief under any bankruptcy or other similar
laws, or the appointment of a receiver or other similar official, or
shall consent to any such relief or such appointment in an
involuntary case or other proceeding commenced against us or
34
any designated subsidiary, or shall make a general assignment for
the benefit of creditors, or we or any designated subsidiary shall
generally fail to pay debts when due; and
o an involuntary case or other proceeding seeking liquidation,
reorganization or other relief shall be commenced against us or any
of our subsidiaries that is a designated subsidiary, which
involuntary case or other proceeding is not dismissed in, or stayed
for, a period of 90 days.
A "designated subsidiary" shall mean any existing or future, direct or
indirect, subsidiary of Financial Federal Corporation whose assets constitute
25% or more of the total assets of Financial Federal Corporation on a
consolidated basis.
The indenture provides that the trustee shall, within 90 days of the
occurrence of a default known to it, give to the registered holders of the
Debentures notice of all uncured defaults known to it, but the trustee shall be
protected in withholding such notice if it, in good faith, determines that the
withholding of such notice is in the best interest of such registered holders,
except in the case of a default under any of the first five bullets above.
If certain events of default specified in the last bullet point above
shall occur and be continuing, then automatically the principal amount of the
Debentures plus any accrued and unpaid interest, contingent interest, if any,
and liquidated damages, if any, through such date shall become immediately due
and payable. If any other event of default shall occur and be continuing (the
default not having been cured or waived as provided under "--Modification and
Waiver" below), the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate
principal amount of the Debentures then outstanding may declare the Debentures
due and payable at the principal amount of the Debentures plus any accrued and
unpaid interest, contingent interest, if any, and liquidated damages, if any,
through such date and thereupon the trustee may, at its discretion, proceed to
protect and enforce the rights of the holders of Debentures by appropriate
judicial proceedings. Such declaration may be rescinded or annulled with the
written consent of the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of
the Debentures then outstanding upon the conditions provided in the indenture.
The indenture contains a provision entitling the trustee, subject to the
duty of the trustee during default to act with the required standard of care, to
be indemnified by the holders of Debentures before proceeding to exercise any
right or power under the indenture at the request of such holders. The indenture
provides that the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
Debentures then outstanding, through their written consent, may direct the time,
method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the
trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the trustee.
We will be required to furnish annually to the trustee a statement as to
the fulfillment of our obligations under the indenture.
Modification and Waiver
Changes Requiring Approval of Each Affected Holder
The indenture (including the terms and conditions of the Debentures)
cannot be modified or amended without the written consent or the affirmative
vote of the holder of each Debenture affected by such change to:
o change the maturity of any Debenture or the payment date of any
installment of interest, contingent interest or liquidated damages
payable on any Debentures;
o reduce the principal amount of, or any interest, contingent
interest, liquidated damages, redemption price, repurchase price or
designated event repurchase price on, any Debenture;
o impair or adversely affect the conversion rights of any holder of
Debentures;
o change the currency of payment of such Debentures or interest,
contingent interest or liquidated damages thereon;
35
o alter the manner of calculation or rate of interest, contingent
interest or liquidated damages on any Debenture or extend the time
for payment of any such amount;
o impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any
payment on or with respect to, or conversion of, any Debenture;
o except as otherwise permitted or contemplated by provisions
concerning corporate reorganizations, adversely affect the
repurchase option of holders (including after a change of control);
o modify the redemption provisions of the indenture in a manner
adverse to the holders of Debentures;
o reduce the percentage in aggregate principal amount of Debentures
outstanding necessary to modify or amend the indenture or to waive
any past default; or
o reduce the percentage in aggregate principal amount of Debentures
outstanding required for any other waiver under the indenture.
Changes Requiring Majority Approval
The indenture (including the terms and conditions of the Debentures) may
be modified or amended, subject to the provisions described above, with the
written consent of the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal
amount of the Debentures at the time outstanding.
Changes Requiring No Approval
The indenture (including the terms and conditions of the Debentures) may
be modified or amended by us and the trustee, without the consent of the holder
of any Debenture, for the purposes of, among other things:
o adding to our covenants for the benefit of the holders of
Debentures;
o surrendering any right or power conferred upon us;
o providing for conversion rights of holders of Debentures if any
reclassification or change of our common stock or any consolidation,
merger or sale of all or substantially all of our assets occurs;
o providing for the assumption of our obligations to the holders of
Debentures in the case of a merger, consolidation, conveyance,
transfer or lease;
o increasing the conversion rate, provided that the increase will not
adversely affect the interests of the holders of Debentures;
o establishing the form of Debentures if issued in definitive form;
o evidencing and providing for the acceptance of the appointment under
the indenture of a successor trustee;
o complying with the requirements of the Commission in order to effect
or maintain the qualification of the indenture under the Trust
Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, or in connection with the
registration of the Debentures as contemplated by the registration
rights agreement;
o curing any ambiguity or correcting or supplementing any defective
provision contained in the indenture; or
36
o adding or modifying any other provisions with respect to matters or
questions arising under the indenture which we and the trustee may
deem necessary or desirable and which will not adversely affect the
interests of the holders of Debentures in any material respect;
provided that any addition or modification made solely to conform
the provisions of the indenture to the description of the Debentures
in this prospectus will not be deemed to adversely affect the
interests of the holders of the Debentures.
Registration Rights
We entered into a registration rights agreement with the initial
purchasers for the benefit of the holders of the Debentures. Pursuant to the
agreement, we will, at our expense:
o file with the Commission not later than the date 90 days after the
earliest date of original issuance of any of the Debentures, a
registration statement on such form as we deem appropriate, of which
this prospectus forms a part, covering resales by holders of all
Debentures and the common stock issuable upon conversion of the
Debentures;
o use our reasonable best efforts to cause such registration statement
to become effective within 210 days after the earliest date of
original issuance of the Debentures; and
o use our reasonable best efforts to keep the registration statement
effective until the earlier of:
(1) the date when the holders of the Debentures and the common stock
issuable upon conversion of the Debentures are able to sell all such securities
immediately without restriction pursuant to the volume limitation provisions of
Rule 144 under the Securities Act; and
(2) the date when all of the Debentures and the common stock issuable upon
conversion of the Debentures are sold pursuant to the registration statement or
pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act or any similar provision then in
effect.
Holders of Debentures have delivered certain information to be used in
connection with the registration statement. We included as Appendix A to the
offering memorandum in connection with the issuance of the Debentures a form of
notice and questionnaire to be completed and delivered by each holder interested
in selling securities pursuant to the registration statement. In order to sell
Debentures or common stock pursuant to this registration statement, a holder
must complete and deliver the questionnaire to us. To be named as a selling
security holder in the related prospectus at the time of effectiveness of this
registration statement, a holder must complete and deliver the questionnaire to
us on or prior to the fifth business day before the effectiveness of the
registration statement. Upon receipt of a completed questionnaire after
effectiveness of the registration statement, we will, within 15 business days,
file any amendments to the registration statement or supplements to the related
prospectus as are necessary to permit the relevant holder to deliver a
prospectus to purchasers of Debentures or common stock sold pursuant to the
registration statement; provided that if such notice is delivered during a
suspension period referred to below or such a suspension period is put into
effect within 15 business days of the delivery of such notice, such amendments
or supplements need not be filed until the 15th business day following the
expiration of such suspension period. If you do not timely complete and deliver
a questionnaire or provide the other information we may request, you will not be
named as a selling security holder in the prospectus and will not be permitted
to sell your securities pursuant to the registration statement.
In connection with the filing of this registration statement, we will:
o provide to each holder for whom this registration statement was
filed copies of the prospectus that is a part of this registration
statement;
o notify each such holder when this registration statement has become
effective; and
o take certain other actions as are required to permit unrestricted
resales of the Debentures and the common stock issuable upon
conversion of the Debentures.
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Each holder who sells securities pursuant to this registration statement
generally will be:
o required to be named as a selling holder in the related prospectus;
o required to deliver a prospectus to the purchaser;
o subject to certain of the civil liability provisions under the
Securities Act in connection with the holder's sales; and
o bound by the provisions of the registration rights agreement which
are applicable to the holder (including certain indemnification
rights and obligations).
We may suspend the holder's use of the prospectus for a period not to
exceed 45 consecutive days, and not to exceed an aggregate of 90 days in any
360-day period, if:
o the prospectus would, in our judgment, contain a material
misstatement or omission as a result of an event that has occurred
and is continuing; and
o we determine in good faith that the disclosure of this material
non-public information would be seriously detrimental to us and our
subsidiaries.
However, if the disclosure relates to a previously undisclosed proposed or
pending material business transaction, the disclosure of which we determine in
good faith would be reasonably likely to impede our ability to consummate such
transaction, we may extend the suspension period from 45 days to 60 days. We
will not specify the nature of the event giving rise to a suspension in any
notice to holders of the Debentures of the existence of such a suspension. By
your acceptance of Debenture, you agree to hold any communications by us in
response to a notice of a proposed business transaction in confidence.
We refer to each of the following as a registration default:
o the registration statement has not been filed prior to or on the
90th day following the earliest date of original issuance of any of
the Debentures; or
o the registration statement has not been declared effective prior to
or on the 210th day following the earliest date of original issuance
of any of the Debentures, which we call the effectiveness target
date; or
o at any time after the effectiveness target date, the registration
statement ceases to be effective or fails to be usable and (1) we do
not cure the registration statement within ten business days (or, if
the suspension period is then in effect, the fifth business day
following the expiration of such suspension period) by a
post-effective amendment, prospectus supplement or report filed
pursuant to the Exchange Act or (2) if applicable, we do not
terminate the suspension period, described in the preceding
paragraph, by the 45th or 60th day, as the case may be, or (3) if
suspension periods exceed an aggregate of 90 days in any 360-day
period.
If a registration default occurs (other than a registration default
relating to a failure to file or have an effective registration statement with
respect to the shares of common stock), cash liquidated damages will accrue on
the Debentures that are transfer restricted securities, from and including the
day following the registration default to but excluding the earlier of (1) the
day on which the registration default has been cured and (2) the date the
registration statement is no longer required to be kept effective. Liquidated
damages will be paid semiannually in arrears, with the first semiannual payment
due on each April 15 and October 15, commencing the first interest payment date
following the registration default, and will accrue at a rate per year equal to:
o 0.25% of the principal amount of a Debenture to and including the
90th day following such registration default; and
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o 0.50% of the principal amount of a Debenture from and after the 91st
day following such registration default.
In no event will liquidated damages accrue at a rate per year exceeding
0.50%. If a holder converts some or all of its Debentures into common stock when
there exists a registration default, the holder will not be entitled to receive
liquidated damages on such common stock, but will receive additional shares upon
conversion (except to the extent we elect to deliver cash upon conversion).
If a registration statement covering the resales of the Debentures and
common stock into which the Debentures are convertible is not effective, these
securities may not be sold or otherwise transferred except in accordance with
the provisions set forth under "Notice to Investors."
Form, Denomination and Registration
Denomination and Registration. The Debentures are issued in fully
registered form, without coupons, in denominations of $1,000 principal amount
and integral multiples thereof.
Global Debentures. Debentures are evidenced by one or more global
Debentures deposited with the trustee as custodian for DTC, and registered in
the name of Cede & Co. as DTC's nominee.
Record ownership of the global Debentures may be transferred, in whole or
in part, only to another nominee of DTC or to a successor of DTC or its nominee,
except as set forth below. You may hold your interests in the global Debentures
directly through DTC if you are a participant in DTC, or indirectly through
organizations which are direct DTC participants if you are not a participant in
DTC. Transfers between direct DTC participants will be effected in the ordinary
way in accordance with DTC's rules and will be settled in same-day funds. You
may also beneficially own interests in the global Debentures held by DTC through
certain banks, brokers, dealers, trust companies and other parties that clear
through or maintain a custodial relationship with a direct DTC participant,
either directly or indirectly. DTC has no knowledge of the actual beneficial
owners of the Debentures; DTC's records reflect only the identity of the direct
participants to whose accounts such Debentures are credited, which may or may
not be the beneficial owners. The direct and indirect participants will remain
responsible for keeping account of their holdings on behalf of their customers.
So long as Cede & Co., as nominee of DTC, is the registered owner of the
global Debentures, Cede & Co. for all purposes will be considered the sole
holder of the global Debentures. Except as provided below, owners of beneficial
interests in the global Debentures:
o will not be entitled to have certificates registered in their names;
o except as set forth below, will not receive or be entitled to
receive physical delivery of certificates in definitive form; and
o will not be considered holders of the global Debentures.
The laws of some states require that certain persons take physical
delivery of securities in definitive form. Consequently, the ability of an owner
of a beneficial interest in a global security to transfer the beneficial
interest in the global security to such persons may be limited.
We will wire, through the facilities of the trustee, payments of
principal, interest, contingent interest, if any, and liquidated damages, if
any, on the global Debentures to Cede & Co., the nominee of DTC, as the
registered owner of the global Debentures. None of Financial Federal
Corporation, the trustee and any paying agent will have any responsibility or be
liable for paying amounts due on the global Debentures to owners of beneficial
interests in the global Debentures.
It is DTC's current practice, upon receipt of any payment of principal,
interest, contingent interest, if any, or liquidated damages, if any, on the
global Debentures, to credit participants' accounts on the payment date in
amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in the Debentures
represented by the global
39
Debentures, as shown on the records of DTC. Payments by DTC participants to
owners of beneficial interests in Debentures represented by the global
Debentures held through DTC participants will be the responsibility of DTC
participants, as is now the case with securities held for the accounts of
customers registered in "street name."
Conveyance of notices and other communications by DTC to direct
participants, by direct participants to indirect participants and by direct and
indirect participants to beneficial owners will be governed by arrangements
among them, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in
effect from time to time. You may wish to contact their broker or other direct
or indirect DTC participant to obtain information on how notices of significant
events such as redemptions will be transmitted to them.
Redemption notices shall be sent to DTC. If less than all of the
Debentures are being redeemed, DTC's current practice is to determine by lot the
amount of the interest of each direct participant to be redeemed.
If you would like to convert Debentures into common stock or to have
Debentures purchased pursuant to the terms of the Debentures, you should contact
your broker or other direct or indirect DTC participant to obtain information on
the procedures, including proper forms and cut-off times, for submitting those
requests and effecting delivery of such Debentures on DTC's records.
Because DTC can only act on behalf of DTC participants, who in turn act on
behalf of indirect DTC participants and other banks, the ability of a holder to
pledge its interest in the Debentures represented by global Debentures to
persons or entities that do not participate in the DTC system, or otherwise take
actions in respect of such interest, may be affected by the lack of a physical
certificate.
Neither Financial Federal Corporation nor the trustee (nor any registrar,
paying agent or conversion agent under the indenture) will have any
responsibility for the performance by DTC or direct or indirect DTC participants
of their obligations under the rules and procedures governing their operations.
DTC has advised us that it will take any action permitted to be taken by a
holder of Debentures, including, without limitation, the presentation of
Debentures for conversion as described below, only at the direction of one or
more direct DTC participants to whose account with DTC interests in the global
Debentures are credited and only for the principal amount of the Debentures for
which directions have been given. Under its usual procedures, DTC mails an
omnibus proxy to issuers as soon as possible after the record date. The omnibus
proxy assigns Cede & Co.'s consenting or voting rights to those direct
participants to whose accounts securities are credited on the record date
(identified in a listing attached to the omnibus proxy).
DTC has advised us as follows: DTC is a limited-purpose trust company
organized under the New York Banking Law, a "banking organization" within the
meaning of the New York Banking Law, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a
"clearing corporation" within the meaning of the Uniform Commercial Code, and a
"clearing agency" registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the
Exchange Act, as amended. DTC holds securities for DTC participants and
facilitates the clearance and settlement of securities transactions between DTC
participants through electronic computerized book-entry transfers and pledges
between the accounts of its participants. This eliminates the need for physical
movement of securities certificates. Participants include securities brokers and
dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other
organizations, and may include one or more of the initial purchasers of the
Debentures. DTC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Depository Trust & Clearing
Corporation ("DTCC"). DTCC, in turn, is owned by a number of DTC's participants
or their representatives, together with other entities. Indirect access to the
DTC system is available to others such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust
companies that clear through, or maintain a custodial relationship with, a
participant, either directly or indirectly. The DTC rules applicable to its
participants are on file with the Commission.
Although the description of the foregoing procedures has be based upon
information obtained from DTC, it is under no obligation to perform or continue
to perform such procedures, and such procedures may be discontinued at any time.
If (i) DTC is at any time unwilling or unable to continue as depositary and a
successor depositary is not appointed by us within 90 days, (ii) a holder of a
beneficial interest in a global debenture requests to exchange such beneficial
interest for certificated Debentures in the event an event of default occurs
and/or is continuing under the Debentures or (iii) at any time we, in our sole
discretion, determine not to have the Debentures represented by global
Debentures we will cause Debentures to be issued in definitive form in exchange
for the global Debentures. In such case, beneficial interests in a global
Debenture may be exchanged for definitive certificated Debentures in
40
accordance with DTC's customary procedures. None of Financial Federal
Corporation, the trustee or any of their respective agents will have any
responsibility for the performance by DTC or direct or indirect DTC participants
of their obligations under the rules and procedures governing their operations,
including maintaining, supervising or reviewing the records relating to, or
payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in global Debentures.
According to DTC, the foregoing information with respect to DTC has been
provided to its participants and other members of the financial community for
information purposes only and is not intended to serve as a representation,
warranty or contract modification of any kind.
Restrictions on Transfer; Legends
The Debentures will be subject to certain restrictions on transfer set
forth on the Debentures and in the indenture, and certificates evidencing the
Debentures will bear the legend regarding such transfer restrictions set forth
under "Notice to Investors."
Governing Law
The indenture and the Debentures are governed by, and construed in
accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.
Information Concerning the Trustee
Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as trustee under the indenture, has
been appointed by us as paying agent, conversion agent, registrar and custodian
with regard to the Debentures. Under the indenture, Deutsche Bank Trust Company
Americas may resign as trustee, one or more of the holders may petition to
replace the trustee and, so long as no Event of Default is continuing, we may
deliver a board resolution appointing a successor trustee, at which time the
trustee shall be deemed to have resigned and a successor trustee will be
appointed.
The Bank of New York is the transfer agent and registrar for our common
stock. The trustee or its affiliates may from time to time in the future provide
banking and other services to us in exchange for a fee.
Rule 144A Information Request
We will furnish to the holders or beneficial holders of the Debentures or
the underlying common stock and prospective purchasers, upon their request, the
information required under Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act until such
time as such securities are no longer "restricted securities" within the meaning
of Rule 144 under the Securities Act, assuming these securities have not been
owned by an affiliate of ours.
Calculations in Respect of Debentures
We or our agents will be responsible for making all calculations called
for under the Debentures. These calculations include, but are not limited to,
determination of the trading prices of the Debentures and of our common stock
and amounts of contingent interest payments, if any, on the Debentures. We or
our agents will make all these calculations in good faith and, absent manifest
error, our and their calculations will be final and binding on holders of
Debentures. We or our agents will provide a schedule of these calculations to
the trustee, and the trustee is entitled to conclusively rely upon the accuracy
of these calculations without independent verification.
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DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
General
Our authorized capital stock consists of 100,000,000 shares of common
stock, par value $.50 per share, and 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par
value $1.00 per share. As of April 30, 2004, 17,252,620 shares of common stock
were outstanding.
Common Stock
The holders of shares of our common stock are entitled to one vote per
share on all matters submitted to a vote at a meeting of stockholders. Each
stockholder may exercise such vote either in person or by proxy. Stockholders
are not entitled to cumulate their votes for the election of directors, which
means that the holders of more than 50% of the common stock voting for the
election of directors can elect all of the directors to be elected by holders of
common stock, in which event the holders of the remaining common stock voting
will not be able to elect any director. Subject to preferences to which holders
of preferred stock, if any, may be entitled, the holders of common stock are
entitled to receive ratably such dividends, if any, as may be declared from time
to time by our board of directors out of legally available funds. We do not
presently anticipate paying cash dividends in the foreseeable future. In the
event we liquidate, dissolve or wind up our business, the holders of common
stock are entitled to share ratably in all of our assets which are legally
available for distribution to stockholders, subject to the prior rights on
liquidation of creditors and to preferences to which holders of preferred stock,
if any, may be entitled. The holders of common stock have no preemptive,
subscription, redemption or sinking fund rights.
Preferred Stock
Our board of directors has the authority to issue preferred stock in one
or more series and to fix the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions
thereof, including dividend rights, dividend rates, conversion rights, voting
rights, terms of redemption (including sinking fund provisions), redemption
prices and liquidation preferences, and the number of shares constituting and
the designation of any such series, without further vote or action by the
stockholders. At present, we have no plans to issue any of the preferred stock
and we are not aware of any pending or proposed transaction that would be
affected by such an issuance.
Certain Effects Of Authorized And Unissued Stock
There were, as of April 30, 2004, 78,554,800 unissued and unreserved
shares of common stock and 5,000,000 unissued and unreserved shares of preferred
stock. These additional shares may be issued for a variety of proper corporate
purposes, including future public or private offerings to raise additional
capital or facilitate acquisitions. We do not presently intend to issue
additional shares of common stock or preferred stock (other than in connection
with our employee benefit plans).
One of the effects of the existence of unissued and unreserved shares of
common stock and preferred stock may be to enable our board of directors to
discourage an attempt to change control of Financial Federal Corporation (by
means of a tender offer, proxy contest or otherwise) and thereby to protect the
continuity of our management. If, in the due exercise of its fiduciary duties,
our board of directors determined that an attempt to change control of Financial
Federal Corporation was not in our best interest, our board of directors could
authorize, without having to obtain approval of the stockholders, the issuance
of such shares in one or more transactions that might prevent or render more
difficult the completion of such attempt. In this regard, our board of directors
has the authority to establish the rights and preferences of the authorized and
unissued shares of preferred stock, one or more series of which could be issued
entitling the holders thereof to vote separately as a class or to cast a
proportionately larger vote than the holders of shares of common stock on any
proposed action, to elect directors having terms of office or voting rights
greater than the terms of office or voting rights of other directors, to convert
shares of preferred stock into a proportionately larger number of shares of
common stock or our other securities, to demand redemption at a specified price
under prescribed circumstances related to such a change or to exercise other
rights designed to impede such a change. The issuance of shares of preferred
stock, whether or not related to any attempt to effect such a change, may
adversely affect the rights of the holders of shares of common stock.
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Certain Charter Provisions
Under Nevada law, directors of a Nevada corporation can generally be held
liable for certain types of negligence and other acts and omissions in
connection with the performance of their duties to the corporation and our
stockholders. As permitted by Nevada law, however, our Articles of Incorporation
contain a provision eliminating the liability of our directors for monetary
damages for breaches of their duty of care to us and our stockholders, except as
described below.
Such provision does not eliminate liability for (i) breaches of the duty
of loyalty to us and our stockholders, (ii) acts or omissions not in good faith
or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii)
transactions from which improper personal benefit is derived, and (iv) unlawful
declaration of dividends or repurchases or redemptions of shares of our capital
stock. Such provision applies to officers only if they are directors and are
acting in their capacity as directors. Although the issue has not been
determined by any court, such provision would probably have no effect on claims
arising under federal securities laws. Such provision does not eliminate the
duty of care, but only eliminates liability for monetary damages for breaches of
such duty under various circumstances. Accordingly, such provision has no effect
on the availability of equitable remedies, such as an injunction or rescission,
based upon a breach of the duty of care. Equitable remedies may not, however, be
wholly effective to remedy the injury caused by any such breach.
Section 78.7502 of the Nevada General Corporation Law permits a
corporation to provide discretionary indemnification to any person against any
threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, except an action by
or in the right of the corporation, by reason of the fact that such person is or
was a director, officer, employee or agent, or is or was serving at the request
of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another
corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against
expenses, including attorney's fees, judgments, fines and amounts paid in
settlements, if such indemnified person is not liable under Section 78.138,
acted in good faith and in a manner which such person reasonably believed to be
in or not opposed to the best interest of the corporation, and, with respect to
any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe such
person's conduct was unlawful.
With respect to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or
in the right of the corporation, Section 78.7502 also permits a corporation to
provide discretionary indemnification if such indemnified person is not liable
under Section 78.138, acted in good faith and in a manner which such person
reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the
corporation; provided, however, that indemnification may not be made for any
claim, issue or matter as to which such a person has been adjudged by a court of
competent jurisdiction, after exhaustion of all appeals therefrom, to be liable
to the corporation or for amounts paid in settlement to the corporation, unless
and only to the extent that the court in which the action or suit was brought or
other court of competent jurisdiction determines otherwise in light of all the
circumstances.
Section 78.7502 of the Nevada General Corporation Law provides for
mandatory indemnification against expenses, including attorney's fees, actually
and reasonably incurred by such indemnified person in connection with the
defense, to the extent that a director, officer, employee or agent of a
corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any
action, suit or proceeding referred to in the preceding two paragraphs, or in
defense of any claim, issue or matter therein.
Section 78.751 of the Nevada General Corporation Law permits a corporation
to include in its articles of incorporation, bylaws, and/or agreements between
the corporation and its directors, officers, employees or agents provisions
expanding the scope of indemnification beyond that specifically provided by
current law, except that unless ordered by a court or for the advancement of
certain expenses, indemnification may not be made to or on behalf of any
director or officer if a final adjudication establishes that such person's acts
or omissions involved intentional misconduct, fraud or a knowing violation of
the law and was material to the cause of action. Section 78.752 of the Nevada
General Corporation Law permits a corporation to purchase and maintain insurance
or make other financial arrangements of behalf of any such indemnified persons.
The Ninth Article of our Restated Articles of Incorporation provide for
the indemnification of directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by
the General Corporation Law of Nevada.
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Article V, Section 5 of our Bylaws provides that we shall indemnify to the
full extent authorized by law any person made or threatened to be made a party
to an action, suit or proceeding, whether criminal, civil, administrative or
investigative, by reason of the fact that such person or such person's testator
or intestate is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of Financial
Federal Corporation or is or was serving, at our request, as a director,
officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture,
trust or other enterprise.
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UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
The following is a summary of certain U.S. federal income tax
considerations to U.S. holders relating to the purchase, ownership and
disposition of the Debentures or shares of our common stock. This discussion is
limited to U.S. holders of Debentures who purchased the Debentures in connection
with their original issue from the underwriter at the "issue price" of the
Debentures (as described below) and who hold the Debentures and any shares of
our common stock into which the Debentures are converted as capital assets.
This discussion does not contain a complete analysis of all the potential
tax considerations relating to the purchase, ownership and disposition of the
Debentures or shares of our common stock. In particular, this discussion does
not address all tax considerations that may be important to you in light of your
particular circumstances (such as the alternative minimum tax provisions) or
under certain special rules. Special rules may apply, for instance, to certain
financial institutions, insurance companies, tax-exempt organizations, regulated
investment companies, security dealers and other persons that mark-to-market,
holders whose functional currency for federal income tax purposes is not the
United States dollar, persons who hold Debentures or shares of our common stock
as part of a hedge, conversion or constructive sale transaction, or straddle or
other integrated or risk reduction transaction, or persons who have ceased to be
United States citizens or to be taxed as resident aliens. In addition, the
discussion does not apply to holders of Debentures or shares of our common stock
that are partnerships nor does the discussion apply to persons that are not U.S.
holders (that is, does not apply to holders who are nonresident alien
individuals, foreign corporations, foreign partnerships, foreign trusts or
foreign estates). This discussion also does not address the tax consequences
arising under the laws of any foreign, state or local jurisdiction.
This discussion is based upon the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended (the "Code"), existing and proposed Treasury Regulations, and judicial
decisions and administrative interpretations thereunder, as of the date hereof,
all of which are subject to change or different interpretations, possibly with
retroactive effect. We cannot assure you that the Internal Revenue Service (the
"IRS") will not challenge one or more of the tax results described herein, and
we have not obtained, nor do we intend to obtain, a ruling from the IRS with
respect to the federal tax consequences of acquiring, holding or disposing of
the Debentures or shares of our common stock.
PLEASE CONSULT YOUR OWN TAX ADVISORS AS TO THE PARTICULAR TAX CONSEQUENCES
TO YOU OF ACQUIRING, HOLDING, CONVERTING OR OTHERWISE DISPOSING OF THE
DEBENTURES AND SHARES OF OUR COMMON STOCK, INCLUDING THE EFFECT AND
APPLICABILITY OF STATE, LOCAL OR FOREIGN TAX LAWS.
If a partnership (including for this purpose any entity treated as a
partnership for federal income tax purposes) is a beneficial owner of the
Debentures or shares of our common stock into which the Debentures are
converted, the treatment of a partner in the partnership will generally depend
upon the status of the partner and upon the activities of the partnership. A
holder of Debentures that is a partnership and partners in such partnership
should consult their own tax advisors about the federal income tax consequences
of holding and disposing of the Debentures or shares of our common stock into
which the Debentures are converted.
As used herein, the term "U.S. holder" means a beneficial owner of a
Debenture that is, for U.S. federal income tax purposes:
o a citizen or resident of the United States;
o a corporation, or other entity taxable as a corporation for U.S.
federal income tax purposes, created or organized in or under the
laws of the United States or of any political subdivision thereof;
or
o an estate or trust the income of which is subject to U.S. federal
income taxation regardless of its source.
Classification of the Debentures
Under the indenture governing the Debentures, we and each holder of the
Debentures agree (in the absence of an administrative determination or judicial
ruling to the contrary), for U.S. federal income tax purposes, to treat the
Debentures as indebtedness that is subject to the regulations governing
contingent payment debt instruments (the Contingent Debt Regulations) in the
manner described below. The remainder of this discussion assumes that the
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Debentures will be so treated and does not address any possible differing
treatments of the Debentures. However, the application of the Contingent Debt
Regulations to instruments such as the Debentures is uncertain in several
respects, and no rulings have been sought from the IRS or a court with respect
to any of the tax consequences discussed below. Accordingly, no assurance can be
given that the IRS or a court will agree with the treatment described herein.
Any differing treatment could affect the amount, timing and character of income,
gain or loss in respect of an investment in the Debentures. In particular, a
holder might be required to recognize interest income based on your regular
method of accounting at a lower rate, might not recognize income, gain or loss
upon conversion of the Debentures to common stock, and might recognize capital
gain or loss upon a taxable disposition of its Debentures. Holders should
consult their tax advisors concerning the tax treatment of holding the
Debentures.
Accrual of Interest
Under the Contingent Debt Regulations, actual cash payments on the
Debentures, if any, will not be reported separately as taxable income, but will
be taken into account under such regulations. As discussed more fully below, the
effect of these Contingent Debt Regulations will be to:
o require you, regardless of your usual method of tax accounting, to
use the accrual method with respect to the Debentures;
o require you to accrue original issue discount at the comparable
yield (as described below) which will be substantially in excess of
interest payments actually received by you; and
o generally result in ordinary rather than capital treatment of any
gain, and to some extent loss, on the sale, exchange, repurchase,
redemption or conversion of the Debentures.
You will be required to accrue an amount of original issue discount for
federal income tax purposes, for each accrual period prior to and including the
maturity date of the Debentures that equals:
o the product of (i) the adjusted issue price (as defined below) of
the Debentures as of the beginning of the accrual period and (ii)
the comparable yield to maturity (as defined below) of the
Debentures, adjusted for the length of the accrual period;
o divided by the number of days in the accrual period; and
o multiplied by the number of days during the accrual period that you
held the Debentures.
The "issue price" of a Debenture is the first price at which a substantial
amount of the Debentures were sold to the public, excluding bond houses, brokers
or similar persons or organizations acting in the capacity of underwriters,
placement agents or wholesalers. The adjusted issue price of a Debenture is its
issue price increased by any original issue discount previously accrued,
determined without regard to any adjustments to original issue discount accruals
described below, and decreased by the projected amounts of any payments
previously made with respect to the Debentures.
Under the Contingent Debt Regulations, you will be required to include
original issue discount in income each year, regardless of your usual method of
tax accounting, based on the comparable yield of the Debentures. We have
determined the comparable yield of the Debentures based on the rate, as of the
initial issue date, at which we would issue a fixed rate nonconvertible debt
instrument with no contingent payments but with terms and conditions similar to
the Debentures. Accordingly, we have determined that the comparable yield is an
annual rate of 7.375%, compounded semi-annually.
We are required to furnish to you the comparable yield and, solely for tax
purposes, a projected payment schedule that includes the stated interest
payments on the Debentures and estimates the amount and timing of contingent
interest payments and payment upon maturity on the Debentures taking into
account the fair market value of the common stock that might be paid upon a
conversion of the Debentures. You may obtain the projected payment schedule by
submitting a written request for it to us at Financial Federal Corporation, 733
Third Avenue, New York, New York 10017, Attention: Investor Relations. For U.S.
federal income tax purposes, you must use the
46
comparable yield and the schedule of projected payments in determining your
original issue discount accruals, and the adjustments thereto described below,
in respect of the Debentures, unless you timely disclose and justify the use of
a different comparable yield and projected payment schedule to the IRS. However,
by purchasing the Debentures, you agree in the indenture to be bound by our
determination of the comparable yield and projected payment schedule.
The comparable yield and the projected payment schedule are not provided
for any purpose other than the determination of your original issue discount and
adjustments thereof in respect of the Debentures and do not constitute a
projection or representation regarding the actual amount of the payments on a
Debenture or the value of our common stock that might be delivered upon a
conversion of your Debentures.
Adjustments to Interest Accruals on the Debentures
If the actual payments made on your Debentures differ from the projected
payments, you must adjust for the difference. Under the general rule applicable
to contingent payment debt instruments, if you receive actual payments with
respect to the Debentures for any taxable year that in the aggregate exceed the
total amount of projected payments for that taxable year (including payments of
liquidated damages, if any, described in "Description of Debentures --
Registration Rights"), you will incur a positive adjustment equal to the amount
of such excess. Such positive adjustment will be treated as additional original
issue discount in such taxable year. For this purpose, the payments in a taxable
year include the fair market value of property (including our common stock)
received in that year. Similarly, under the general rule applicable to
contingent payment debt instruments, if you receive payments with respect to the
Debentures for any taxable year that in the aggregate are less than the amount
of projected payments for that taxable year, you will incur a negative
adjustment equal to the amount of such deficit. A negative adjustment will:
o first, reduce the amount of original issue discount required to be
accrued in the current year;
o second, any negative adjustment that exceeds the amount of original
issue discount accrued in the current year will be treated as
ordinary loss to the extent of your total prior original issue
discount inclusions with respect to the Debentures, reduced to the
extent such prior original issue discount was offset by prior
negative adjustments; and
o third, any excess negative adjustment will be treated as a regular
negative adjustment in the succeeding taxable year or reduce the
amount realized on a sale, exchange, conversion, repurchase or
redemption of the Debentures.
The general rule described above will apply only to the contingent
interest payment due on October 15, 2009 (since your right to all other
contingent interest payments will become fixed more than six months prior to the
date that such interest is payable). Instead, the adjustments required with
respect to the remainder of your contingent interest payments will be governed
by the following rules (rather than the general rule):
o you will be required to take the adjustment into account at the time
the contingent interest payment becomes fixed, rather than at the
time that it is paid;
o the amount of your adjustment will be measured by the difference
between the present value of the amount of contingent interest that
becomes fixed and the present value of the projected contingent
payment, with present values being determined by discounting each
amount from the date that the contingent interest is due to the date
that the contingent interest becomes fixed using a discount rate
equal to the comparable yield, as discussed above;
o any positive or negative adjustment required will increase or
decrease, respectively, the adjusted issue price and basis of your
Debenture at the time the contingent interest becomes fixed; and
o upon receipt of the contingent interest payment, the adjusted issue
price and basis of your Debenture will be reduced by the amount of
the contingent interest payment.
47
A net negative adjustment is not subject to the two percent floor
limitation imposed on an individual's miscellaneous itemized deductions under
Section 67 of the Code.
Sale, Exchange, Conversion or Redemption
Upon the sale, exchange, conversion, repurchase or redemption of a
Debenture, you will recognize gain or loss equal to the difference between your
amount realized and your adjusted tax basis in the Debenture. As a holder of a
Debenture, you agree that under the Contingent Debt Regulations, the amount
realized will include the fair market value of our stock that you receive on
conversion as a contingent payment, which may result in a positive or negative
adjustment as described above. Such gain on a Debenture generally will be
treated as ordinary income. Loss from the disposition of a Debenture will be
treated as ordinary loss to the extent of your prior net original issue discount
inclusions with respect to the Debentures. Any loss in excess of that amount
will be treated as capital loss, which will be long-term if the Debentures were
held for more than one year. The deductibility of net capital losses by
individuals and corporations is subject to limitations.
Special rules apply in determining the tax basis of a Debenture. Your
basis in a Debenture is generally your original purchase price for the Debenture
increased by original issue discount (before taking into account any
adjustments) you previously accrued on the Debentures, and decreased by the
projected amounts of any payments previously made with respect to the
Debentures.
Under this treatment, your tax basis in the common stock received upon
conversion of a Debenture will equal the fair market value of such common stock
on the date of conversion. Your holding period for our common stock received
will commence on the day immediately following the day of conversion.
Given the uncertain tax treatment of instruments such as the Debentures,
you should contact your tax advisors concerning the tax treatment on conversion
of a Debenture and the ownership of our common stock.
Adjustment of Conversion Rate
If at any time we make a distribution of property to stockholders that
would be taxable to such stockholders as a dividend for federal income tax
purposes (for example, distributions of evidences of indebtedness or assets of
ours, but generally not stock dividends or rights to subscribe for our common
stock) and, pursuant to the anti-dilution provisions of the indenture, the
conversion rate of the Debentures is increased, such increase will be deemed to
be the payment of a taxable dividend to you. If the conversion rate is increased
at our discretion or in certain other circumstances, such increase also may be
deemed to be the payment of a taxable dividend to you, notwithstanding the fact
that you do not receive a cash payment. In certain circumstances, the failure to
make an adjustment of the conversion rate under the indenture may result in a
taxable distribution to holders of our common stock. Any deemed distribution
will be taxable as a dividend, return of capital or capital gain in accordance
with the tax rules applicable to corporate distributions, but may not be
eligible for the reduced rates of tax applicable to certain dividends paid to
individual holders nor to the dividends-received deduction applicable to certain
dividends paid to corporate holders.
Ownership and Disposition of Shares of Our Common Stock
Distributions, if any, paid on shares of our common stock generally will
be includable in your income as ordinary income to the extent made from our
current or accumulated earnings and profits. Such distributions will be eligible
for the dividends-received deduction in the case of a corporate holder that
meets certain holding period and other applicable requirements, and will qualify
for taxation at reduced rates in the case of an individual holder (effective for
tax years beginning before January 1, 2009) if the holder meets certain holding
period and other requirements. Upon the sale, exchange or other disposition of
shares of our common stock, you generally will recognize capital gain or capital
loss equal to the difference between the amount realized on such sale or
exchange and your adjusted tax basis in such shares. You should consult your tax
advisors regarding the treatment of capital gains (which may be taxed at lower
rates than ordinary income for taxpayers who are individuals) and losses (the
deductibility of which is subject to limitations).
48
Backup Withholding and Information Reporting
Payments of interest or dividends made by us on, or the proceeds of the
sale or other disposition of, the Debentures or shares of our common stock may
be subject to information reporting and federal backup withholding tax
(currently, at the rate of 28%) if the recipient of such payment fails to supply
an accurate taxpayer identification number or otherwise fails to comply with
applicable United States information reporting or certification requirements.
Any amount withheld from a payment to a holder under the backup withholding
rules is allowable as a credit against the holder's U.S. federal income tax,
provided that the required information is furnished to the IRS.
49
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
Pursuant to our registration rights agreement, the registration statement
of which this prospectus forms a part was filed with the Commission covering the
resale of the Debentures and the common stock issuable upon conversion of the
Debentures. We have agreed to use all reasonable efforts to keep the
registration statement effective until the earlier of:
(1) the date when the holders of the Debentures and the common stock
issuable upon conversion of the Debentures are able to sell all such securities
immediately without restriction pursuant to the volume limitation provisions of
Rule 144 under the Securities Act; and
(2) the date when all of the Debentures and the common stock issuable upon
conversion of the Debentures are sold pursuant to the registration statement or
pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act or any similar provision then in
effect.
The specific provisions relating to the registration rights described
above are contained in the registration rights agreement, and the foregoing
summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the provisions of such
agreement.
The Debentures and the common stock issuable upon conversion of the
Debentures may be sold in one or more transactions at fixed prices at prevailing
market prices at the time of sale, at varying prices determined at the time of
sale, or at negotiated prices. Sales of Debentures and common stock issuable
upon conversion of the Debentures may be effected in transactions (which may
involve crosses or block transactions) (i) on any national securities exchange
or quotation service on which the Debentures or common stock issuable upon
conversion of the Debentures may be listed or quoted at the time of sale, (ii)
in the over-the-counter market, (iii) in transactions otherwise than on such
exchanges or services or in the over-the-counter market or (iv) through the
writing of options. The selling securityholders may effect such transactions by
selling the Debentures or common stock issuable upon conversion of the
Debentures directly to purchasers, through broker-dealers acting as agents for
the selling securityholders, or to broker-dealers who may purchase Debentures or
common stock issuable upon conversion of the Debentures as principals and
thereafter sell the Debentures or common stock issuable upon conversion of the
Debentures from time to time in transactions. In effecting sales, broker-dealers
engaged by selling securityholders may arrange for other broker-dealers to
participate. Such broker-dealers, if any, may receive compensation in the form
of discounts, concessions or commissions from the selling securityholders and/or
the purchasers of the Debentures or common stock issuable upon conversion of the
Debentures for whom such broker-dealer may act as agents or to whom they may
sell as principals, or both (which compensation as to a particular broker-dealer
might be in excess of customary commissions).
The selling securityholders and any broker-dealers, agents or underwriters
that participate with the selling securityholders in the distribution of the
Debentures or common stock issuable upon conversion of the Debentures may be
deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act. Any
commissions paid or any discounts or concessions allowed to any such persons,
and any profits received on the resale of the Debentures or common stock
issuable upon conversion of the Debentures offered hereby and purchased by them
may be deemed to be underwriting comissions or discounts under the Securities
Act.
At the time a particular offering of the Debentures and/or the common
stock issuable upon conversion of the Debentures is made and to the extent
required, the aggregate principal amount of Debentures and number of common
stock issuable upon conversion of the Debentures being offered, the name or
names of the selling securityholders, and the terms of the offering, including
the name or names of any underwriters, broker-dealers or agents, any discounts,
concessions or commissions and other terms constituting compensation from the
selling securityholders, and any discounts, concessions or commissions allowed
or reallowed or paid to broker-dealers, will be set forth in an accompanying
prospectus supplement.
Pursuant to our registration rights agreement, we have agreed to pay all
expenses incident to the offer and sale of the Debentures and common stock
issuable upon conversion of the Debentures offered by the selling
securityholders, except that the selling securityholders will pay all
underwriting discounts and selling commissions, if any. We have agreed to
indemnify the selling securityholders against certain liabilities, including
liabilities under
50
the Securities Act, and to contribute to payments the selling securityholders
may be requried to make in respect thereof.
To comply with the securities laws of certain jurisdictions, if
applicable, the Debentures and common stock issuable upon conversion of the
Debentures offered hereby will be offered or sold in such jurisdictions only
through registered or licensed brokers or dealers.
Under applicable rules and regulations under the Exchange Act, any person
engaged in a distribution of the Debentures or the common stock issuable upon
conversion of the Debentures may be limited in its ability to engage in market
activities with respect to such Debentures or common stock issuable upon
conversion of the Debentures. In addition and without limiting the foregoing,
each Selling Securityholder will be subject to applicable provisions of the
Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, including, without
limitation, Regulation M, which provisions may limit the timing of purchase and
sales of any of the Debentures and common stock issuable upon conversion of the
Debentures by the selling securityholders. Furthermore, Regulation M of the
Exchange Act may restrict the ability of any person engaged in the distribution
of the Debentures and common stock issuable upon conversion of the Debentures to
engage in market-making activities with respect to the particular Debentures and
common stock issuable upon conversion of the Debentures being distributed for a
period of five business days prior to the commencement of the distribution. The
foregoing may affect the marketability of the Debentures and the common stock
issuable upon conversion of the Debentures.
LEGAL MATTERS
Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP, New York, New York, will pass upon the
validity of the Debentures under New York law and Erwin & Thompson LLP, Reno,
Nevada will pass upon the validity of the Debentures and the common stock
issuable upon conversion of the Debentures under Nevada law on behalf of us in
this offering.
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
On June 6, 2002, our board of directors, on the recommendation of our
audit committee, appointed KPMG LLP as our independent registered public
accounting firm for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2002 and dismissed Arthur
Andersen LLP who subsequently ceased operations. The decision to change
accounting firms was recommended by management and approved by our audit
committee as well as our full board of directors.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements of Financial Federal Corporation as
of and for the fiscal years ended July 31, 2003 and 2002 have been incorporated
by reference in this prospectus in reliance upon the reports of KPMG LLP, an
independent registered public accounting firm, incorporated by reference in this
prospectus and upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and
auditing.
The consolidated financial statements of Financial Federal Corporation for
the fiscal year ended July 31, 2001, incorporated by reference in this
prospectus, have been audited by Arthur Andersen LLP, independent accountants,
as stated in their report appearing therein. Arthur Andersen LLP has ceased
operations and is no longer in a position to reissue its audit report or to
provide consent to include financial statements reported on by it in this
prospectus. Because Arthur Andersen LLP has not reissued its report and because
we are not able to obtain a consent from Arthur Andersen LLP, you will be unable
to sue Arthur Andersen LLP for material misstatements or omissions, if any, in
this prospectus, including the financial statements covered by its previously
issued report. Even if you have a basis for asserting a remedy against, or
seeking to recover from, Arthur Andersen LLP, we believe that it is unlikely
that you would be able to recover damages from Arthur Andersen LLP.
In reliance on the temporary relief provided by the Commission under Rule
437(a) of the Securities Act, we are filing this registration statement without
the written consent of Arthur Andersen LLP as required by Section 7 of the
Securities Act. Accordingly, you will not be able to sue Arthur Andersen LLP
pursuant to Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and therefore your right of
recovery under that section will be limited as a result of the lack of consent.
51
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We are subject to the informational requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and in accordance therewith file reports,
proxy statements and information statements and other information with the
Commission. These reports, proxy statements and information statements and other
information may be inspected and copied at the public reference facilities
maintained by the Commission at Room 1024, Judiciary Plaza, 450 Fifth Street,
N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549. Reports, proxy statements and information
statements and other information filed electronically by us with the Commission
are available at the Commission's worldwide web site at http://www.sec.gov. You
may also obtain copies of this information by mail from the Public Reference
Section of the Commission at rates prescribed by the Commission. You may obtain
information on the operation of the public reference room by calling the
Commission at (800) 732-0330.
We are incorporating by reference certain information into this
prospectus. This means that we are disclosing important information to you by
referring you to other documents filed separately with the Commission. The
information incorporated by reference is considered to be a part of this
prospectus, except for any information that is superseded by information that is
included directly in this document.
This prospectus incorporates by reference the following documents or
portions of documents listed below that we have previously filed with the
Commission:
o Our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended July 31,
2003;
o Our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarters ended
October 31, 2003,January 31, 2004 and April 30, 2004
o Our proxy statement for our annual meeting of stockholders held on
December 9, 2003;
o Our current reports on Form 8-K dated September 30, 2003, December
4, 2003, March 8, 2004, April 5, 2004, April 19, 2004 and June 9,
2004; and
o The description of our common stock contained in our registration
statement on Form 8-A filed under the Exchange Act on April 30,
1992.
We also incorporate by reference additional documents that we may file
with the Commission after the date of this prospectus. These documents include
periodic reports, such as annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form
10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K (other than current reports on Form 8-K
containing only information furnished under Item 9 or Item 12 of Form 8-K,
unless such report specifically provides for such incorporation), proxy
statements, and any amendments to the above documents. Any statement
incorporated or deemed to be incorporated herein shall be deemed to be modified
or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement
contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is
deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such
statement. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except
as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus.
Documents incorporated by reference are available from us without charge,
excluding any exhibit to those documents unless the exhibit is specifically
incorporated by reference as an exhibit in this prospectus. You can obtain
documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus by requesting them in
writing or by telephone from us at the following address:
Attention: Investor Relations
Financial Federal Corporation
733 Third Avenue
New York, New York 10017
Telephone: (212) 599-8000
www.financialfederal.com
52
$175,000,000
[LOGO] Financial Federal Corporation
2.0% Convertible Senior Debentures Due 2034
And
Shares of Common Stock
Issuable Upon Conversion of the Debentures
[LOGO]
----------
PROSPECTUS
JUNE 22, 2004
----------
53
PART II
Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.
The following is an itemized list of the estimated expenses to be incurred
in connection with the offering of the securities being offered hereunder other
than underwriting discounts and commissions.
Registration Fee .................................................... $22,173
Printing Fees and Expenses .......................................... 14,000
Trustee's Fees ...................................................... 0
Legal Fees and Expenses ............................................. 20,000
Miscellaneous Fees .................................................. 18,827
-------
Total ............................................................... $75,000
=======
None of these expenses will be borne by the selling securityholders.
Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
Under Nevada law, directors of a Nevada corporation can generally be held
liable for certain types of negligence and other acts and omissions in
connection with the performance of their duties to the corporation and its
stockholders. As permitted by Nevada law, however, the Financial Federal
Corporation's ("FFC") Articles of Incorporation contain a provision eliminating
the liability of the FFC's directors for monetary damages for breaches of their
duty of care to the FFC and the stockholders, except as described below.
Such provision does not eliminate liability for (i) breaches of the duty
of loyalty to FFC and the stockholders, (ii) acts or omissions not in good faith
or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii)
transactions from which improper personal benefit is derived and (iv) unlawful
declaration of dividends or repurchases or redemptions of shares of FFC's
capital stock. Such provision applies to officers only if they are directors and
are acting in their capacity as directors. Although the issue has not been
determined by any court, such provision would probably have no effect on claims
arising under federal securities laws. Such provision does not eliminate the
duty of care, but only eliminates liability for monetary damages for breaches of
such duty under various circumstances. Accordingly, such provision has no effect
on the availability of equitable remedies, such as an injunction or rescission,
based upon a breach of the duty of care. Equitable remedies may not, however, be
wholly effective to remedy the injury caused by any such breach.
54
Item 16. Exhibits.
(a) Exhibits
3.1 Articles of Incorporation of the Registrant+
4.1 Indenture, dated as of April 12, 2004, between the Registrant and Deutsche
Bank Trust Company Americas*
4.2 Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of April 24, 1998, between the
Registrant and Banc of America Securities LLC and J.P. Morgan Securities
Inc.*
4.3 Purchase Agreement, dated April 5, 2004, between the Registrant and Banc
of America Securities LLC and J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.*
4.4 Specimen 2.0% Convertible Senior Debenture due 2034*
4.5 Specimen Common Stock Certificate++
5.1 Opinion of Erwin & Thompson LLP with respect to legality of Debentures and
Common Stock
5.2 Opinion of Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP with respect to legality of
Debentures
5.3 Tax opinion of Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP
23.1 Consent of Erwin & Thompson LLP (included in its opinion filed as Exhibit
5.1)
23.2 Consent of Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP (included in its opinion
filed as Exhibit 5.2)
23.3 Consent of KPMG LLP, independent public accountants to the Registrant
24.1 Power of Attorney (included in signature page to the registration
statement)
25.1 Statement of eligibility of trustee
----------
* Incorporated by reference to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K
filed with the Commission on April 19, 2004.
+ Incorporated by reference to the Registrant's Registration Statement on
Form S-1 (33-46662)
++ Incorporated by reference to the Registrant's Registration Statement on
Form S-3 (333-56651)
(b) Financial Statements
All financial statements, schedules and historical information have been
omitted as they are not applicable.
Item 17. Undertakings.
The undersigned Registrant hereby undertake as follows:
(a) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a
post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement; (i) to include any
prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933; (ii) to
reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date
of the Registration Statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment
thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change
in the information set forth in the Registration Statement; notwithstanding the
foregoing, any increase of decrease in volume of securities offered (if the
total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was
registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum
offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the
Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume
and price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate
offering price set forth in the "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in the
effective registration statement; (iii) to include any material information with
respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration
Statement or any material change to such information in the Registration
Statement; provided, however, that (a)(i) and (a)(ii) do not apply if the
information required to be included in a post-effective amendment thereby is
contained in periodic reports filed pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in this
Registration Statement.
(b) 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 hereof.
(c) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any
of the securities being registered that remain unsold at the termination of the
offering.
55
(d) That, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities
Act of 1933, each filing of the Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section
13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable,
each filing of an employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to Section
15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act 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.
(e) That insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling
persons of the Registrant pursuant to the provisions described under Item 15
above, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the
Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy
as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In
the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than
the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director,
officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any
action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling
person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will,
unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling
precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether
such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the
Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such
issue.
(f) To deliver or cause to be delivered with the prospectus, to each
person to whom the prospectus included in this Registration Statement is sent or
given, the latest annual report, to security holders that is incorporated by
reference in the prospectus and furnished pursuant to and meeting the
requirements of Rule 14a-3 or Rule 14c-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934; and, where interim financial information required to be presented by
Article 3 of Regulation S-X is not set forth in the prospectus, to deliver, or
cause to be delivered to each person to whom the prospectus is sent or given,
the latest quarterly report that is specifically incorporated by reference in
the prospectus to provide such interim financial information.
56
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the
requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of New York, State of New York, on June 7, 2004.
FINANCIAL FEDERAL CORPORATION
By: /s/ Paul R. Sinsheimer
_______________________________
Name: Paul R. Sinsheimer
Title: Chairman, Chief Executive Officer
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENT, that the persons whose signatures
appear below each severally constitutes and appoints Troy Geisser, Senior Vice
President and Secretary, as true and lawful attorney-in-fact- and agent, with
full powers of substitution and resubstitution, for them in their name, place
and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including
pre-effective and post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, any
registration statement relating to the same offering as this Registration
Statement that is to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the
Securities Act of 1933, and to file the same, with all exhibit thereto, and
other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent, full power and
authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary
to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as
they might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all which said
attorney-in-fact and agent, or his substitution or substitutes, may lawfully do,
or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed on June 7, 2004 by the following persons
in the capacities indicated.
Signature
/s/ Paul R. Sinsheimer
___________________________________________________________________
Name: Paul R. Sinsheimer
Title: Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
/s/ Steven F. Groth
___________________________________________________________________
Name: Steven F. Groth
Title: Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
/s/ David H. Hamm
___________________________________________________________________
Name: David H. Hamm
Title: Vice President and Controller (Principal Accounting Officer)
/s/ Lawrence B. Fisher
___________________________________________________________________
Name: Lawrence B. Fisher
Title: Director
/s/ William C. MacMillen, Jr.
___________________________________________________________________
Name: William C. MacMillen, Jr.
Title: Director
57
/s/ Michael C. Palitz
___________________________________________________________________
Name: Michael C. Palitz
Title: Director
/s/ Thomas F. Robards
___________________________________________________________________
Name: Thomas F. Robards
Title: Director
/s/ H. E. Timanus, Jr.
___________________________________________________________________
Name: H. E. Timanus, Jr.
Title: Director
58
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibits
--------
3.1 Articles of Incorporation of the Registrant+
4.1 Indenture, dated as of April 12, 2004, between the Registrant and
Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas*
4.2 Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of April 24, 1998, between
the Registrant and Banc of America Securities LLC and J.P. Morgan
Securities Inc.*
4.3 Purchase Agreement, dated April 5, 2004, between the Registrant and
Banc of America Securities LLC and J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.*
4.4 Specimen 2.0% Convertible Senior Debenture due 2034*
4.5 Specimen Common Stock Certificate++
5.1 Opinion of Erwin & Thompson LLP with respect to legality of
Debentures and Common Stock
5.2 Opinion of Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP with respect to
legality of Debentures
5.3 Tax opinion of Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP
23.1 Consent of Erwin & Thompson LLP (included in its opinion filed as
Exhibit 5.1)
23.2 Consent of Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP (included in its
opinion filed as Exhibit 5.2)
23.3 Consent of KPMG LLP, independent public accountants to the
Registrant
24.1 Power of Attorney (included in signature page to the registration
statement)
25.1 Statement of eligibility of trustee
----------
* Incorporated by reference to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K
filed with the Commission on April 19, 2004.
+ Incorporated by reference to the Registrant's Registration Statement on
Form S-1 (33-46662)
++ Incorporated by reference to the Registrant's Registration Statement on
Form S-3 (333-56651)