Filed Pursuant to Rule 424b3
Registration No. 333-74271
Information in this preliminary prospectus supplement is not complete and may
be changed. This preliminary prospectus supplement and the accompanying
prospectus are not an offer to sell these securities, and we are not soliciting
offers to buy these securities, in any state where the offer or sale is not
permitted.
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED SEPTEMBER 3, 2003
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
(To Prospectus dated March 18, 1999)
[CRANE LOGO OMITTED]
CRANE CO.
$200,000,000
% NOTES DUE
Interest payable and
ISSUE PRICE:
The notes will mature on , 20 . Interest will accrue from September
, 2003. We may redeem all or a portion of the notes at any time at a price
based on the "make-whole" premium set forth in this prospectus supplement. The
notes will be unsecured and will rank equally with all of our other unsecured
senior indebtedness.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities
commission has approved or disapproved of the notes or determined if this
prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus is truthful or complete.
Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
UNDERWRITING
PRICE TO DISCOUNTS AND PROCEEDS,
PUBLIC(1) COMMISSIONS BEFORE EXPENSES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Per Note ......... % % %
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total ............ $ $ $
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Plus accrued interest, if any, from September , 2003.
The notes will not be listed on any securities exchange. Currently, there is no
public market for the notes.
The underwriters expect to deliver the notes to purchasers through the
book-entry delivery system of The Depository Trust Company on or about
September , 2003.
JPMORGAN UBS INVESTMENT BANK
BEAR, STEARNS & CO. INC.
BNY CAPITAL MARKETS, INC.
CITIGROUP
FLEET SECURITIES, INC.
MCDONALD INVESTMENTS INC.
----------------
ABN AMRO INCORPORATED BNP PARIBAS
THE ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND
September , 2003
You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by
reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus.
Neither we nor the underwriters have authorized any other person to provide you
with different information. If anyone provides you with different or
inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. We and the underwriters
are not making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the
offer or sale is not permitted.
You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus
supplement, the accompanying prospectus or the documents incorporated by
reference is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front cover of
this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus or those documents.
As used in this prospectus supplement, the terms "Crane", "we", "our", the
"Company", and "us" may, depending upon the context, refer to Crane Co., to one
or more of its consolidated subsidiaries or to all of them taken as a whole.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
PAGE
-----
About This Prospectus Supplement ......................... S-1
Forward-Looking Information .............................. S-1
Documents Incorporated By Reference ...................... S-2
About Crane .............................................. S-3
Recent Developments ...................................... S-3
Use of Proceeds .......................................... S-4
Capitalization ........................................... S-5
Consolidated Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges ......... S-6
Description of the Notes ................................. S-7
Underwriting ............................................. S-10
Legal Opinions ........................................... S-12
Experts .................................................. S-12
PROSPECTUS
PAGE
----
About This Prospectus .................................... 2
Where You Can Find More Information ...................... 2
Forward-Looking Information .............................. 2
About Crane .............................................. 3
Use of Proceeds .......................................... 3
Consolidated Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges .......... 4
Description of Debt Securities ........................... 4
Form, Exchange, Registration And Transfer ................ 14
Payment and Paying Agents ................................ 15
Plan of Distribution ..................................... 15
Legal Matters ............................................ 17
Experts .................................................. 17
i
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
This prospectus supplement contains the terms of this offering of notes.
This prospectus supplement, or the information incorporated by reference in
this prospectus supplement, may add, update or change information in the
accompanying prospectus. If information in this prospectus supplement, or the
information incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, is
inconsistent with the accompanying prospectus, this prospectus supplement, or
the information incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, will
apply and will supersede the information in the accompanying prospectus.
It is important for you to read and consider all information contained in
this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus in making your
investment decision. You should also read and consider the information in the
documents we have referred you to in the section entitled "Documents
Incorporated By Reference" in this prospectus supplement and "Where You Can
Find More Information" in the accompanying prospectus.
FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus contain
information about us, some of which is incorporated by reference from other
documents. This information includes "forward-looking statements" within the
meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
Forward-looking statements are statements other than historical information or
statements about our current condition. You can identify forward-looking
statements by the use of terms such as "believes," "contemplates," "expects,"
"may," "will," "could," "should," "would," or "anticipates," other similar
phrases, or the negatives of these terms.
We have based the forward-looking statements relating to our operations on
our current expectations, estimates and projections about us and the markets we
serve. We caution you that these statements are not guarantees of future
performance and involve risks and uncertainties. In addition, we have based
many of these forward-looking statements on assumptions about future events
that may prove to be inaccurate. Accordingly, our actual outcomes and results
may differ materially from what we have expressed or forecast in the
forward-looking statements. Any differences could result from a variety of
factors, including the following:
o Fluctuations in domestic and international business cycles generally
and in end markets for our products such as aerospace, transportation
and petrochemical processing;
o Competitive pressures, including the need for technology improvement,
successful new product development and introduction, continued cost
reductions, and any inability to pass increased costs of raw materials
to customers;
o Our ongoing need to attract and retain highly qualified personnel and
key management;
o Our ability to successfully value and integrate acquisition candidates;
o Decline in demand for our products and services, including:
o aircraft products and repair services in our Aerospace segment;
o production of fiberglass reinforced panels by our Engineered
Materials segment for truck trailers, recreational vehicles,
industrial or building products;
o products from our Fluid Handling segment for the petroleum refining
and petrochemical processing industries;
o products from our Controls segment that are utilized in the
industrial machinery, oil and gas or heavy equipment industries;
o changes in demand for our domestic vending machine business and
German-based coin validation machine business; and
o reductions in Congressional appropriations that affect defense
spending.
S-1
o Economic instability, currency fluctuation and other risks of doing
business outside of the U.S.;
o Delays in launching or supplying new products or an inability to
achieve new product sales objectives, particularly in our domestic
vending machine business;
o Increased price competition from larger competitors, particularly in
our Fluid Handling segment;
o The ability of the United States government to terminate its contracts;
and
o Adverse effects on our business and results of operations, as a whole,
as a result of further increases in asbestos claims or the cost of
defending and settling such claims.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
The SEC allows us to "incorporate by reference" the information we file
with them, which means that we can disclose important information to you by
referring you directly to those documents. The information incorporated by
reference is considered to be part of this prospectus supplement. In addition,
information we file with the SEC in the future will automatically update and
supersede information contained in this prospectus supplement and any
accompanying prospectus. We incorporate by reference our Annual Report on Form
10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002, our Quarterly Reports on Form
10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2003 and June 30, 2003 and our Current
Reports on Form 8-K filed January 23, 2003, April 16, 2003 (other than
information filed under Item 12, Results of Operations and Financial Condition,
which is not incorporated by reference), June 6, 2003 and August 29, 2003 and
any future filings made by us with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or
15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 until we sell all of the notes we
are offering. These documents update and supersede the information that we have
previously incorporated by reference.
For additional information on these documents please see "Where You Can
Find More Information" in the accompanying prospectus.
S-2
ABOUT CRANE
We are a diversified manufacturer of engineered industrial products.
Our strategy is to grow the earnings of niche businesses with high market
share, acquire companies that offer strategic fits with existing businesses,
aggressively pursue operational and strategic linkages among our businesses,
build an aggressive and committed management team whose interests are directly
aligned with those of the shareholders and maintain a focused, efficient
corporate structure.
Our business consists of five segments.
The Aerospace Segment has two business groups: aerospace and electronics.
Aerospace products include ELDEC's pressure, fuel flow and position sensors and
subsystems; ELDEC's aircraft electrical power components and subsystems;
Hydro-Aire's brake control systems; and coolant, lube and fuel pumps from Lear
Romec and Hydro-Aire. Electronic products include high-reliability power
supplies and custom microelectronics from Interpoint for aerospace, defense,
medical and other applications; power management products, electronic radio
frequency and microwave frequency components and subsystems from Signal
Technology Corporation ("STC") for the defense, space and military
communications markets; and customized contract manufacturing services and
products from General Technology Corporation for military and defense
applications.
The Engineered Materials segment consists of Kemlite and Polyflon. Kemlite
manufactures fiberglass reinforced plastic panels for the truck trailer and
recreational vehicle markets, industrial markets and the commercial
construction industry. Polyflon manufactures microwave laminates and other
specialty components for wireless communication, magnetic resonance imaging,
microwave and radar system manufacturers.
The Merchandising Systems segment is made up of two parts: Crane
Merchandising Systems which makes food, snack and beverage vending machines,
and National Rejectors Inc., GmbH which makes coin changers and validators in
Europe.
The Fluid Handling segment manufactures and sells industrial valves and
actuators; provides valve testing, service and parts; manufactures and sells
pumps and water treatment systems; distributes pipe, valves and fittings; and
designs, manufactures and sells corrosion-resistant plastic-lined pipes and
fittings.
The Controls segment includes Barksdale, a producer of ride-leveling,
air-suspension control valves for heavy trucks and trailers, as well as
pressure, temperature and level sensors used in a range of industrial machinery
and equipment and in the marine and mobile hydraulics markets. Azonix/Dynalco
manufactures electronic human-machine interface panels for harsh and hazardous
environments, such as oil rigs and platforms, and large engine monitoring and
diagnostic systems.
Founded in 1855, Crane employs over 10,400 people in North America,
Europe, Asia and Australia. Crane is a Delaware corporation and has its
principal executive offices at 100 First Stamford Place, Stamford, CT 06902.
Our telephone number is (203) 363-7300.
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
ACQUISITIONS
In May 2003, we acquired STC for a total purchase price of approximately
$138 million (net of STC cash acquired). STC, with 2002 annual sales of
approximately $87 million, manufactures power management products and
electronic radio frequency and microwave frequency components and subsystems
for the defense, space and military communications markets. STC supplies many
U.S. Department of Defense prime contractors and foreign allied defense
organizations with products designed into systems for missile, radar, aircraft,
electronic warfare, intelligence and communication applications. The operations
will be integrated with our Aerospace Electronics group.
In June 2003, we purchased certain pipe coupling and fittings businesses
from Etex Group S.A. ("Etex"), for a purchase price of approximately $29
million. The 2002 annual sales for these
S-3
businesses were approximately $60 million. These businesses provide pipe
jointing and repair solutions to the water, gas and industrial markets
worldwide. Products include grooved pipe systems, pipeline couplings and
transition fittings and pipeline equipment. The businesses will be integrated
into our subsidiary, Crane Limited, a provider of pipe fittings, valves and
related products to the building services (principally heating, ventilating and
air conditioning and industrial markets in the United Kingdom and Europe).
Crane Limited is part of our Fluid Handling segment.
ASBESTOS LIABILITY
As of June 30, 2003, we were a defendant, among a number of defendants,
typically over 50 and frequently in the hundreds, in cases involving 63,651
pending claims filed in various state and federal courts that allege injury or
death as a result of exposure to asbestos.
Please see Note 6 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in our
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2003 that we have
incorporated by reference for additional information on:
o Our pending claims;
o Our historical settlement and defense costs for asbestos claims;
o The liability we have recorded in our financial statements for pending
and reasonably anticipated asbestos claims through 2007;
o Our insurance coverage for asbestos claims; and
o Uncertainties related to asbestos liability.
USE OF PROCEEDS
We intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the notes, which we
estimate to be $ after deducting underwriting discounts and estimated
expenses of the offering, for repayment of debt and for other general corporate
purposes. The debt to be repaid matures on various dates through September 26,
2003 and as of September 3, 2003 bears interest at an average rate of
approximately 1.6%. We plan to repay a total of $ million of indebtedness,
including approximately $138 million incurred to fund our acquisition of STC
and approximately $29 million incurred to fund our acquisition of the Etex
businesses.
S-4
CAPITALIZATION
The following table sets forth our capitalization (1) as of June 30, 2003
and (2) as adjusted to give effect to the sale of the notes we are offering and
the application of the net proceeds from the offering. This table should be
read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and the related
notes and the financial information incorporated by reference in this
prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus.
AS OF JUNE 30, 2003
----------------------------
ACTUAL AS ADJUSTED
------------- ------------
(IN THOUSANDS)
Cash and cash equivalents ....................................... $ 32,058 $
Debt:
Current maturities of long-term debt ........................... $ 101,332 $ 101,332
Loans payable .................................................. 24,119 24,119
Long-term debt ................................................. 266,374
% notes offered by this prospectus supplement .............. -- 200,000
---------- ----------
Total Debt ................................................... $ 391,825 $
---------- ----------
Common Shareholders' Equity:
Common stock, par value $.01; authorized: 200,000,000 shares;
issued: 59,284,000 shares after deducting 13,142,000 shares in
treasury ..................................................... 59,284 59,284
Capital surplus ................................................ 106,421 106,421
Retained earnings .............................................. 786,534 786,534
Accumulated other comprehensive gain (loss) .................... 24,248 24,248
Treasury stock ................................................. (276,057) (276,057)
---------- ----------
Total Common Shareholders' Equity ............................ 700,430 700,430
---------- ----------
Total Capitalization ............................................ $1,092,255 $
========== ==========
S-5
CONSOLIDATED RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
The following table sets forth our consolidated ratio of earnings to fixed
charges for the periods indicated:
YEAR ENDED RATIO OF EARNINGS
DECEMBER 31, TO FIXED CHARGES
-------------------- ------------------
2002 ............. 2.00x
2001 ............. 6.22x
2000 ............. 8.59x
1999 ............. 6.01x
1998 ............. 7.26x
SIX MONTHS ENDED RATIO OF EARNINGS
JUNE 30, TO FIXED CHARGES
-------------------- ------------------
2003 ............. 6.87x
For the purpose of calculating the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, our
earnings consist of income before income taxes and fixed charges. Fixed charges
consist of interest expense and one-third of our rental expense, which
approximates the interest factor.
S-6
DESCRIPTION OF THE NOTES
GENERAL
The notes will be issued under an indenture dated as of April 1, 1991 (the
"Indenture"), between us and The Bank of New York, as trustee (the "Trustee").
The following description of the particular terms of the notes supplements the
description of the general terms and provisions of the debt securities set
forth in the accompanying prospectus.
The notes:
o will be senior debt securities,
o will initially be limited to $200,000,000 principal amount,
o will mature on , ,
o will bear interest from September , 2003 at the rate of % per
annum,
o will bear interest payable semi-annually on and , commencing
September , 2003, , to the persons in whose names the notes are
registered at the close of business on the preceding and ,
respectively, and
o will be issued in book-entry form only.
OPTIONAL REDEMPTION BASED ON MAKE-WHOLE PREMIUM
The notes will be redeemable, in whole or in part, at our option at any
time at a redemption price equal to the greater of:
o 100% of the principal amount of such notes, or
o as determined by the Quotation Agent (as defined below), the sum of the
present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and
interest on the notes to be redeemed (excluding interest accrued as of
the date of redemption) discounted to the date of redemption on a
semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day
months) at the Treasury Rate (as defined below) plus basis points
plus, in each case, accrued interest on the notes to the date of
redemption.
"Comparable Treasury Issue" means the United States Treasury security
selected by the Quotation Agent as having a maturity comparable to the
remaining term of the notes to be redeemed that would be utilized, at the time
of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing
new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the remaining
term of such notes.
"Comparable Treasury Price" means, with respect to any redemption date,
(1) the average of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such redemption
date, after excluding the highest and lowest such Reference Treasury Dealer
Quotations, or (2) if the Trustee obtains fewer than three such Reference
Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all such Reference Treasury Dealer
Quotations.
"Quotation Agent" means the Reference Treasury Dealer appointed by us.
"Reference Treasury Dealer" means each of J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. and
UBS Securities LLC, and their respective successors, and three other nationally
recognized investment banking firms that are primary U.S. Government securities
dealers in the United States (each, a "Primary Treasury Dealer") specified from
time to time by us; provided that if any Reference Treasury Dealer shall cease
to be a Primary Treasury Dealer, we shall substitute another Primary Treasury
Dealer.
"Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations" means, with respect to each
Reference Treasury Dealer and any redemption date, the average, as determined
by us, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed
in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the
Trustee by such Reference Treasury Dealer at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on
the third business day preceding such redemption date.
S-7
"Treasury Rate" means, with respect to any redemption date, the rate per
annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity of the Comparable
Treasury Issue, assuming a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed
as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price
for such redemption date.
Notice of any redemption will be mailed at least 30 days but not more than
60 days before the redemption date to each holder of the notes to be redeemed.
Unless we default in payment of the redemption price, on and after the
redemption date, interest will cease to accrue on the notes or portions thereof
called for redemption.
BOOK-ENTRY SYSTEM
The notes will be issued in the form of one or more registered global
securities and will be deposited with, or on behalf of The Depository Trust
Company, as Depositary, and registered in the name of the Depositary's nominee.
The Depositary has advised us as follows: the Depositary is a limited
purpose trust company organized under the laws of the State of New York, 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 New York Uniform Commercial Code, and a "clearing agency" registered
pursuant to the provisions of section 17A of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended. The Depositary was created to hold securities of its
participants and to facilitate the clearance and settlement of securities
transactions among its participants in such securities through electronic
book-entry changes in accounts of the participants, thereby eliminating the
need for physical movement of securities certificates. The Depositary's
participants include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies,
clearing corporations and certain other organizations, some of whom (and/or
their representatives) own the Depositary. Access to the Depositary's
book-entry system is also 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.
Upon the issuance of a global security in registered form, the Depositary
will credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, ownership of
beneficial interests in notes represented by such global security to the
accounts of institutions that have accounts with the Depositary or its nominee.
Ownership of beneficial interests in the global security will be limited to
participants or persons that may hold interests through participants. Ownership
of beneficial interests by participants in the global security will be shown
on, and the transfer of that ownership interest will be effected only through,
records maintained by the Depositary or its nominee. Ownership of beneficial
interests in the global security by persons that hold through a participant
will be shown on, and the transfer of that ownership interest within such
participant will be effected only through, records maintained by such
participant. The laws of some jurisdictions require that certain purchasers of
securities take physical delivery of such securities in definitive form. Such
laws may impair the ability to own or to transfer beneficial interests in the
notes as long as they continue to be issued in the form of a global security.
So long as the Depositary or its nominee is the registered owner of a
global security, it will be considered the sole owner or holder of the notes
represented by such global security for all purposes under the Indenture.
Except as set forth below, owners of beneficial interests in such global
security will not be entitled to have the notes represented thereby registered
in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of
certificates representing the notes and will not be considered the owners or
holders thereof under the Indenture.
Payment of principal of, and any interest on, the notes represented by a
global security will be made to the Depositary or its nominee, as the
registered owner or the holder of the global security. Neither we, the Trustee
nor any paying agent or registrar for the notes will have any responsibility or
liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account
of beneficial ownership interests in the global security or for maintaining,
supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership
interests.
We have been advised by the Depositary that the Depositary will credit
participants' accounts with payments of principal, or interest on the payment
date thereof in amounts proportionate to their
S-8
respective beneficial interests in the principal amount of the global security
as shown on the records of the Depositary. We expect that payments by
participants to owners of beneficial interests in the global security held
through such participants will be governed by standing instructions and
customary practices, as is now the case with securities held for the accounts
of customers registered in "street name," and will be the responsibility of
such participants.
A global security may not be transferred except as a whole to a nominee or
successor of the Depositary. If the Depositary is at any time unwilling or
unable to continue as depositary and a successor depositary is not appointed by
us within ninety days, we will issue certificates in registered form in
exchange for the global security or securities representing the notes. In
addition, we may at any time and in our sole discretion determine not to have
the notes represented by a global security and, in such event, will issue
certificates in definitive form in exchange for the global security
representing the notes.
FURTHER ISSUES
We may from time to time, without notice to or consent of the holders of
the notes, issue additional notes of the same tenor, coupon and other terms as
the notes, so that such notes and the notes offered hereby will form a single
series. We refer to this additional issuance of notes as a "further issue."
Purchasers of the notes we are offering, after the date of any further
issue, will not be able to differentiate between the notes sold as part of the
further issue and previously issued notes. If we were to issue notes with
original issue discount, persons that are subject to U.S. federal income
taxation who purchase notes after such further issue may be required to accrue
original issue discount with respect to their notes. This may affect the price
of outstanding notes as a result of a further issue.
S-9
UNDERWRITING
Under the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the
underwriting agreement dated September , 2003, we have agreed to sell to each
of the underwriters named below, severally, and each of the underwriters has
severally agreed to purchase, the principal amount of the notes set forth
opposite its name below:
PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT OF
UNDERWRITER NOTES
---------------------------------------- ---------------
J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. ............ $
UBS Securities LLC .....................
Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc. ...............
BNY Capital Markets, Inc. ..............
Citigroup Global Markets Inc. ..........
Fleet Securities, Inc. .................
McDonald Investments Inc. ..............
ABN AMRO Incorporated ..................
BNP Paribas Securities Corp. ...........
The Royal Bank of Scotland plc .........
-----------
Total .................................. $200,000,000
============
Under the terms and conditions of the underwriting agreement, if the
underwriters take any of the notes, then the underwriters are obligated to take
and pay for all of the notes.
The notes are a new issue of securities with no established trading market
and will not be listed on any national securities exchange. The underwriters
have advised us that they intend to make a market for the notes, but they have
no obligation to do so and may discontinue market making at any time without
providing any notice. No assurance can be given as to the liquidity of the
trading market for the notes.
The underwriters initially propose to offer part of the notes directly to
the public at the public offering price set forth on the cover page of this
prospectus supplement and part to certain dealers at a price that represents a
concession not in excess of % of the principal amount of the notes. Any
underwriters may allow, and any such dealer may reallow, a concession not in
excess of % of the principal amount of the notes to certain other dealers.
After the initial offering of the notes, the underwriters may from time to time
vary the offering price and other selling terms.
We have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against certain liabilities,
including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or to
contribute to payments which the underwriters may be required to make in
respect of any such liabilities.
In connection with the offering of the notes, the underwriters may engage
in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of the
notes. Specifically, the underwriters may overallot in connection with the
offering of the notes, creating a syndicate short position. In addition, the
underwriters may bid for, and purchase, notes in the open market to cover
syndicate short positions or to stabilize the price of the notes. Finally, the
underwriting syndicate may reclaim selling concessions allowed for distributing
the notes in the offering of the notes, if the syndicate repurchases previously
distributed notes in syndicate covering transactions, in stabilization
transactions or otherwise. Any of these activities may stabilize or maintain
the market price of the notes above independent market levels. The underwriters
are not required to engage in any of these activities, and may end any of these
activities at any time.
Expenses associated with this offering, to be paid by us, are estimated to
be $ .
J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. ("JPMorgan") and UBS Securities LLC will make
the notes available for distribution on the Internet through a proprietary Web
site and/or a third-party system operated
S-10
by Market Axess Inc., an Internet-based communications technology provider.
Market Axess Inc. is providing the system as a conduit for communications
between JPMorgan and UBS Securities LLC and their customers and is not a party
to any transactions. Market Axess Inc., a registered broker-dealer, will
receive compensation from JPMorgan and UBS Securities LLC based on transactions
JPMorgan and UBS Securities LLC conduct through the system. JPMorgan and UBS
Securities LLC will make the notes available to their customers through the
Internet distributions, whether made through a proprietary or third-party
system, on the same terms as distributions made through other channels.
In the ordinary course of their respective businesses, certain of the
underwriters and certain of their affiliates have provided and may in the
future provide investment banking, financial and other services to us, for
which we have paid, and intend to pay, customary fees. For example, JPMorgan is
the lead arranger and sole bookrunner of our existing credit agreement and
JPMorgan Chase Bank, an affiliate of JPMorgan, is the Administrative Agent for
our existing credit agreement. In addition, certain of the other underwriters
and certain of their affiliates are parties to our existing credit agreement,
including The Bank of New York, an affiliate of BNY Capital Markets, Inc.,
which also serves as Trustee under our Indenture.
S-11
LEGAL OPINIONS
The validity of the notes will be passed upon for us by Augustus I.
duPont, Esq., our Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, and for the
underwriters by Davis Polk & Wardwell, New York, New York. As of August 31,
2003, Mr. duPont beneficially owned 56,289 shares of our common stock directly,
of which 43,144 shares are subject to forfeiture upon failure of the vesting
conditions in our restricted stock award plans, 1,732 shares of common stock
under our Savings and Investment Plan and options to purchase 289,234 shares of
common stock granted under our stock option plans which are exercisable within
60 days of such date.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements incorporated in this prospectus
supplement by reference from the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 2002 have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP,
independent auditors, as stated in their report (which report contained an
explanatory paragraph regarding the adoption of Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets), which is
incorporated herein by reference, and have been so incorporated in reliance
upon the report of such firm given upon their authority as experts in
accounting and auditing.
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PROSPECTUS
CRANE CO.
$300,000,000
DEBT SECURITIES
---------------------------------------------
We will provide the specific terms of the securities in supplements to this
prospectus. You should read this prospectus and the related supplement
carefully before you invest.
NEITHER THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR ANY STATE
SECURITIES COMMISSION HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED OF THESE
SECURITIES OR PASSED UPON THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS
PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL
OFFENSE.
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The date of this Prospectus is March 18, 1999
You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus, in
any accompanying prospectus supplement and in material we file with the SEC. We
have not authorized anyone to provide you with any different information. We
are offering to sell, and seeking offers to buy, the securities described in
the prospectus only where offers and sales are permitted. The information
contained in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement and ourfilings with the
SEC is accurate only as of its date, regardless of the time of delivery of this
prospectus and any prospectus supplement or of any sale of the securities. In
this prospectus, unless we specifically say otherwise, the terms Crane, we, us
and our refer to Crane Co. and not to any of its subsidiaries.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
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About This Prospectus .................................... 2
Where You Can Find More Information ...................... 2
Forward-Looking Information .............................. 2
About Crane .............................................. 3
Use of Proceeds .......................................... 3
Consolidated Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges .......... 4
Description of Debt Securities ........................... 4
Form, Exchange, Registration And Transfer ................ 14
Payment And Paying Agents ................................ 15
Plan of Distribution ..................................... 15
Legal Matters ............................................ 17
Experts .................................................. 17
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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we have filed
with the SEC using a "shelf" registration process. Using this process, we may
offer the debt securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings
with a total initial offering price of up to $300,000,000. This prospectus
provides you with a general description of the debt securities we may offer.
Each time we offer debt securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement
and, if applicable, a pricing supplement. The prospectus supplement and any
pricing supplement will describe the specific terms of that offering. The
prospectus supplement and any pricing supplement may also add to, update or
change the information contained in this prospectus. Please carefully read this
prospectus, the prospectus supplement and any pricing supplement, in addition
to the information contained in the documents we refer to under the next
heading.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We file annual, quarterly and current reports and other information
with the SEC. You may access and read our SEC filings, including the complete
registration statement and all of the exhibits to it, through the SEC's
Internet site at www.sec.gov. This site contains reports, proxy and information
statements and other information regarding issuers that file electronically
with the SEC. You may also read and copy any document we file at the SEC's
public reference room located at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C.
20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the
public reference room. Our filings are also available at the offices of the New
York Stock Exchange, 20 Broad Street, New York, NY 10005.
As permitted by SEC rules, the registration statement contains exhibits
and other information that are not contained in this prospectus. Our
descriptions in this prospectus of the provisions of documents filed as
exhibits to the registration statement or otherwise filed with the SEC are only
summaries of the documents' material terms. If you want a complete description
of the content of the documents, you should obtain the documents yourself by
following the procedures described above.
The SEC allows us to "incorporate by reference" the information we file
with them, which means that we can disclose important information to you by
referring you directly to those documents. The information incorporated by
reference is considered to be part of this prospectus. In addition, information
we file with the SEC in the future will automatically update and supersede
information contained in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus
supplement. We incorporate by reference our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 1998 and any future filings made by us with the
SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 until we sell all of the securities we are offering.
You may request a free copy of these filings by writing or telephoning
us at the following address: Crane Co., 100 First Stamford Place, Stamford, CT
06902, Attention: Corporate Secretary; (203) 363-7300. Free copies that we send
you will exclude exhibits unless the exhibits are specifically incorporated by
reference into the documents requested.
FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
This prospectus contains information about us, some of which is
incorporated by
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reference from other documents. Our information includes "forward-looking
statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
of 1995. Forward-looking statements are statements other than historical
information or statements about our current condition. You can identify some
forward-looking statements by the use of terms such as "believes,"
"contemplates," "expects," "may," "will," "could," "should," "would," or
"anticipates," other similar phrases, or the negatives of these terms.
We have based the forward-looking statements relating to our operations
on our current expectations, estimates and projections about ourselves and the
markets we serve. We caution you that these statements are not guarantees of
future performance and involve risks and uncertainties. In addition, we have
based many of these forward-looking statements on assumptions about future
events that may prove to be inaccurate. Accordingly, our actual outcomes and
results may differ materially from what we have expressed or forecast in the
forward-looking statements. Any differences could result from a variety of
factors, including the following:
o Fluctuations in domestic and international business cycles generally and in
end markets for our products such as aerospace, housing, transportation and
petrochemical processing;
o Competitive pressures, including the need for technology improvement,
successful new product development and introduction, continued cost
reductions, and any inability to pass increased costs of raw materials to
customers;
o Economic instability, currency fluctuation and other risks of doing
business outside of the U.S.;
o Our ongoing need to attract and retain highly qualified personnel and key
management;
o Our ability to successfully value and integrate acquisition candidates; and
o Failure by us or our suppliers or customers to successfully address Year
2000 issues.
ABOUT CRANE
Crane is a diversified manufacturer of engineered industrial products
and the largest American distributor of doors, windows and millwork. Founded in
1855, Crane and its subsidiaries employ over 12,500 people in North America,
Europe, Asia and Australia. Our strategy is to grow the earnings of niche
businesses with high market share, build an aggressive and committed management
team whose interests are directly aligned to those of the shareholders, and
maintain a focused, efficient corporate structure. Crane is a Delaware
corporation and has its principal executive offices at 100 First Stamford
Place, Stamford, CT 06902. Our telephone number is (203) 363-7300.
USE OF PROCEEDS
We will use the net proceeds from the sale of the debt securities for
our general corporate purposes, which may include making additions to our
working capital; repaying indebtedness; making acquisitions; or for any other
purposes we describe in the accompanying prospectus supplement.
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CONSOLIDATED RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
The following table sets forth our consolidated ratio of earnings to
fixed charges for the periods indicated:
YEAR ENDED RATIO OF EARNINGS
DECEMBER 31, TO FIXED CHARGES
----------------- ------------------
1998 ......... 7.54x
1997 ......... 7.06x
1996 ......... 6.02x
1995 ......... 4.71x
1994 ......... 4.06x
For the purpose of calculating the ratio of earnings to fixed charges,
our earnings consist of income before income taxes and fixed charges. Fixed
charges consist of interest expense and one-third of our rental expense, which
approximates the interest factor.
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
The debt securities will be either senior or subordinated debt
securities. This section summarizes terms of the debt securities that are
common to all series, the covenants of our company applicable to our senior
debt securities and the subordination provisions applicable to our subordinated
debt securities. Most of the financial terms and other specific terms of your
debt securities are described in the prospectus supplement attached to the
front of this prospectus. Those terms may vary from the terms described here.
The prospectus supplement may also describe special federal income tax
consequences of the debt securities.
The debt securities are governed by documents called "indentures." The
indentures are contracts between us and a financial institution acting as the
trustee. The trustee has two main roles. First, the trustee can enforce your
rights against us if we default. There are some limitations on the extent to
which the trustee acts on your behalf, described on pages 10 and 11 under
"Events of Default--Remedies If an Event of Default Occurs." Second, the
trustee performs administrative duties for us.
The senior debt securities will be issued under an indenture between
Crane and The Bank of New York, as trustee, and the subordinated debt
securities will be issued under an indenture between Crane and The First
National Bank of Chicago, as trustee. The indentures contain substantially the
same terms, except for certain covenants in the indenture for the senior debt
securities and the subordination provisions in the indenture for the
subordinated debt securities.
The indentures contain the full text of the matters described in this
section. The indentures and the debt securities are governed by New York law.
Copies of the indentures have been filed with the SEC and have been
incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement. See "Where
you Can Find More Information" on page 2 for information on how to obtain a
copy. The summary that follows includes references to section numbers of the
indentures so that you can more easily locate these provisions.
Because this section is a summary, it does not describe every aspect of
the debt securities. This summary is subject to and qualified in its entirety
by reference to all the provisions of the indentures, including definitions
used in the indentures. For example, in this section we use capitalized words
to signify defined terms that have been given special meaning in the
indentures. We describe the meaning in detail in the indentures. In the
prospectus and prospectus supplement, we summarize the meaning for only the
more important terms. Whenever we refer to sections or defined terms of the
indentures in this
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prospectus or in the prospectus supplement, those sections or defined terms are
incorporated by reference here or in the prospectus supplement. This summary
also is subject to and qualified by reference to the description of the
particular terms of your debt securities described in the prospectus
supplement.
GENERAL
We may offer the debt securities from time to time in as many distinct
series as we may choose. All debt securities will be direct, unsecured
obligations of ours. The senior debt securities will have the same rank as all
of our other unsecured and unsubordinated debt. The subordinated debt
securities will be subordinated to Senior Indebtedness as described in the
"Subordination Provisions" section on pages 8 and 9. Neither indenture limits
the amount of debt that we may issue under that indenture, nor does either
indenture limit the amount of other unsecured debt or securities that we or our
subsidiaries may issue.
Our sources of payment for the debt securities are revenues from our
operations and investments, and cash distributions from our subsidiaries. Our
subsidiaries account for most of our consolidated assets and a significant
portion of our earnings. As a result, our ability to pay our obligations,
including our obligation to make payments on the debt securities, depends upon
our subsidiaries repaying investments and advances we have made to them and
upon the earnings of our subsidiaries and their distributing those earnings to
us. Our subsidiaries are separate and distinct legal entities and have no
obligation whatsoever to pay any amounts due on the debt securities or to make
funds available to us. Our subsidiaries' ability to pay dividends or make other
payments or advances to us will depend upon their operating results and will be
subject to applicable laws and contractual restrictions. The indentures do not
limit our subsidiaries' ability to enter into agreements that prohibit or
restrict dividends or other payments or advances to us.
To the extent that we must rely on cash from our subsidiaries to pay
amounts due on the debt securities, the debt securities will be effectively
subordinated to all our subsidiaries' liabilities, including their trade
payables. This means that our subsidiaries must pay all their creditors in full
before their assets are available to pay holders of our debt securities. Even
if we are recognized as a creditor of our subsidiaries, our claim would be
subordinated to any security interests in their assets and also could be
subordinated to all other claims on their assets or earnings.
Other than the restrictions on liens and sale/leaseback transactions
applicable to the senior debt securities described below, the indentures and
the debt securities do not contain any covenants or other provisions designed
to protect holders of the debt securities if we participate in a highly
leveraged transaction. The indentures and the debt securities also do not
contain provisions that give holders of the debt securities the right to
require us to repurchase their debt securities if our credit ratings decline
due to a takeover, recapitalization or similar restructuring or otherwise.
You should look in the prospectus supplement for the following terms of
the debt securities being offered:
o The title of the debt securities and whether such debt securities will be
senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities;
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o The total principal amount of such debt securities;
o The price at which such debt securities will be issued;
o The date or dates on which such debt securities will mature and the right,
if any, to extend such date or dates;
o The annual rate or rates, if any, at which such debt securities will bear
interest, and, if the interest rate is variable, the method of determining
such rate;
o The date or dates from which such interest will accrue, the interest
payment dates on which such interest will be payable or the manner of
determination of such interest payment dates and the record dates for the
determination of holders to whom interest is payable on any interest
payment dates;
o Any redemption, repayment or sinking fund provision;
o The form of such debt securities, including whether we will issue the debt
securities in individual certificates to each holder or in the form of
temporary or permanent global securities held by a depositary on behalf of
holders;
o If the amount of payments of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on
the debt securities may be determined by reference to an index, the manner
in which that amount will be determined; and
o Any other terms of the debt securities that will not conflict with the
applicable indenture, including any changes or additions to the events of
default or covenants described in this prospectus, and any terms which may
be required by or advisable under applicable laws or regulations. (Section
2.3 and Section 4.1)
Debt securities bearing no interest or interest at a rate that at the
time of issuance is below the prevailing market rate may be sold at a discount
below their stated principal amount. Special federal income tax and other
special considerations applicable to any discounted debt securities or to debt
securities issued at par which are treated as having been issued at a discount
for federal income tax purposes will be described in the applicable prospectus
supplement.
RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS
We have agreed to two principal restrictions on our activities and the
activities of our Subsidiaries for the benefit only of holders of the senior
debt securities. The restrictive covenants summarized below will apply to each
series of senior debt securities as long as any of those senior debt securities
are outstanding, unless waived or amended, or the prospectus supplement states
otherwise.
CAPITALIZED TERMS. Definitions of some of the important capitalized
terms used in this section can be found under "Certain Definitions Relating to
our Restrictive Covenants" on page 8.
RESTRICTIONS ON LIENS. Some of our property may be subject to a
mortgage or other legal mechanism that gives some of our lenders preferential
rights in that property over other general creditors, including the direct
holders of the senior debt securities, if we fail to pay them back. These
preferential rights are called "Liens." We agree in the indenture for the
senior debt securities that, with certain exceptions described below, we will
not, and we will not permit any of our Subsidiaries to, become obligated on any
new debt that is secured by a Lien on any of our or our Subsidiaries' property,
unless we or our Subsidiary grant an equal or higher-ranking Lien on the same
property to the direct holders of the senior debt securities and, if
6
we so determine, to the holders of any of our other debt that ranks equally
with the senior debt securities.
(Section 3.9)
We do not need to comply with this restriction if the amount of all of
our and our Subsidiaries' debt that would be secured by Liens on our property
or the property of our Subsidiaries and all "Attributable Debt" as described
under "Restrictions on Sales and Leasebacks," below, that results from a Sale
and Leaseback Transaction involving our property or the property of our
Subsidiaries, is not more than 10% of our Consolidated Net Tangible Assets.
When we calculate the limits imposed by this restriction, we can
disregard the following types of Liens:
o Liens on the property of any of our Subsidiaries, if those Liens are
existing at the time the corporation becomes our Subsidiary;
o Liens on property existing at the time we acquire the property, including
property we may acquire through a merger or similar transaction, or that we
grant in order to purchase the property (sometimes called "purchase money
mortgages");
o Intercompany Liens in favor of us or our wholly owned Subsidiaries;
o Liens in favor of federal or state governmental bodies or any other country
or political subdivision of another country, that we may grant in order to
assure our payments to such bodies that we owe by law or because of a
contract we entered into;
o Liens that extend, renew or replace any of the Liens described above;
o Liens that arise in the ordinary course of business and that relate to
amounts that are not yet due or that we are contesting in good faith;
o Liens that arise under worker's compensation laws or similar laws;
o Liens that arise from lawsuits that we are contesting in good faith,
judgment Liens that are satisfied within 15 days after the imposition of
the Lien becomes unappealable, and Liens incurred by us for the purpose of
securing our discharge from a lawsuit;
o Liens in favor of a taxing authority for taxes that are not delinquent,
that we can pay without penalty, or that we are contesting in good faith;
and
o Other Liens that arise in the ordinary course of our business that are not
incurred in connection with the creation of debt and that do not, in our
opinion, impair the value of the assets encumbered by the Liens.
We are permitted to have as much unsecured debt as we choose.
RESTRICTIONS ON SALES AND LEASEBACKS. We agree that we will not and
will not permit our Subsidiaries to enter into any Sale and Leaseback
Transaction involving our property or the property of our Subsidiaries, unless
we comply with this restrictive covenant. A "Sale and Leaseback Transaction"
generally is an arrangement between us and a bank, insurance company or other
lender or investor where we lease a property which was or will be sold by us to
that lender or investor, other than a lease for a period of three years or
less.
(Section 3.10)
We can comply with this restrictive covenant in one of two ways:
o We will be in compliance if we could, at the time of the transaction, grant
a Lien on the property to be leased in an
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amount equal to the Attributable Debt for the Sale and Leaseback
Transaction without being required to grant an equal or higher-ranking
Lien to the direct holders of the senior debt securities as described on
page 6 under "Restrictions on Liens."
o We can also comply if the proceeds of the sale of the property are at least
equal to its fair market value and within 90 days of the transaction we
apply an amount equal to the proceeds either to purchase property or to
retire senior debt securities, or any other debt that has a maturity of
more than one year or is by its terms renewable or extendible beyond one
year at our option.
CERTAIN DEFINITIONS RELATING TO OUR RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS. Following
are summary definitions of some of the capitalized terms that are important in
understanding the restrictive covenants previously described.
"Attributable Debt" means the total present value of the rental
payments during the remaining term of any lease associated with a Sale and
Leaseback Transaction. To determine that present value, we use a discount rate
equal to the average interest borne by all outstanding senior debt securities
determined on a weighted average basis and compounded semi-annually.
"Consolidated Net Tangible Assets" is the total amount of assets after
subtracting all current liabilities and all trade names, trademarks, licenses,
patents, copyrights, goodwill, organizational costs and deferred charges, other
than prepaid items and tangible assets being amortized, as those amounts appear
on our most recent quarterly or annual consolidated balance sheet.
"Subsidiary" means a corporation in which we and/or one or more of our
other Subsidiaries owns at least 50% of the voting stock, which means stock
that ordinarily permits its owners to vote for the election of directors.
(Section 1.1)
SUBORDINATION PROVISIONS
Under the indenture for the subordinated debt securities, payment of
the principal, interest and any premium on the subordinated debt securities
will generally be subordinated to the prior payment in full of all of our
Senior Indebtedness. (Section 12.1)
"Senior Indebtedness" is defined as the principal of, premium, if any,
and interest on, and any other payment due pursuant to, any of the following,
whether outstanding on the date of the indenture for the subordinated debt
securities or incurred or created after that date:
o All our indebtedness for money borrowed;
o All our indebtedness evidenced by notes, debentures, bonds or other
securities, including the senior debt securities;
o All our lease obligations that are capitalized on our books in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles;
o All indebtedness and all lease obligations of others of the kinds described
above assumed by or guaranteed in any manner by us or in effect guaranteed
by us; and
o All renewals, extensions or refundings of indebtedness, leases or other
obligations of the kinds described above.
None of the indebtedness described above will be part of Senior
Indebtedness, however, if the relevant instrument or lease expressly provides
that such indebtedness, lease, renewal, extension or refunding is
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subordinate to any of our other indebtedness, or is not higher-ranking than, or
is of an equal rank with, the subordinated debt securities. Senior Indebtedness
also will not include (i) any of our obligations to any Subsidiary or (ii)
indebtedness for trade payables or constituting the deferred purchase price of
assets or services incurred in the ordinary course of business. (Section 1.1)
If and as long as there is a continuing default in the payment of any
Senior Indebtedness after any applicable grace period, we will not make or
agree to make any payments of principal, premium or interest on the
subordinated debt securities, or for any redemption, retirement, purchase,
other acquisition or defeasance of the subordinated debt securities.
Payment of principal and interest on the subordinated debt securities
upon our dissolution, winding up, liquidation or reorganization also will
generally be subordinated to the prior payment in full of all Senior
Indebtedness. As a result, in such an event holders of Senior Indebtedness may
receive more, ratably, and holders of the subordinated debt securities may
receive less, ratably, than our other creditors. (Section 12.2)
Subordination will not prevent the occurrence of any Event of Default
under the indenture for the subordinated debt securities. (Section 12.1)
Upon the effectiveness of any defeasance for a series of subordinated
debt securities as described on page 12 under "Defeasance," the series will
cease to be subordinated. (Section 12.8)
If this prospectus is being delivered in connection with a series of
subordinated debt securities, the prospectus supplement or the information
incorporated by reference will set forth the approximate amount of Senior
Indebtedness as of a recent date. As of December 31, 1998, we had approximately
$354.7 million of outstanding debt that would have constituted Senior
Indebtedness and $55.6 million of outstanding indebtedness of Subsidiaries.
Except for the restrictive covenants in the indenture for the senior debt
securities, the indentures do not limit other debt that may be incurred or
issued by us or our subsidiaries or contain financial or similar restrictions
on us or our subsidiaries.
MERGERS AND SIMILAR EVENTS
We are generally permitted to consolidate or merge with another company
or firm. We are also permitted to sell substantially all of our assets.
However, we may not take any of these actions unless the following conditions
are met:
o If we merge out of existence or sell our assets, the other company must be
a corporation organized under the laws of a state of the United States or
the District of Columbia or under federal law and it must agree to be
legally responsible for the debt securities.
o The merger, sale of assets or other transaction must not cause a default on
the debt securities. For purposes of this no default test, a default would
include an Event of Default that has occurred and not been cured, as
described on page 10 under "Events of Default--What is an Event of
Default?" and would also include any event that would be an Event of
Default if the requirements for giving us default notice or our default
having to exist for a specific period of time were disregarded. (Section
8.1)
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o It is possible that the merger, sale of assets or other transaction would
cause some of our property to become subject to Liens. Under the indenture
for the senior debt securities, we have agreed to limit Liens, as discussed
on pages 6 and 7 under "Restrictive Covenants--Restrictions on Liens." If
a merger or other transaction would create Liens on our property or the
property of our Subsidiaries that are not permitted by that restrictive
covenant, we or our successor would be required to grant an equal or
higher-ranking Lien on the same property to the direct holders of senior
debt securities. (Section 3.9)
EVENTS OF DEFAULT
You will have special rights if an Event of Default occurs and is not
cured, as described later in this subsection.
WHAT IS AN EVENT OF DEFAULT? The term "Event of Default" means any of
the following:
o We do not pay interest on a debt security within 30 days of its due date;
o We do not pay the principal of or premium on a debt security on its due
date;
o We do not pay any sinking fund installment on its due date;
o We remain in breach of any other term of the indenture for 60 days after we
receive a notice of default stating we are in breach. The notice must be
sent by either the trustee or holders of 25% of the principal amount of
debt securities of the affected series;
o We file for bankruptcy or certain other events in bankruptcy, insolvency or
reorganization occur; or
o Any other Event of Default described in the prospectus supplement occurs.
REMEDIES IF AN EVENT OF DEFAULT OCCURS. If an Event of Default has
occurred and has not been cured, the trustee or the holders of 25% in principal
amount of the debt securities of the affected series may declare the entire
principal amount of all the debt securities of the affected series to be due
and immediately payable. This is called a "declaration of acceleration of
maturity." Under some circumstances, a declaration of acceleration of maturity
may be canceled by the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of
the debt securities of that series. (Section 4.1)
Except in cases of default, where the trustee has some special duties,
the trustee is not required to take any action under the indentures at the
request of any holders unless the holders offer the trustee reasonable
protection from expenses and liability.
If reasonable protection from expenses and liabilities is provided, the
holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of
the relevant series may direct the time, method and place of conducting any
lawsuit or other formal legal action seeking any remedy available to the
trustee. The trustee may refuse to follow those directions in some
circumstances. (Section 4.9)
Before you bypass the trustee and bring your own lawsuit or other
formal legal action or take any other steps to enforce your rights or protect
your interests relating to the debt securities, the following must occur:
o You must give the trustee written notice that an Event of Default has
occurred and remains uncured;
o The holders of 25% in principal amount of all outstanding debt securities
of the affected series must make a written
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request that the trustee take action because of the default, and must
offer reasonable protection to the trustee against the cost and other
liabilities of taking that action; and
o The trustee must have not taken action for 60 days after receipt of the
above notice and offer of protection. (Section 4.6)
However, you are entitled at any time to bring a lawsuit for the
payment of money due on your debt security on or after its due date. (Section
4.7)
"Street Name" and other indirect holders who are described on pages 12
and 13 should consult their banks or brokers for information on how to give
notice or direction to or make a request of the trustee and to make or cancel a
declaration of acceleration.
We will furnish to the trustee every year a written statement of
certain of our officers certifying that to their knowledge we are in compliance
with the indentures and the debt securities, or else specifying any default.
(Section 3.5)
MODIFICATION AND WAIVER
There are three types of changes we can make to the indentures and the
debt securities.
CHANGES REQUIRING APPROVAL OF ALL HOLDERS. First, there are changes
that cannot be made to your debt securities without the approval of every
holder affected by the proposed change. A list of those types of changes
follows:
o Change the due date of the principal of or interest on a debt security;
o Reduce any amounts due on a debt security;
o Change the currency of payment on a debt security;
o Impair your right to sue for payment;
o Reduce the percentage of holders of debt securities whose consent is needed
to modify or amend the indentures; and
o Reduce the percentage of holders of debt securities whose consent is needed
to waive compliance with some provisions of the indentures or to waive some
defaults. (Section 7.2)
CHANGES REQUIRING APPROVAL OF LESS THAN ALL HOLDERS. The second type of
change to the indentures and the debt securities is the kind that requires the
approval of less than all holders of the affected series. This category
includes changes that require approval of holders owning either 66 2/3% or, in
some cases, a majority, of the outstanding principal amount of the affected
series.
Most changes to the indentures and debt securities cannot be made
without a 66 2/3% vote. (Section 7.2) The same 66 2/3% vote is required to waive
compliance in whole or in part with the restrictive covenants described under
"Restrictive Covenants" beginning on page 6. (Section 3.11)
A majority vote is required to waive any default under the indentures,
other than a default that results from the breach of a covenant or other
provision that cannot be amended without the consent of all the holders of the
affected series. (Section 4.10)
CHANGES NOT REQUIRING APPROVAL OF HOLDERS. The third type of change
does not require any vote by holders of debt securities. This type of change is
limited to clarifications and other changes that would not adversely affect
holders of the debt securities. (Section 7.1)
With respect to any vote of holders of debt securities, we will
generally be entitled
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to set any day as a record date for the purpose of determining the holders of
outstanding debt securities that are entitled to vote or take other action
under the indentures. (Section 6.2)
"Street Name" and other indirect holders should consult their banks or
brokers for information on how approval may be granted or denied if we seek to
change the indentures or the debt securities or request a waiver.
DEFEASANCE
When we use the term "defeasance," we mean discharge from some or all
of our obligations under an indenture. If we deposit with the trustee funds or
government securities sufficient to make payments on a series of debt
securities on their due dates, then, at our option, one of the following will
occur:
o We will be discharged from our obligations with respect to the debt
securities of that series (called legal defeasance); or
o We will no longer have to comply with the restrictive covenants under the
indenture, and the related events of default will no longer apply to us
(called covenant defeasance).
In the case of legal defeasance of a series of debt securities, the
direct holders of that series of debt securities will not be entitled to the
benefits of the indenture. You would have to rely solely on the funds deposited
with the trustee for repayment of the debt securities. In the unlikely event of
a shortfall in those funds, you could not look to us for repayment. (Section
9.3) The funds deposited with the trustee, however, would most likely be
protected from claims of our lenders and other creditors if we ever became
bankrupt or insolvent. You would also be released from the subordination
provisions of the subordinated debt securities described under "Subordination
Provisions" on page 8. (Section 12.8)
In the case of covenant defeasance of a series of debt securities, we
would still be obligated to pay principal, premium, if any, and interest on the
debt securities of the affected series. You would lose the protection of the
restrictive covenants described beginning on page 6 under "Restrictive
Covenants" and our obligations described above under "Mergers and Similar
Events" beginning on page 9, but you would have the added protection of having
money and securities set aside in trust to repay the debt securities. If there
were a shortfall in the trust deposit, you could still look to us for repayment
of the debt securities. Depending on the event causing the default, however,
you may not be able to obtain payment of the shortfall. You would also be
released from the subordination provisions of the subordinated debt securities
described under "Subordination Provisions" on page 8. (Section 9.4)
We will be required to deliver to the trustee an opinion of counsel
that the deposit and related defeasance would not cause the holders of the
affected series of debt securities to recognize income, gain or loss for
federal income tax purposes. If we elect legal defeasance, that opinion must be
based on a ruling from the IRS or a change in tax law to that effect. (Section
9.5)
"STREET NAME" AND OTHER INDIRECT HOLDERS
Investors who hold securities in accounts at banks or brokers will
generally not be recognized by us as legal holders of debt securities. This is
called holding in "Street Name." Instead, we would recognize only the bank or
broker, or the
12
financial institution the bank or broker uses to hold its securities. These
intermediary banks, brokers and other financial institutions pass along
principal, interest and other payments on the debt securities, either because
they agree to do so in their customer agreements or because they are legally
required to. If you hold debt securities in "Street Name," you should check
with your own institution to find out:
o How it handles payments and notices;
o Whether it imposes fees or charges;
o How it would handle voting if applicable;
o Whether and how you can instruct it to send you debt securities registered
in your own name so you can be a direct holder as described below; and
o If applicable, how it would pursue rights under the debt securities if
there were a default or other event triggering the need for holders to act
to protect their interests.
DIRECT HOLDERS
Our obligations, as well as the obligations of the trustees under the
indentures and those of any third parties employed by us or the trustees, run
only to persons who are registered as holders of debt securities. As noted
above, we do not have obligations to you if you hold in "Street Name" or other
indirect means, either because you choose to hold debt securities in that
manner or because the debt securities are issued in the form of global
securities as described below. For example, once we make payment to the
registered holder, we have no further responsibility for the payment even if
that holder is legally required to pass the payment along to you as a "Street
Name" customer but does not do so.
GLOBAL SECURITIES
WHAT IS A GLOBAL SECURITY? A global security is a special type of
indirectly held debt security as described under " `Street Name' and Other
Indirect Holders" beginning on page 12. If we choose to issue debt securities
in the form of global securities, the ultimate beneficial owners can only be
indirect holders. We do this by requiring that the global security be
registered in the name of a financial institution we select and by requiring
that the debt securities included in the global security not be transferred to
the name of any other direct holder unless the special circumstances described
below occur. The financial institution that acts as the sole direct holder of
the global security is called the "depositary." Any person wishing to own a
debt security must do so indirectly by virtue of an account with a broker, bank
or other financial institution that in turn has an account with the depositary.
The prospectus supplement indicates whether your series of debt securities will
be issued only in the form of global securities and, if so, describes the
specific terms of the arrangement with the depositary.
SPECIAL INVESTOR CONSIDERATIONS FOR GLOBAL SECURITIES. As an indirect
holder, an investor's rights relating to a global security will be governed by
the account rules of the investor's financial institution and of the
depositary, as well as general laws relating to securities transfers. We do not
recognize this type of investor as a holder of securities and instead deal only
with the depositary that holds the global security.
An investor should be aware that if securities are issued only in the
form of global securities:
o The investor cannot get debt securities registered in his or her own name;
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o The investor cannot receive physical certificates for his or her interest
in the debt securities;
o The investor will be a "Street Name" holder and must look to his or her own
bank or broker for payments on the debt securities and protection of his or
her legal rights relating to the debt securities. See " `Street Name' and
Other Indirect Holders" beginning on page 12;
o The investor may not be able to sell interests in the debt securities to
some insurance companies and other institutions that are required by law to
own their securities in the form of physical certificates; and
o The depositary's policies will govern payments, transfers, exchange and
other matters relating to the investor's interest in the global security.
We and the trustees have no responsibility for any aspect of the
depositary's actions or for its records of ownership interests in the
global security. We and the trustees also do not supervise the depositary
in any way.
SPECIAL SITUATIONS WHEN GLOBAL SECURITY WILL BE TERMINATED. In a few
special situations, the global security will terminate and interests in it will
be exchanged for physical certificates representing debt securities. After that
exchange, the choice of whether to hold debt securities directly or in "Street
Name" will be up to the investor. Investors must consult their own banks or
brokers to find out how to have their interests in debt securities transferred
to their own name, so that they will be direct holders. The rights of "Street
Name" investors and direct holders in the debt securities have been previously
described in subsections entitled " 'Street Name' and Other Indirect Holders"
and "Direct Holders" on pages 12 and 13.
The special situations for termination of a global security are:
o When the depositary notifies us that it is unwilling, unable or no longer
qualified to continue as depositary and we do not appoint a successor
depositary.
o When an Event of Default on the debt securities has occurred and has not
been cured.
o At any time if we decide to terminate a global security.
The prospectus supplement may also list additional situations for
terminating a global security that would apply only to the particular series of
securities covered by the prospectus supplement. When a global security
terminates, only the depositary is responsible for deciding the names of the
institutions that will be the initial direct holders.
FORM, EXCHANGE, REGISTRATION AND TRANSFER
We will issue the debt securities in registered form, without interest
coupons, and, unless we inform you otherwise in the prospectus supplement, only
in denominations of $1,000 and multiples of $1,000. We will not charge a
service fee for any registration of transfer or exchange of the debt securities.
We may, however, require the payment of any tax or other governmental charge
payable for that registration.
Debt securities of any series will be exchangeable for other debt
securities of the same series, the same total principal amount and the same
terms but in different authorized denominations in accordance with the
applicable indenture. Holders may present debt securities for registration of
transfer at the office of the security registrar or any transfer agent we
designate.
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The security registrar or transfer agent will effect the transfer or exchange
when it is satisfied with the documents of title and identity of the person
making the request.
We have appointed the trustee under each indenture as security
registrar for the debt securities issued under that indenture. If the
prospectus supplement refers to any transfer agents initially designated by us,
we may at any time rescind that designation or approve a change in the location
through which any transfer agent acts. We are required to maintain an office or
agency for transfers and exchanges in each place of payment. We may at any time
designate additional transfer agents for any series of debt securities.
In the case of any redemption, neither the security registrar nor the
transfer agent will be required to register the transfer or exchange of any
debt security during a period beginning 15 business days prior to the mailing
of the relevant notice of redemption and ending at the close of business on the
day of mailing of the notice, except the unredeemed portion of any debt
security being redeemed in part.
PAYMENT AND PAYING AGENTS
Unless we inform you otherwise in the prospectus supplement:
o Payments on the debt securities will be made in U.S. dollars by check
mailed to the holder's registered address or, with respect to global debt
securities, by wire transfer;
o We will make interest payments to the person in whose name the debt
security is registered at the close of business on the record date for the
interest payment; and
o The trustee under each indenture will be designated as our paying agent for
payments on debt securities issued under that indenture. We may at any time
designate additional paying agents or rescind the designation of any paying
agent or approve a change in the office through which any paying agent
acts.
Subject to the requirements of any applicable abandoned property laws,
the trustee and paying agent will pay to us upon written request any money held
by them for payments on the debt securities that remain unclaimed for two years
after the date when the payment was due. After payment to us, holders entitled
to the money must look to us for payment. In that case, all liability of the
trustee or paying agent with respect to that money will cease.
(Section 9.8)
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
We may sell the debt securities (a) through underwriters or dealers,
(b) directly to purchasers or (c) through agents. The prospectus supplement
will include the following information:
o the terms of the offering;
o the names of any underwriters or agents;
o the purchase price of the debt securities from us;
o the net proceeds to us from the sale of the debt securities;
o any delayed delivery arrangements;
o any underwriting discounts and other items constituting underwriters'
compensation;
o the initial public offering price; and
o any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers.
SALE THROUGH UNDERWRITERS OR DEALERS
If we use underwriters in the sale, the underwriters will acquire the
debt securities
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for their own account. The underwriters may resell the debt securities from
time to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at
a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of
sale. Underwriters may offer debt securities to the public either through
underwriting syndicates represented by one or more managing underwriters or
directly by one or more firms acting as underwriters. Unless we inform you
otherwise in the prospectus supplement, the underwriters will be obligated to
purchase all the offered debt securities if they purchase any of them. The
underwriters may change from time to time any initial public offering price and
any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers.
During and after an offering through underwriters, the underwriters may
purchase and sell the debt securities in the open market. These transactions
may include overallotment and stabilizing transactions and purchases to cover
syndicate short positions created in connection with the offering. The
underwriters may also impose a penalty bid, whereby selling concessions allowed
to syndicate members or other broker-dealers for the offered debt securities
sold for their account may be reclaimed by the syndicate if such offered debt
securities are repurchased by the syndicate in stabilizing or covering
transactions. These activities may stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the
market price of the offered debt securities, which may be higher than the price
that might otherwise prevail in the open market. If commenced, these activities
may be discontinued at any time.
If we use dealers in the sale of debt securities, we will sell the debt
securities to them as principals. They may then resell those debt securities to
the public at varying prices determined by the dealers at the time of resale.
We will include in the prospectus supplement the names of the dealers and the
terms of the transaction.
DIRECT SALES AND SALES THROUGH AGENTS
We may sell the debt securities directly. In this case, no underwriters
or agents would be involved. We may also sell the debt securities through
agents we designate from time to time. In the prospectus supplement, we will
name any agent involved in the offer or sale of the offered debt securities,
and we will describe any commissions payable by us to the agent. Unless we
inform you otherwise in the prospectus supplement, any agent will agree to use
its reasonable best efforts to solicit purchases for the period of its
appointment.
DELAYED DELIVERY CONTRACTS
If we so indicate in the prospectus supplement, we may authorize
agents, underwriters or dealers to solicit offers from institutions to purchase
debt securities from us at the public offering price under delayed delivery
contracts. These contracts would provide for payment and delivery on a
specified date in the future. The contracts would be subject only to those
conditions described in the prospectus supplement. The prospectus supplement
will describe the commission payable for solicitation of those contracts.
INDEMNIFICATION
We may have agreements with the agents, dealers and underwriters to
indemnify them against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under
the Securities Act of 1933, or to contribute with respect to payments that the
agents, dealers or underwriters may be required to make.
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LEGAL MATTERS
Augustus I. duPont, Esq., our Vice President, General Counsel and
Secretary, will give an opinion on the validity of the debt securities on
behalf of Crane. Davis Polk & Wardwell, New York, New York will give an opinion
on the validity of the debt securities on behalf of the underwriters of the
debt securities. As of March 1, 1999, Mr. duPont beneficially owned 53,819
shares of our common stock and held options to purchase 123,750 shares of our
common stock.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements incorporated in this prospectus
by reference from the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K have been audited by
Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent auditors, as stated in their report which is
incorporated herein by reference, and have been so incorporated in reliance
upon the report of such firm given upon their authority as experts in
accounting and auditing.
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