Form S-3
Table of Contents

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 21, 2007

Registration No. 333-            

 


UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


FORM S-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 


CON-WAY INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

Delaware   4213   94-1444798

(State or Other Jurisdiction

of Incorporation or Organization)

 

(Primary Standard Industrial

Classification Code Number)

  (IRS Employer Identification No.)

2855 Campus Drive, Suite 300

San Mateo, California 94403

(650) 378-5200

(Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Registrant’s Principal Executive Offices)

Jennifer W. Pileggi

Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

Con-way Inc.

2855 Campus Drive, Suite 300

San Mateo, California 94403

Telephone: (650) 378-5200

(Name, Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, Of Agent For Service)

 


With Copy To:

Gregg A. Noel, Esq.

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP

300 South Grand Avenue

Los Angeles, California 90071

(213) 687-5000

 


Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public:    From time to time after this Registration Statement becomes effective.

If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box.  ¨

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box.  x

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, 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 of 1933, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ¨

If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act of 1933, check the following box.  x

If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, check the following box.  ¨

 


CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

 
Title of Each Class of Securities to be Registered   Amount to be
Registered(1)
 

Proposed Maximum
Offering Price

Per Unit(1)

  Proposed Maximum
Aggregate Offering
Price(1)
 

Amount of

Registration

Fee(2)

Senior Debt Securities, Senior Subordinated Debt Securities and Subordinated Debt Securities (collectively, “Debt Securities”)

       

Total

       
 
 
(1) Not specified as to each class of securities to be registered, pursuant to General Instruction II.E. of Form S-3.

 

(2) In accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r), Con-way Inc. is deferring payment of the registration fee.

 



Table of Contents

PROSPECTUS

LOGO

Con-way Inc.

Debt Securities

Con-way Inc. intends to offer and sell from time to time the debt securities described in this prospectus. We will provide the specific terms of these securities in supplements to this prospectus. Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, or NYSE, under the ticker symbol “CNW.”

We urge you to read carefully this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement, which will describe the specific terms of the securities being offered to you, before you make your investment decision.

See “ Risk Factors” included in our most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and all amendments to those reports filed pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the applicable prospectus supplement to read about factors you should consider before buying the debt securities.

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.

The date of this prospectus is December 21, 2007.


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page

About This Prospectus

   1

Where You Can Find More Information

   1

Information Incorporated By Reference

   2

Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

   3

Con-way Inc.

   5

Risk Factors

   5

Use of Proceeds

   5

Description of Debt Securities

   6

Plan of Distribution

   17

Validity of Securities

   18

Experts

   18


Table of Contents

In this prospectus, “Con-way,” “we,” “us,” “our” and similar terms refer to Con-way Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries, unless otherwise stated or the context requires otherwise. References to the “Company” are to Con-way Inc.

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, using a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf process, we may sell any combination of the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we sell securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with the additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

Con-way makes available, free of charge, on its website at “www.con-way.com,” under the headings “Investor Relations/Annual Report, Proxy and Other SEC Filings,” copies of its annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and current reports on Form 8-K, and any amendments to those reports, in each case as soon as reasonably practicable after such reports are electronically filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission.

In addition, Con-way makes available, free of charge, on its website at “www.con-way.com,” under the headings “Investor Relations/Corporate Governance,” current copies of the following documents: (1) the charters of the Audit, Compensation, and Director Affairs Committees of its Board of Directors; (2) its Corporate Governance Guidelines; (3) its Code of Ethics for Chief Executive and Senior Financial Officers; (4) its Code of Business Conduct and Ethics for Directors; and (5) its Code of Ethics for employees. Copies of these documents are also available in print to stockholders upon request, addressed to the Corporate Secretary at 2855 Campus Drive, Suite 300, San Mateo, California 94403.

We are subject to the information and reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, under which we file periodic reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Copies of these reports, proxy statements and other information may be examined without charge at the Public Reference Room of the SEC located at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549 or on the Internet at http://www.sec.gov. Copies of all or a portion of such materials can be obtained from the Public Reference Room of the SEC upon payment of prescribed fees. Please call the SEC at 800-SEC-0330 for further information about the Public Reference Room. These filings also are available on our corporate website, “www.con-way.com.” Information contained on our website is not part of this prospectus.

 

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INFORMATION INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Rather than include certain information in this prospectus that we have already included in reports filed with the SEC, we are incorporating this information by reference, which means that we are disclosing important information to you by referring to those publicly filed documents that contain the information. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus, and information that we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede the information in this prospectus. Accordingly, we incorporate by reference the following documents filed by Con-way Inc.:

 

   

Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006;

 

   

Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2007, June 30, 2007 and September 30, 2007;

 

   

Portions of our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed on March 9, 2007 that are incorporated by reference into Part III of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006;

 

   

Current Reports on Form 8-K filed January 31, 2007 (solely with respect to Item 5.02), April 24, 2007, July 16, 2007, July 27, 2007, August 23, 2007 (solely with respect to Items 2.01 and 9.01), August 28, 2007, September 10, 2007, September 27, 2007, October 1, 2007 and December 20, 2007; and

 

   

Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed October 9, 2007.

In addition, all reports and other documents we subsequently file pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (other than information in such documents that is deemed not to be filed) after the date of this prospectus and prior to the termination of the offering of securities hereby will be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus and to be part of this prospectus from the date of the filing of such reports and documents. Any statement contained herein or in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated herein by reference shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for the purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in any subsequently filed document which is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus.

We will provide without charge to each person to whom this prospectus is delivered, upon request of such person, a copy of any or all documents that are incorporated into this prospectus by reference, other than exhibits to any such document unless such exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference into the document to which this prospectus refers. You should direct such requests to our Corporate Secretary at 2855 Campus Drive, Suite 300, San Mateo, California 94403.

You should rely only on the information incorporated by reference or provided in this prospectus or any supplement to this prospectus. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different or additional information. We are not making an offer to sell any debt securities in any jurisdiction where the offer is not permitted. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of this prospectus or the prospectus supplement, as the case may be.

 

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SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 21E of the Exchange Act and Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, regarding our business, financial condition and results of operations. We intend such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and we are including this statement for purposes of complying with these safe harbor provisions. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical information provided or incorporated by reference herein may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, including among others:

 

   

any projections of earnings, revenues, weight, yield, volumes, income or other financial or operating items;

 

   

any statements of the plans, strategies, expectations or objectives of Con-way’s management for future operations or other future items;

 

   

any statements concerning proposed new products or services;

 

   

any statements regarding Con-way’s estimated future contributions to pension plans;

 

   

any statements as to the adequacy of reserves;

 

   

any statements regarding the outcome of any claims that may be brought against Con-way by Consolidated Freightways Corporation’s multi-employer pension plans;

 

   

any statements regarding future economic conditions or performance;

 

   

any statements regarding the outcome of legal and other claims and proceedings against Con-way;

 

   

any statements regarding the acquisition of Transportation Resources, Inc. and its subsidiaries, including Contract Freighters, Inc., and related financing; and

 

   

any statements of estimates or belief and any statements or assumptions underlying the foregoing.

Without limiting the foregoing, the words “believes,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “expects,” “may,” “should,” “could,” “estimate” and “intend” and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. The following factors among others and in addition to the matters discussed in the reports and documents filed by Con-way with the SEC, could cause actual results and other matters to differ materially from those discussed in such forward- looking statements:

 

   

changes in general business and economic conditions, including the global economy;

 

   

the creditworthiness of Con-way’s customers and their ability to pay for services rendered;

 

   

increasing competition and pricing pressure;

 

   

availability of fuel, changes in fuel prices or fuel surcharges, and the effect of recently filed litigation alleging that Con-way engaged in price-fixing of fuel surcharges in violation of federal antitrust laws;

 

   

the effects of the cessation of Emery Worldwide Airlines Inc.’s air-carrier operations;

 

   

the possibility that Con-way may, from time to time, be required to record impairment charges for long-lived assets;

 

   

the possibility of defaults under Con-way’s $400 million credit agreement, $500 million bridge credit agreement and other debt instruments;

 

   

the possibility that Con-way may be required to repay certain indebtedness in the event that the ratings assigned to its long-term senior debt by credit rating agencies are reduced;

 

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labor matters, including the grievances by furloughed Emery Worldwide Airlines, Inc. pilots and crew members, labor-organizing activities, work stoppages or strikes;

 

   

enforcement of and changes in governmental regulations, including the effects of new regulations issued by the Department of Homeland Security;

 

   

environmental and tax matters;

 

   

matters relating to Con-way’s 1996 spin-off of Consolidated Freightways Corporation, including the possibility that Consolidated Freightways Corporation’s multi-employer pension plans may assert claims against Con-way, that Con-way may not prevail in those proceedings and that Con-way may not have the financial resources necessary to satisfy amounts payable to those plans;

 

   

matters relating to the sale of Menlo Worldwide Forwarding, Inc. and its subsidiaries and Menlo Worldwide Expedite!, Inc., including Con-way’s obligation to indemnify United Parcel Service, Inc. for certain losses in connection with the sale;

 

   

matters relating to our acquisition of Contract Freighters, Inc. (including, without limitation, integration risks and risks that acquisition synergies are not realized); and

 

   

matters relating to Con-way’s defined benefit and contribution pension plans.

Any or all forward-looking statements in this prospectus, the documents incorporated by reference herein and in any other public filings or statements we make may turn out to be wrong. They can be affected by inaccurate assumptions we might make or by known or unknown risks and uncertainties. Many of the factors under the heading “Risk Factors” in this prospectus will be important in determining future results. These factors should be considered in conjunction with any discussion of operations or results by us, including any forward-looking discussion, as well as comments contained in press releases, presentations to securities analysts or investors or other communications by us. You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which reflect management’s analysis, judgment, belief or expectation only as of the date thereof. Except as may be required by law, we do not undertake to address or update forward-looking statements in future filings or communications regarding our business or operating results, and do not undertake to address how any of these factors may have caused results to differ from discussions or information contained in previous filings or communications.

 

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CON-WAY INC.

We provide transportation, logistics and supply-chain management services for a wide range of manufacturing, industrial and retail customers. Our principal component companies operate in regional and transcontinental less-than-truckload and full-truckload freight transportation, truckload brokerage, global logistics management, and trailer manufacturing.

We are divided into the following four operating segments for financial-reporting purposes:

 

   

Freight. The Freight segment consists of the operating results of the Con-way Freight business unit, which provides regional next-day, second-day, and transcontinental less-than-truckload freight services throughout North America.

 

   

Logistics. The Logistics segment consists of the operating results of the Menlo Logistics business unit, which develops contract-logistics solutions, including the management of complex distribution networks and supply-chain engineering and consulting, and also provides domestic brokerage services.

 

   

Truckload. The Truckload segment includes the combined operating results of the Con-way Truckload business unit and the recently acquired Contract Freighters, Inc. business unit. The combined businesses provide asset-based regional and transcontinental full-truckload freight services throughout North America.

 

   

Other. The Other reporting segment consists of the operating results of Road Systems, Inc., a trailer manufacturer, and certain corporate activities for which the related income or expense has not been allocated to other reporting segments, including results related to corporate re-insurance activities and corporate properties.

Prior to the sale of Vector SCM, LLC, or Vector, in 2006, we had a reporting segment that consisted of our proportionate share of the net income from Vector. Vector was a joint venture with General Motors, which purchased our membership interest in Vector in December 2006.

Our executive offices are located at 2855 Campus Drive, Suite 300, San Mateo, California 94403, and our Internet web site address is www.con-way.com. Information contained on our website is not part of this prospectus. Our telephone number is (650) 378-5200.

RISK FACTORS

An investment in our debt securities is subject to certain risks. A description of some of those risks and the uncertainties we face is set forth under the heading “Risk Factors” included in our most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and all amendments to those reports filed pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act. You should read these risk factors before you consider buying the debt securities.

USE OF PROCEEDS

Unless otherwise described in the applicable prospectus supplement, we intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities for general operational purposes, which may include, but are not limited to, working capital, capital expenditures, the financing of acquisitions, and the repayment of outstanding indebtedness.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

The following descriptions of the debt securities do not purport to be complete and are subject to and qualified in their entirety by reference to the indenture, a form of which has been filed with the SEC as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. Any future supplemental indenture or similar document also will be so filed. You should read the indenture and any supplemental indenture or similar document because they, and not this description, define your rights as holder of our debt securities. All capitalized terms have the meanings specified in the indenture.

Con-way may issue, from time to time, debt securities, in one or more series, that will consist of either its senior debt, or Senior Debt Securities, its senior subordinated debt, or Senior Subordinated Debt Securities, or its subordinated debt, or Subordinated Debt Securities. The Senior Subordinated Debt Securities and the Subordinated Debt Securities are referred to as the Subordinated Securities in this prospectus. The debt securities we offer will be issued under an indenture between us and The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A., acting as trustee.

General Terms of the Indenture

The indenture does not limit the amount of debt securities that we may issue. It provides that we may issue debt securities up to the principal amount that we may authorize and may be in any currency or currency unit designated by us. Except for the limitations on liens and the consolidation, merger and sale of all or substantially all of our assets contained in the indenture and unless otherwise specified in a supplemental indenture or an officer’s certificate to the indenture, the terms of the indenture do not contain any covenants or other provisions designed to afford holders of any debt securities protection with respect to our operations, financial condition or transactions involving us.

We may issue debt securities as “discount securities,” which means they may be sold at a discount below their stated principal amount. These debt securities, as well as other debt securities that are not issued at a discount, may, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, be treated as if they were issued with “original issue discount,” or “OID,” because of interest payment and other characteristics. Special U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to debt securities issued with original issue discount will be described in more detail in any applicable prospectus supplement.

The applicable prospectus supplement for a series of debt securities that we issue will describe, among other things, the following terms of the offered debt securities:

 

   

the title;

 

   

the aggregate principal amount;

 

   

whether issued in fully registered form without coupons or in a form registered as to principal only with coupons or in bearer form with coupons;

 

   

whether issued in the form of one or more global securities and whether all or a portion of the principal amount of the debt securities is represented thereby;

 

   

the price or prices at which the debt securities will be issued;

 

   

the date or dates on which principal is payable;

 

   

the place or places where and the manner in which principal, premium, if any, or interest will be payable and the place or places where the debt securities may be presented for transfer and exchange;

 

   

interest rates, and the dates from which interest, if any, will accrue, and the dates when interest is payable;

 

   

the right, if any, to extend the interest payment periods and the duration of the extensions;

 

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our rights or obligations to redeem or purchase the debt securities, including sinking fund or partial redemption payments;

 

   

the currency or currencies of payment of principal or interest;

 

   

the terms applicable to any debt securities issued at a discount from their stated principal amount;

 

   

the terms, if any, pursuant to which any debt securities will be subordinate to any of our other debt;

 

   

if the amount of payments of principal or interest is to be determined by reference to an index or formula, or based on a coin or currency other than that in which the debt securities are stated to be payable, the manner in which these amounts are determined and the calculation agent, if any, with respect thereto;

 

   

if other than the entire principal amount of the debt securities when issued, the portion of the principal amount payable upon acceleration of maturity as a result of a default on our obligations;

 

   

any provisions for the remarketing of the debt securities;

 

   

if applicable, covenants affording holders of debt protection with respect to our operations, financial condition or transactions involving us; and

 

   

any other specific terms of any debt securities.

The applicable prospectus supplement will set forth certain U.S. federal income tax considerations for holders of any debt securities and the securities exchange or quotation system on which any debt securities are listed or quoted, if any.

Debt securities issued by us will be structurally subordinated to all indebtedness and other liabilities of our subsidiaries, except to the extent any such subsidiary guarantees or is otherwise obligated to make payment on such debt securities.

Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, all securities of any one series need not be issued at the same time and may be issued from time to time without consent of any holder.

Senior Debt Securities

Payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on Senior Debt Securities will rank on a parity with all of our other unsecured and unsubordinated debt.

Senior Subordinated Debt Securities

Payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on Senior Subordinated Debt Securities will be junior in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all of our unsubordinated debt. We will set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to any Senior Subordinated Debt Securities the subordination terms of such securities as well as the aggregate amount of outstanding debt, as of the most recent practicable date, that by its terms would be senior to the Senior Subordinated Debt Securities. We will also set forth in such prospectus supplement limitations, if any, on issuance of additional senior debt.

 

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Subordinated Debt Securities

Payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on Subordinated Debt Securities will be subordinated and junior in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all of our senior and senior subordinated debt. We will set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to any Subordinated Debt Securities the subordination terms of such securities as well as the aggregate amount of outstanding indebtedness, as of the most recent practicable date, that by its terms would be senior to the Subordinated Debt Securities. We will also set forth in such prospectus supplement limitations, if any, on issuance of additional senior debt.

Limitations on Liens

Subject to the exceptions described below, we will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, at any time create, incur, assume or guarantee any Indebtedness secured by any mortgage, pledge, lien or security interest, or Lien, on any Principal Property owned by us or any Restricted Subsidiary or any shares of capital stock or Indebtedness of any Restricted Subsidiary, whether owned on the date of the issuance of the notes or thereafter acquired, without in any such case effectively providing, concurrently with or prior to the creation, incurrence, assumption or guarantee of such Indebtedness, or Secured Indebtedness, that the notes then outstanding under the indenture (together with, if we shall so determine, any other Indebtedness or other liabilities or obligations created, incurred, assumed or guaranteed by us or any Subsidiary and then existing or thereafter created, incurred, assumed or guaranteed) shall be secured by such Lien equally and ratably with (or, at our option, prior to) such Secured Indebtedness, but only so long as such Secured Indebtedness shall be so secured and outstanding; provided, however, that the foregoing covenant shall not be applicable to Indebtedness secured by any of the following:

 

   

Liens on any property, shares of capital stock or Indebtedness acquired (whether by merger, consolidation, acquisition of assets or capital stock, or otherwise) after the date of the issuance of notes by us or any Restricted Subsidiary or any property constructed or improved after the date of the issuance of notes by us or any Restricted Subsidiary, to secure or provide for the payment of all or any part of the purchase price or cost thereof, or any Indebtedness created, incurred, assumed or guaranteed to finance all or any part of the purchase thereof or the cost of construction or cost of improvement of any such property and which was created, incurred, assumed or guaranteed or for which a bona fide firm commitment in writing was executed prior to, contemporaneously with or within 270 days after the acquisition of such property, shares of capital stock or Indebtedness or the latest to occur of the completion of construction or improvement or the commencement of full operations of such property, as the case may be; provided that such Liens shall not extend to any other property of ours or any Restricted Subsidiary;

 

   

Liens in favor of the United States of America or any state, territory or possession thereof or other area subject to its jurisdiction or the District of Columbia, or any department, agency or instrumentality or political subdivision of the United States of America or any state, territory or possession thereof or other area subject to its jurisdiction or the District of Columbia, or in favor of any other country, or any department, agency or instrumentality or political subdivision thereof or any other domestic or foreign government or governmental body, agency or authority, to secure partial, progress, advance or other payments pursuant to any contract, statute, law or regulation or to secure any Indebtedness created, incurred, assumed or guaranteed for the purpose of financing all or any part of the purchase price or the cost of construction or improvement of the property subject to such Liens (including, but not limited to, Liens incurred in connection with pollution control, industrial revenue bond, private activity bond or similar financings);

 

   

Liens existing on the date of the issuance of notes;

 

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Liens for or in connection with taxes, governmental assessments or similar governmental charges or levies or legal proceedings;

 

   

Liens in favor of us or a Subsidiary securing Indebtedness of us or a Subsidiary;

 

   

Liens on any property, shares of capital stock or Indebtedness existing at the time of acquisition thereof (whether by merger, consolidation, acquisition of assets or capital stock or otherwise); provided that such Liens were not created in contemplation of such acquisition;

 

   

Liens on any property, shares of capital stock or Indebtedness of a Person existing at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary or is merged or consolidated with or into us or any Subsidiary; provided that such Liens were not created in contemplation of such transaction;

 

   

pledges or deposits in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security legislation and deposits securing liability to insurance carriers under insurance or self-insurance arrangements;

 

   

statutory and common law Liens and landlords’, carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, suppliers’, materialmen’s, bankers’, repairmen’s and other similar Liens arising in the ordinary course of business;

 

   

pledges or deposits to secure performance in connection with bids, tenders, contracts or leases or surety, stay, appeal, indemnity, customs or performance bonds;

 

   

Liens incurred in connection with any forward contract, futures contract, swap, option or other financial agreement or arrangement (including, without limitation, any cap, floor, collar, lock or similar agreement or arrangement) which was entered into for hedging purposes or to fix, or to protect against changes in, interest rates, currency exchange rates or commodity prices; or

 

   

any extension, renewal or replacement (or successive extensions, renewals or replacements), in whole or in part, of any Lien referred to in any of the foregoing bullet points or in this bullet point (including, without limitation, in connection with any extension, renewal, replacement or refinancing, in whole or in part, of any Indebtedness secured thereby); provided that any Lien permitted under this bullet point is limited to all or any part of the same property, shares of capital stock and/or Indebtedness subject to the Lien so extended, renewed or replaced and secures no more Indebtedness than the Indebtedness secured by the Lien so extended, renewed or replaced plus any premiums, fees, costs or expenses payable in connection with the replacement, extension, renewal or refinancing of such Lien or the Indebtedness secured thereby.

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of the indenture, we and any Restricted Subsidiary may at any time create, incur, assume or guarantee Secured Indebtedness which would otherwise be subject to the foregoing restrictions if, immediately after giving effect thereto, the aggregate principal amount of all Secured Indebtedness (not including Indebtedness permitted to be secured by Liens described in the bullet points above) does not exceed 15% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets determined as of such time.

For purposes of the foregoing discussion, the following definitions are applicable:

“Consolidated Assets” means, as of any particular time, the amount that would be shown as total assets on our most recent consolidated balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP as of the end of a fiscal quarter.

“Consolidated Net Tangible Assets” means, as of any particular time, the amount of Consolidated Assets after deducting therefrom (a) all current liabilities (excluding current liabilities which are by their terms extendible or renewable at the option of the obligor to a time more than 365 days after the time of determination and excluding current maturities of long-term debt and current maturities of capitalized

 

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lease obligations), and (b) all goodwill, tradenames, trademarks, patents, debt discount and expense and other intangibles in each case in this clause (b) net of applicable amortization, all as shown on our most recent consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP as of the end of a fiscal quarter.

“Indebtedness” means indebtedness for borrowed money.

“Principal Property” means any manufacturing, distribution or warehousing facility owned by us or any Subsidiary (including any of the foregoing acquired after the date of the issuance of notes) and located within the United States of America (including the states thereof and the District of Columbia but excluding its territories, its possessions and other areas subject to its jurisdiction), the gross book value of which exceeds 1% of our Consolidated Net Tangible Assets at the date of determination, in each case other than any of the foregoing which is determined by our board of directors not to be a Principal Property because, in the opinion of our board of directors, such facility is not of material importance to the total business conducted by us and our subsidiaries taken as a whole.

“Restricted Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of ours (i) substantially all of the operating assets of which are located and the principal business of which is carried on within the United States of America (including the states thereof and the District of Columbia but excluding its territories, its possessions and other areas subject to its jurisdiction); (ii) which was in existence on the date of the issuance of notes or thereafter becomes a Subsidiary of ours; and (iii) which owns a Principal Property.

“Subsidiary” means a corporation or other entity (i) more than 50% of the outstanding voting stock (or equivalent equity interest having voting power in the case of an entity other than a corporation) of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by us and/or one or more other Subsidiaries and (ii) if such entity is a partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or similar entity, we or another Subsidiary are the managing general partner or managing member of or otherwise controls such entity. For the purposes of this definition, “voting stock (or equivalent equity interest having voting power in the case of an entity other than a corporation)” means capital stock or equity interest, as the case may be, which ordinarily has voting power for the election of directors (or equivalent persons, in the case of an entity other than a corporation), whether at all times or only so long as no senior class of stock has such voting power by reason of any contingency, and “control” means, with respect to any entity, the possession of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such entity.

Consolidation, Merger, Sale or Conveyance

We may consolidate with, or sell, convey or lease our properties and assets substantially as an entirety to, or merge with or into, any other corporation, if:

 

   

either we are the continuing corporation, or the successor corporation is a domestic corporation and expressly assumes the due and punctual payment of the principal of and interest on all the notes and the due and punctual performance and observance of all the covenants and conditions of the indenture to be performed or observed by us; and

 

   

immediately after the merger or consolidation, or sale, conveyance or lease, no Event of Default, and no event which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become an Event of Default, shall have occurred and be continuing.

This covenant would not apply to any recapitalization transaction, a change of control of Con-way or a highly leveraged transaction, unless the transaction or change of control were structured to include a merger or consolidation or transfer or lease of all or substantially all of our assets.

 

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Events of Default

Unless otherwise indicated, the term “Event of Default,” when used in the indenture, means any of the following:

 

   

failure to pay interest for 30 days after the date payment is due and payable; provided that an extension of an interest payment period by Con-way in accordance with the terms of the debt securities shall not constitute a failure to pay interest;

 

   

failure to pay principal or premium, if any, on any debt security when due, either at maturity, upon any redemption, by declaration or otherwise;

 

   

failure to make sinking fund payments when due;

 

   

failure to perform any other covenant or agreement in the debt securities or indenture for a period of 60 days after notice that performance was required;

 

   

(A) our failure or the failure of any our subsidiaries to pay indebtedness for money we borrowed or any of our subsidiaries borrowed in an aggregate principal amount of at least $50,000,000, at the later of final maturity and the expiration of any related applicable grace period and such defaulted payment shall not have been made, waived or extended within 30 days after notice or (B) acceleration of the maturity of indebtedness for money we borrowed or any of our subsidiaries borrowed in an aggregate principal amount of at least $50,000,000, if that acceleration results from a default under the instrument giving rise to or securing such indebtedness for money borrowed and such indebtedness has not been discharged in full or such acceleration has not been rescinded or annulled within 30 days after notice;

 

   

events in bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of Con-way; or

 

   

any other Event of Default provided in the applicable resolution of our board of directors or the officers’ certificate or supplemental indenture under which we issue series of debt securities.

An Event of Default for a particular series of debt securities does not necessarily constitute an Event of Default for any other series of debt securities issued under the indenture. If an Event of Default relating to the payment of interest, principal or any sinking fund installment involving any series of debt securities has occurred and is continuing, the trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of each affected series may declare the entire principal of all the debt securities of that series, and any accrued interest, to be due and payable immediately.

If an Event of Default relating to the performance of other covenants occurs and is continuing, or if any other Event of Default occurs and is continuing involving all of the series of Senior Debt Securities, then the trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of all of the series of Senior Debt Securities may declare the entire principal amount of all of the series of Senior Debt Securities, and any accrued interest, due and payable immediately.

Similarly, if an Event of Default relating to the performance of other covenants occurs and is continuing, or if any other Event of Default occurs and is continuing involving all of the series of Subordinated Securities, then the trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of all of the series of Subordinated Securities may declare the entire principal amount of all of the series of Subordinated Securities, and any accrued interest, due and payable immediately.

If, however, the Event of Default relating to the performance of other covenants or any other Event of Default that has occurred and is continuing is for less than all of the series of Senior Debt Securities or Subordinated Securities, as the case may be, then, the trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of each affected series of the Senior Debt Securities or the Subordinated Securities, as the case may be, may declare the entire principal amount of all debt securities of such

 

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affected series, and any accrued interest, due and payable immediately. The holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of a series may, after satisfying conditions, rescind and annul any of the declarations and consequences described in this paragraph involving the series.

If an Event of Default relating to events in bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of Con-way occurs and is continuing, then the principal amount of all of the debt securities outstanding, and any accrued interest, will automatically become due and payable immediately, without any declaration or other act by the trustee or any holder.

The indenture imposes limitations on suits brought by holders of debt securities against us. Except as provided below, no holder of debt securities of any series may institute any action against us under the indenture unless:

 

   

the holder has previously given to the trustee written notice of an Event of Default and continuance of that default;

 

   

the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the affected series have requested in writing that the trustee institute the action;

 

   

the requesting holders have offered the trustee reasonable security or indemnity satisfactory to it for costs, expenses and liabilities that may be incurred by bringing the action;

 

   

the trustee has not instituted the action within 60 days of the request; and

 

   

the trustee has not received inconsistent direction by the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the affected series.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, each holder of debt securities of any series has the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment of the principal of, premium and interest, if any, on such debt securities when due and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, and such rights may not be impaired or affected without the consent of that holder of debt securities.

We will be required to file annually with the trustee a certificate, signed by an officer of Con-way, stating whether or not the officer knows of any default or noncompliance by us in the performance, observance or fulfillment of any condition or covenant of the indenture.

Registered Global Securities

We may issue the debt securities of a series in whole or in part in the form of one or more fully registered global securities that we will deposit with a depositary or with a nominee for a depositary identified in the applicable prospectus supplement and registered in the name of such depositary or nominee. In such case, we will issue one or more registered global securities denominated in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of all of the debt securities of the series to be issued and represented by such registered global security or securities.

Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for debt securities in definitive registered form, a registered global security may not be transferred except as a whole:

 

   

by the depositary for such registered global security to its nominee; or

 

   

by a nominee of the depositary to the depositary or another nominee of the depositary; or

 

   

by the depositary or its nominee to a successor of the depositary or a nominee of the successor.

 

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The prospectus supplement relating to a series of debt securities will describe the specific terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to any portion of such series represented by a registered global security. We anticipate that the following provisions will apply to all depositary arrangements for debt securities:

 

   

ownership of beneficial interests in a registered global security will be limited to persons that have accounts with the depositary for the registered global security, those persons being referred to as “participants,” or persons that may hold interests through participants;

 

   

upon the issuance of a registered global security, the depositary for the registered global security will credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the participants’ accounts with the respective principal amounts of the debt securities represented by the registered global security beneficially owned by the participants;

 

   

any dealers, underwriters, or agents participating in the distribution of the debt securities will designate the accounts to be credited; and

 

   

ownership of any beneficial interest in the registered global security will be shown on, and the transfer of any ownership interest will be effected only through, records maintained by the depositary for the registered global security (with respect to interests of participants) and on the records of participants (with respect to interests of persons holding through participants).

The laws of some states may require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of the securities in definitive form. These laws may limit the ability of those persons to own, transfer or pledge beneficial interests in registered global securities.

So long as the depositary for a registered global security, or its nominee, is the registered owner of the registered global security, the depositary or the nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the debt securities represented by the registered global security for all purposes under the indenture. Except as set forth below, owners of beneficial interests in a registered global security:

 

   

will not be entitled to have the debt securities represented by a registered global security registered in their names;

 

   

will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of the debt securities in definitive form; and

 

   

will not be considered the owners or holders of the debt securities under the indenture.

Accordingly, each person owning a beneficial interest in a registered global security must rely on the procedures of the depositary for the registered global security and, if the person is not a participant, on the procedures of a participant through which the person owns its interest, to exercise any rights of a holder under the indenture.

We understand that under existing industry practices, if we request any action of holders or if an owner of a beneficial interest in a registered global security desires to give or take any action that a holder is entitled to give or take under the indenture, the depositary for the registered global security would authorize the participants holding the relevant beneficial interests to give or take the action, and those participants would authorize beneficial owners owning through those participants to give or take the action or would otherwise act upon the instructions of beneficial owners holding through them.

We will make payments of principal and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on debt securities represented by a registered global security registered in the name of a depositary or its nominee to the depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owners of the registered global security. None of Con-way, the trustee or any other agent of Con-way or the trustee will be responsible

 

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or liable for any aspect of the records relating to, or payments made on account of, beneficial ownership interests in the registered global security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to the beneficial ownership interests.

We expect that the depositary for any debt securities represented by a registered global security, upon receipt of any payments of principal and premium, if any, and interest, if any, in respect of the registered global security, will immediately credit participants’ accounts with payments in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in the registered global security as shown on the records of the depositary. We also expect that standing customer instructions and customary practices will govern payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in the registered global security held through the participants, as is now the case with the securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in “street name.” We also expect that any of these payments will be the responsibility of the participants.

If the depositary for any debt securities represented by a registered global security is at any time unwilling or unable to continue as depositary or ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, we will appoint an eligible successor depositary. If we fail to appoint an eligible successor depositary within 90 days, we will issue the debt securities in definitive form in exchange for the registered global security. In addition, we may at any time and in our sole discretion decide not to have any of the debt securities of a series represented by one or more registered global securities. In such event, we will issue debt securities of that series in definitive form in exchange for all of the registered global securities representing the debt securities. The trustee will register any debt securities issued in definitive form in exchange for a registered global security in such name or names as the depositary, based upon instructions from its participants, shall instruct the trustee.

We may also issue bearer debt securities of a series in the form of one or more global securities, referred to as “bearer global securities.” We will deposit these bearer global securities with a common depositary for Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V. and Clearstream Banking S.A., or with a nominee for the depositary identified in the prospectus supplement relating to that series. The prospectus supplement relating to a series of debt securities represented by a bearer global security will describe the specific terms and procedures, including the specific terms of the depositary arrangement and any specific procedures for the issuance of debt securities in definitive form in exchange for a bearer global security, with respect to the portion of the series represented by a bearer global security.

Discharge, Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance

We can discharge or defease our obligations under the indenture as set forth below. Unless otherwise set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, the subordination provisions applicable to any Subordinated Securities will be expressly made subject to the discharge and defeasance provisions of the indenture.

We may discharge our obligations to holders of any series of debt securities that have not already been delivered to the trustee for cancellation and that have either become due and payable or are by their terms to become due and payable within one year (or are scheduled for redemption within one year). We may effect a discharge by irrevocably depositing with the trustee cash or U.S. government obligations or a combination thereof, as trust funds, in an amount certified to be sufficient to pay when due, whether at maturity, upon redemption or otherwise, the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the debt securities and any mandatory sinking fund payments.

Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may also discharge any and all of our obligations to holders of any series of debt securities at any time (“legal defeasance”). We also may be released from the obligations imposed by any covenants of any outstanding series of

 

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debt securities and provisions of the indenture, and we may omit to comply with those covenants without creating an Event of Default (“covenant defeasance”). We may effect legal defeasance and covenant defeasance only if, among other things:

 

   

we irrevocably deposit with the trustee cash or U.S. government obligations or a combination thereof, as trust funds, in an amount certified to be sufficient to pay at maturity (or upon redemption) the principal, premium, if any, and interest on all outstanding debt securities of the series and any mandatory sinking fund payments; and

 

   

we deliver to the trustee an opinion of counsel from a nationally recognized law firm to the effect that the holders of the series of debt securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of the legal defeasance or covenant defeasance and that legal defeasance or covenant defeasance will not otherwise alter the holders’ U.S. federal income tax treatment of principal, premium, if any, and interest payments on the series of debt securities, which opinion, in the case of legal defeasance, must be based on a ruling of the Internal Revenue Service issued, or a change in U.S. federal income tax law.

Although we may discharge or defease our obligations under the indenture as described in the two preceding paragraphs, we may not avoid, among other things, our duty to register the transfer or exchange of any series of debt securities, to replace any temporary, mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen series of debt securities or to maintain an office or agency in respect of any series of debt securities.

Modification of the Indenture

The indenture provides that we and the trustee may enter into supplemental indentures without the consent of the holders of debt securities to, among other things:

 

   

secure any debt securities;

 

   

evidence the assumption by a successor corporation of our obligations;

 

   

add covenants for the protection of the holders of debt securities;

 

   

cure any ambiguity or correct any inconsistency in the indenture;

 

   

establish the forms or terms of debt securities of any series; and

 

   

evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment by a successor trustee.

The indenture also provides that we and the trustee may, with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of debt securities of all series of Senior Debt Securities or Subordinated Securities, as the case may be, then outstanding and affected (voting as one class), add any provisions to, or change in any manner or eliminate any of the provisions of, the indenture or modify in any manner the rights of the holders of the debt securities. We and the trustee may not, however, without the consent of the holder of each outstanding debt security affected thereby:

 

   

extend the final maturity of any debt security;

 

   

reduce the principal amount or premium, if any;

 

   

reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of interest;

 

   

reduce any amount payable on redemption;

 

   

change the currency in which the principal (other than as may be provided otherwise with respect to a series), premium, if any, or interest is payable;

 

   

reduce the amount of the principal of any debt security issued with an original issue discount that is payable upon acceleration or provable in bankruptcy;

 

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modify any of the subordination provisions or the definition of senior indebtedness applicable to any Subordinated Securities in a manner adverse to the holders of those securities;

 

   

alter provisions of the indenture relating to the debt securities not denominated in U.S. dollars;

 

   

impair or affect the right of any holder of the debt securities to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on any debt security when due; or

 

   

reduce the percentage of holders of debt securities of any series whose consent is required for any modification of the indenture.

Concerning the Trustee

The indenture provides that there may be more than one trustee under the indenture, each with respect to one or more series of debt securities. If there are different trustees for different series of debt securities, each trustee will be a trustee of a trust under the indenture separate and apart from the trust administered by any other trustee under the indenture. Except as otherwise indicated in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement, any action permitted to be taken by a trustee may be taken by such trustee only with respect to the one or more series of debt securities for which it is the trustee under the indenture. Any trustee under the indenture may resign or be removed with respect to one or more series of debt securities. All payments of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on, and all registration, transfer, exchange, authentication and delivery (including authentication and delivery on original issuance of the debt securities) of, the debt securities of a series will be effected by the trustee with respect to that series at an office designated by the trustee in New York, New York.

The indenture contains limitations on the right of the trustee, should it become a creditor of Con-way, to obtain payment of claims in some cases or to realize on certain property received in respect of any such claim as security or otherwise. The trustee may engage in other transactions. If it acquires any conflicting interest relating to any duties with respect to the debt securities, however, it must eliminate the conflict or resign as trustee.

Subject to certain conditions, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of any series of debt securities then outstanding will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for exercising any remedy available to the trustee with respect to such series of debt securities, provided that the direction would not conflict with any rule of law or with the indenture, would not be unduly prejudicial to the rights of another holder of the debt securities, and would not involve any trustee in personal liability. The indenture provides that in case an Event of Default shall occur and be known to any trustee and not be cured, the trustee must use the same degree of care as a prudent person would use in the conduct of his or her own affairs in the exercise of the trustee’s power. Subject to these provisions, the trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the indenture at the request of any of the holders of the debt securities, unless they shall have offered to the trustee security and indemnity satisfactory to the trustee.

No Individual Liability of Incorporators, Stockholders, Officers or Directors

The indenture provides that no incorporator of Con-way, and no past, present or future stockholder, officer or director of Con-way or any successor corporation, in their capacity as such, shall have any individual liability for any of our obligations, covenants or agreements under the debt securities or the indenture.

Governing Law

The indenture and the debt securities will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

 

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

Con-way may sell debt securities in one or more of the following ways from time to time:

 

   

to or through underwriters or dealers;

 

   

by itself directly;

 

   

through agents; or

 

   

through a combination of any of these methods of sale.

The prospectus supplements relating to an offering of offered securities will set forth the terms of such offering, including:

 

   

the name or names of any underwriters, dealers or agents;

 

   

the purchase price of the offered securities and the proceeds to Con-way from the sale;

 

   

any underwriting discounts and commissions or agency fees and other items constituting underwriters’ or agents’ compensation; and

 

   

any initial public offering price, any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers and any securities exchanges on which such offered securities may be listed.

Any initial public offering prices, discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time.

If underwriters are used in the sale, the underwriters will acquire the offered securities for their own account and may resell them 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. The offered securities may be offered either to the public through underwriting syndicates represented by one or more managing underwriters or by one or more underwriters without a syndicate. Unless otherwise set forth in a prospectus supplement, the obligations of the underwriters to purchase any series of securities will be subject to certain conditions precedent, and the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of such series of securities, if any are purchased.

In connection with underwritten offerings of the offered securities and in accordance with applicable law and industry practice, underwriters may over-allot or effect transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the market price of the offered securities at levels above those that might otherwise prevail in the open market, including by entering stabilizing bids, effecting syndicate covering transactions or imposing penalty bids, each of which is described below:

 

   

A stabilizing bid means the placing of any bid, or the effecting of any purchase, for the purpose of pegging, fixing or maintaining the price of a security.

 

   

A syndicate covering transaction means the placing of any bid on behalf of the underwriting syndicate or the effecting of any purchase to reduce a short position created in connection with the offering.

 

   

A penalty bid means an arrangement that permits the managing underwriter to reclaim a selling concession from a syndicate member in connection with the offering when offered securities originally sold by the syndicate member are purchased in syndicate covering transactions.

These transactions may be effected on the NYSE, in the over-the-counter market, or otherwise. Underwriters are not required to engage in any of these activities, or to continue such activities if commenced.

 

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If a dealer is used in the sale, Con-way will sell such offered securities to the dealer, as principal. The dealer may then resell the offered securities to the public at varying prices to be determined by that dealer at the time for resale. The names of the dealers and the terms of the transaction will be set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to that transaction.

Offered securities may be sold directly by Con-way to one or more institutional purchasers, or through agents designated by Con-way from time to time, at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed, or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. Any agent involved in the offer or sale of the offered securities in respect of which this prospectus is delivered will be named, and any commissions payable by Con-way to such agent will be set forth, in the prospectus supplement relating to that offering. Unless otherwise indicated in such prospectus supplement, any such agent will be acting on a best efforts basis for the period of its appointment.

Underwriters, dealers and agents may be entitled under agreements entered into with us to indemnification by us against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribution with respect to payments that the underwriters, dealers or agents may be required to make in respect thereof. Underwriters, dealers and agents may be customers of, engage in transactions with, or perform services for us and our affiliates in the ordinary course of business.

Each of the securities issued hereunder will be a new issue of securities, will have no prior trading market, and may or may not be listed on a national securities exchange or The Nasdaq Stock Market. Any underwriters to whom Con-way sells securities for public offering and sale may make a market in the securities, but such underwriters will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. We cannot assure you that there will be a market for the offered securities.

VALIDITY OF SECURITIES

The validity of the securities being offered hereby is being passed upon for Con-way by Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, Los Angeles, California.

EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements and schedule of Con-way Inc., as of December 31, 2006 and 2005, and for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2006, and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2006 (which is included under Part II, Item 9A in Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting) have been incorporated by reference herein and in the registration statement in reliance upon the reports of KPMG LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, incorporated by reference herein, and upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing. The audit report covering the December 31, 2006 financial statements refers to the adoption of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 158, Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans—an amendment of SFAS 87, 88, 106, and 132R.

The consolidated financial statements of Transportation Resources, Inc. incorporated in this prospectus by reference from the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed October 9, 2007 have been audited by BKD, LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, 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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PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

 

ITEM 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distributions.

The following table sets forth the expenses to be borne by Con-way Inc. in connection with the offerings described in this Registration Statement. All expenses, other than the SEC registration fee, are estimates.

 

Registration fee — Securities and Exchange Commission

   $ 0

Printing and engraving expenses

   $ 30,000  

Legal fees and expenses

   $ 300,000  

Accounting fees and expenses

   $ 100,000  

Rating agency fees

   $ 600,000  

Trustee’s and registrar’s fees and expenses

   $ 20,000  

Miscellaneous

   $ 20,000  
        

Total

   $ 1,070,000  
        

To be deferred pursuant to Rule 456(b) and calculated in connection with the offering of securities under this registration statement pursuant to Rule 457(r).

 

ITEM 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

As authorized by Section 102(b)(7) of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”), our Certificate of Incorporation eliminates to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law the personal liability of our directors to us or our stockholders for monetary damages for any breach of fiduciary duty as a director.

Our Bylaws provide that each person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is involved in any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of us or of another enterprise, serving as such at our request, shall be indemnified and held harmless by us to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL; provided, however, that except as to actions to enforce indemnification rights, we shall indemnify any such person seeking indemnification in connection with an action, suit or proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such person only if the action, suit or proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by our Board of Directors. When indemnification is authorized by our Bylaws, the director, officer, employee or agent shall be indemnified for expenses, liabilities and losses (including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes or penalties and amounts paid or to be paid in settlement) reasonably incurred by him or her in connection therewith. Our Bylaws also provide that expenses incurred by an officer or director (acting in his or her capacity as such) in defending a proceeding shall be paid by us in advance of final disposition of the proceeding; provided, however, that if required by the DGCL, the officer or director shall deliver to us an undertaking by the officer or director to repay such expenses if it is ultimately determined that he or she is not entitled to be indemnified by us. Our Bylaws also provide that in other circumstances, expenses may be advanced upon such terms and conditions as the Board of Directors deems appropriate.

Our Bylaws further provide that the right to indemnification granted thereunder shall be a contract right for the benefit of our directors, officers, employees and agents. Our Bylaws also authorize actions against us to enforce the indemnification rights provided by the Bylaws, subject to our right to assert a defense in any such action that the claimant has not met the standards of conduct that make it permissible under the DGCL for us to indemnify the claimant for the amount claimed, and we shall bear the burden of proving any such a defense.

 

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Under Section 145 of the DGCL, a corporation may provide indemnification to directors, officers, employees and agents against judgments, penalties, fines, settlements and reasonable expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred in the defense or settlement of a derivative action, provided there is a determination by a majority vote of a quorum of disinterested directors, a committee of directors, independent legal counsel, or a majority vote of stockholders that a person seeking indemnification acted in good faith and in a manner reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, in the case of a criminal proceeding, with no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. However, Section 145 also states that no indemnification may be made in derivative actions where such person is adjudged liable to the corporation, unless, and only to the extent, that a court determines upon application that such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the court deems proper. Section 145 of the DGCL also permits indemnification of expenses which the court deems proper and provides that indemnification of expenses actually and reasonably incurred shall be provided when the individual being indemnified has successfully defended the action on the merits or otherwise in any action, suit or proceeding. The indemnification rights provided by statute in Delaware are not deemed to be exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification may be entitled under any bylaw, agreement or otherwise.

Our Bylaws also authorize us to purchase and maintain insurance to protect ourselves and any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent against any liability, expense or loss incurred by or asserted against such persons, whether or not we would have the power to indemnify any such person against such liability, expense or loss under applicable law or our Bylaws. We presently maintain a directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policy which insures our directors and officers and those of certain of our subsidiaries.

 

ITEM 16. Exhibits.

 

Exhibit  

Description

  1*   Form of Underwriting Agreement
  4**   Form of Indenture
  5**   Opinion of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP.
12**   Computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges.
23.1**   Consent of KPMG LLP, dated December 20, 2007.
23.2**   Consent of BKD, LLP, dated December 20, 2007.
23.3**   Consent of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP (included in Exhibit 5)
24**   Power of Attorney (included on the signature pages to this registration statement).
25**   Statement of Eligibility of Trustee under the Indenture

* To be filed by amendment or in a Current Report on Form 8-K, if applicable.

 

** Filed herewith.

 

ITEM 17. Undertakings.

 

  (A) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

 

  (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

 

  (i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

 

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  (ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the SEC 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; and

 

  (iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in this registration statement or any material change to such information in this registration statement;

provided, however, that paragraphs (A)(1)(i), (A)(1)(ii) and (A)(1)(iii) of this section do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by the Registrant pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of this registration statement.

 

  (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

  (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

 

  (B) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:

 

  (i) Each prospectus filed by the Registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and

 

  (ii) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.

 

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  (C) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities:

The undersigned Registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned Registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned Registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

 

  (i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned Registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;

 

  (ii) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned Registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned Registrant;

 

  (iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned Registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned Registrant; and

 

  (iv) Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned Registrant to the purchaser.

 

  (D) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the Registrant’s annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, 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) 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 in “Item 15 – Indemnification of Directors and Officers” 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.

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, Con-way Inc. 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 San Mateo, State of California, on December 20, 2007.

 

CON-WAY INC.
By:  

/s/    DOUGLAS W. STOTLAR        

Name:   Douglas W. Stotlar
Title:   President and Chief Executive Officer

POWER OF ATTORNEY

Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Douglas W. Stotlar, Kevin C. Schick and Jennifer W. Pileggi, and each of them, his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, each with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement (and to any registration statement filed pursuant to Rule 462 under the Securities Act of 1933), and to cause the same to be filed, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that each of said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or his or her substitute 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 by the following persons in the capacities indicated on this 22nd day of September, 2007.

 

Signature

  

Title

   

/s/    DOUGLAS W. STOTLAR        

Douglas W. Stotlar

  

President and Chief Executive Officer and Director

(Principal Executive Officer)

 
    

/s/    KEVIN C. SCHICK        

Kevin C. Schick

  

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial Officer)

 
    

/s/    KEVIN S. COEL        

Kevin S. Coel

  

Vice President and Controller

(Principal Accounting Officer)

 
    

/s/    W. KEITH KENNEDY, JR.        

W. Keith Kennedy, Jr.

   Chairman of the Board  
    

/s/    JOHN J. ANTON        

John J. Anton

   Director  
    

/s/    WILLIAM R. CORBIN        

William R. Corbin

   Director  
    

 

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Signature

  

Title

   

/s/    MARGARET G. GILL        

Margaret G. Gill

   Director  
    

/s/    HENRY H. MAUZ, JR.        

Henry H. Mauz, Jr.

   Director  
    

/s/    JOHN C. POPE        

John C. Pope

   Director  
    

/s/    ROBERT D. ROGERS        

Robert D. Rogers

   Director  
    

/s/    WILLIAM J. SCHROEDER        

William J. Schroeder

   Director  
    

/s/    PETER W. STOTT        

Peter W. Stott

   Director  
    

/s/    ROBERT P. WAYMAN        

Robert P. Wayman

   Director  
    

/s/    CHELSEA C. WHITE III        

Chelsea C. White III

   Director  
    

 

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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit  

Description

  1*   Form of Underwriting Agreement
  4**   Form of Indenture
  5**   Opinion of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP.
12**   Computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges.
23.1**   Consent of KPMG LLP, dated December 20, 2007.
23.2**   Consent of BKD, LLP, dated December 20, 2007.
23.3**   Consent of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP (included in Exhibit 5)
24**   Power of Attorney (included on the signature pages to this registration statement).
25**   Statement of Eligibility of Trustee under the Indenture

* To be filed by amendment or in a Current Report on Form 8-K, if applicable.

 

** Filed herewith.