As Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5)
Registration No. 033-56885
THE INFORMATION IN THIS PROSPECTUS IS NOT COMPLETE AND MAY BE CHANGED. THIS
PROSPECTUS IS NOT AN OFFER TO SELL THESE SECURITIES AND IT IS NOT SOLICITING AN
OFFER TO BUY THESE SECURITIES IN ANY STATE WHERE THE OFFER OR SALE IS NOT
PERMITTED.
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED SEPTEMBER 8, 2003
PROSPECTUS
[HARSCO LOGO]
$150,000,000
HARSCO CORPORATION
% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2013
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The notes will bear interest at the rate of % per year and will mature
on September , 2013. Interest on the notes is payable on and
of each year, beginning on , 2004. The notes will not
be redeemable prior to maturity and will not be subject to any sinking fund. The
notes will be our unsecured senior obligations and will rank equally with all of
our other unsecured senior indebtedness.
INVESTING IN THE NOTES INVOLVES RISKS. SEE "RISK FACTORS" BEGINNING ON PAGE
2.
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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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PER NOTE TOTAL
-------------- --------------
Public Offering Price % $
Underwriting Discount % $
Proceeds to Harsco (before expenses) % $
Interest on the notes will accrue from September , 2003 to the date of
delivery.
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The underwriters expect to deliver the notes to purchasers on or about
September , 2003. The notes will be ready for delivery in book-entry form only
through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company.
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CITIGROUP JPMORGAN
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THE ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND
SUNTRUST ROBINSON HUMPHREY
WACHOVIA SECURITIES
September , 2003
YOU SHOULD RELY ONLY ON THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN OR INCORPORATED BY
REFERENCE IN THIS PROSPECTUS. WE HAVE NOT AUTHORIZED ANYONE TO PROVIDE YOU WITH
DIFFERENT OR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. IF ANYONE PROVIDES YOU WITH DIFFERENT OR
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, YOU SHOULD NOT RELY ON IT. YOU SHOULD NOT ASSUME THAT
THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN OR INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE IN THIS PROSPECTUS IS
ACCURATE AS OF ANY DATE OTHER THAN THE DATE ON THE COVER OF THIS PROSPECTUS. WE
ARE NOT MAKING AN OFFER TO SELL THE NOTES IN ANY JURISDICTION WHERE THE OFFER OR
SALE IS NOT PERMITTED.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
----
Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking
Information............................................... ii
Summary of the Offering..................................... 1
Risk Factors................................................ 2
The Company................................................. 8
Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges......................... 9
Use of Proceeds............................................. 9
Capitalization.............................................. 10
Summary Historical Consolidated Financial Data.............. 11
Description of the Notes.................................... 13
Where You Can Find More Information......................... 21
Incorporation by Reference.................................. 21
Certain United States Federal Income Tax Considerations..... 22
Underwriting................................................ 26
Legal Matters............................................... 27
Experts..................................................... 27
i
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT CONCERNING
FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
The nature of our operations and the many countries in which we operate
subject us to changing economic, competitive, regulatory and technological
conditions, risks and uncertainties. In accordance with the "safe harbor"
provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, we provide
the following cautionary remarks regarding important factors which, among
others, could cause future results to differ materially from the forward-looking
statements, expectations and assumptions expressed or implied herein, and in the
documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus. In some cases, you can
identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as "may," "will,"
"could," "would," "should," "expect," "plan," "anticipate," "intend," "believe,"
"estimate," "predict," "potential" or "continue" or the negative of those terms
or other comparable terminology.
We caution you that a number of important factors could cause actual
results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking
statement. These include, but are not limited to:
- changes in the worldwide business environment in which we operate,
including general economic conditions;
- changes in currency exchange rates, interest rates and capital costs;
- changes in the performance of equity and bond markets that could affect
the valuation of the assets in our pension plans and the accounting for
pension assets, liabilities and expense;
- changes in governmental laws and regulations, including taxes and import
tariffs;
- market and competitive changes, including pricing pressures, market
demand and acceptance for new products, services and technologies;
- unforeseen business disruptions in one or more of the 43 countries in
which we operate due to political instability, civil unrest, armed
hostilities or other calamities; and
- other risk factors listed from time to time in our SEC reports.
We caution you that these factors may not be exhaustive and many of these
factors are beyond our ability to control or predict. Accordingly,
forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as a prediction of actual
results. Moreover, we do not, nor does any other person, assume responsibility
for the accuracy and completeness of those statements. We have no duty to update
any of the forward-looking statements after the date of this prospectus.
ii
SUMMARY OF THE OFFERING
This summary highlights information contained elsewhere in this prospectus.
It is not complete and may not contain all the information that you should
consider before investing in the notes. You should read the entire prospectus.
Issuer........................ Harsco Corporation, a Delaware corporation.
Notes Offered................. $150,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of
% Senior Notes due 2013.
Issue Price................... The notes will be issued at a price of %
of their principal amount, which is $ per
note, plus accrued interest from ,
2003.
Maturity Date................. September , 2013.
Ranking....................... The notes will be our general unsecured
obligations ranking equally with all our other
existing and future senior unsecured
indebtedness and senior in right of payment to
all of our future subordinated indebtedness.
Interest...................... The notes will bear interest at a fixed annual
rate of %, to be paid semi-annually, in
arrears, in cash on and of
each year, beginning on , 2004.
Interest will be computed on the basis of a
360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day
months.
Sinking Fund.................. None.
Redemption.................... We may not redeem the notes prior to the
maturity date.
Restrictive Covenants......... We have agreed to observe certain restrictive
covenants, including covenants with respect to
sales and leasebacks, mergers and
consolidations, transfers of principal
facilities to subsidiaries and the creation of
secured debt.
Events of Default............. If there is an event of default on the notes,
the principal amount, plus all accrued and
unpaid interest thereon to the date of
acceleration, may be declared immediately due
and payable, subject to certain conditions set
forth in the indenture. These amounts
automatically become due and payable in the
case of bankruptcy or insolvency events of
default.
Use of Proceeds............... The net proceeds of this offering will be used
to repay in full the outstanding principal and
accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on our 6%
Notes due September 15, 2003.
DTC Eligibility............... The notes will be issued in book-entry form
only and will be represented by one or more
permanent global certificates deposited with a
custodian for, and registered in the name of a
nominee of, The Depository Trust Company in New
York, New York (DTC). Beneficial interests in
the notes will be shown on, and transfers will
be effected only through, records maintained by
DTC and its direct and indirect participants.
Such interests may not be exchanged for
definitive securities, except in limited
circumstances.
Trading....................... The notes will not be listed on any securities
exchange or included in any quotation system.
1
RISK FACTORS
You should carefully consider the following risks and uncertainties and all
other information contained in this prospectus, including the documents
incorporated by reference, before you decide whether to purchase our notes. Any
of the following risks, if they materialize, could adversely affect our
business, financial condition and operating results. As a result, the trading
price of our notes could decline or we may be unable to service our obligations
under our indebtedness and you could lose all or part of your investment.
Additional risks and uncertainties not known to us or that we currently deem
immaterial may also adversely affect our business and results of operations.
RISKS RELATING TO OUR BUSINESS
CYCLICAL INDUSTRY AND ECONOMIC CONDITIONS MAY ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR BUSINESS.
Our businesses are vulnerable to general economic slowdowns and cyclical
conditions in the industries we serve. In particular,
- Our mill services business may be adversely affected by slowdowns in
steel mill production, continued excess capacity, continued consolidation
or bankruptcy of steel producers (including some of our customers) or a
reversal or slowing of current outsourcing trends in the steel industry;
- Our access services business may be adversely affected by slowdowns in
non-residential construction and annual industrial and building
maintenance cycles;
- Our gas and fluid control business may be adversely affected by slowdowns
in demand for consumer barbecue grills, reduced industrial production or
lower demand for natural gas vehicles and products for the natural gas
drilling and transmission industry;
- Our industrial grating business may be adversely affected by slowdowns in
non-residential construction and industrial production;
- Our railway track maintenance business may be adversely affected by
developments in the railroad industry that lead to lower capital
spending; and
- Our industrial abrasives and roofing granules business may be adversely
affected by slower home resales or economic conditions that slow the rate
of residential roof replacement.
OUR PENSION EXPENSE IS DIRECTLY AFFECTED BY THE PERFORMANCE OF THE EQUITY AND
BOND MARKETS AND NEGATIVE CHANGES IN THOSE MARKETS COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR
FUTURE EARNINGS AND CASH FLOWS.
We have defined benefit pension plans throughout the world. The largest of
these plans are in the United Kingdom and the United States. Changes in the
performance of the equity and fixed income markets, particularly in the United
Kingdom and the United States, impact actuarial assumptions used in determining
annual pension expense, pension liabilities and the valuation of the assets in
our pension plans. Over the past three years, declining market prices of
equities have reduced returns on our pension assets. At the same time, lower
interest rates, while improving returns on the fixed income portion of our
pension plan assets, have led to a decrease in the discount rates used in the
actuarial assumptions we use in determining annual pension expense, resulting in
a substantial increase in our pension liabilities. This resulted in an increase
in pre-tax pension expense of approximately $8.8 million for the first six
months of 2003 compared with the first six months of 2002, and is expected to
result in a pre-tax increase in pension expense of approximately $18 million in
calendar year 2003 compared with 2002. Should this trend in market conditions
continue, our pension expense would likely increase and could result in an
additional reduction to shareholders' equity. In addition, if interest rates and
asset values continue to decline, such declines will likely increase our funding
obligations to our plans, which could have a material adverse effect on our
liquidity. For additional information concerning our pension liabilities, see
"Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk" in our quarterly
report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2003, which is incorporated
by reference into this prospectus.
2
OUR GLOBAL PRESENCE SUBJECTS US TO A VARIETY OF RISKS ARISING FROM DOING
BUSINESS IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES.
We operate in over 400 locations in 43 countries, including the United
States. Our global footprint exposes us to a variety of risks that may adversely
affect our results of operations, cash flows or financial position. These
include:
- periodic economic downturns in the countries in which we do business;
- fluctuations in currency exchange rates;
- customs matters and changes in trade policy or tariff regulations;
- imposition of or increases in currency exchange controls and hard
currency shortages;
- changes in regulatory requirements in the countries in which we do
business;
- higher tax rates and potentially adverse tax consequences including
restrictions on repatriating earnings, adverse tax withholding
requirements and "double taxation";
- longer payment cycles and difficulty in collecting accounts receivable;
- complications in complying with a variety of foreign laws and
regulations;
- political, economic and social instability, civil unrest and armed
hostilities in the countries in which we do business;
- inflation rates in the countries in which we do business;
- laws in various foreign jurisdictions that limit the right and ability of
foreign subsidiaries to pay dividends and remit earnings to affiliated
companies unless specified conditions are met; and
- uncertainties arising from local business practices, cultural
considerations and international political and trade tensions.
If we are unable to successfully manage the risks associated with managing
and expanding our global business, our business, financial condition and results
of operations may suffer.
We also have operations in several countries in the Middle East, including
Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Qatar, which are
geographically close to Iraq and other countries with a continued high risk of
armed hostilities. During the first six months of 2003 and the year ended
December 31, 2002, these countries contributed approximately $7.9 million and
$15 million, respectively, to our operating income. Additionally, we have
operations in and sales to countries that have encountered outbreaks of Severe
Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), AIDS and other communicable diseases. Should
these outbreaks worsen or spread to other countries, we may be negatively
impacted through reduced sales to these countries.
EXCHANGE RATE FLUCTUATIONS MAY ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR BUSINESS.
Fluctuations in foreign exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and the
approximately 35 other currencies in which we conduct business may adversely
affect our operating income and income from continuing operations in any given
fiscal period. Approximately 58% and 54% of our sales and approximately 64% and
58% of our operating income from continuing operations for the six months ended
June 30, 2003 and the year ended December 31, 2002, respectively, were derived
from our operations outside the United States. Given the structure of our
revenues and expenses, an increase in the value of the U.S. dollar relative to
the foreign currencies in which we earn our revenues generally has a negative
impact on our operating income, whereas a decrease in the value of the U.S.
dollar tends to have the opposite effect. Our principal foreign currency
exposures are to the British pound sterling and the euro.
3
Compared with the six months ended June 30, 2002, the values of the
following major currencies changed as follows in relation to the U.S. dollar
during the six months ended June 30, 2003, impacting our sales and income:
- British pound sterling Strengthened by 10%
- Euro Strengthened by 19%
- South African rand Strengthened by 27%
- Brazilian real Weakened by 29%
Our foreign currency exposures increase the risk of income statement,
balance sheet and cash flow volatility. If the above currencies change
materially in relation to the U.S. dollar, our financial position, results of
operations, or cash flows may be materially adversely affected.
In addition, competitive conditions in our manufacturing businesses may
limit our ability to increase product price in the face of adverse currency
movements. Products manufactured in the United States for the domestic and
export markets may be affected by the value of the U.S. dollar relative to other
currencies. Any long-term strengthening of the U.S. dollar could depress demand
for these products and reduce sales and cause us to experience translation
losses due to the revaluation of accounts payable, accounts receivable and other
asset and liability accounts.
Although we engage in forward exchange contracts and other hedging
strategies to mitigate foreign exchange risk, our hedging strategies may not be
successful or may fail to offset the risk.
NEGATIVE ECONOMIC CONDITIONS MAY ADVERSELY AFFECT THE ABILITY OF OUR CUSTOMERS
TO MEET THEIR OBLIGATIONS TO US ON A TIMELY BASIS.
If the current downturn in the economy persists, it may adversely affect
the ability of our customers to meet their obligations to us on a timely basis
and could result in additional bankruptcy filings by our customers. If our
customers are unable to meet their obligations to us on a timely basis, it could
adversely impact the realizability of receivables, the valuation of inventories
and the valuation of long-lived assets across our businesses, as well as
negatively affect the forecasts used in performing our goodwill impairment
testing under SFAS No. 142, "Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets." If we
determine that goodwill or assets are impaired or that inventories or
receivables cannot be realized at projected rates, we will be required to record
a write-down in the period of determination, which will reduce our net income
for that period.
A NEGATIVE OUTCOME ON PERSONAL INJURY CLAIMS AGAINST US MAY ADVERSELY AFFECT
OUR RESULTS OF OPERATION AND FINANCIAL CONDITION.
We have been named as one of many defendants (approximately 90 or more in
most cases) in legal actions alleging personal injury from exposure to airborne
asbestos. As of June 30, 2003, there were approximately 38,740 open personal
injury claims against us, of which 3,330 were filed in the quarter ended June
30, 2003. In their suits, the plaintiffs have named as defendants many
manufacturers, distributors and repairers of numerous types of equipment or
products that may involve asbestos. Most of these complaints contain a standard
claim for damages of $20 million or more against the named defendants. As of
June 30, 2003, we have obtained dismissal by stipulation, or summary judgment
prior to trial, in all cases that have proceeded to trial (approximately 663
dismissals). We have not paid any amounts in settlement of these cases, with the
exception of two settlements totaling less than $10,000 paid by our insurance
carrier prior to 1998. However, if we were found to be liable in any of these
actions and our liability were to exceed our insurance coverage, our results of
operations, cash flows and financial condition could be adversely affected. For
more information concerning these litigations, see "Notes to Consolidated
Financial Statements -- Commitments and Contingencies -- Other" in our quarterly
report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2003, which is incorporated
by reference into this prospectus.
4
WE MAY LOSE CUSTOMERS OR BE REQUIRED TO REDUCE PRICES AS A RESULT OF
COMPETITION.
The industries in which we operate are highly competitive. Our
manufacturing businesses compete with companies that manufacture similar
products internationally. Certain international competitors export their
products into the United States and sell them at lower prices due to lower labor
costs and government subsidies for exports. Such prices may limit the prices we
can charge for our products and services. Additionally, unfavorable foreign
exchange rates can adversely impact our ability to match the prices charged by
our foreign competitors. If we are unable to match the prices charged by our
foreign competitors, we may lose customers.
INCREASES IN ENERGY PRICES COULD INCREASE OUR OPERATING COSTS AND REDUCE OUR
PROFITABILITY.
Worldwide political and economic conditions, among other factors, may
result in an increase in the volatility of energy costs, both on a macro basis
and for us specifically. Historically, direct energy costs have approximated
between 2.5% to 3.5% of our revenue. To the extent that we cannot pass any
increase in such costs to our customers, our operating income and results of
operations may be adversely affected.
FEDERAL EXCISE TAX LIABILITIES RELATED TO OUR FIVE-TON TRUCK CONTRACT MAY
ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND CASH FLOWS.
We are currently involved in litigation with the IRS over the proper
treatment under the Federal Excise Tax (FET) law of certain cargo truck models
sold by us (under a 1986 contract) to the United States Army. The IRS claims
that certain cargo trucks sold by us were taxable under the FET law. If the
cargo trucks are ultimately held to be taxable, the net maximum liability for us
would be $5.8 million plus penalties and applicable interest estimated as of
June 30, 2003 to be $12.4 million and $68.1 million, respectively (net of the
Army's contribution of $24.6 million toward payment of the tax). If we do not
prevail in this litigation, it could have a material adverse effect on our
quarterly or annual results of operations and cash flows. For more information
concerning this litigation, see "Notes to Consolidated Financial
Statements -- Commitments and Contingencies -- Federal Excise Tax and Other
Matters Related to the Five-Ton Truck Contract" in our quarterly report on Form
10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2003, which is incorporated by reference
into this prospectus.
WE ARE SUBJECT TO VARIOUS ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS AND THE SUCCESS OF EXISTING OR
FUTURE ENVIRONMENTAL CLAIMS AGAINST US COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS AND CASH FLOWS.
Our operations subject us to various federal, state, local and foreign
laws, regulations and ordinances relating to the protection of health, safety
and the environment, including those governing discharges to air and water,
handling and disposal practices for solid and hazardous wastes, the cleaning up
of contaminated sites and the maintenance of a safe work place. These laws
impose penalties, fines and other sanctions for non-compliance and liability for
response costs, property damages and personal injury resulting from past and
current spills, disposals or other releases of, or exposure to, hazardous
materials. We could incur substantial costs as a result of non-compliance with
or liability for cleanup or other costs or damages under these laws. We may be
subject to more stringent environmental laws in the future, and our compliance
with more stringent environmental requirements may require us to make material
expenditures or subject us to liabilities that we currently do not anticipate.
We are currently involved in a number of environmental remediation
investigations and clean-ups and, along with other companies, have been
identified as a "potentially responsible party" for certain waste disposal sites
under the federal "Superfund" law. At several sites, we currently are conducting
environmental remediation, and it is probable that we will agree to make
payments toward funding certain other of these remediation activities. It also
is possible that some of these matters will be decided unfavorably to us and
that other sites requiring remediation will be identified. Each of these matters
is subject to various uncertainties and our financial exposure is dependent upon
such factors as the continuing evolution of environmental laws and regulatory
requirements, the availability and application of technology, the allocation of
cost among potentially responsible parties, the years of remedial activity
required and the remediation methods selected. We have evaluated our potential
liability and our consolidated balance sheet at both June 30, 2003 and December
31, 2002 includes an accrual of $3.2 million for environmental
5
matters. The amounts charged against pre-tax earnings related to environmental
matters totaled $0.6 million and $0.2 million for the first six months of 2003
and 2002, respectively. The liability for future remediation costs is evaluated
on a quarterly basis. Actual costs to be incurred at identified sites in future
periods may be greater than the estimates, given inherent uncertainties in
evaluating environmental exposures.
RESTRICTIONS IMPOSED BY OUR CREDIT FACILITIES AND OUTSTANDING NOTES MAY LIMIT
OUR ABILITY TO OBTAIN ADDITIONAL FINANCING OR TO PURSUE BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES.
Our credit facilities and certain notes payable agreements contain
covenants requiring a minimum net worth of $475 million and a maximum debt to
capital ratio of 60%. These covenants limit the amount of debt we may incur,
which could limit our ability to obtain additional financing or to pursue
business opportunities. In addition, our ability to comply with these ratios may
be affected by events beyond our control. A breach of any of these covenants or
our inability to comply with the required financial ratios could result in a
default under these credit facilities. In the event of any default under these
credit facilities, the lenders under those facilities could elect to declare all
borrowings outstanding, together with accrued and unpaid interest and other
fees, to be due and payable, which would cause an event of default under the
notes. This could in turn trigger an event of default under the cross-default
provisions of our other outstanding indebtedness. At June 30, 2003, we were in
compliance with these covenants and $336.5 million in indebtedness containing
these covenants was outstanding.
HIGHER THAN EXPECTED CLAIMS UNDER INSURANCE POLICIES, UNDER WHICH WE RETAIN A
PORTION OF RISK, COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND CASH
FLOWS.
We retain a significant portion of the risk for property, workers'
compensation, automobile, general and product liability losses. In consultation
with third-party actuarial professionals, reserves have been recorded which
reflect the undiscounted estimated liabilities for ultimate losses including
claims incurred but not reported. Inherent in these estimates are assumptions
that are based on our history of claims and losses, a detailed analysis of
existing claims with respect to potential value, and current legal and
legislative trends in insurance law. At June 30, 2003 and December 31, 2002, we
recorded liabilities of $68.3 million and $65.0 million, respectively, related
to both asserted as well as unasserted insurance claims. If actual claims are
higher than those projected by management, an increase to our insurance reserves
may be required and would be recorded as a charge to income in the period the
need for the change was determined.
THE SEASONALITY OF OUR BUSINESS MAY CAUSE OUR QUARTERLY RESULTS TO FLUCTUATE.
We have historically generated the majority of our cash flows in our third
and fourth quarters, as our business tends to follow seasonal patterns. If we
are unable to successfully manage the cash flow and other effects of seasonality
on our business, our results of operations may suffer.
RISKS RELATING TO THE NOTES
OUR EXISTING AND FUTURE INDEBTEDNESS MAY LIMIT CASH FLOW AVAILABLE TO INVEST IN
THE ONGOING NEEDS OF OUR BUSINESS, WHICH COULD PREVENT US FROM FULFILLING OUR
OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE NOTES.
After giving effect to this notes offering and the repayment of our 6%
Notes due September 15, 2003, our total pro forma indebtedness at June 30, 2003
would have been approximately $649.1 million and our ratio of earnings to fixed
charges for the six months ended June 30, 2003 would have been approximately
2.85:1. Additionally, we have the ability under our existing credit facilities
to incur substantial additional indebtedness in the future. Our level of
indebtedness could have important consequences to you. For example, it could:
- require us to dedicate a substantial portion of our cash flow from
operations to the payment of debt service, reducing the availability of
our cash flow to fund working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions
and other general corporate purposes;
- increase our vulnerability to adverse economic or industry conditions;
- limit our ability to obtain additional financing in the future to enable
us to react to changes in our business or industry; or
6
- place us at a competitive disadvantage compared to businesses in our
industry that have less indebtedness.
Additionally, any failure to comply with covenants in the instruments governing
our debt could result in an event of default which, if not cured or waived,
would have a material adverse effect on us.
TO SERVICE OUR INDEBTEDNESS, WE WILL REQUIRE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF CASH. OUR
ABILITY TO GENERATE CASH DEPENDS ON MANY FACTORS BEYOND OUR CONTROL. WE ALSO
DEPEND ON THE BUSINESS OF OUR SUBSIDIARIES TO SATISFY OUR CASH NEEDS. IF WE
CANNOT GENERATE THE REQUIRED CASH, WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO MAKE THE NECESSARY
PAYMENTS UNDER THE NOTES.
Our ability to make payments on our indebtedness, including the notes, and
to fund planned capital expenditures will depend on our ability to generate cash
in the future. Our ability to generate cash, to a certain extent, is subject to
general economic, financial, competitive, legislative, regulatory and other
factors that are beyond our control. We also depend on the business of our
subsidiaries to satisfy our cash needs. Changes in the laws of foreign
jurisdictions in which we operate may adversely affect the ability of some of
our foreign subsidiaries to expatriate funds to us. Additionally, our historical
financial results have been, and we anticipate that our future financial results
will be, subject to fluctuations. We cannot assure you that our business will
generate sufficient cash flow from our operations or that future borrowings will
be available to us in an amount sufficient to enable us to pay our indebtedness,
including the notes, or to fund our other liquidity needs and make necessary
capital expenditures.
THE NOTES ARE EFFECTIVELY SUBORDINATED TO ANY OF OUR SECURED INDEBTEDNESS AND
TO THE INDEBTEDNESS AND OTHER LIABILITIES OF OUR SUBSIDIARIES.
The notes will be senior unsecured obligations and will rank equal in right
of payment to all of our other senior unsecured indebtedness. However, the notes
will be effectively subordinated to (a) any of our secured indebtedness to the
extent of the collateral securing such indebtedness and (b) the liabilities of
our subsidiaries. In particular, claims of creditors of our subsidiaries,
including trade creditors, secured creditors and creditors holding indebtedness
or guarantees issued by our subsidiaries, will generally have priority with
respect to the assets and earnings of those subsidiaries over the claims of our
creditors, including holders of the notes, even if the obligations of our
subsidiaries do not rank in priority over the notes. At June 30, 2003, our
subsidiaries had approximately $393.9 million of indebtedness (excluding
intercompany indebtedness).
BECAUSE THERE IS NO ESTABLISHED TRADING MARKET FOR THE NOTES, YOU MAY NOT BE
ABLE TO RESELL YOUR NOTES.
Although the notes have been registered under the Securities Act, they will
not be listed on any securities exchange or included in any quotation system and
therefore will constitute a new issue of securities with no established trading
market. We cannot assure you as to:
- the liquidity of any trading market that may develop;
- the ability of holders to sell their notes; or
- the price at which holders would be able to sell their notes.
We understand that the underwriters presently intend to make a market in
the notes. However, they are not obligated to do so, and any market-making
activity with respect to the notes may be discontinued at any time without
notice. In addition, any market-making activity will be subject to the limits
imposed by the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and may be limited during the
offering of the notes. We cannot assure you that an active trading market will
exist for the notes or that any trading market that does develop will be liquid.
Even if a trading market were to develop, the notes might trade at higher
or lower prices than their principal amount or purchase price, depending on many
factors, including prevailing interest rates, the market for similar notes and
our financial performance.
7
THE COMPANY
We are a diversified, multinational provider of market-leading industrial
services and engineered products. Our operations fall into three reportable
segments: Mill Services, Access Services and Gas and Fluid Control, plus an "all
other" category labeled Other Infrastructure Products and Services. We operate
in over 400 locations in 43 countries, including the United States.
Our principal lines of business and related principal business drivers are
as follows:
LINE OF BUSINESS PRINCIPAL BUSINESS DRIVERS
---------------- --------------------------
Outsourced, on-site mill services........ Steel mill production and capacity
utilization
Outsourcing of services by mills
Scaffolding, forming and shoring and
other access services.................. Non-residential construction
Annual industrial and building
maintenance cycles
Gas control and containment products
Cryogenic containers and
industrial cylinders........... General industrial production and
industrial gas production
Valves............................ Use of industrial, fuel and refrigerant
gases
Respiratory care
Consumer barbeque grills
Propane tanks..................... Use of propane as a primary and/or backup
fuel
Filament-wound composite
cylinders...................... Self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA)
market
Natural gas vehicle (NGV) market
Air-cooled heat exchangers........ Natural gas drilling and transmission
Railway track maintenance services and
equipment.............................. Railway track maintenance-of-way capital
spending
Track maintenance and build outsourcing
Industrial grating products.............. Industrial production
Non-residential construction
Industrial abrasives and roofing
granules............................... Residential roof replacement
Home resales
Severe weather
Powder processing equipment and heat
transfer products...................... Industrial production
We are incorporated in Delaware. Our principal executive offices are
located at 350 Poplar Church Road, Camp Hill, PA 17011 and our telephone number
is (717) 763-7064.
8
RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
The following table shows our ratios of earnings to fixed charges for the
fiscal years indicated and for the six months ended June 30, 2003. Earnings
consist of income from continuing operations before income taxes, minority
interest in consolidated subsidiaries and income or loss from equity investees,
plus fixed charges, amortization of capitalized interest and distributed income
of equity investees, less interest expense capitalized and minority interest in
pre-tax income of subsidiaries that have not incurred fixed charges. Fixed
charges consist of interest charges, interest expense for equity companies whose
debt is guaranteed and the portion of rent expense under operating leases
representing interest, which is estimated to be 33% of rent expense.
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31
SIX MONTHS ENDED --------------------------------------------
JUNE 30, 2003 2002 2001(A) 2000(A) 1999(A) 1998(A)
---------------- ---- ------- ------- ------- -------
Consolidated Ratio of Earnings to
Fixed Charges..................... 2.83 3.03 2.61 3.23 4.64 6.99
---------------
(a) In order to comply with the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB)
Statement No. 144, "Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived
Assets," 2001, 2000, 1999 and 1998 information has been reclassified for
comparative purposes.
USE OF PROCEEDS
We expect to receive net proceeds from the sale of the notes in this
offering of approximately $ . We will use these net proceeds to repay
in full the outstanding principal and accrued and unpaid interest on the
maturity date for our outstanding 6% Notes due September 15, 2003.
9
CAPITALIZATION
The following table sets forth our cash position and capitalization at June
30, 2003 on a historical basis and on an as adjusted basis to reflect the
issuance and sale of the notes in this offering and the application of the net
proceeds from the sale of the notes to repay at maturity our 6% Notes due
September 15, 2003. The information below is only a summary and should be read
in conjunction with the financial information incorporated by reference in this
prospectus. As of the date of this prospectus, there has been no material change
in our consolidated capitalization since June 30, 2003.
(IN THOUSANDS)
AS OF JUNE 30, 2003
------------------------
ACTUAL AS ADJUSTED
---------- -----------
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS................................... $ 63,975 $ 63,975
========== ==========
LONG-TERM DEBT (INCLUDING CURRENT PORTION)
7.25% British pound sterling-denominated notes due October
27, 2010............................................... 325,744 325,744
Faber Prest loan notes due October 31, 2008 with interest
based on sterling LIBOR minus .75% (2.8% at June 30,
2003 and 3.2% at December 31, 2002).................... 9,510 9,510
Industrial Development Bonds, payable in varying amounts
from 2004 to 2011 with a weighted average interest rate
of 1.8% at June 30, 2003 and 2.4% at December 31,
2002................................................... 10,000 10,000
Commercial Paper borrowings, with a weighted average
interest rate of 1.5% at June 30, 2003 and 2.3% at
December 31, 2002(a)................................... 92,844 93,979
6% Notes due September 15, 2003(b)........................ 150,000 0
Other financing payable in varying amounts to 2007 with a
weighted average interest rate of 5.7% at June 30, 2003
and 6.0% at December 31, 2002.......................... 44,218 44,218
% Senior Notes due September , 2013................. 0 150,000
---------- ----------
TOTAL..................................................... 632,316 633,451
Less current maturities................................... 9,791 9,791
---------- ----------
TOTAL LONG-TERM DEBT........................................ $ 622,525 $ 623,660
---------- ----------
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY:
Common stock.............................................. $ 83,988 $ 83,988
Additional paid-in capital................................ 115,105 115,105
Accumulated other comprehensive expense................... (192,809) (192,809)
Retained earnings......................................... 1,313,656 1,313,656
Treasury stock (at cost).................................. (603,723) (603,723)
---------- ----------
Total shareholders' equity................................ 716,217 716,217
---------- ----------
TOTAL CAPITALIZATION........................................ $1,338,742 $1,339,877
========== ==========
---------------
(a) Assumes the notes are issued at par and the difference between the net
proceeds from this offering and the amount needed to repay the 6% Notes due
September 15, 2003 is approximately $1,135,000. This difference would be
funded through an increase in our commercial paper borrowings.
(b) The 6% Notes due September 15, 2003 were classified as long-term debt
because we had the ability and intent to refinance them on a long-term basis
through existing long-term facilities.
10
SUMMARY HISTORICAL CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA(A)
The summary historical consolidated financial data presented below should
be read in conjunction with our audited financial statements, the accompanying
notes and the Selected Financial Data included in our annual report on Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2002 and our unaudited condensed consolidated
financial statements and the accompanying notes included in our quarterly report
on Form 10-Q for the six month period ended June 30, 2003, all of which are
incorporated by reference into this prospectus. Certain June 30, 2002 data is
derived from our June 30, 2002 quarterly report on Form 10-Q, which is not
incorporated by reference into this prospectus.
(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT RATIOS, PER SHARE AND EMPLOYEE INFORMATION)
AS OF AND FOR THE SIX
MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, AS OF AND FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
----------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------
2003 2002 2002 2001 2000(B) 1999 1998
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
INCOME STATEMENT
INFORMATION
Revenues from
continuing
operations........... $1,024,362 $ 968,948 $1,976,732 $2,025,163 $1,904,691 $1,649,092 $1,651,502
Income from continuing
operations........... 37,924 39,832 88,410 74,642 94,343 86,391 103,285
Income (loss) from
discontinued
operations........... 204 530 1,696 (2,917) 2,460 4,322 4,228
Net income............. 38,128 40,362 90,106 71,725 96,803 90,713 107,513
FINANCIAL POSITION AND
CASH FLOW INFORMATION
Working capital........ $ 272,094 $ 274,653 $ 228,552 $ 231,156 $ 181,489 $ 174,147 $ 101,226
Total assets........... 2,071,237 2,115,741 1,999,297 2,090,766 2,180,948 1,659,823 1,623,581
Long-term debt......... 622,525 690,103 605,613 720,133 774,448 418,504 309,131
Total debt............. 649,122 736,215 639,670 762,115 837,473 455,343 363,737
Depreciation and
amortization......... 81,492 77,009 155,661 176,531 159,099 135,853 131,381
Capital expenditures... 62,789 60,020 114,340 156,073 180,048 175,248 159,816
Cash provided by
operating
activities(c)........ 90,328 80,403 253,753 240,601 259,448 213,953 189,260
Cash used by investing
activities........... (73,318) (22,853) (53,929) (125,213) (459,052) (194,674) (233,490)
Cash provided (used) by
financing
activities........... (30,574) (63,121) (205,480) (99,190) 210,746 (8,928) (134,324)
RATIOS
Return on sales(d)..... 3.7% 4.1% 4.5% 3.7% 5.0% 5.2% 6.3%
Return on average
equity(e)............ 11.0% 11.3% 12.6% 11.1% 14.4% 13.3% 13.7%
Current ratio.......... 1.6:1 1.6:1 1.5:1 1.5:1 1.3:1 1.4:1 1.2:1
Total debt to total
capital(f)........... 47.5% 49.9% 49.8% 52.6% 55.4% 41.2% 34.7%
PER SHARE INFORMATION
Basic -- Income from
continuing
operations.... $ .93 $ .99 $ 2.19 $ 1.87 $ 2.36 $ 2.11 $ 2.27
-- Income (loss)
from
discontinued
operations.... .01 .01 .04 (.07) .06 .11 .09
-- Net income.... .94 1.00 2.23 1.80 2.42 2.22 2.36
Diluted -- Income from
continuing
operations.... .93 .98 2.17 1.86 2.36 2.11 2.25
-- Income (loss)
from
discontinued
operations.... .01 .01 .04 (.07) .06 .10 .09
-- Net income.... .94 .99 2.21 1.79 2.42 2.21 2.34
Book value............... 17.60 18.27 15.90 17.16 16.94 16.22 16.22
Cash dividends
declared............... .525 .50 1.0125 .97 .945 .91 .885
11
(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT RATIOS, PER SHARE AND EMPLOYEE INFORMATION)
AS OF JUNE 30, AS OF DECEMBER 31,
----------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------
2003 2002 2002 2001 2000(B) 1999 1998
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
OTHER INFORMATION
Diluted average number
of shares
outstanding.......... 40,764 40,738 40,680 40,066 40,022 41,017 45,911
Number of employees.... 17,400 18,300 17,500 18,700 19,700 15,700 15,300
Backlog from continuing
operations(g)........ $ 197,652 $ 181,512 $ 157,777 $ 214,124 $ 256,745 $ 227,541 $ 185,422
---------------
(a) In order to comply with the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB)
Statement No. 144, "Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived
Assets," information for June 30, 2002, and the years 2001, 2000, 1999 and
1998 has been reclassified for comparative purposes.
(b) Includes the results of SGB Group Plc since the date of acquisition (June
16, 2000).
(c) Historically our cash from operations generated in the second half of the
year is significantly greater than that generated in the first half of the
year.
(d) "Return on sales" is calculated by dividing income from continuing
operations by sales.
(e) "Return on average equity" for the six months ended June 30, 2003 and 2002
is calculated by dividing annualized income from continuing operations by
the six month weighted average equity and for the years ended December 31,
2002, 2001, 2000, 1999 and 1998, is calculated by dividing income from
continuing operations by the quarterly weighted average equity.
(f) "Total debt to total capital" is calculated by dividing the sum of debt
(short-term borrowings and long-term debt including current maturities) by
the sum of equity and debt.
(g) Excludes the estimated amount of long-term mill service contracts. Also
excludes backlog of the Access Services Segment which is generally not
quantifiable due to the nature and timing of the products and services
provided.
12
DESCRIPTION OF THE NOTES
GENERAL
We will issue the notes under an indenture dated as of May 1, 1985 (which
was amended by a first supplemental indenture dated as of April 12, 1995)
between us and JPMorgan Chase Bank, as trustee; certain terms of the notes are
also set forth in a second supplemental indenture (collectively, the
"indenture").
The following section summarizes some, but not all, provisions of the notes
and the indenture. We urge prospective investors to read the indenture and the
global form of note in their entirety because they, and not this summary, define
the rights of holders of the notes. A copy of the indenture is on file with the
SEC as Exhibit 4(d) to our registration statement on Form S-3 filed on August
23, 1991 (Reg. No. 33-42389) and a copy of the form of the first supplemental
indenture is on file with the SEC as Exhibit 4(f) to our registration statement
on Form S-3 filed on December 15, 1994 (Reg. No. 33-56885). A copy of the form
of the second supplemental indenture will be filed with the SEC as an exhibit to
our current report on Form 8-K contemporaneously with the issuance of the notes.
We will provide copies of the indenture (as so supplemented) and the global form
of note to prospective investors upon request.
The indenture for the notes may govern the terms of some of our future
indebtedness. The indenture is not limited in dollar amount of indebtedness that
may be issued.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE NOTES
The notes will:
- be initially issued in an aggregate principal amount of $150 million;
- be our general unsecured senior obligations ranking equally with all of
our other existing and future senior unsecured indebtedness and senior in
right of payment to all of our future subordinated indebtedness;
- be sold at an issue price of of their principal amount, plus
accrued interest, if any, from September , 2003;
- pay cash interest at a fixed annual rate of %, payable semiannually
in arrears on and of each year, commencing
on 2004;
- mature on September , 2013;
- not be subject to redemption at our option prior to maturity;
- not be subject to any sinking fund; and
- not be listed on any securities exchange or included in any quotation
system.
We may, without notice or consent of the holders or beneficial owners of
the notes, issue additional notes having the same ranking, interest rate,
maturity and other terms as the notes. Any such additional notes could be
considered part of the same series of notes under the indenture as the notes.
FORM, EXCHANGE, REGISTRATION AND TRANSFER
The notes will be issued as fully-registered securities in book-entry form
only and will be represented by one or more permanent global certificates
deposited with a custodian for, and registered in the name of, Cede & Co. (DTC's
partnership nominee) or such other name as may be requested by DTC. Beneficial
interests in the notes will be shown on, and transfers will be effected only
through, records maintained by DTC and its direct and indirect participants.
Such interests may not be exchanged for definitive securities, except in limited
circumstances. The notes may be presented for registration of transfer (with the
form of transfer endorsed thereon duly executed), at the office of the security
registrar or at the office of any transfer agent designated by us for such
purpose, without service charge and upon payment of any taxes
13
and other governmental charges. Such transfer or exchange will be effected on
the security register when the security registrar is satisfied with the
documents of title and identity of the person making the request. We have
appointed the trustee as security registrar and transfer agent with respect to
the notes. We may at any time rescind the designation of any such security
registrar or transfer agent or approve a change in the location through which
any such transfer agent acts, except that we must maintain a transfer agent in
each place of payment for the notes. We also may at any time designate
additional transfer agents.
PAYMENT AND PAYING AGENTS
We will make payments of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on,
the notes at such place or places of payment through the paying agent or paying
agents as we may designate from time to time, except that at our option, payment
of interest may be made by check mailed to the address of the person entitled
thereto as such address shall appear in the security register. Payment of
interest on the notes on any interest payment date will be made to the person in
whose name such notes are registered at the close of business on the regular
record date for such interest payment date. The corporate trust office of the
trustee in New York City will be designated as a paying agent for payments with
respect to the notes. We may change, eliminate or add any designated paying
agent, except we must maintain a paying agent in each place of payment for the
notes.
All payments to a paying agent for the payment of the principal of,
premium, if any, or interest on, any notes which remain unclaimed at the end of
two years after such principal, premium, if any, or interest became due and
payable will be repaid to us and the holder of such notes will thereafter look
only to us for payment.
BOOK-ENTRY SYSTEM
Beneficial owners of notes will not receive written confirmation from DTC
of their purchase, but beneficial owners are expected to receive written
confirmations providing details of the transaction, as well as periodic
statements of their holdings, from the direct or indirect participant through
which the beneficial owner transacted the purchase of notes.
The deposit of notes with DTC and their registration in the name of Cede &
Co. (or another DTC nominee) do not effect any change in beneficial ownership.
DTC has no knowledge of the actual beneficial owners of the notes; DTC's records
reflect only the identity of the direct participants to whose accounts such
notes are credited, which may or may not be the beneficial owners. The direct
and indirect participants are responsible for keeping account of their holdings
on behalf of their customers.
Conveyance of notices and other communications by DTC to direct
participants, by direct participants to indirect participants, and by direct
participants and indirect participants to beneficial owners are governed by
arrangements among them, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as
may be in effect from time to time.
Neither DTC nor Cede & Co. (nor such other DTC nominee) will consent or
vote with respect to the notes. Under its usual procedures, DTC would mail an
omnibus proxy to us as soon as possible after the record date. The omnibus proxy
assigns Cede & Co.'s consenting or voting rights to those direct participants to
whose accounts the notes are credited on the record date (identified in a
listing attached to the omnibus proxy).
Principal of, premium, if any, and interest on, the notes will be paid to
Cede & Co., or such other nominee as may be requested by DTC. DTC's practice is
to credit direct participants' accounts, upon DTC's receipt of funds and
corresponding detail information from us or our paying agents on each payment
date in accordance with their respective holdings shown on DTC's records.
Payments by participants to beneficial owners will be governed by standing
instructions and customary practices, as is the case with securities held for
the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in "street name," and
will be the responsibility of such participant and not of DTC, us or any paying
agents, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect
from time to time. Payment of principal of,
14
premium, if any, and interest on, the notes to Cede & Co. (or other nominee as
may be requested by DTC) is our responsibility, disbursement of such payments to
direct participants is the responsibility of DTC, and disbursement of such
payments to the beneficial owners is the responsibility of direct and indirect
participants.
DTC may discontinue providing its services as securities depository with
respect to the notes at any time by giving us reasonable notice. Under such
circumstances, in the event that a successor securities depository is not
obtained, definitive note certificates will be printed and delivered to
noteholders. We also may decide to discontinue use of the system of book-entry
transfers through DTC (or a successor securities depository). In that event
definitive certificates also will be printed and delivered to noteholders.
The information in this section concerning DTC and DTC's book-entry system
has been obtained from sources that we believe to be reliable, but we take no
responsibility for the accuracy thereof.
DTC is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking
Law, a "banking organization" within the meaning of the New York Banking Law, a
member of the Federal Reserve System, a "clearing corporation" within the
meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code, and a "clearing agency"
registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange Act. DTC
holds securities that its direct participants deposit with DTC. DTC also
facilitates settlement among direct participants of securities transactions,
such as transfers and pledges, in deposited securities through electronic
computerized book-entry changes in direct participants' accounts, thereby
eliminating the need for physical movement of securities certificates. Direct
participants include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies,
clearing corporations, and certain other organizations. DTC is owned by a number
of its direct participants and by the New York Stock Exchange, Inc., the
American Stock Exchange LLC, and the National Association of Securities Dealers,
Inc. Access to the DTC system is also available to indirect participants, and
others such as securities brokers and dealers, banks, and trust companies that
clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a direct participant,
either directly or indirectly. The rules applicable to DTC and its direct and
indirect participants are on file with the SEC.
RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS
These covenants in the indenture place certain restrictions on us as
described below.
RESTRICTIONS ON CREATION OF SECURED DEBT. We and our restricted
subsidiaries cannot create, incur, assume or guarantee any secured debt without
equally and ratably securing the notes, except for:
- purchase money security interests (including those incurred in connection
with future construction) and security interests in property acquired by
us or a restricted subsidiary which exist at the time such property is
acquired;
- security interests existing on the property, shares or indebtedness of a
corporation at the time it becomes a restricted subsidiary;
- any security interest on property of a corporation existing at the time
such corporation is merged into or consolidated with us or a restricted
subsidiary;
- mechanics' and other statutory liens arising in the ordinary course of
business;
- liens for taxes not yet due and for contested taxes against which
adequate reserves have been established, and judgment liens if the
judgment is being contested and so long as execution thereof is stayed;
- leases and certain landlords' liens;
15
- certain governmental liens arising in connection with contracts or other
transactions, including security interests arising in connection with the
financing of principal facilities, or in connection with any governmental
regulation, privilege or license; and
- any extension, renewal or replacement of any of the above.
However, we and our restricted subsidiaries may issue, assume or guarantee
secured debt not otherwise permitted without equally and ratably securing the
notes if the sum of (a) the amount of such secured debt plus (b) the aggregate
value of sale and leaseback transactions (subject to certain exceptions)
described below, does not exceed 10% of our consolidated net tangible assets.
RESTRICTIONS ON SALES AND LEASEBACKS. We and our restricted subsidiaries
are prohibited from engaging in any sale and leaseback transaction with respect
to any of our principal facilities, unless:
- we or a restricted subsidiary would be entitled to incur, without the
benefit of the exceptions referred to in the first paragraph under
"Restrictions on Creation of Secured Debt" above, secured debt equal to
the amount realized upon the sale or transfer involved in such
transaction without equally and ratably securing the notes; or
- an amount equal to the value of the property leased is applied to
-- the purchase or construction of properties, facilities or equipment
used for operating purposes; or
-- the retirement of our funded debt or of any of our restricted
subsidiaries other than funded debt owed to us or a restricted
subsidiary, provided, however, that the amount to be applied to the
retirement of our funded debt shall be reduced by:
-- the principal amount of any notes delivered within 120 days after
such sale or transfer to the trustee for retirement and cancellation;
and
-- the principal amount of funded debt, other than notes, voluntarily
retired by us within 120 days after such sale or transfer.
No retirement referred to above may be effected by payment at maturity.
RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER OF A PRINCIPAL FACILITY TO AN UNRESTRICTED
SUBSIDIARY. We and our restricted subsidiaries cannot transfer any principal
facility to an unrestricted subsidiary unless, within 120 days of the transfer,
we apply an amount equal to the fair value of the principal facility to the
retirement of funded debt of ours or any of our restricted subsidiaries other
than funded debt owed to us or a restricted subsidiary or the purchase or
construction of properties, facilities or equipment used for operating purposes
as described in the second alternative under "Restrictions on Sales and
Leasebacks" above.
RESTRICTIONS ON MERGER AND CONSOLIDATION. We cannot merge or consolidate
with or into any other corporation or sell, convey or lease our property as an
entirety, or substantially as an entirety, to another corporation unless
immediately after such transaction the successor corporation, if not us:
- is organized and exists under the laws of the United States or a State
thereof;
- expressly assumes by supplemental indenture the payment of principal of,
premium, if any, and interest on, all notes and the performance and
observance of all our covenants and conditions in the indenture; and
- there is no default in the performance or observance of any of our
covenants and conditions in the indenture.
No such merger, consolidation, sale, conveyance or lease may be consummated
if, as a result thereof, any principal facility would become subject to a
security interest, unless either:
- the notes are, prior to such transaction, equally and ratably secured; or
- such security interest would be permitted as described under
"Restrictions on Creation of Secured Debt" above.
16
The indenture does not contain any other covenant that restricts our
ability to merge or consolidate with any other corporation, sell or convey all
or substantially all of our assets to any person, firm or corporation or
otherwise engage in restructuring transactions. Further, the indenture does not
contain any provisions that would provide protection to holders of notes against
a sudden and dramatic decline in our credit quality resulting from a takeover,
recapitalization or similar restructuring.
EVENTS OF DEFAULT
The following constitute events of default with respect to the notes:
- default in the payment of any interest when due which continues for 30
days;
- default in the payment of principal of, or premium, if any, when due;
- failure to perform any other covenant or agreement contained in the
indenture which continues for 60 days after written notice by the trustee
or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of
notes;
- acceleration of the maturity of any of our indebtedness aggregating more
than $20,000,000 under the terms of an instrument or instruments under
which such indebtedness is issued or secured, if any such acceleration is
not annulled within ten business days after written notice by the trustee
or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of
notes; and
- certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization.
If an event of default with respect to the notes occurs and continues, the
trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of
notes may declare all the notes due and payable immediately, but such
declaration may in certain circumstances be annulled, and certain past defaults
waived, by holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of
notes. The trustee must give notice to holders of the occurrence of defaults but
may withhold notice to holders of any default (except in payment of principal
of, premium, if any, or interest on, the notes) if the trustee considers it in
the interest of the holders to do so. The trustee has the duty during an event
of default to act with the required standard of care.
The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of notes may direct
the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available
to the trustee or exercise any trust or power conferred on the trustee with
respect to the notes. The right of a holder of any note to institute a
proceeding with respect to the indenture is subject to certain conditions
precedent including notice and indemnity to the trustee, but the holder has an
absolute right to the receipt of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on,
the note at its maturity or to institute suit for enforcement.
MODIFICATIONS AND WAIVER
We and the trustee may modify and amend the indenture with the consent of
the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of each outstanding
debt security affected thereby (including the notes and all other debt
securities issued under the indenture); provided that no such modification or
amendment may, without the consent of the holder of each outstanding debt
security affected thereby:
- change the stated maturity date of the principal amount of, or any
installment of principal of or interest on, such security;
- reduce the principal amount of, or the premium, if any, or interest on,
such security;
- reduce the amount of principal of any discount security payable upon
acceleration of its maturity;
- change the place or currency of payment of principal of, or premium, if
any, or interest on, such security;
- impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on
or with respect to any security on or after its maturity; or
17
- reduce the percentage in principal amount of outstanding securities, the
consent of the holders of which is required for modification or amendment
of the indenture or for waiver of compliance with certain provisions of
the indenture or for waiver of certain defaults.
The holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of
notes may, on behalf of the holders of all notes, waive compliance by us with
certain restrictive provisions of the indenture. The holders of not less than a
majority in aggregate principal amount of notes may, on behalf of the holders of
all notes, also waive any past default under the indenture, except a default in
the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on, the notes or
in respect of any provision which under the indenture cannot be modified or
amended without the consent of all the affected holders of notes.
DISCHARGE OF THE INDENTURE
If and when we have:
- delivered all authenticated notes to the trustee for cancellation; or
- deposited irrevocably with the trustee, in trust, cash funds or
government obligations, the principal of and interest on which when due
will, together with any cash funds set aside at the same time and without
the necessity for further investment or reinvestment of the principal
amount of or interest from such government obligations or of such cash
funds, provide funds sufficient to pay at maturity the principal of,
premium, if any, and interest on, the outstanding notes; and
- obtained an opinion of counsel to the effect that such deposit will not
alter the tax liabilities of holders of notes or cause the recognition of
income, gain or loss by such holders for federal income tax purposes;
and, in either case, we have paid all other sums payable under the indenture
with respect to the notes, then, except as provided below, the indenture and our
obligations thereunder shall cease to be of further effect with respect to the
notes, and at our written request, the trustee will execute proper instruments
acknowledging the satisfaction of and discharge of the indenture; provided that,
so long as any notes remain outstanding, the indenture shall continue in effect
following such discharge with respect to rights of registration of transfer,
exchange or replacement of notes, rights to receive payment of the principal
thereof, premium, if any, and interest thereon, certain of our other obligations
under the indenture, and correlative rights and responsibilities of the trustee.
COVENANT DEFEASANCE
We shall cease to be under any obligation to comply with any covenants
under the indenture if:
- we deposit with the trustee, in trust, (i) U.S. dollars, (ii) U.S.
government securities which through the payment of interest thereon and
principal thereof in accordance with their terms will provide, not later
than one day before the due date of any payment under the notes, U.S.
dollars, or (iii) any combination of the above, in each case, in an
amount sufficient to pay all installments of principal of, premium, if
any, and interest on, the notes on the dates such payments are due in
accordance with the terms of the notes;
- we have paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable with respect to
the notes at the time outstanding;
- the deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a
default under, the indenture or any other agreement or instrument to
which we are a party or by which we are bound;
- no event of default or event which, after notice or lapse of time or
both, would become an event of default shall have occurred and be
continuing on the date of such deposit;
- we have delivered to the trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that
the trust resulting from the deposit, defeasance and discharge will not
constitute, or is registered as, an investment company under the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended; and
18
- we have delivered to the trustee an officers' certificate and an opinion
of counsel each stating that all conditions precedent in the indenture
relating to such defeasance have been complied with.
However, notwithstanding such defeasance, all of our other obligations in
the indenture including, without limitation, our primary liability for the
payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on, all notes shall
survive until the payment of all such principal, premium, if any, and interest
has been made.
TITLE TO NOTES
We and the trustee may treat the registered holder of any note as the
absolute owner thereof (whether or not the note shall be overdue and
notwithstanding any notice to the contrary) for the purpose of making payment
and for all other purposes.
REPLACEMENT OF NOTES
Any mutilated note will be replaced by us at the expense of the holder upon
surrender of such note to the trustee. Any notes that become destroyed, lost or
stolen will be replaced by us at the expense of the holder upon delivery to the
trustee of evidence of such destruction, loss or theft satisfactory to us and
the trustee. In the case of a destroyed, lost or stolen note, an indemnity
satisfactory to the trustee and us may be required at the expense of the holder
of the note before a replacement note will be issued.
CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE
The trustee is JPMorgan Chase Bank. JPMorgan Chase Bank has had a banking
relationship with us for many years, and has been, and may from time to time be,
a lender pursuant to an existing revolving credit agreement or otherwise. The
indenture contains limitations on the right of the trustee, as our creditor, to
obtain payment of claims in certain cases, or to realize on certain property
received in respect of such claims as security or otherwise. In addition, the
trustee may be deemed to have a conflicting interest and be required to resign
as trustee if at the time of a default under the indenture the trustee is our
creditor.
The Trust Indenture Act also would require JPMorgan Chase Bank to resign as
trustee within 90 days of any default which has not been cured or waived, if
within one year prior to such default an affiliate of JPMorgan Chase Bank was an
underwriter of any of our securities outstanding at the time of such default.
J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., an affiliate of JPMorgan Chase Bank, is one of the
underwriters of the notes being offered.
GOVERNING LAW
The notes and the indenture are governed by, and construed in accordance
with, the laws of the State of New York.
CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
"consolidated net tangible assets" means:
- the aggregate amount of assets (less applicable reserves and other
properly deductible items) appearing on our consolidated balance sheet
except goodwill and similar intangible assets, less
- our consolidated current liabilities (subject to certain exceptions).
"funded debt" means all indebtedness for money borrowed maturing more than
one year from the date of our most recent consolidated balance sheet or maturing
less than one year but by its terms being renewable or extendible beyond one
year from such date at our option.
"government obligations" means direct obligations of, obligations for the
timely payment of principal of and interest on, or obligations which are
unconditionally guaranteed by, the United States and which are not by their
terms, callable.
"principal facility" means any of our or our restricted subsidiaries'
manufacturing plants, warehouses, office buildings or other operating
facilities, owned on or acquired after May 1, 1985, other than any such
19
facility which our board of directors deems not to be of material importance to
the business conducted by us and our subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
"restricted subsidiary" means:
- any subsidiary other than an unrestricted subsidiary; and
- any subsidiary which was an unrestricted subsidiary but which has been or
is designated by our board of directors after the date of the indenture
to be a restricted subsidiary.
"sale and leaseback transaction" means any sale or transfer of any
principal facility in full operation for more than 120 days prior to such sale
or transfer if the sale or transfer is made with the intention of, or as part of
an arrangement involving, the lease of such property to us or a restricted
subsidiary (except a lease for a period not exceeding 36 months with the
intention that the use of such property by us or such restricted subsidiary will
be discontinued on or before the expiration of such period).
"secured debt" means indebtedness of ours or a restricted subsidiary for
borrowed money (other than our indebtedness to a restricted subsidiary, the
indebtedness of a restricted subsidiary to us or the indebtedness of a
restricted subsidiary to another restricted subsidiary) on which, by the terms
of such indebtedness, interest is paid or payable, which:
- is secured by a security interest in any principal facility or in the
stock or indebtedness of a restricted subsidiary; or
- in the case of our indebtedness, is guaranteed by a restricted
subsidiary.
"subsidiary" means any corporation of which we, directly or indirectly, own
voting securities entitling us to elect a majority of the directors.
"unrestricted subsidiary" means:
- any subsidiary acquired or organized after the date of the indenture,
provided that such subsidiary is not a successor, directly or indirectly,
to any "restricted subsidiary";
- any subsidiary the principal business and assets of which are located
outside the United States, its territories and possessions; and
- any subsidiary substantially all the assets of which consist of stock or
other securities of a subsidiary or subsidiaries of the character
described immediately above;
in each case unless and until such subsidiary or subsidiaries shall have been
designated to be a "restricted subsidiary".
"U.S. government securities" means securities that are direct obligations
of the United States for the payment of which its full faith and credit is
pledged or obligations of a person controlled or supervised by and acting as an
agency or instrumentality of the United States, the timely payment of which is
unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation of the United
States, which, in either case above are not callable or redeemable at the option
of the issuer thereof, and shall also include a depository receipt issued by a
bank or trust company as custodian with respect to any such U.S. government
security or a specific payment of interest on or principal of any such U.S.
government security held by such custodian for the account of the holder of a
depository receipt, provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is
not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of
such depository receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of
the U.S. government security evidenced by such depository receipt.
20
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other
information with the SEC. Our SEC filings may be inspected and copied at
prescribed rates at the public reference facilities maintained by the SEC at
Judiciary Plaza, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20549. Copies may also
be obtained from the SEC's Public Reference Section at 450 Fifth Street, N.W.,
Washington, DC 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further
information on operation of the public reference facilities. The SEC also
maintains a website at http://www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy and
information statements and other information filed electronically with the SEC.
Such reports, proxy statements and other information concerning us may also
be inspected at the offices of the following exchanges on which our common stock
is listed under the ticker symbol "HSC": the New York Stock Exchange, Inc., 20
Broad Street, New York, NY 10005; the Boston Stock Exchange, Inc., 100 Franklin
Street, Boston, MA 02110; the Pacific Exchange Inc., 115 Sansome Street, San
Francisco, CA 94104; and the Philadelphia Stock Exchange, 1900 Market Street,
Philadelphia, PA 19103.
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
We are "incorporating by reference" into this prospectus certain
information that we file with the SEC, which means that we are disclosing
important information to you by referring you to those documents. The
information incorporated by reference is deemed to be part of this prospectus,
except for any information superseded by information contained directly in this
prospectus. This prospectus incorporates by reference the following documents,
each of which we previously filed with the SEC and contains important
information about us and our operations and financial condition:
- Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31,
2002, including all material incorporated by reference therein; and
- Our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the three month periods ended
March 31, 2003 and June 30, 2003.
All reports that we file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14
or 15(d) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, from the date
of this prospectus to the completion of the offering of the notes shall also
deemed to be incorporated herein by reference and will automatically update and
supersede information in this prospectus.
Any statements made in this prospectus or in a document incorporated or
deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus will be deemed to be
modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a
statement contained in this prospectus or in any other subsequently filed
document that is also incorporated or is deemed to be incorporated by reference
into this prospectus modifies or supersedes such statement. Any statement so
modified or superseded will not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded,
to constitute a part of this prospectus.
You may request a copy of these filings, at no cost, by writing or
telephoning us at the following address or telephone number:
Harsco Corporation
P.O. Box 8888
Camp Hill, PA 17001-8888
Attn: Corporate Secretary
Telephone: (717) 763-7064
Our Internet website is http://www.harsco.com. Through this Internet
website (in the "Investor Information" link) we make available, free of charge,
our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current
Reports on Form 8-K, and all amendments to those reports, as soon as reasonably
practicable after these reports are electronically filed with or furnished to
the SEC. We also will provide investors in the notes, at their request, and at
no cost, with copies of the indenture under
21
which the notes will be issued, together with the form of global note. Other
exhibits to the filings will not be sent, however, unless those exhibits have
specifically been incorporated by reference in this prospectus.
CERTAIN UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
The following is a summary of the material U.S. federal income tax
considerations relating to the purchase, ownership, and disposition of the
notes, but does not purport to be a complete analysis of all the potential tax
consequences that may be material to an investor based on such investor's
particular tax situation. This summary is based on the provisions of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (Code), the applicable Treasury
Regulations, promulgated or proposed thereunder (Treasury Regulations), judicial
authority and current administrative rulings and practice as of the date of this
prospectus. All of those authorities are subject to change, possibly on a
retroactive basis, or differing interpretation, so as to result in United States
federal income tax consequences different from those discussed below.
This summary deals only with initial beneficial owners of notes that will
hold such notes as "capital assets," within the meaning of Section 1221 of the
Code, and does not address tax consequences applicable to U.S. holders that may
be subject to special tax rules, such as financial institutions, tax-exempt
organizations, expatriates, pension funds, regulated investment companies, real
estate investment trusts, insurance companies, dealers in securities or foreign
currencies, traders that elect to mark-to-market their securities, persons
liable for the alternative minimum tax, persons that will hold notes as a
position in a hedging transaction, "straddle," "conversion transaction" or other
risk reduction transaction for tax purposes, persons who hold notes through a
partnership or other pass-through entity (including an entity that is
disregarded as separate from its owner for U.S. federal income tax purposes), or
persons that have a "functional currency" other than the U.S. dollar (except as
disclosed below in respect of Non-U.S. Holders). This summary discusses the tax
consequences applicable to holders who purchase the notes at their "issue price"
as defined in Section 1273 of the Code (i.e., the first price at which a
substantial portion of the notes is sold to the public).
This discussion does not address the effect of any applicable state, local
or foreign tax laws, and except where noted, the U.S. federal estate, gift or
alternative minimum tax consequences, if any, to a holder of the notes. In
addition, special rules may apply to certain Non-U.S. Holders such as
"controlled foreign corporations," "passive foreign investment companies,"
"foreign personal holding companies," corporations that accumulate earnings to
avoid federal income tax, or in certain circumstances, United States
expatriates. INVESTORS CONSIDERING THE PURCHASE OF NOTES SHOULD CONSULT THEIR
OWN TAX ADVISORS WITH RESPECT TO THE APPLICATION OF THE U.S. FEDERAL INCOME AND
ESTATE TAX LAWS TO THEIR PARTICULAR SITUATIONS AS WELL AS ANY TAX CONSEQUENCES
ARISING UNDER THE LAWS OF ANY STATE, LOCAL OR FOREIGN TAXING JURISDICTION OR
UNDER ANY APPLICABLE TAX TREATY.
As used herein, the term "U.S. Holder" means a beneficial owner of a note
that is for U.S. federal income tax purposes, (i) a citizen or resident of the
United States, (ii) a corporation created or organized in or under the laws of
the United States or any political subdivision thereof, (iii) an estate, the
income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its
source, or (iv) a trust that (a) is subject to the primary supervision of a
court within the United States and one or more U.S. persons, as defined in
Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code, having the authority to control all substantial
decisions of the trust, or (b) has properly elected under applicable Treasury
Regulations to be treated as a U.S. person.
If a partnership holds the notes, the tax treatment of a partner will
generally depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the
partnership. Partners in partnerships holding the notes should consult their tax
advisors.
As used herein, the term "Non-U.S. Holder" means a beneficial owner of a
note that is not a U.S. Holder.
22
PAYMENT OF INTEREST
U.S. HOLDERS
Stated interest on a note generally will be includible in the income of a
U.S. Holder as ordinary income at the time such interest is received or accrued,
in accordance with such U.S. Holder's method of accounting for U.S. federal
income tax purposes.
NON-U.S. HOLDERS
Subject to the discussion below of "backup withholding," interest paid on
the notes to a Non-U.S. Holder generally will not be subject to U.S. federal
income tax or withholding obligations under the "portfolio interest" exception
if:
(1) such interest is not effectively connected with the conduct of a trade
or business within the United States by such Non-U.S. Holder;
(2) the Non-U.S. Holder does not actually or constructively own 10% or more
of the total voting power of all classes of our stock entitled to vote
within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3) of the Code;
(3) the Non-U.S. Holder is not a controlled foreign corporation that is
related to us through stock ownership; and
(4) (a) the Non-U.S. Holder, under penalty of perjury, certifies that he,
she or it is not a U.S. person (as defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of
the Code) and provides his, her or its name and address (which
certification may be made on the applicable IRS Form W-8 (or successor
form)) or (b) the Non-US Holder holds its notes through certain foreign
intermediaries or certain foreign partnerships and the certification
requirements of applicable Treasury Regulations are satisfied.
The certification described in clause 4 above may also be provided by a
qualified intermediary on behalf of one or more beneficial owners (or other
intermediaries), provided that such intermediary has entered into a withholding
agreement with the IRS and certain other conditions are met. A holder that is
not exempt from tax under these rules will be subject to U.S. federal income tax
withholding at a rate of 30% on payments of interest, unless the interest is
effectively connected with the conduct of a U.S. trade or business of the holder
or a lower treaty rate applies and, in either case, the Non-U.S. Holder provides
us with proper certification on the applicable IRS Form W-8 (or successor form)
as to the holder's exemption from withholding. If the interest is effectively
connected with the conduct of a U.S. trade or business of the Non-U.S. Holder
(or, if required by an applicable treaty, is attributable to a permanent
establishment), it will be subject to the U.S. federal income tax on net income
that applies to U.S. persons generally. In addition, with respect to corporate
holders and under certain circumstances, a Non-U.S. Holder may be subject to a
branch profits tax equal to 30% (or lower applicable treaty rate) of earnings
and profits for the taxable year, subject to adjustments, that are effectively
connected with the U.S. trade or business. For this purpose, interest will be
included in the earnings and profits of such foreign corporation. Non-U.S.
Holders should consult applicable income tax treaties, which may provide
different rules.
SALE OR EXCHANGE OF THE NOTES
U.S. HOLDERS
Upon the sale, exchange or redemption of a note, a U.S. Holder generally
will realize and recognize capital gain or loss equal to the difference, if any,
between the amount realized on the sale or exchange and the U.S. Holder's
adjusted tax basis in such note. For these purposes, the amount realized on the
sale or exchange of the notes is equal to the amount of cash plus the fair
market value of any other property received, but does not include any amount
attributable to accrued but unpaid interest, which will be taxable as such
unless previously taken into account. A U.S. Holder's adjusted tax basis in a
note generally
23
will be the U.S. dollar value of the purchase price of such note on the date of
purchase. Gain or loss so recognized will generally be capital gain or loss and
will be long-term capital gain or loss if, at the time of the sale or exchange,
the note was held for more than one year. The deductibility of net capital
losses is subject to limitations.
NON-U.S. HOLDERS
Subject to the discussion below of "backup withholding," a Non-U.S. Holder
generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax or withholding on the
gain realized on the sale or exchange of a note, unless:
(1) the gain is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or
business within the United States by such Non-U.S. Holder (or, if
required by an applicable treaty, is attributable to a permanent
establishment);
(2) in the case of an individual Non-U.S. Holder, such holder is present in
the United States for 183 days or more in the year of such sale or
exchange and certain other requirements are met; or
(3) the Non-U.S. Holder is subject to tax pursuant to the provisions of
U.S. tax law applicable to certain U.S. expatriates.
An individual Non-U.S. Holder described in (1) above will be subject to
U.S. federal income tax on the net gain derived from the sale generally at the
rates applicable to long-term capital gains, provided that such holder has held
the note for more than one year. An individual Non-U.S. Holder described in (2)
above will be subject to a flat 30% U.S. federal income tax on the gain derived
from the sale, which may be offset by U.S. source capital losses, even though
such holder is not considered a resident of the United States. A Non-U.S. Holder
that is a foreign corporation and is described in (1) above will be subject to
tax on gain at regular graduated U.S. federal income tax rates and, in addition,
may be subject to a branch profits tax at 30% rate or lower rate if so specified
by an applicable income tax treaty.
BACKUP WITHHOLDING AND INFORMATION REPORTING
U.S. HOLDERS
A U.S. Holder of notes may be subject to "backup withholding" with respect
to certain "reportable payments" including interest payments and, under certain
circumstances, principal payments on the notes and certain other consideration
received upon the exchange of a note. These "backup withholding" rules apply if
the U.S. Holder, among other things, (i) fails to furnish a social security
number or other taxpayer identification number (TIN) certified under penalties
of perjury within a reasonable time after the request therefor, (ii) furnishes
an incorrect TIN, (iii) fails to report properly interest or dividends or (iv)
under certain circumstances, fails to provide a certified statement, signed
under penalties of perjury, that the TIN furnished is the correct number and
that such U.S. Holder is not subject to backup withholding.
A U.S. Holder who does not provide us with its correct TIN may also be
subject to penalties imposed by the IRS. Any amount withheld from a payment to a
holder under the backup withholding rules is creditable against the holder's
federal income tax liability. "Backup withholding" will not apply, however, with
respect to payments made to certain U.S. Holders, including corporations and
tax-exempt organizations, provided their exemption from "backup withholding" is
properly established. We will report to U.S. Holders and to the IRS the amount
of any "reportable payments" for each calendar year and the amount of tax
withheld, if any, with respect to such payments.
NON-U.S. HOLDERS
Generally, we must report annually to the IRS and to each Non-U.S. Holder
the amount of any interest paid to, and tax withheld with respect to, such
holder, regardless of whether any tax was actually withheld on such payments.
Copies of these information returns may also be made available under the
24
provisions of a specific treaty or agreement to the tax authorities of the
country in which the Non-U.S. Holder resides or is incorporated.
Under current Treasury Regulations, "backup withholding" and the related
information reporting requirements will not apply to payments made by us (or our
agent) to a Non-U.S. Holder if the Non-U.S. Holder provides a statement
described above in (4) under "Payment of Interest -- Non-U.S. Holders" (provided
that neither we nor our agent has actual knowledge that the holder is a U.S.
person or that the conditions of any other exemptions are not, in fact,
satisfied) or otherwise establishes an exemption.
The payment of the proceeds on the disposition of notes to or through the
U.S. office of a U.S. or foreign broker will be subject to information reporting
and, in some circumstances, "backup withholding," unless the owner provides the
certification described above in (4) under "Payment of Interest -- Non-U.S.
Holders" (provided that neither we nor our agent has actual knowledge that the
holder is a U.S. person or that the conditions of any other exemptions are not,
in fact, satisfied) or otherwise establishes an exemption.
25
UNDERWRITING
Citigroup Global Markets Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., The Royal Bank
of Scotland plc, SunTrust Capital Markets, Inc. and Wachovia Capital Markets,
LLC are acting as representatives of the underwriters named below.
Subject to the terms and conditions stated in the underwriting agreement
dated the date of this prospectus, each underwriter named below has agreed to
purchase, and we have agreed to sell to that underwriter, the principal amount
of notes set forth opposite the underwriter's name.
PRINCIPAL
UNDERWRITER AMOUNT OF NOTES
----------- ---------------
Citigroup Global Markets Inc. ..............................
J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. ................................
The Royal Bank of Scotland plc..............................
SunTrust Capital Markets, Inc. .............................
Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC...............................
------------
Total..................................................... $150,000,000
============
The underwriting agreement provides that the obligations of the
underwriters to purchase the notes included in this offering are subject to
approval of legal matters by counsel and to other conditions. The underwriters
are obligated to purchase all the notes if they purchase any of the notes.
The underwriters propose to offer some of the notes directly to the public
at the public offering price set forth on the cover page of this prospectus and
some of the notes to dealers at the public offering price less a concession not
to exceed % of the principal amount of the notes. The underwriters may
allow, and dealers may reallow a concession not to exceed % of the
principal amount of the notes on sales to other dealers. After the initial
offering of the notes to the public, the representatives may change the public
offering price and concessions.
Each underwriter has represented, warranted and agreed that:
- it has not offered or sold and, prior to the expiry of a period of six
months from the closing date, will not offer or sell any notes included
in this offering to persons in the United Kingdom except to persons whose
ordinary activities involve them in acquiring, holding, managing or
disposing of investments (as principal or agent) for the purposes of
their businesses or otherwise in circumstances which have not resulted
and will not result in an offer to the public in the United Kingdom
within the meaning of the Public Offers of Securities Regulations 1995;
- it has only communicated and caused to be communicated and will only
communicate or cause to be communicated any invitation or inducement to
engage in investment activity (within the meaning of section 21 of the
Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 ("FSMA")) received by it in
connection with the issue or sale of any notes included in this offering
in circumstances in which section 21(1) of the FSMA does not apply to us;
and
- it has complied and will comply with all applicable provisions of the
FSMA with respect to anything done by it in relation to the notes
included in this offering in, from or otherwise involving the United
Kingdom.
The following table shows the underwriting discounts and commissions that
we are to pay to the underwriters in connection with this offering (expressed as
a percentage of the principal amount of the notes).
PAID BY HARSCO
--------------
Per note.................................................... %
In connection with the offering, Citigroup, on behalf of the underwriters,
may purchase and sell notes in the open market. These transactions may include
over-allotment, syndicate covering transactions and stabilizing transactions.
Over-allotment involves syndicate sales of notes in excess of the principal
amount
26
of notes to be purchased by the underwriters in the offering, which creates a
syndicate short position. Syndicate covering transactions involve purchases of
the notes in the open market after the distribution has been completed in order
to cover syndicate short positions. Stabilizing transactions consist of certain
bids or purchases of notes made for the purpose of preventing or retarding a
decline in the market price of the notes while the offering is in progress.
We have agreed that, from the date of this prospectus to the date of
delivery, we will not, without the prior written consent of Citigroup Global
Markets Inc., offer, sell or contract to sell, or otherwise dispose of, directly
or indirectly, or announce the offering of, any debt securities issued or
guaranteed by us.
The underwriters also may impose a penalty bid. Penalty bids permit the
underwriters to reclaim a selling concession from a syndicate member when
Citigroup, in covering syndicate short positions or making stabilizing
purchases, repurchases notes originally sold by that syndicate member.
Any of these activities may have the effect of preventing or retarding a
decline in the market price of the notes. They may also cause the price of the
notes to be higher than the price that otherwise would exist in the open market
in the absence of these transactions. The underwriters may conduct these
transactions in the over-the-counter market or otherwise. If the underwriters
commence any of these transactions, they may discontinue them at any time.
We estimate that our total expenses for this offering will be $160,000.
The underwriters have performed investment banking, commercial banking
(including commercial lending) and/or advisory services for us from time to time
for which they have received customary fees and expenses. The underwriters may,
from time to time, engage in transactions with and perform services for us in
the ordinary course of their business. JPMorgan Chase Bank, an affiliate of one
of the underwriters, is the trustee for the notes.
A prospectus in electronic format may be made available on the websites
maintained by one or more of the underwriters.
The notes are a new issue of securities with no established trading market.
We have been advised by the underwriters that they intend to make a market in
the notes but are not obligated to do so and may discontinue market making at
any time without notice. No assurance can be given as to the liquidity of the
trading market for the notes.
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 the underwriters may be required to make because of any
of those liabilities.
LEGAL MATTERS
The validity of our notes will be passed upon for us by Kirkpatrick &
Lockhart LLP, New York, New York. Certain legal matters in connection with the
offering of the notes will be passed upon for the underwriters by Cleary,
Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton, New York, New York.
EXPERTS
The financial statements incorporated by reference in this prospectus by
reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002
have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers
LLP, independent accountants, given on the authority of said firm as experts in
auditing and accounting.
27
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$150,000,000
HARSCO CORPORATION
% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2013
[HARSCO CORPORATION LOGO]
------------
PROSPECTUS
SEPTEMBER , 2003
------------
CITIGROUP
JPMORGAN
THE ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND
SUNTRUST ROBINSON HUMPHREY
WACHOVIA SECURITIES
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