-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, V4/UQ5PFGedU3osufpGaDKdW4dW/4gk4dUHjesWluI3mnMsiKBcvO1jlh08/1aiY XG3bgIS1/LTEzzS/onO/Ng== 0000950136-96-000399.txt : 19960530 0000950136-96-000399.hdr.sgml : 19960530 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000950136-96-000399 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 424B1 PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 1 FILED AS OF DATE: 19960529 SROS: NYSE FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: WAXMAN INDUSTRIES INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000105096 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: WHOLESALE-HARDWARE & PLUMBING & HEATING EQUIPMENT & SUPPLIES [5070] IRS NUMBER: 340899894 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 0630 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 424B1 SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 033-54211 FILM NUMBER: 96573684 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 24460 AURORA RD CITY: BEDFORD HEIGHTS STATE: OH ZIP: 44146 BUSINESS PHONE: 2164391830 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 24460 AURORA ROAD CITY: BEDFORD HEIGHTS STATE: OH ZIP: 44146 424B1 1 WAXMAN INDUSTRIES Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) Registration File No.: 33-54211 PROSPECTUS WAXMAN INDUSTRIES, INC. 2,950,000 WARRANTS TO PURCHASE SHARES OF COMMON STOCK 2,950,000 SHARES OF COMMON STOCK, PAR VALUE $.01 PER SHARE This Prospectus relates to the offer and sale of 2,950,000 warrants ("Warrants") to purchase shares of common stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Common Stock"), of Waxman Industries, Inc. (the "Company") and the 2,950,000 shares of Common Stock, subject to adjustment, issuable upon exercise of the Warrants. The Warrants and shares of Common Stock referenced above offered hereby are sometimes collectively referred to herein as the "Securities." The Securities will be sold by the holders thereof (the "Selling Security Holders"). See "Selling Security Holders." On May 20, 1994, the Company issued Series A 12 3/4% Senior Secured Deferred Coupon Notes due 2004 having an initial accreted value of $50,000,000 (the "Notes") together with the Warrants in exchange for $50,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company's then outstanding 13 3/4% Senior Subordinated Notes due June 1, 1999 (the "Senior Subordinated Notes") pursuant to a private exchange offer (the "Private Exchange Offer") which was a part of a series of interrelated transactions (the "Reorganization"). In addition to the Private Exchange Offer, the components of the Reorganization included (i) the solicitation of the consents of the holders of the Company's 12.25% Fixed Rate Senior Secured Notes due September 1, 1998 and Floating Rate Senior Secured Notes due September 1, 1998 to certain waivers of and the adoption of certain amendments to the indenture governing such Senior Secured Notes (which notes have recently been defeased by the Company - See "Recent Developments"), (ii) the establishment of a $55 million revolving credit facility and a $15 million term loan (each of which were recently refinanced), (iii) the solicitation of the consents of the holders of the Senior Subordinated Notes to certain waivers of and the adoption of certain amendments to the indenture governing the Senior Subordinated Notes and (iv) the repayment of the borrowings under the Company's then existing domestic revolving credit facilities. Each Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one share of Common Stock, subject to adjustment in certain circumstances discussed below, at a cash exercise price of $2.45 per share, subject to adjustment in certain circumstances discussed below. The Company would receive all of the proceeds from the exercise of the Warrants. The Warrants are currently exercisable and expire on June 1, 2004. The Warrants were originally issued by the Company in a private placement to certain institutional investors. There is presently no active trading market for the Warrants and there can be no assurance that one will develop. The Common Stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. (the "NYSE") under the symbol "WAX." On May 23, 1996, the last reported sales price per share of Common Stock, as reported by the NYSE, was $5 5/8. The Securities are being offered for the accounts of the Selling Security Holders. See "Selling Security Holders." The offer and sale of the Securities is being registered under the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus forms a part in order to satisfy certain obligations of the Company contained in the Registration Rights Agreement (the "Equity Registration Rights Agreement"), dated as of May 20, 1994, between the Company and The Huntington National Bank, as Warrant Agent (the "Warrant Agent") under the Warrant Agreement dated as of May 20, 1994 between such Warrant Agent and the Company, on behalf of the original purchasers of the Warrants. The Company has agreed to pay all expenses of this offering but will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of Securities being offered hereby. The aggregate proceeds to the Selling Security Holders from the sale of the Securities will be the purchase price of the Securities sold, less the aggregate underwriting fees, discounts and commissions, if any. See "Plan of Distribution." The Selling Security Holders directly, through agents designated from time to time or through dealers or underwriters also to be designated, may sell the Securities from time to time on terms to be determined at the time of sale. To the extent required, the specific Securities to be sold, the names of the Selling Security Holders, the purchase price, the public offering price, the names of any such agents, dealers or underwriters and any applicable commissions or discount with respect to a particular offer will be set forth in an accompanying Prospectus supplement (or, if required, a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus forms a part). The distribution of the Securities of the Selling Security Holders may be effected in one or more transactions that may take place on the NYSE or the over-the-counter market, including ordinary broker's transactions, privately negotiated transactions or through sales to one or more dealers for resale of such securities as principals, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices. Usual and customary or specifically negotiated brokerage fees, commissions or discounts may be paid by the Selling Security Holders in connection with such sales. The Selling Security Holders and any broker-dealers, agents or underwriters that participate with the Selling Security Holders in the distribution of the Securities may be deemed to be "Underwriters" within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and any commissions received by them and any profit on the resale of the Securities purchased by them may be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts under the Securities Act. See "Plan of Distribution" for indemnification arrangements." PROSPECTIVE PURCHASERS OF THE SECURITIES OFFERED HEREBY SHOULD CAREFULLY CONSIDER THE MATTERS SET FORTH UNDER "RISK FACTORS." ----------------------------------------- THE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE. THE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN AND WILL NOT BE QUALIFIED FOR SALE UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF CANADA OR ANY PROVINCE OR TERRITORY OF CANADA. THE SECURITIES ARE NOT BEING OFFERED FOR SALE AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED OR SOLD, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN CANADA, OR TO ANY RESIDENT THEREOF, IN VIOLATION OF THE SECURITIES LAWS OF CANADA OR ANY PROVINCE OR TERRITORY OF CANADA. THIS DOCUMENT MAY NOT BE PASSED ON IN THE UNITED KINGDOM TO ANY PERSON UNLESS THAT PERSON IS OF A KIND DESCRIBED IN ARTICLE 9(3) OF THE FINANCIAL SERVICES ACT 1986 (INVESTMENT ADVERTISEMENTS) (EXEMPTIONS) ORDER 1988 OR IS A PERSON TO WHOM THIS DOCUMENT MAY OTHERWISE LAWFULLY BE ISSUED OR PASSED ON. 2 NOTICE TO NEW HAMPSHIRE RESIDENTS NEITHER THE FACT THAT A REGISTRATION STATEMENT OR AN APPLICATION FOR A LICENSE HAS BEEN FILED UNDER CHAPTER 421-B WITH THE STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE NOR THE FACT THAT A SECURITY IS EFFECTIVELY REGISTERED OR A PERSON IS LICENSED IN THE STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE CONSTITUTES A FINDING BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE THAT ANY DOCUMENT FILED UNDER CHAPTER 421-B IS TRUE, COMPLETE AND NOT MISLEADING. NEITHER ANY SUCH FACT NOR THE FACT THAT AN EXEMPTION OR EXCEPTION IS AVAILABLE FOR A SECURITY OR A TRANSACTION MEANS THAT THE SECRETARY OF STATE HAS PASSED IN ANY WAY UPON THE MERITS OR QUALIFICATIONS OF, OR RECOMMENDED OR GIVEN APPROVAL TO, ANY PERSON, SECURITY OR TRANSACTION. IT IS UNLAWFUL TO MAKE, OR CAUSE TO BE MADE, TO ANY PROSPECTIVE PURCHASER, CUSTOMER OR CLIENT ANY REPRESENTATION INCONSISTENT WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THIS PARAGRAPH. ----------------------------------------- THE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS IS MAY 24, 1996 3 AVAILABLE INFORMATION The Company is subject to the informational requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and in accordance therewith files periodic reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"). The Registration Statement, as well as such periodic reports, proxy statements and other information, can be inspected and copied at the public reference facilities maintained by the Commission at Room 1024, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549; Suite 1400, Northwest Atrium Center, 500 West Madison Street, Chicago, Illinois 60661; and 7 World Trade Center, New York, New York 10048. Copies of such material can also be obtained from the Public Reference Section of the Commission at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, at prescribed rates. The Company's common stock is listed on the NYSE. Reports, proxy statements and other information may also be inspected at the offices of the NYSE, 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005. The Company has filed a Registration Statement on Form S-2 (together with all amendments thereto referred to herein as the "Registration Statement") under the Act, with the Commission covering the securities being offered by this Prospectus. This Prospectus does not contain all the information set forth or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the exhibits and schedules relating thereto, certain portions of which have been omitted as permitted by the rules and regulations of the Commission. For further information with respect to the Company and the securities offered by this Prospectus, reference is made to the Registration Statement and the exhibits and schedules thereto which are on file at the offices of the Commission and may be obtained upon payment of the fee prescribed by the Commission, or may be examined without charge at the offices of the Commission. Statements contained in this Prospectus as to the contents of any contract or other documents referred to are not necessarily complete, and are qualified in all respects by such reference. INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE The Company hereby incorporates by reference in this Prospectus the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for its fiscal year ended June 30, 1995 filed with the Commission (File No.0-5888) pursuant to the Exchange Act, as amended by an amendment on Form 10-K/A filed with the Commission on October 11, 1995 and further amended by an amendment on Form 10-K/A-1 filed with the Commission on November 2, 1995 (collectively, the "1995 Annual Report"), the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 1995 filed with the Commission on November 13, 1995 (the "September 1995 10-Q"), the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 1995 filed with the Commission on February 12, 1996 (the "December 1995 10-Q") and the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1996 filed with the Commission on May 9, 1996 (the "March 1996 10-Q," and, together with the 1995 Annual Report, the September 1995 10-Q and the December 1995 10-Q, the "Periodic Reports"). Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Prospectus to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Prospectus. Any person receiving a copy of this Prospectus may obtain without charge, upon request, a copy of any of the documents incorporated by reference herein, except for the exhibits to such documents. Requests should be directed to Waxman Industries, Inc. 24460 Aurora Road, Bedford Heights, Ohio 44146, Telephone No: (216) 439-1830. 4 PROSPECTUS SUMMARY The following summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to, and should be read in conjunction with, the more detailed information and financial statements appearing elsewhere or incorporated by reference in this Prospectus. References in this Prospectus to a particular fiscal year refer to the 12-month period ended on June 30 in that year. Unless the context otherwise indicates, all references to the "Company" are to the continuing operations of Waxman Industries, Inc. and its subsidiaries and divisions and to the business conducted through such subsidiaries and divisions and include the operations of Waxman Consumer Products Group Inc. ("Consumer Products"). As a result of the Company's prior determination to sell its Consumer Products business, Consumer Products was reported by the Company as a discontinued operation as of June 30, 1995. In connection with the recently completed initial public offering of Barnett Inc. ("Barnett"), formerly a wholly-owned indirect subsidiary of the Company, the Company ceased its efforts to sell Consumer Products effective March 31, 1996. Accordingly, unless the context otherwise indicates, the information contained in this Prospectus reflects Consumer Products as a continuing operation; provided, however, that the information contained in the Periodic Reports prior to March 31, 1996 reflects Consumer Products as a discontinued operation. See "Recent Developments." THE COMPANY The Company believes it is one of the leading suppliers of plumbing products to the repair and remodeling market in the United States. The Company, through its subsidiaries, together with Barnett, distribute plumbing, electrical and hardware products to approximately 50,000 customers in the United States, including, electrical and plumbing repair and remodeling contractors and independent retailers. The Company's consolidated net sales were $232.3 million and $175.5 million in fiscal 1995 and the nine months ended March 31, 1996, respectively. The business of the Company is conducted primarily through its indirect wholly-owned subsidiary Consumer Products and through Barnett, of which the Company indirectly owns approximately 45% of the outstanding common stock, and, through the ownership of certain convertible preferred stock, owns approximately a 54% economic interest. The Company also owns several smaller operations. Consumer Products markets and distributes approximately 9,400 products to a wide variety of retailers, primarily do-it-yourself ("D-I-Y") warehouse home centers, home improvement centers, mass merchandisers, hardware stores and lumberyards. Consumer Products' customers include large national retailers such as Kmart, Builders Square and Wal-Mart, as well as large regional D-I-Y retailers such as Fred Meyer Inc. According to rankings of the largest D-I-Y retailers published in National Home Center News, an industry trade publication, Consumer Products' customers include 15 of the 25 largest D-I-Y retailers in the United States. Consumer Products works closely with its customers to develop comprehensive marketing and merchandising programs designed to improve their profitability, efficiently manage shelf space, reduce inventory levels and maximize floor stock turnover. Consumer Products' marketing strategy includes offering mass merchandisers and D-I-Y retailers a comprehensive merchandising program which includes design, layout and setup of selling areas. Sales and service personnel assist the retailer in determining the proper product mix in addition to designing department layouts to effectively display products and optimally utilize available floor and shelf space. Consumer Products supplies point-of-purchase displays for both bulk and packaged products, including color-coded product category signs and color-coordinated bin labels to help identify products, and backup tags to signify products that require reordering. Consumer Products also offers certain of its customers the option of private label programs for their plumbing and floor care products. In-house design, assembly and packaging capabilities enable Consumer Products to react quickly and effectively to service its customers' changing needs. In addition, Consumer Products' products are packaged and designed for ease of use, with "how to" instructions included to simplify installation, even for the uninitiated D-I-Y consumer. Consumer Products' net sales for fiscal 1995 and the nine 5 months ended March 31, 1996 were $72.0 million and $47.1 million, respectively. The Company currently is reevaluating the strategic direction of Consumer Products with a view to eliminating certain product lines, optimizing product offerings and rationalizing certain warehousing costs and evaluating the carrying value of certain long-lived assets. The Company is currently contemplating exiting from the distribution of electrical products to further focus the strategic direction of Consumer Products. The Company believes that the reevaluation of Consumer Products' strategic focus will initially result in a decrease in net sales but will strengthen and improve the Consumer Products business in the long-term. Barnett is a direct marketer and distributor of an extensive line of plumbing, electrical and hardware products to over 40,000 active customers throughout the United States. Barnett offers approximately 8,200 name brand and private label products through its industry-recognized Barnett(R) catalogs and telesales operations. Barnett markets its products through three distinct, comprehensive catalogs that target professional contractors, independent hardware stores and maintenance managers. Barnett's staff of over 70 knowledgeable telesalespersons, customer service and technical support personnel work together to serve customers by assisting in product selection and offering technical advice. To provide rapid delivery and a strong local presence, Barnett has established a network of 28 distribution centers strategically located in 28 major metropolitan areas throughout the United States. Through these local distribution centers, approximately two-thirds of Barnett's orders are shipped directly to the customer, usually within 24 hours of an order. The remaining one-third of the orders are picked up by the customer at one of Barnett's local distribution centers. Barnett's strategy of being a low-cost, competitively priced supplier is facilitated by its volume of purchases and offshore sourcing of a significant portion of its private label products. Products are purchased from over 400 domestic and foreign suppliers. Barnett believes that its distinctive business model has enabled it to become a high-volume, cost-efficient direct marketer of competitively priced plumbing, electrical and hardware products. Barnett's approximately 500- page catalogs offer an extensive selection of products in an easy to use format enabling customers to consolidate purchases with a single vendor. Barnett provides an updated version of its catalogs to its customers on average four times a year. To attract new customers and offer special promotions to existing customers, Barnett supplements its catalogs with monthly promotional flyers. Barnett's experienced and knowledgeable inbound telesales staff, located at Barnett's centralized headquarters in Jacksonville, Florida, uses Barnett's proprietary information systems to take customer orders as well as offer technical advice. Barnett's highly trained outbound telesales staff maintains frequent customer contact, makes telesales presentations and encourages additional purchases. Targeted customer accounts are typically assigned an outbound telesalesperson in order to enhance customer relationships and improve customer satisfaction. Barnett's high in-stock position and extensive network of local distribution centers enable it to fulfill approximately 94% of the items included in each customer order and provide rapid delivery. Barnett's net sales were $109.1 million and $93.4 million in fiscal 1995 and the nine months ended March 31, 1996, respectively. The Company has several smaller operations which are conducted through its other indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries, WOC Inc. ("WOC") and TWI, International, Inc. ("TWI"). WOC includes four operations, the largest of which are U.S. Lock ("U.S. Lock") - a distributor of a full line of security hardware products and LeRan Copper & Brass ("LeRan") - a supplier of copper tubing, brass fittings and other related products. WOC's other operations also include its Madison Equipment division, a supplier of electrical products, and its Medal Distributing division, a supplier of hardware products. TWI includes foreign sourcing operations in Mexico, China and Taiwan which support Consumer Products, Barnett and WOC. Net sales from these smaller operations were $51.2 million and $35.0 million in fiscal 1995 and the nine months ended March 31, 1996, respectively. 6 The current corporate structure of the Company is as follows: WAXMAN INDUSTRIES, INC. WAXMAN USA INC. BARNETT WAXMAN WOC INC. TWI, INTERNATIONAL INC. INC.(1) CONSUMER AND SUBSIDIARIES PRODUCTS GROUP INC. - --------------- (1) Waxman USA beneficially owns approximately 49.9% of the Barnett Common Stock and, together with non-voting preferred stock of Barnett owned by Waxman USA Inc. (as defined below), approximately 54% of the capital stock of Barnett. RECENT DEVELOPMENTS In August 1995, the Company announced that it had decided to sell its Consumer Products business and entered into a letter of intent, which subsequently expired, which contemplated the sale of the Consumer Products business, together with certain supporting operations and certain home center accounts now serviced by Barnett, to a group consisting of HIG Capital Management of Miami, Florida along with certain members of Consumer Products' existing management team for an aggregate cash purchase price of $50 million plus other consideration which would have given the Company approximately a 25% economic interest in Consumer Products on a going forward basis. Since the consummation of the Barnett Public Offering, the Company has ceased its efforts to sell Consumer Products and instead retains and continues to operate Consumer Products. Consequently, the Coapany reported its results as a continuing operation for the nine month period ended March 31, 1996. On February 1, 1996, Barnett filed a registration statement with the Commission with respect to an initial public offering (the "Barnett Public Offering") of its common stock (the "Barnett Common Stock"). On March 28, 1996, the registration statement with respect to the Barnett Public Offering was declared effective and on April 3, 1996, the Barnett Public Offering was consummated. In such offering, 7,207,200 shares, representing approximately 55.1% of the Barnett Common Stock, were sold in the aggregate by Barnett and Waxman USA Inc. ("Waxman USA"), a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, at an initial public offering price per share of $14.00, resulting in aggregate net proceeds of $93.4 million. As of May 8, 1996, as a result of the Company's ownership of certain convertible non-voting preferred stock of Barnett, Waxman USA beneficially owns approximately 49.9% of the Barnett Common Stock and approximately a 54% economic interest in the capital stock of Barnett. 7 Of the $48.5 million of net proceeds received by Barnett in the Barnett Public Offering, Barnett used (i) approximately $23.0 million to repay all of the outstanding indebtedness borrowed by it under the secured credit facility (the "Operating Companies Revolving Credit Facility") among Citicorp USA, Inc., as agent, Barnett, Consumer Products and WOC, (ii) $22.0 million to pay dividend evidenced by a note payable to Waxman USA and (iii) $3.5 million for working capital. The $44.9 million of net proceeds received by Waxman USA from the Barnett Public Offering, together with payment from Barnett of the $22.0 note payable described above, were, or will be, applied primarily to repay debt including (i) all of the $39.2 million principal amount of the Company's 12 1/4% Senior Secured Notes due 1998 and Floating Rate Senior Secured Notes due 1998 (collectively, the "Senior Secured Notes") plus accrued interest and redemption premium of approximately $1.7 million, thereby eliminating the mandatory sinking fund requirements relating to the Senior Secured Notes which were scheduled to commence in September 1996 and (ii) approximately $5.0 million of the $10.0 million outstanding indebtedness and accrued interest under the secured term loan (the "Term Loan") among Citibank, N.A., as agent, Barnett, Consumer Products and WOC. The remaining net proceeds received by Waxman USA (approximately $21.0 million) are intended to be used to (i) reduce additional outstanding indebtedness borrowed by Consumer Products and WOC under the Restated Credit Agreement (as defined below) and/or (ii) retire the Notes and/or Exchange Notes (as defined below) and/or (iii) reinvest in Consumer Products' and/or WOC's businesses. In connection with the Barnett Public Offering and as part of the Company's efforts to decrease its leverage and increase its financial flexibility, Waxman USA consummated an exchange offer (the "Exchange Offer") pursuant to which it exchanged $43,026,000 principal amount of the Company's outstanding Senior Subordinated Notes for a like principal amount of Waxman USA 11 1/8% Senior Notes due 2001 (the "Exchange Notes") and in connection therewith solicited consents to certain amendments to the Indenture pursuant to which the Senior Subordinated Notes were issued. Generally, the amendments to the Senior Subordinated Note indenture eliminate virtually all of the restrictive covenants and events of defaults previously contained in such indenture. The Exchange Offer decreased the Company's cash interest burden and extended the maturity of the Senior Subordinated Notes exchanged in the Exchange Offer by several years. The Exchange Notes were not registered under the Securities Act and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from such registration requirements. In connection with the Barnett Public Offering, Waxman USA entered into an amendment and restatement of the Operating Companies Revolving Credit Facility and Term Loan (the "Restated Credit Agreement") to provide for, among other things, an approximately one year secured credit facility providing for revolving credit advances of up to $25.0 million and term loans of up to $5.0 million ("Restated Term Loans") and a release of Barnett from such lending arrangements. As a result of the limited duration of the Restated Credit Agreement, Waxman USA is currently negotiating with respect to a refinancing of such credit facility. Although the Company believes, based on discussions to date, that it will be able to refinance the Restated Credit Agreement before its expiration, there can be no assurance that it will be able to do so or as to the terms of any such refinancing it is able to obtain. Revolving credit advances under the Restated Credit Agreement are subject to borrowing base formulas and will bear interest at (i) the per annum rate of 1.5% plus the highest of (a) the prime rate of Citibank, N.A. or (b) the federal funds rate plus 0.5% and a formula with respect to three month certificates of deposit of major United States money market banks or (ii) LIBOR plus 3.0%. The Restated Credit Agreement includes a letter of credit subfacility of $4.0 million. Restated Term Loans bear interest at a rate per annum equal to 2.0% over the interest rate applicable to revolving credit advances under the Restated Credit Agreement. Borrowings under the Restated Credit Agreement are secured by the accounts receivable, inventory, certain general intangibles and unencumbered fixed assets of Consumer Products and WOC (the "Borrowers") and 65% of the capital stock of one subsidiary of TWI and 100% of the capital stock of another such subsidiary. In addition, 8 Restated Term Loans are also secured by a pledge of 500,000 shares of Barnett Common Stock owned by Waxman USA. The Restated Credit Agreement requires the Borrowers to maintain cash collateral accounts into which all available funds are depositedand applied to service the facility on a daily basis. The Restated Credit Agreement prevents dividends and distributions by the Borrowers except in certain limited instances including, so long as there is no Default or Event of Default, and Waxman USA is in compliance with certain financial covenants, the payment of interest on the Senior Subordinated Notes and Exchange Notes, and will contain customary negative, affirmative and financial covenants and conditions. The Restated Credit Agreement contains only the events of default contained in the Operating Companies Revolving Credit Facility, which include the following: (i) any Borrower shall fail to make any payment of principal or interest or any other amount due under the agreements related to the Restated Credit Agreement or fail to perform any covenant (after the expiration of any applicable grace period) thereunder, or any representation or warranty made in connection therewith shall prove to have been incorrect in any material respect when made or deemed made; (ii) the Company or any of its subsidiaries shall fail to pay any indebtedness having a principal amount of $5,000,000 or more; or any other event shall occur or condition shall exist under any agreement or instrument relating to any such indebtedness, if the effect of such event or condition is to accelerate, or to permit the acceleration of (after the expiration of any applicable period of grace), the maturity of such indebtedness; or any such indebtedness shall become or be declared to be due and payable, or required to be repaid (other than by a regularly scheduled required prepayment), or the Company or any of its subsidiaries shall be required to repurchase or offer to repurchase such indebtedness, prior to the stated maturity thereof; (iii) certain events of bankruptcy with respect to the Company or any of its subsidiaries; (iv) there shall occur any Change of Control (as defined in the Restated Credit Agreement; and (v) there shall occur a Material Adverse Effect (as defined in the Restated Credit Agreement) or an event which would have a Material Adverse Effect (as defined in the Restated Credit Agreement). THE OFFERING
Securities Offered.................... 2,950,000 Warrants to purchase shares of Common Stock. In addition, this Prospectus relates to the 2,950,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants, subject to adjustment in the event of any recapitalization, reclassification, stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, stock issuance below fair market value or other similar transaction. Underlying Common Stock............... Each Warrant is exercisable to purchase one share of Common Stock subject to adjustment under certain circumstances. See "Description of Warrants." Exercise Price........................ $2.45 per share, subject to adjustment in certain circumstances. See "Description of Warrants." Exercise Period....................... The Warrants are currently exercisable. See "Description of Warrants."
9
Expiration Date....................... The Warrants expire at 5:00 p.m. New York City time on June 1, 2004. Warrant Agent......................... The Huntington National Bank is serving as Warrant Agent under the Warrant Agreement. Common Stock Number of Shares...................... 2,950,000 shares, subject to adjustment in certain circumstances, of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of the Warrants. Common Stock Outstanding.............. 11,764,724 shares as of May 9, 1996 (including 9,559,586 shares of Common Stock and 2,205,138 shares of Class B Common Stock). NYSE symbol for the Common Stock....................... WAX Proceeds of the Offering............... All of the proceeds from the sale of Securities offered hereby will be received by the Selling Security Holders. The Company will not receive any of the proceeds from this offering. If all of the 2,950,000 Warrants offered hereby are exercised at the initial exercise price of $2.45 per share, the Company would receive $7,227,500, which would be added to the Company's working capital and used for general corporate purposes, including repayment of debt.
For more complete information regarding the Warrants, see "Description of Warrants." RISK FACTORS Prospective purchasers of Securities offered hereby should carefully consider the matters set forth under "Risk Factors," as well as the other information and data included in this Prospectus. 10 RISK FACTORS Prospective purchasers of Securities offered hereby should carefully read the entire Prospectus and, in particular, should consider, among other things, the following risks. LEVERAGE The Company has a high degree of leverage. At March 31, 1996, the outstanding consolidated indebtedness (excluding trade payables and accrued liabilities) of the Company was approximately $204.2 million. At March 31, 1996 on a pro froma basis, after giving effect to the Exchange Offer and the Barnett Public Offering and the application of the net proceeds therefrom, the outstanding consolidated indebtedness (excluding trade payables and accrued liabilities) of the Company would have been approximately $119.7 million. This high degree of leverage may have important consequences to the Company, including the following: (i) the ability of the Company to obtain additional financing in the future for working capital, capital expenditures, debt service requirements or other purposes may be impaired; (ii) a substantial portion of the Company's cash flow from operations will be required to satisfy its debt service obligations; (iii) the Company may be more highly leveraged than its competitors, which may place it at a competitive disadvantage; and (iv) the Company's high degree of leverage may make it more vulnerable in the event of a downturn in its business and may limit its ability to capitalize on business opportunities. Although the Company believes that its operating cash flow as well as amounts available under the Restated Credit Agreement, including any refinancing thereof, will be sufficient to fund working capital, capital expenditures and debt service requirements for the next 12 months, the Company's ability to satisfy its obligations will be dependent upon its future performance, which is subject to prevailing economic conditions and financial, business and other factors, including factors beyond the Company's control. The Company currently believes that it must obtain a significant infusion of funds, either through additional debt refinancing transactions or the sale of equity and/or assets before any further significant deleveraging can occur. The $5.7 million principal amount of Senior Subordinated Notes not exchanged in the Exchange Offer mature in June 1999. In addition, cash interest on the Notes is payable semi-annually commencing December 1999. The Company's management's current projections indicate that there will not be sufficient cash flow from operations to make the June 1999 $5.7 million principal payment on the Senior Subordinated Notes not exchanged or the December 1999 cash interest payment on the Notes. Accordingly, the Company's management currently intends to pursue a sale of assets or other capital raising transaction to satisfy such cash requirements. However, there can be no assurances that the Company will be able to consummate any such sale or capital raising transaction. There can also be no assurance that the Company will be able to refinance the Senior Subordinated Notes, the Notes or the Exchange Notes, respectively, at or prior to their respective maturities. In addition, the Company is a holding company with no operations of its own and, therefore, its ability to pay cash interest on the Notes commencing in December 1999, and any principal payments for the $5.7 million principal amount of the Senior Subordinated Notes not exchanged in the Exchange Offer, will require an increase in the Company's cash flow from current levels or a substantial reduction in the Company's level of indebtedness or the completion of other capital raising transactions, including asset sales. There can be no assurance that such increase in cash flow or reduction in indebtedness or other capital raising transaction will occur. To the Company's knowledge, its high degree of leverage has not resulted in the refusal by any of its customers, suppliers or manufacturers to do business with the Company or in the alteration of material terms which have had a material impact on the Company's business. 11 RESTRICTIONS IMPOSED BY TERMS OF INDEBTEDNESS; CONSEQUENCES OF FAILURE TO COMPLY The terms and conditions of the instruments evidencing the Restated Credit Agreement, as well as other indebtedness of the Company and Waxman USA, impose restrictions that affect, among other things, the ability of the Company and/or its subsidiaries to incur debt, pay dividends, make acquisitions, create liens, sell assets and make certain investments. The breach of any of the foregoing covenants would result in a default under the applicable debt instrument permitting the holders of indebtedness outstanding thereunder, subject to applicable grace periods, to accelerate such indebtedness. Any such accelaration may cause a cross-default under the instruments evidencing other indebtedness of the Company and/or Waxman USA, and there can be no assurance that the Company and/or Waxman USA would have sufficient funds to repay or assets to satisfy such obligations. CONTROL BY PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS; CERTAIN ANTI-TAKEOVER EFFECTS Approximately 18.2% (and 14.0%, assuming the exercise of all of the Warrants offered hereby) of the outstanding shares of the Company's common stock, par value $.01 per share, and 83.4% of the outstanding shares of the Company's Class B common stock are beneficially owned by Melvin and Armond Waxman, brothers and the Chairmen of the Board and Co-Chief Executive Officer and President and Co-Chief Executive Officer, respectively, of the Company (the "Principal Stockholders"). These holdings represent 63.5% (and 58.1%, assuming the exercise of all of the Warrants offered hereby) of the outstanding voting power of the Company. Consequently, the Principal Stockholders have sufficient voting power to elect the entire Board of Directors of the Company and, in general, to determine the outcome of any corporate transaction or other matter submitted to the stockholders for approval, including any merger, consolidation, sale of all or substantially all of the Company's assets or "going private" transactions, and to prevent or cause a change in control of the Company. In addition, certain provisions in the Company's Certificate of Incorporation, By-laws and debt instruments, including the Change of Control provisions in the Indenture governing the Notes, may be deemed to have the effect of discouraging a third party from pursuing a non-negotiated takeover of the Company and preventing certain changes in control. DEFICIENCY OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES For fiscal 1995, 1994, 1993, and for the nine months ended March 31, 1996, the Company's earnings were insufficient to cover its fixed charges by $11.7 million, $3.1 million, $15.7 million and $16.4 million, respectively. The Company believes that the successful implementation of its business strategy described herein will enable it to reduce or eliminate the deficiency of earnings to fixed charges. However, there can be no assurances regarding when such deficiencies will be reduced or eliminated or that the deficiencies experienced in the past will not reoccur. FOREIGN SOURCING For fiscal 1995, products manufactured outside of the United States accounted for approximately 27.8% of the total product purchases made by the Company. Foreign sourcing involves a number of risks, including the availability of letters of credit, maintenance of quality standards, work stoppages, transportation delays and interruptions, political and economic disruptions, foreign currency fluctuations, expropriation, nationalization, the imposition of tariffs and import and export controls and changes in governmental policies 12 (including United States' policy toward the foreign country where the products are produced), which could have an adverse effect on the Company's business. The occurrence of certain of these factors would delay or prevent the delivery of goods ordered by the Company's customers, and such delay or inability to meet delivery requirements could have an adverse effect on the Company's results of operations and on the Company's relationships with its customers. In addition, the loss of a foreign manufacturer could have a short-term adverse effect on the Company's business until alternative supply arrangements were secured. RELIANCE ON KEY CUSTOMERS For fiscal 1995 and the nine months ended March 31, 1996, Consumer Products' largest customer, Kmart and subsidiaries, accounted for approximately 13.5% and 10.7%, respectively, of the Company's total net sales and 43.6% and 39.8%, respectively, of Consumer Products' total net sales. During the same periods, the Company's ten largest customers accounted for approximately 24.1% and 20.3%, respectively, of the Company's total net sales. The loss of, or a substantial decrease in, the business of one or more of the Company's largest customers could have a material adverse effect on the Company's operations. In addition, certain articles in the financial press in the past year have questioned the financial condition of Kmart, Consumer Products' largest customer. Furthermore, Kmart has stated that it intends to sell its Builders Square business, which accounted for approximately 24.7% and 24.5%, respectively, of Consumer Products' net sales in fiscal 1995 and the nine months ended March 31, 1996, respectively. There can be no assurance that any purchaser of Builders Square will continue to do business with the Company or to the extent it does continue to do business with the Company, as to the amount, terms or conditions of any sales by such purchaser. Since the consummation of the Barnett Public Offering, the Company and Waxman USA rely primarily on Consumer Products for cash flow. Consumer Products' customers include D-I-Y warehouse home centers, home improvement centers, mass merchandisers, hardware stores and lumberyards. Consumer Products may be adversely effected by prolonged economic downturns or significant declines in consumer spending. There can be no assurance that any such prolonged economic downturn or significant decline in consumer spending will not have a material adverse impact on Consumer Products' business and its ability to generate cash flow. PROCEEDS OF THE OFFERING The Company will not receive any of the proceeds of this offering. All of the proceeds of this offering will be received by the Selling Security Holders. ABSENCE OF PUBLIC MARKET; EFFECT OF MARKET PRICE OF BARNETT COMMON STOCK At present, the Warrants are owned by a small number of investors and there is no active trading market for the Warrants. If an active trading market does not develop, purchasers of the Warrants may have difficulty liquidating their investment and the Warrants may not be readily accepted as collateral for loans. Accordingly, no assurances can be given as to the price at which holders of the Warrants will be able to sell the Warrants, if at all. The liquidity of and the market prices for the Warrants and Common Stock can be expected to vary with changes in market and economic conditions, the financial condition and prospects of the Company and other factors that generally influence the market prices of securities, including fluctuations in the market for warrants and common stock generally. In addition, the market price of the Common Stock may be effected by the 13 market price of the Barnett Common Stock, which may be affected by the factors enumerated in the preceding sentence. POSSIBLE FUTURE SALES OF SHARES BY THE SELLING SECURITY HOLDERS Subject to the restrictions described under "Risk Factors -- Shares Eligible for Future Sale" and applicable law, upon the effectiveness of the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus forms a part, the Selling Security Holders could cause the sale of any or all of the Warrants or underlying shares of Common Stock they own. The Selling Security Holders may determine to sell Warrants or the underlying shares of Common Stock from time to time for any reason. Although the Company can make no prediction as to the effect, if any, that sales of Warrants or shares of Common Stock owned by the Selling Security Holders would have on the market price of Common Stock prevailing from time to time, sales of substantial amounts of Warrants or Common Stock, or the availability of such Warrants or shares of Common Stock for sale in the public market, could adversely affect prevailing market prices of the Common Stock. SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE As of May 9, 1996, there were 9,559,586 shares of Common Stock outstanding and 2,205,138 shares of Class B Common Stock outstanding (convertible into 2,205,138 shares of Common Stock). To the extent such shares are not held by "affiliates" or otherwise subject to restrictions on resale, including those imposed by Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, the Warrants, and upon exercise of the Warrants, the shares of Common Stock which are issuable upon exercise of the Warrants and offered hereby are eligible for sale in the public market. Although the Company can make no prediction as to the effect, if any, that sales of the Warrants and shares of Common Stock referred to above would have on the market price of the Common Stock prevailing from time to time, sales of a substantial amount of Warrants or Common Stock, or the availability of such Warrants or shares of Common Stock for sale in the public market could adversely affect prevailing market prices of the Common Stock. USE OF PROCEEDS The Company will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of the Securities offered hereby, all of which will be received by the Selling Security Holders. If all of the 2,950,000 Warrants offered hereby are exercised at the initial exercise price of $2.45 per share, the Company would receive $7,227,500, which would be added to the Company's working capital and used for general corporate purposes. 14 SELLING SECURITY HOLDERS The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the Securities beneficially owned and offered hereby by each Selling Security Holder. Name Warrants Owned Warrants Offered - ---- ---------------- ----------------- American Express Trust Company 156,350 156,350 Bank Of New York 265,920 265,920 Bear Stern Securities Corp. 487,500 487,500 Brown (Alex) & Sons, Inc. 3,950 3,950 Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette 124,900 124,900 First Options of Chicago, Inc. 30,000 30,000 Goldman, Sachs & Co. 64,000 64,000 UMB Bank, N.A./IFTC 1,162,300 1,162,000 Lehman Brothers, Inc. 30,000 30,000 Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Inc. 150,000 150,000 Morgan Stanley & Co., Incorporated 44,000 44,000 Neuberger & Berman 36,500 36,500 Sanwa Bank California 11,080 11,080 SSB Custodian 324,500 324,500 T.D. Partners 59,000 59,000 --------- --------- Total 2,950,000 2,950,000 - --------------- The Company is registering, on behalf of each Selling Security Holder, the offer and sale of the number of Warrants set forth opposite such Selling Security Holder's name under the column captioned "Warrants Offered" and the same number of shares of Common Stock, subject to adjustment in certain circumstances, issuable upon exercise of the Warrants. As of the date hereof, no Warrants have been exercised to purchase shares of Common Stock. Because the Selling Security Holders may offer all or some part of the Securities pursuant to this Prospectus and because this offering is not being underwritten on a firm commitment basis, no estimate can be given as to the amount of Securities to be offered for sale by the Selling Security Holders nor the amount of Securities that will be held by the Selling Security Holders upon termination of this offering. See "Plan of Distribution." To the extent required, the specific amount of Securities to be sold by the Selling Security Holders in connection with a particular offer will be set forth in an accompanying Prospectus supplement. 15 DESCRIPTION OF THE WARRANTS The Warrants were issued pursuant to the terms of a Warrant Agreement, dated as of May 20, 1994 (the "Warrant Agreement"), by and between the Company and The Huntington National Bank, as warrant agent (the "Warrant Agent"), on behalf of the original purchasers of the Warrants. The following summary of the material provisions of the Warrant Agreement and the Warrant Certificate attached thereto (the "Warrant Certificate") does not purport to be complete, and where reference is made to particular provisions of the Warrant Agreement or the Warrant Certificate, such provisions, including the definitions of certain terms, are qualified in their entirety by reference to all of the provisions of the Warrant Agreement and Warrant Certificate, which have been filed or incorporated by reference as exhibits to the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus forms a part. The Warrants are currently exercisable. The Warrants will expire June 1, 2004. Upon exercise, each Warrant entitles the holder to receive one Warrant Share at a cash exercise price of $2.45, subject to adjustment in certain circumstances. Holders of the Warrants do not have any of the rights or privileges of the stockholders of the Company, including voting rights to receive dividends, prior to exercise of the Warrants. The Company has reserved out of its authorized but unissued shares a sufficient number of shares of Common Stock for issuance upon exercise of the Warrants. The Common Stock issuable on exercise of the Warrants will be, when issued, fully paid and nonassessable. ANTI-DILUTION The Warrants contain customary anti-dilution provisions, including adjustments in the event of a reclassification, recapitalization, stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, stock issuance below fair market value or other similar transaction, and including protections in the event of a transaction in which the Company is not the surviving entity. METHOD OF EXERCISE The Warrants may be exercised by surrendering to the Warrant Agent the Warrant Certificates evidencing such Warrants, with the accompanying form of election to purchase properly completed and executed. Upon surrender of the Warrant Certificates and payment in cash of the exercise price, the Warrant Agent will deliver, or cause to be delivered, to or upon the written order of such holder, certificates representing the Warrant Shares to which such holder is entitled. Warrant Certificates will be issued in registered form only and no service charge shall be made for registration of transfer or exchange upon surrender of any Warrant Certificate at the office of the Warrant Agent maintained for that purpose. The Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any registration of transfer or exchange of Warrant Certificates. AMENDMENT From time to time, the Company and the Warrant Agent, without the consent of the holders of the Warrants, may amend or supplement the Warrant Agreement for certain purposes, including curing defects or 16 inconsistencies or making any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any holder. Any amendment or supplement to the Warrant Agreement that has an adverse effect on the interests of holders or that affects the anti-dilution provisions contained therein shall require the written consent of registered holders of a majority of the then outstanding Warrants. The consent of each holder of an Warrant affected shall be required for any amendment pursuant to which the number of Warrant Shares which could be acquired upon exercise of Warrants would be decreased or the exercise period for the Warrants would be modified in any manner. DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of 2,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, $.01 par value, 22,000,000 shares of Common Stock, $.01 par value, and 6,000,000 shares of Class B Common Stock, $.01 par value. As of May 9, 1996, no shares of Preferred Stock, 9,559,586 shares of Common Stock and 2,205,138 shares of Class B Common Stock were issued and outstanding. COMMON STOCK AND CLASS B COMMON STOCK Each share of Common Stock entitles the holder to one vote on all matters submitted to the stockholders, including the election of directors, and each share of Class B Common Stock entitles the holder to ten votes on all such matters. Except as set forth below, all actions submitted to a vote of stockholders are voted on by holders of Common Stock and Class B Common Stock voting together as a single class. The holders of Common Stock and Class B Common Stock vote separately as classes with respect to any amendments to the Company's Certificate of Incorporation that alter or change the powers, preferences or special rights of their respective classes of stock so as to affect them adversely, and with respect to such other matters as may require class votes under the Delaware General Corporation Law. Dividends on the Class B Common Stock may not exceed those on the Common Stock. Each share of Common Stock and Class B Common Stock is equal in respect of rights to dividends and other distributions in stock or property of the Company (including distributions upon liquidation of the Company), except that in the case of dividends or other distributions payable on the Common Stock and the Class B Common Stock in shares of such stock, including distributions pursuant to split-ups or divisions of the Common Stock or the Class B Common Stock, only Common Stock will be distributed with respect to Common Stock and only Class B Common Stock will be distributed with respect to Class B Common Stock. In no event will either the Common Stock or the Class B Common Stock be split, divided or combined unless the other is split, divided or combined equally. The Class B Common Stock is not transferable by a holder except to or among such holder's spouse, certain of such holder's relatives and certain trusts established for their benefit. The Class B Common Stock is convertible into Common Stock on a share-for-share basis at any time. If the number of outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock at any time falls below 250,000 (as adjusted for any stock splits, combinations, stock dividends or further issuances of Class B Common Stock), the outstanding shares of Class B Common Stock will automatically be converted into shares of Common Stock. The Class B Common Stock may tend to have an anti-takeover effect. Since voting control of the Company is vested primarily in the holders of the Class B Common Stock, the issuance of the Class B Common Stock could render more difficult, or discourage, a hostile merger proposal, a tender offer or a proxy contest, 17 even if such actions were favored by a majority of the holders of Common Stock. As of May 9, 1996, Melvin Waxman and Armond Waxman beneficially owned an aggregate of approximately 83.4% of the outstanding Class B Common Stock and 63.5% of the aggregate outstanding voting power of the Company. The transfer agent and registrar for the Common Stock and Class B Common Stock is American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, New York, New York. PREFERRED STOCK The Preferred Stock may be issued from time to time in one or more series, and the Board of Directors is authorized to fix the dividend rights and terms, any conversion rights, any voting rights, any redemption rights and terms (including sinking fund provisions), the rights in the event of liquidation and any other rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions of any series of Preferred Stock, as well as the number of shares constituting such series and the designation thereof. The Preferred Stock, if issued, will rank senior to the Company Common Stock as to dividends and as to liquidation preference. Holders of Preferred Stock will have no preemptive rights. The issuance of shares of Preferred Stock could have an anti-takeover effect under certain circumstances. The issuance of shares of Preferred Stock could enable the Board of Directors to render more difficult or discourage an attempt to obtain control of the Company by means of a merger, tender offer or other business combination transaction directed at the Company by, among other things, placing shares of Preferred Stock with investors who might align themselves with the Board of Directors, issuing new shares to dilute stock ownership of a person or entity seeking control of the Company or creating a class or series of Preferred Stock with voting rights. The issuance of shares of the Preferred Stock as an anti-takeover device might preclude stockholders from taking advantage of a situation which they believed could be favorable to their interests. No shares of Preferred Stock are outstanding, and the Company has no present plans to issue any shares of Preferred Stock. PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION Any or all of the Securities may be sold from time to time to purchasers directly by the Selling Security Holders. Alternatively, the Selling Security Holders may from time to time offer the Securities through underwriters, dealers or agents who may receive compensation in the form of underwriting discounts, concessions or commissions from the Selling Security Holders and/or the purchasers of Securities for whom they may act as agents. The Selling Security Holders and any such underwriters, dealers or agents that participate in the distribution of Securities may be deemed to be underwriters under the Securities Act, and any profit on the sale of the Securities by them and any discounts, commissions or concessions received by them may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act. The Securities may be sold from time to time in one or more transactions at a fixed offering price, which may be changed, or at varying prices determined at the time of sale or at negotiated prices. The distribution of Securities by the Selling Security Holders may be effected in one or more transactions that may take place on the NYSE or the over-the-counter market, including ordinary broker's transactions, privately-negotiated transactions or through sales to one or more broker-dealers for resale of such shares as principals, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices. Usual and customary or specifically negotiated brokerage fees, discounts and commissions may be paid by the Selling Security Holders in connection with such sales of securities. 18 At the time a particular offer of Securities is made, to the extent required, a supplement to this Prospectus will be distributed (or, if required, a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus is a part will be filed) which will identify the specific Securities being offered and set forth the aggregate amount of Securities being offered, the purchase price and the terms of the offering, including the name or names of the Selling Security Holders and of any underwriters, dealers or agents, the purchase price paid by any underwriter for Securities purchased from the Selling Security Holders, any discounts, commissions and other items constituting compensation from the Selling Security Holders and/or the Company and any discounts, commissions or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers, including the proposed selling price to the public. In addition, an underwritten offering will require clearance by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. of the underwriter's compensation arrangements. The Company will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale by the Selling Security Holders of the Securities offered hereby. All of the filing fees and other expenses of this Registration Statement will be borne in full by the Company, other than any underwriting fees, discounts and commissions relating to this offering. Pursuant to the Equity Registration Rights Agreement, the Company will use its best efforts to keep the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus forms a part effective under the Act for a period of three years following the initial effective date of such Registration Statement (or such shorter period as permitted under the Equity Registration Rights Agreement) and the Company will pay substantially all of the expenses incident to the offering and sale of the Securities to the public, other than underwriting fees, discounts and commissions. The Equity Registration Rights Agreement provides for cross-indemnification of the Selling Security Holders and the Company, to the extent permitted by law, for losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses arising, under certain circumstances, out of any registration of the Securities. The Equity Registration Rights Agreement also provides that in connection with an underwriting offering, the Company will indemnify the underwriters thereof, their officers and directors and each person who controls such underwriters (within the meaning of the Securities Act) to the same extent as provided with respect to the indemnification of the Selling Security Holders signatory to such agreement, except with respect to information provided by such underwriters specifically for inclusion within the appropriate registration statement. The period beginning on the date the Equity Registration Statement is first declared effective by the Commission and ending on the date which is three years after the expiration of the Warrants or, if earlier, the date on which all Warrants and Warrant Shares have been sold pursuant to the Equity Registration Statement or the date three years after all Warrants have been exercised, is referred to as the "Effectiveness Period." In the event that the Equity Registration Statement is not filed or effective by, or continuously effective through, the dates referred to above or prior to the end of the Effectiveness Period, the Commission shall have issued a stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Equity Registration Statement or the prospectus contained in the Equity Registration Statement, as amended or supplemented, shall (x) not contain current information required by the Securities Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder or (y) contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading, the Company agreed to pay, or cause to be paid, as liquidated damages and not as a penalty, to each holder of a Warrant or Warrant Share, an amount equal to $0.0025 per week per Warrant or Warrant Share, as the case may be, for each week beginning on such date and ending 90 days thereafter. Such liquidated damages shall be increased by $0.0025 per week per Warrant or Warrant Share, as the case may be, at the beginning of each subsequent 90-day period up to a maximum aggregate amount of $0.01 per week per Warrant or Warrant Share, as the case may be. The Company agreed to pay all expenses incident to the Company's performance of or compliance with the Equity Registration Rights Agreement, including the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel to the original purchasers of the Warrants but excluding any underwriting fees, discounts or commissions attributable to the sale of the Warrants or Warrant Shares. Each of the Company and the Warrant Agent, on behalf of the original 19 purchasers of the Warrants, pursuant to the Equity Registration Rights Agreement, agreed to indemnify the other party, its officers, directors and controlling persons in respect of certain liabilities and expenses arising, under certain circumstances, out of any registration of the Securities pursuant to the Equity Registration Rights Agreement. Under applicable rules and regulations under the Exchange Act, any person engaged in a distribution of the Securities may not simultaneously engage in market making activities with respect to the Securities for a period of two business days prior to the commencement of such distribution. In addition and without limiting the foregoing, the Selling Security Holders will be subject to applicable provisions of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, including without limitation Rules 10b-6 and 10b-7, which provisions may limit the timing of purchases and sales of the Securities by the Selling Security Holders. In order to comply with certain states' securities laws, if applicable, the Securities will be sold in such jurisdictions only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers. In certain states the Securities may not be sold unless the Securities have been registered or qualified for sale in such state, or unless an exemption from registration or qualification is available and is obtained. The Warrants originally issued by the Company in the Private Exchange Offer contained legends as to their restricted transferability. In addition, the certificates for Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants would contain, legends as to their restricted transferability. Upon the effectiveness of the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus forms a part and the transfer of the Securities pursuant thereto, these legends will no longer be necessary, and accordingly, new certificates representing such Securities will be issued to the transferee without any such legends unless otherwise required by law. In addition to sales pursuant to the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus forms a part, the Warrants and the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants may be sold in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act. LEGAL MATTERS The legality of the securities covered by this Prospectus has been passed upon by Shereff, Friedman, Hoffman & Goodman, LLP, New York, New York, counsel to the Company. EXPERTS The consolidated financial statements of the Company as of June 30, 1994 and June 30, 1995 and for each of the three years in the period ended June 30, 1995 appearing in the Company's Annual Report and incorporated by reference in this Prospectus and elsewhere in this Registration Statement have been audited by Arthur Andersen LLP, independent public accountants, as indicated in their report with respect thereto, and are included herein in reliance upon the authority of said firm as experts in giving said reports. Reference is made to said report, which includes an explanatory paragraph with respect to the change in the method of accounting for certain warehousing and catalog costs as discussed in Note 4 to the consolidated financial statements. 20 NO PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS, OTHER THAN THOSE HEREIN, IN CONNECTION WITH THIS OFFER AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATIONS MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON. THIS PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL, OR A SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY, ANY OF THESE SECURITIES IN ANY JURISDICTION TO ANY PERSON TO WHOM IT IS UNLAWFUL TO MAKE SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION IN SUCH JURISDICTION. THE DELIVERY OF THIS PROSPECTUS AT ANY TIME DOES NOT IMPLY THAT THE INFORMATION HEREIN IS CORRECT AS OF ANY TIME SUBSEQUENT TO ITS DATE. ---------------- TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE ---- Available Information............................ 4 Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference........................................ 4 Prospectus Summary............................... 5 Risk Factors..................................... 11 Use of Proceeds.................................. 14 Selling Security Holders......................... 15 Description of Warrants.......................... 16 Description of Capital Stock..................... 17 Plan of Distribution............................. 18 Legal Matters.................................... 20 Experts.......................................... 20 WAXMAN INDUSTRIES, INC. 2,950,000 WARRANTS TO PURCHASE COMMON STOCK ---------------- 2,950,000 SHARES OF COMMON STOCK PAR VALUE $.01 PER SHARE ---------------- PROSPECTUS ---------------- MAY 24, 1996 ---------------- -----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----