-----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, KaduBAwigPPWp4LXx3u/8h6nQJYHcaQGzLN5NnnYxtVonQQ/DpCe5vH7Lh+eZBfA rOoNyUm+Yrf/TlDUnGZ69g== 0000921898-97-000038.txt : 19971231 0000921898-97-000038.hdr.sgml : 19971231 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000921898-97-000038 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: S-3 PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 5 FILED AS OF DATE: 19971230 SROS: NASD FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: ACCENT COLOR SCIENCES INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000921898 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: COMPUTER PERIPHERAL EQUIPMENT, NEC [3577] IRS NUMBER: 061380314 STATE OF INCORPORATION: CT FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: S-3 SEC ACT: SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-43467 FILM NUMBER: 97746802 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 800 CONNECTICUT BLVD CITY: EAST HARTFORD STATE: CT ZIP: 06108 BUSINESS PHONE: 8606104000 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 800 CONNECTICUT BLVD CITY: EAST HARTFORD STATE: CT ZIP: 06108 S-3 1 As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 30 1997 Registration No. 333- SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 --------------------------- FORM S-3 REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 --------------------------- ACCENT COLOR SCIENCES, INC. (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter) --------------------------- CONNECTICUT 06-1380314 (State or other Jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer Incorporation or Organization) Identification Number) 800 Connecticut Boulevard East Hartford, Connecticut, 06108 (860) 610-4000 (Address, including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, including Area Code, of Registrant's Principal Executive Offices) --------------------------- Norman L. Milliard President and Chief Executive Officer Accent Color Sciences, Inc. 800 Connecticut Boulevard East Hartford, Connecticut 06108 (860) 610-4000 (Name, Address, including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, including Area C ode, of Agent for Service) --------------------------- Copy to: Willard F. Pinney, Jr. Murtha, Cullina, Richter and Pinney Cityplace I 185 Asylum Street, 29th Floor Hartford, Connecticut 06103-3469 (860) 240-6000 --------------------------- Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after this Registration Statement becomes effective. If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. / / If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. /X/ If this form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. / / If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. / / If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434, please check the following box. / / CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE Title of each Proposed Proposed Amount of class of Amount maximum maximum registration securities to to be offering price aggregate fee be registered registered per unit (1) offering price Common Stock 2,550,455 shares $2.65625 $6,774,646.09 $1,998.52 $.01 par value (1) Estimated solely for the purpose of computing the amount of the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, on the basis of the average of the high and low sale prices reported on the Nasdaq National Market Automated Quotation System on December 26, 1997. The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine. PROSPECTUS 2,550,455 SHARES ACCENT COLOR SCIENCES, INC. COMMON STOCK All shares of common stock, no par value (the "Common Stock") of Accent Color Sciences, Inc. ("Accent Color" or the "Company") offered hereby (the "Shares") are being offered by certain stockholders and other security holders of the Company named herein (the "Selling Stockholders"). It is anticipated that the Selling Stockholders will generally offer shares of Common Stock for sale at prevailing prices on the Nasdaq National Market on the date of sale. See "Plan of Distribution." Of the 2,550,455 Shares being offered for resale: (i) 2,005,042 shares were outstanding at December 26, 1997 and (ii) 545,413 shares are issuable upon exercise of certain warrants outstanding at December 26, 1997 (the "Warrants") and are being offered for the accounts of the holders of such Warrants. The distribution of the Shares by the Selling Stockholders may be effected from time to time in one or more transactions for their own accounts (which may include block transactions) on the Nasdaq National Market or any exchange on which the Common Stock may then be listed, in negotiated transactions or a combination of such methods of sale, at fixed prices which may be changed, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices. The Selling stockholders may effect such transactions by selling Shares to or through broker-dealers, including broker-dealers who may act as underwriters, and such broker-dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the Selling Stockholders and/or the purchasers of Shares for whom such broker-dealers may act as agent or to whom they sell as principal or both (which compensation as to a particular broker-dealer might be in excess of customary commissions). The Selling Stockholders may also sell Common Stock pursuant to Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") or pledge Shares as collateral for margin accounts, and such Shares could be resold pursuant to the terms of such accounts. The Company intends that the Registration Statement will remain effective for a period of two years from the date on which it is declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission or such earlier date as of which such Registration Statement is no longer required for the transfer of the subject securities. The Common Stock of the Company is traded on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol "ACLR". On December 26, 1997 the closing price of the Company's Common Stock, as reported by the Nasdaq Automated Quotation System was $ 2.75. ANY INVESTMENT IN THE COMMON STOCK OFFERED HEREBY INVOLVES A HIGH DEGREE OF RISK. SEE "RISK FACTORS" COMMENCING ON PAGE 4 FOR A DISCUSSION OF CERTAIN FACTORS THAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED BY PROSPECTIVE PURCHASERS OF THE COMMON STOCK OFFERED HEREBY. The Selling Stockholder and any broker executing selling orders on behalf of the Selling Stockholder may be deemed to be an "underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act. Commissions received by any such broker may be deemed to be underwriting commissions under the Securities Act. THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION, NOR HAS THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE. The date of this Prospectus is , 1998 AVAILABLE INFORMATION The Company is subject to the informational reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and in accordance therewith files reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"). Such reports, proxy statements and other information can be inspected and copied at the Public Reference Room of the Commission, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, and at the Commission's regional offices at 500 West Madison Street, Suite 1400, Chicago, Illinois 60661-2511; and copies of such material can be obtained from the Public Reference Section of the Commission, Washington, D.C. 20549, at prescribed rates. INFORMATION INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE There are hereby incorporated by reference in this Prospectus the following documents and information heretofore filed with the Commission: (1) The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996 filed pursuant to Section 13 of the Exchange Act. (2) The Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarters ended March 31, 1997, June 30, 1997 and September 30, 1997 filed pursuant to Section 13 of the Exchange Act. (3) The description of the Company's Common Stock contained in the Company's Registration Statement on Form 8-A, which became effective December 23, 1996, filed pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description. All documents filed by the Company pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this Prospectus and prior to the termination of the offering of securities contemplated hereby shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Prospectus or any Prospectus Supplement and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents. Any statement contained in a document incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Prospectus or any Prospectus Supplement shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for all purposes of this Prospectus or such Prospectus Supplement to the extent that a statement contained herein, therein or in any subsequently filed document that also is incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein or in such Prospectus Supplement 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 or any Prospectus Supplement. The Company will provide without charge to each person to whom a copy of this Prospectus has been delivered, upon the written or oral request of such person, a copy of any and all of the documents referred to above that have been or may be incorporated in this Prospectus by reference (other than exhibits to such documents, unless such exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference therein). Requests for such copies should be directed to: the Company's Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Accent Color Sciences, Inc., 800 Connecticut Boulevard, East Hartford, Connecticut, 06108. The Company's telephone number at that location is (860) 610-4000. The documents incorporated by reference herein contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. The Company's actual results may differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such a difference include, but are not limited to, those discussed in such documents and in "Risk Factors" below. No person is authorized to give any information or to make any representations, other than those contained in this Prospectus, in connection with the offering described herein, and, if given or made, such information or representations must not be relied upon as having been authorized by the Company. This Prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities by any person in any jurisdiction in which it is unlawful for such person to make such offer, solicitation or sale. Neither the delivery of this Prospectus nor any sale made hereunder shall under any circumstances create an implication that the information contained herein is correct as of any time subsequent to the date hereof. THE COMPANY Accent Color designs, manufactures and sells innovative, high-speed, spot color printing systems ("Truecolor Systems") for integration with digital, high-speed, black-on-white printers and sells related consumables. Spot color printing involves the use of color to enhance traditional black-on-white documents by accenting critical information, such as a balance due on a billing statement, or by printing graphics, such as a company logo. Truecolor Systems are designed to print spot color in high-speed, high-volume applications at a low incremental cost per page without diminishing the speed or performance of the high-speed, black-on-white host printer or affecting the end user's existing operational methods and are capable of printing up to 480 pages per minute, simultaneously utilizing up to eight different colors, including custom colors, to print or highlight fixed or variable data. Truecolor Systems combine the Company's proprietary paper handling technology with patented ink jet technology from Spectra, Inc. ("Spectra"). Under the agreement with Spectra, the Company holds an exclusive right to supply products which include Spectra printheads to print color on the black-on-white output from specified high-speed printers from Xerox, IBM, Oce and certain other manufacturers through the year 2002. The Company also holds a right to extend the agreement with Spectra for an additional seven years. The Company also sells consumables comprised of standard and custom color wax-based inks, as well as spare parts used with Truecolor Systems. The Company expects that consumables will generate recurring revenue which the Company believes will increase as the installed base and usage of Truecolor Systems increase. Accent Color was incorporated under the laws of Connecticut in May 1993. The Company's principal executive offices are located at 800 Connecticut Boulevard, East Hartford, Connecticut, 06108 and its telephone number at that address is (860) 610-4000. RISK FACTORS An investment in the shares of Common Stock offered hereby involves a high degree of risk. In addition to the risks set forth in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1996, and the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 1997, June 30, 1997 and September 30, 1997, the other documents incorporated herein by reference and the other information in this Prospectus, the following factors should be considered carefully in evaluating the Company and its business before purchasing the Common Stock offered hereby. The risk factors described below, as well as the documents incorporated herein by reference, contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. The Company's actual results may differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. Immediate and Future Capital Requirements The Company has ongoing working capital, capital equipment and operations loss-funding requirements in order to continue to operate and grow. As a result, the Company has and will likely continue to seek equity or debt financing to fund operating losses, future improvements and expansion of the Company's research and manufacturing capabilities. There can be no assurance that such financing will be available when needed, or that, if available, it will be on satisfactory terms. The failure to obtain financing would hinder the Company's ability to make continued investments in capital equipment and expansion, which could materially adversely affect results of operations. Any such equity financing would result in dilution to the then-existing stockholders of the Company. Volatility of Stock Price The Company's stock price has been, and in the future is expected to be, volatile and to experience market fluctuation as a result of a number of factors, including, but not limited to, current and anticipated results of operations, future product offerings by the Company or its competitors and factors unrelated to the operating performance of the Company. The trading price of the Company's Common Stock may also vary as a result of changes in the business, operations, or financial results of the Company, prospects of general market and economic conditions and other factors. Development Risks Accent Color is a development stage company. The Company has products in various stages of development, and minimal revenue has been recognized from the sale of its products. The Company has developed and plans to market new products and new applications of technology and, accordingly, is subject to risks associated with such ventures. The Company has delivered prototype, pre-production and production Truecolor Systems and is entering the pre-production phase for the enhanced version of these systems. The probability of success of the Company must be considered in light of the expenses and delays frequently encountered in connection with the operation of a new business and the development of practical production techniques for new products. The Company considers the enhancement of its present products to be the Company's first development priority. Many of these enhancements are contemplated in the Company's contract with IBM, including the Company's plan to devote substantial resources to improve its technology in the areas of printhead width and print resolution. In addition, the Company's customers have requested advanced paper handling functionality, particularly duplex printing (the ability to print on both sides of a page). There can be no assurance, however, that the Company will be successful in developing enhancements for its products or that these enhancements will prove to be desirable to end users or that the Company will be able to obtain the necessary components for contemplated product enhancements. Failure to develop enhancements to its existing products, particularly the enhancements contemplated by the agreement with IBM, could have a material adverse effect on the market acceptance of the Company's products. As a result, any such failures could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations. Further, the development of product enhancements will likely render portions of the Company's inventory obsolete, which could have a material adverse effect on the Company's ability to sell such inventory profitably. Limited History of Product Manufacturing To date, the Company has manufactured only limited quantities of Truecolor Systems. To be profitable, the Company's products must be manufactured in sufficient quantities and at acceptable costs. To date, manufacturing costs have exceeded average selling price. Future production in sufficient quantities may pose technical and financial challenges for the Company. The Company has limited manufacturing history, and no assurance can be given that the Company will be able to make a successful transition to high-volume production. The failure to make a successful transition and to manufacture at a cost sufficiently below its selling price could have a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition and results of operations of the Company. Limited Operating History; History of Losses; Uncertainty of Future Financial Results; The Company was formed in May 1993 and is a development stage company with a limited operating history. The Company incurred net losses of $45,000, $1,154,000, $4,217,000, $13,739,000 and $13,106,000 for the period from inception to December 31, 1993, the years ended December 31, 1994, 1995 and 1996 and the nine-month period ended September 30, 1997, respectively. These losses were primarily due to the substantial research and development costs associated with the development of Truecolor Systems, all of which costs were expensed as incurred. Through September 30, 1997, $1,285,000 of revenue had been recognized from the sale of the Company's products. As a result of these losses, as of September 30, 1997, the Company had an accumulated deficit of $32,260,000 and total shareholders' equity of $8,368,000. It is expected that quarterly net losses will continue through at least the 2nd quarter of 1998. There can be no assurance that the Company will be profitable thereafter or that profitability, if achieved, will be sustained. In order to support the anticipated growth of its business, the Company expects to expand its manufacturing, marketing and sales capabilities, technical and other customer support functions, and research and product development activities. The anticipated increase in the Company's operating expenses caused by any expansion could have a material adverse effect on the Company's operating results if revenue does not increase at an equal or greater rate. Also, the Company's expenses for these and other activities are based in significant part on its expectations regarding future revenue and are fixed to a large extent in the short term. The Company may be unable to adjust spending in a timely manner to compensate for any unexpected revenue shortfalls. Uncertainty of Market Development; Acceptance of Accent Color's Products The digital, high-speed printing market has traditionally relied mainly on black-on-white print. There can be no assurance that a market for high-speed, variable data color printing will develop or achieve significant growth. The failure of such market to develop or achieve significant growth would have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations. The Company's products are currently designed for the digital, high-speed production printing and production publishing market segments. There can be no assurance that the Company will be successful in developing or marketing its existing or future products or that, if any such products achieve market acceptance, such acceptance will be sustained. The Company also plans to further enhance its products and is investing substantial capital and other resources in the development of such enhancements. The Company plans to devote substantial resources to improve technology in the areas of ink jet printhead width. There can be no assurance that the Company's Truecolor Systems or enhancements will be a preferable alternative to existing products or that they will not be rendered obsolete or noncompetitive by products offered by other companies. Any quality, durability or reliability problems with the Company's products, regardless of materiality, or any other actual or perceived problems with any Company products, could have a material adverse effect on market acceptance of such products. There can be no assurance that such problems or perceived problems will not arise or that, even in the absence of such problems, the Company's products will achieve market acceptance. A failure of any of the Company's products to achieve market acceptance for any reason could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, the announcement by the Company or its OEM customers or competitors of new products and technologies could cause customers to defer purchases of the Company's existing products, which could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations. Dependence on a Limited Number of Customers; Revenue Concentration The Company anticipates that sales of its Truecolor Systems and consumables to a limited number of customers will account for substantially all of the Company's revenue. As of September 30, 1997, the Company had contracts with two customers, International Business Machines Corporation ("IBM") and Groupe SET ("SET"), and was in contract discussions with Oce Printing Systems USA, Inc. ("Oce"). Generally, the Company's customers provide non-binding forecasts of future orders. There can be no assurance that these customers will purchase a significant volume of the Company's products. A substantial difference between forecast orders and actual orders by any one of its customers, or the failure of its customers to purchase a significant volume of the Company's products, could have a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition and results of operations of the Company. There can be no assurance that the Company's OEM customers, including IBM and SET, or other companies will not compete with the Company in the future. Dependence on Third Party Marketing, Distribution and Support A significant element of the Company's marketing strategy is to form alliances with third parties for the marketing and distribution of its products. To this end, the Company is a party to multi-year agreements with IBM (the "IBM Agreement") and Groupe Set and is in contract discussions with Oce, for the marketing, distribution and support of the Company's products. The Company's contract with IBM is for an initial term of three years with IBM having the right to terminate its contract in certain circumstances, such as a material breach of the contract by Accent Color or the Company's bankruptcy or insolvency. There can be no assurance that (i) the Company will be successful in maintaining such alliances or forming and maintaining other alliances, (ii) the Company will be able to satisfy its contractual obligations with its OEM customers or (iii) the Company's OEM customers will devote adequate resources to market and distribute the Company's products successfully. Any disruption in the Company's relationships with IBM or SET, or any future customer of the Company, may have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition or results of operations. As a result of its relationships with its OEM customers, the Company's ability to interact with end users of Truecolor Systems and observe their experience with the Company's products may be limited. The Company also does not have control over the marketing, distribution and support efforts of its OEM customers. This may result in a delay by the Company in the recognition and correction of any problems experienced by the OEM customers or the end users. Failure of the Company to respond to customer and end-user preferences or experience with its products, or a failure by the Company's OEM customers to market and support the Company's products successfully, could have a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition and results of operations of the Company. In addition, the Company's OEM customers will control the timing of the introduction of the Company's products, including its existing products. Consequently, the timing of the introduction of the Company's products may be delayed for reasons unrelated to the Company and its products, such as delays in the introduction of products offered by the OEM customers with which the Company's products are integrated. Delays in the introduction of the Company's products could have a significant adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations. Further, third-party distribution provides the Company with less information regarding the amount of inventory that is in the process of distribution. This lack of information may reduce the Company's ability to predict fluctuations in revenue resulting from a surplus or a shortage in its distribution channels and contribute to volatility in the Company's financial results, cash flow and inventory. Dependence on Spectra The Company is dependent on Spectra, a wholly owned subsidiary of Markem, Inc., as its sole source supplier of ink jet printheads and the hot melt, wax-based inks used by Truecolor Systems. Spectra has agreed to supply the Company with ink jet printheads and wax-based inks under a supply agreement, subject to a number of conditions. The Company's reliance on Spectra involves several risks, including a potential inability to obtain an adequate supply of required printheads or inks, and reduced control over the quality, pricing and timing of delivery of these items. Because the production of printheads is specialized and requires long lead times, there can be no assurance that delays or shortages of printheads will not occur. To date, Spectra has only produced a limited number of ink jet printheads. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that Spectra will be able to provide a stable source of supply of these components. As the Company increases the production of Truecolor Systems, it will become more reliant upon Spectra's ability to manufacture and deliver ink jet printheads as required. Any interruption in the Company's ability to obtain Spectra printheads could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations. Further, the Company and Spectra are devoting substantial resources to improve technology in the areas of ink jet printhead width. There can be no assurance that, if such improvements are made, Spectra will be able to produce printheads embodying such improvements for the Company in sufficient quantities at an acceptable price, or at all. Any inability to incorporate such improvements or produce printheads embodying them could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations. Spectra, itself, is also reliant upon licenses granted to it by third parties. The Spectra agreement allows the Company, in certain instances, to utilize Spectra's technology to either manufacture wax-based inks or ink jet printheads itself or arrange for their manufacture by third parties utilizing such technology. There can be no assurance, however, that, if necessary, the Company would be able to manufacture ink jet printheads and wax-based inks itself or negotiate with third parties for the timely manufacture of ink jet printheads or supply of wax-based inks on acceptable terms or at all. Furthermore, the use of Spectra's technology may require the consent of certain other licensors to Spectra, and there is no assurance that the Company will be able to obtain any such consents on acceptable terms or at all. Spectra has granted the Company the exclusive right to supply products including Spectra printheads in the worldwide market for printing color on the output from specified high-speed, black-on-white printers manufactured or marketed by Xerox, IBM, Oce and certain other manufacturers through December 31, 2002 with the Company holding an option to renew the contract for an additional seven years. To maintain such exclusive rights, the Company is required to purchase a minimum number of ink jet printheads each year, to continue to purchase its wax-based ink requirements from Spectra and to make certain payments. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to meet the minimum purchase requirements or make these payments. The Company's agreement with Spectra required quarterly payments of $250,000 through 1997 to maintain the exclusivity rights. These specified payments, together with similar payments from other Spectra customers (which vary in amount from customer to customer), are used by Spectra to fund ink jet printhead development, the results of which are available to participating customers. In addition, the Company has a development arrangement with Spectra that requires the Company to make additional payments to support developing a wider printhead manufacturing capability. Any disruption in the Company's relationship with Spectra, or in Spectra's relationship with its licensors, may have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations. Dependence on Major Subcontractors and Suppliers The Company relies on subcontractors and suppliers to manufacture, subassemble and perform certain testing of some modules and parts of Truecolor Systems. Currently, the Company's ink jet printheads are manufactured solely by Spectra. The Company currently performs the final assembly and testing of various Truecolor System components and of each complete Truecolor System. The Company plans to outsource the manufacture of major components and complete final assembly and testing of Truecolor Systems in house. The inability to develop relationships with, or the loss of, subcontractors or suppliers, or the failure of its subcontractors or suppliers to meet the Company's price, quality, quantity and delivery requirements, could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations. Significant Fluctuations in Quarterly Results The Company's quarterly operating results are likely to vary significantly in the future based upon a number of factors, including the volume, timing, delivery and acceptance of customer orders, the introduction and market acceptance of new products offered by the Company and its OEM customers or competitors, changes in the pricing policies of the Company or its OEM customers or competitors, the level of product and price competition, the relative proportion of printer and consumables sales, the timely availability of sufficient volume of sole source components, fluctuations in research and development expenditures, the availability of financing arrangements for certain of the Company's customers, general economic conditions, as well as other factors. Additionally, because the purchase of a printing system and peripherals involves a significant capital commitment, the sales cycle for the Company's products is susceptible to delays and lengthy acceptance procedures associated with large capital expenditures. Historically, there has existed seasonality in the purchase of major equipment such as the Company's Truecolor Systems, with many companies experiencing higher sales in the fourth calendar quarter. The Company expects such seasonality to apply to the purchase of its systems. Furthermore, due to the Company's high average sales price and low unit volume, a delay in the sale of, or the recognition of revenue from the sale of a few units could have a material adverse effect on the results of operations for a fiscal quarter. Quarterly revenue and operating results depend primarily on the volume, timing, shipping and acceptance of orders during the quarter, which are difficult to forecast due to the length of the sales cycle. As of September 30, 1997, the Company has recognized $1,285,000 of revenue from the sale of its products. Through September 30, 1997, the Company had shipped 15 production versions of its Truecolor Systems. Consequently, the Company has minimal experience with the rate of customer and end-user acceptance of its products or the volume or nature of warranty claims relating to its products. The Company's policy is to recognize revenue upon customer acceptance, which generally occurs at the end of the warranty period. Thereafter, once the Company gains sufficient experience regarding customer acceptance of, and warranty claims regarding, its products, the Company intends to recognize revenue upon shipment of the products. As a result, the Company expects a difference between the timing of shipments and the recognition of related revenue, which may be substantial and inconsistent. There can be no assurance that the timing of revenue recognition will not result in significant fluctuations in the Company's quarterly operating results. A significant portion of the Company's operating expenses is relatively fixed in the short term, and planned expenditures are based on sales forecasts. Sales forecasts by the Company's customers are generally not binding. If revenue levels are below expectations, operating results may be disproportionately affected because only a small portion of the Company's expenses vary with revenue in the short term, which could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations. There can be no assurance that the Company will experience or sustain any revenue growth or profitability. Potential Need for Additional Funding for Operating and Capital Requirements The Company's currently anticipated levels of revenue and cash flow are subject to many uncertainties and cannot be assured. Further, the Company's business plan may change, or unforeseen events may occur, requiring the Company to raise additional funds. The amount of funds required by the Company will depend on many factors, including the extent and timing of the sale of Truecolor Systems, the timing and cost associated with the expansion of the Company's manufacturing, development and engineering, sales and marketing and customer support capabilities and the Company's operating results. There can be no assurance that, if and when needed, additional financing will be available, or available on acceptable terms. The inability to obtain additional financing or generate sufficient cash from operations could require the Company to reduce or eliminate expenditures for research and development, production or marketing of its products, or otherwise to curtail or discontinue its operations, which could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations. Product Warranty; Limit on Prices for Spare Parts The Company warrants its Truecolor Systems to be free of defects in workmanship and materials for 90 days from installation at the location of the end user. Furthermore, under the IBM Agreement, the Company has agreed to provide spare parts for its products to IBM at prices which will yield a monthly parts cost per Truecolor System not to exceed a specified amount. There can be no assurance that the Company will not experience warranty claims or parts failure rates in excess of those which it has assumed in pricing its products and spare parts. Any such excess warranty claims or spare parts failure rates could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition or results of operations. The Company currently has minimal experience with the volume or nature of warranty claims relating to its products. Dependence on a Single Product Line The Company anticipates that it will derive substantially all of its revenue in the foreseeable future from sales of Truecolor Systems, related consumables and spare parts. If the Company is unable to generate sufficient sales of Truecolor Systems due to market conditions, manufacturing difficulties or other reasons, it may not be able to continue its business. Similarly, if purchasers of Truecolor Systems were to purchase wax-based ink or spare parts from suppliers other than the Company, the Company's business, results of operations and financial condition could be materially adversely affected. Dependence on a single product line makes the Company particularly vulnerable to the successful introduction of competitive products. Rapid Technological Change Requires Ongoing Product Development Efforts The high-speed printer industry is characterized by evolving technology and changing market requirements. The Company's future success will depend on a number of factors, including its ability to continue to develop and manufacture new products and to enhance existing products. Consequently, the Company considers the enhancement of its products to be a development priority. Certain enhancements of its existing products are required by the Company's contract with IBM. Additionally, in a new and evolving market, customer preferences can change rapidly and new technology could render existing technology and product inventory obsolete. Failure by the Company to respond adequately to changes in its target market, to develop or acquire new technology or to successfully conform to market preferences could have a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition and results of operations of the Company. The failure by the Company to anticipate or respond adequately to competitive and technological changes could have a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition and results of operations of the Company. Risk of Delisting from Nasdaq Stock Market The Company's stock is currently traded on the Nasdaq National Market. There are no assurances, however, that the Company's Common Stock will continue to be included in such market, or that an active market for such stock will exist. The failure to meet the listing requirements for the National Market could result in the Company's Common Stock alternatively either being listed on the Nasdaq Small Capitalization Market if the Company could meet the initial listing criteria for that market or deletion from the Nasdaq Stock Market altogether if the Company failed to meet the National or Small Capitalization Market listing criteria. The delisting of the Company's stock from the Nasdaq Stock Market would cause disruption in trading of the Company's Common Stock and would have a material adverse effect on the Company. Limited Protection of Proprietary Technology and Risks of Third-party Claims The Company's ability to compete effectively will depend, in part, on the ability of the Company to maintain the proprietary nature of its technology. The Company relies, in part, on proprietary technology, know-how and trade secrets related to certain aspects of its principal products and operations but there can be no assurance that others, including the Company's OEM customers, may not independently develop the same or similar technology or otherwise obtain access to the Company's proprietary technology. To protect its rights in these areas, the Company generally requires its OEM customers, suppliers, employees and independent contractors to enter into nondisclosure agreements. There can be no assurance, however, that these agreements will provide meaningful protection for the Company's trade secrets, know-how or other proprietary information. If the Company is unable to maintain the proprietary nature of its products through nondisclosure agreements or other protection, its business could be materially adversely affected. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (the "Patent Office") has granted patent number 5,602,624 related to the Company's color printing apparatus. In addition, the Patent Office has filed a Notice of Allowance with respect to another patent application filed by the Company relating to the paper path and the placement of print on a page. Furthermore, the Company has filed additional applications for patents related to certain enhancements of the Truecolor Systems. There can be no assurance, however, as to the degree of protection offered by the Notice of Allowance, or as to the likelihood that pending patent applications will be issued. There can be no assurance that potential competitors, many of which may have substantially greater resources than the Company and may have made substantial investments in competing technologies, do not currently have or will not obtain patents that will prevent, limit or interfere with the Company's ability to make, use or sell its products or will not intentionally infringe on the Company's patents if and when issued. Moreover, no assurance can be given that Accent Color's technology does not conflict with existing enforceable patents. Although patents may be issued to Accent Color as a result of patent applications it has filed, Accent Color's technology may fall within the scope of existing enforceable patents. There can be no assurance that the steps taken by the Company to protect its proprietary rights will be adequate to prevent misappropriation of its technology or independent development by others of similar technology. In addition, the laws of some foreign countries do not protect the Company's proprietary rights to the same extent as do the laws of the U.S. There can be no assurance that these protections will be adequate. The Company has an exclusive right, under an agreement with Spectra, to supply products including Spectra's ink jet printheads in the worldwide market for printing color on the output from specified high-speed, black-on-white printers marketed by Xerox, IBM, Oce and certain other parties through December 31, 2002. The Company also has an option to renew this agreement for an additional seven year term. To the extent that wax-based inks and ink jet printheads purchased from Spectra are covered under patents or licenses, the Company relies on Spectra's rights under such patents and licenses and Spectra's willingness and ability to enforce its patents and maintain its licenses. There can be no assurance that Spectra will be willing or able to enforce its patents and maintain its licenses and any such unwillingness or inability could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations. Although the Company believes that its products and technology do not infringe any existing proprietary rights of others, there can be no assurance that third parties will not assert such claims against the Company in the future or that such future claims will not be successful. The Company could incur substantial costs and diversion of management resources with respect to the defense of any claims relating to proprietary rights, which could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations. Furthermore, parties making such claims could secure a judgment awarding substantial damages, as well as injunctive or other equitable relief, which could effectively block the Company's ability to make, use, sell, distribute or market its products and services in the U.S. or abroad. Such a judgment could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations. In the event a claim relating to proprietary technology or information is asserted against the Company, the Company may seek licenses to such intellectual property. There can be no assurance, however, that such a license could be obtained on commercially reasonable terms, if at all, or that the terms of any offered licenses will be acceptable to the Company. The failure to obtain the necessary licenses or other rights could preclude the sale, manufacture or distribution of the Company's products and, therefore, could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations. The cost of responding to any such claim may be material, whether or not the assertion of such claim is valid. Difficulties in Managing Rapid Growth Since inception, the Company has experienced rapid growth, which has placed a significant strain on the Company's (i) administrative, operational and financial personnel, (ii) management information systems, (iii) manufacturing operations and (iv) other resources. The Company's future development plans anticipate additional management, operating and financial resources. For example, the Company intends to significantly increase production capacity, create new marketing programs, hire additional personnel and develop further enhancements to the Company's products. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to successfully implement its business strategy, that operations will generate sufficient cash flow, or that adequate financing will be available on acceptable terms to fund continuing growth, or that management will successfully manage continued growth. The failure to manage growth effectively may have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations. Dependence on Key Personnel The business of the Company is substantially dependent on the capabilities and services of a number of key technical and managerial personnel, including Richard J. Coburn, its Chairman, and Norman L. Milliard, its President and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Coburn has an employment agreement with the Company which has a term that expires at the end of 1998. Mr. Milliard entered into a three-year contract with the Company at the end of 1994 which is automatically extended each year for one year unless Mr. Milliard or the Company gives notice prior to the year end. Both Mr. Coburn and Mr. Milliard may terminate the employment relationship with the Company at any time with no penalty other than the loss of future compensation. The loss of the services of Messrs. Coburn or Milliard or other key personnel could have a material adverse effect upon the business of the Company. The Company has keyman life insurance on Messrs. Coburn and Milliard in the amount of $1,000,000 each. There can be no assurance, however, that the Company will continue such insurance coverage or that such amount is sufficient. The Company's future success will further depend on both its ability to retain key personnel and its ability to attract qualified personnel. Competition for qualified personnel is intense, and there can be no assurance that the Company will be successful in hiring or retaining them. The inability of the Company to retain key personnel or attract qualified personnel may have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations. Competition The Company expects to encounter varying degrees of competition in the markets in which it competes. The Company competes, in significant part, on the basis of advanced proprietary technology in the areas of paper handling, ink jet color printing and interface software which allows the Company's products to print variable data, in multiple standard and custom colors at high speeds. Competition to supply color printing is fragmented. The Xerox 4890 (a similar product is also marketed by Xerox as the DocuTech 390HC) is a spot color printer which prints in black and one color per job (out of a limited palette). It is capable of printing 92 pages per minute but does not offer custom colors. BESTE Bunch Systems markets a color offset press used as a downstream add-on to an Oce or IBM high-speed, black-on-white printer. While providing color logos and fixed data, it does not offer variable data, requires longer time to set up, and is more labor intensive. It also requires additional processes of negative production and plate making. There are production full process color printers available which have relatively high per page print costs and operate at much lower speeds than those required by typical production printing, making them impractical for high-speed print jobs. However, many of the companies that may compete with the Company in the future have longer operating histories and significantly greater financial, technical, sales, marketing and other resources, as well as greater name recognition than the Company. In addition to direct competition from other firms utilizing high-speed color technologies, there exists potential direct competition from firms improving technologies used in low-speed to medium-speed color printers and indirect competition from firms producing pre-printed forms. Products or product improvements based on new technologies could be introduced by other companies with little or no advance notice. Manufacturers of high-speed, black-on-white printers may also, in time, develop comparable or more effective color capability within their own products which may render the Company's products obsolete. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to compete against future competitors successfully or that competitive pressures faced by the Company will not have a material adverse effect upon its business, financial condition and results of operations. Risks Associated with International Operations The Company intends to have its products marketed worldwide and therefore may enter into contracts with foreign companies. International sales are subject to certain inherent risks, including unexpected changes in regulatory requirements, tariffs and other trade barriers, fluctuations in exchange rates, credit risks, government controls, political instability, longer payment cycles, increased difficulties in collecting accounts receivable and potentially adverse tax consequences. There can be no assurance that these factors will not have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations. Dividends The Company has not declared or paid dividends on its common stock in the past and does not anticipate declaring or paying any dividends in the foreseeable future. Environmental Regulation The Company is subject to regulation under various federal, state and local laws relating to the environment and to employee safety and health. These environmental regulations relate to the generation, storage, transportation, disposal and emission of various substances into the environment. The Company cannot predict the environmental legislation or regulations that may be enacted in the future or how existing or future laws or regulations will be administered or interpreted. Compliance with more stringent laws or regulations, as well as more vigorous enforcement policies of the regulatory agencies or stricter interpretation of existing laws, may require additional expenditures by the Company, some or all of which may be material. Potential Adverse Impact of Anti-takeover Provisions on Market Price of Shares The Company's Restated Certificate of Incorporation contains provisions that could discourage a proxy contest or make more difficult the acquisition of a substantial block of the Company's Common Stock. The Restated Certificate of Incorporation provides for a classified Board of Directors, and members of the Board of Directors may be removed only upon the affirmative vote of holders of at least two-thirds of the shares of capital stock of the Company issued and outstanding and entitled to vote. In addition, the Board of Directors is authorized to issue shares of Common Stock and Preferred Stock which, if issued, could dilute and adversely affect various rights of the holders of shares of Common Stock and, in addition, could be used to discourage an unsolicited attempt to acquire control of the Company. The Company is subject to the Connecticut Business Corporation Act (the "Connecticut Act"), some provisions of which prohibit a publicly held Connecticut corporation from engaging in a "business combination" (including the issuance of equity securities which have an aggregate market value of 5% or more of the total market value of the outstanding shares of the Company) with an "interested shareholder" (as defined in the Connecticut Act) for a period of five years from the date of the shareholder's purchase of stock unless approved in a prescribed manner. The application of this statute could prevent a change of control of the Company. Generally, approval is required by the Board of Directors and by a majority of the non-employee directors of the Company and by 80% of the outstanding voting shares of the Company and two-thirds of the voting power of the outstanding shares of the voting stock other than shares held by the interested shareholder. There can be no assurance that these provisions will not prevent the Company from entering into a business combination that otherwise would be beneficial to the Company. The Connecticut Act also requires that any action of the stockholders of the Company taken by written consent without a meeting must be unanimous. SELLING STOCKHOLDERS The following table shows (i) the name of the Selling Stockholders (ii) the number of shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by each Selling Stockholder or issuable upon the exercise of currently outstanding warrants prior to the sale of shares registered hereby, (iii) the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock to be sold by each from time to time pursuant to this Prospectus, and (iv) the number of shares beneficially owned after the sale of all shares registered hereby: Name of Selling Shares Beneficially Shares to be Shares Stockholder Owned Prior to Sold in the Owned After the Offering Offering the Offering Xerox Corporation 425,000 425,000 0 ProFutures Special Equity Fund, L.P. 187,648 187,648 0 Gary H. Halbert 73,056 73,056 0 FT Trading Corp. 73,056 73,056 0 Elara Ltd. 182,648 182,648 0 Brian Leung Hung Tak 182,648 182,648 0 Bexley Enterprises Limited 182,648 182,648 0 Luzon Investments LTD. 365,296 365,296 Gregory A. Robertshaw 36,528 36,528 0 Steven C. & Elizabeth A. Widman 9,132 9,132 0 Albert G. Nickel 18,264 18,264 0 Joseph P. Crugnale 36,528 36,528 0 E. Buckley Griswold 18,264 18,264 0 C.R. Welling 18,264 18,264 0 Kevin G. Kett 18,264 18,264 0 David B. Payne 9,132 9,132 0 Russell D. Barnard 9,132 9,132 0 Ivy M. Leverone 9,132 9,132 0 Kathleen M. Donovan 18,264 18,264 0 James T. Roberto 18,264 18,264 0 Kristine Szabo 36,528 36,528 0 Deed of Trust of Frank J. Campbell, TTL 22,912 22,912 0 Kristen M. Hansen 13,476 13,476 0 Penelope S. Hansen c/f Jennifer Hansen 13,476 13,476 0 Penelope s. Hansen c/f Mark Hansen 13,476 13,476 0 Richard A. Hansen, II 13,476 13,476 0 Ronald B. Mandell 20,216 20,216 0 Irving L. Mazer, Esq. 45,221 45,221 0 Irving L. Mazer, Esq. Special Account 5,020 5,020 0 Draper & Co. FBO PMG 401K 44,480 44,480 0 Jack Silver 80,876 80,876 0 Charles Robins 12,332 12,332 0 Arnold A. Phipps 18,000 18,000 0 Rush & Co. 12,300 12,300 0 Dr. Gershon Stern 35,000 35,000 0 Peter D. Kamenstein 12,498 12,498 0 Gary Hindes, Trustee 9,000 9,000 0 MarketCorp Ventures L.P. 67,500 67,500 0 Newport Advisors 35,000 35,000 0 Frank J. Campbell III 12,501 12,501 0 Frank J. Campbell III & Richard A. Hansen T/U/W Jane D. Campbell 24,999 24,999 0 James J. Kim 37,500 37,500 0 Agnes C. Kim 37,500 37,500 0 Bryanston Asset Management LTD Pension Fund Account 6,000 6,000 0 Barclays Bank Guernsey 15,000 15,000 0 Finemost LTD 15,000 15,000 0 USE OF PROCEEDS All the shares offered hereby are being offered for the account of the Selling Stockholders. Accordingly the Company will not receive any proceeds of any sales made hereunder. PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION The Company has been advised by the Selling Stockholders that they intend to sell all or a portion of the shares offered hereby from time to time in the Nasdaq National Market and that sales will be made at prices prevailing in the market at the times of such sales. The Selling Stockholders may also make private sales directly or through a broker or brokers, who may act as agent or as principal. In connection with any sales, the Selling Stockholders and any brokers participating in such sales may be deemed to be "underwriters" within the meaning of the Securities Act. The Company will receive no proceeds from sales made hereunder. Any broker-dealer participating in such transactions as agent may receive commissions from the Selling Stockholders (and, if they act as agent for the purchaser of such shares, from such purchaser). Usual and customary brokerage fees will be paid by the Selling Stockholders. Broker-dealers may agree with the Selling Stockholders to sell a specified number of shares at a stipulated price per share, and, to the extent such a broker-dealer is unable to do so acting as agent for the Selling Stockholders, to purchase as principal any unsold shares at the price required to fulfill the broker-dealer commitment to the Selling Stockholders. Broker-dealers who acquire shares as principal may thereafter resell such shares from time to time in transactions (which may involve crosses and block transactions and which may involve sales to and through other broker-dealers, including transactions of the nature described above) in the Nasdaq National Market, in negotiated transactions or otherwise at market prices prevailing at the time of sale or at negotiated prices, and in connection with such resales may pay to or receive from the purchasers of such shares commissions computed as described above. The Company has advised the Selling Stockholders that the anti-manipulative Rules of Regulation M promulgated by the Commission may apply to their respective sales in the market, has furnished the Selling Stockholders with a copy of these Rules and has informed them of the need for delivery of copies of this Prospectus. The Selling Stockholders may indemnify any broker-dealer that participates in transactions involving the sale of the shares against certain liabilities, including liabilities arising under the Securities Act. Any commissions paid or any discounts or concessions allowed to any such broker-dealers, and any profits received on the resale of such shares, may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act if any such broker-dealers purchase shares as principal. Any securities covered by this Prospectus that qualify for sale pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act may be sold under that Rule rather than pursuant to this Prospectus. There can be no assurance that the Selling Stockholders will sell any or all of the shares of Common Stock offered by them hereunder. LEGAL MATTERS Counsel for the Company, Murtha, Cullina, Richter and Pinney, CityPlace I, 185 Asylum Street, Hartford, Connecticut 06103-3469, has rendered an opinion to the effect that the Common Stock offered for resale hereby is duly and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. Willard F. Pinney, Jr., a partner in such firm, is a stockholder of the Company as well as Corporate Secretary and a Director. EXPERTS The financial statements incorporated in this Prospectus by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Accent Color Sciences, Inc. for the year ended December 31, 1996 have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of Price Waterhouse LLP, independent accountants, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION The Company has filed with the Commission a Registration Statement on Form S-3, under the Securities Act, with respect to the shares of Common Stock offered hereby. This Prospectus does not contain all of the information set forth in the Registration Statement and the exhibits thereto. For further information with respect to the Company and the Common Stock offered hereby, reference is made to the Registration Statement and the exhibits filed therewith or incorporated by reference. Statements contained in this Prospectus regarding the contents of any contract or any other document referred to are necessarily incomplete, and in each instance reference is made to the copy of such contract or other document filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement or otherwise filed with the Commission, each statement being qualified in all respects by such reference. The Registration Statement may be inspected without charge at the offices of the Commission at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, and copies of all or any part thereof may be obtained from such office upon the payment of the fees prescribed by the Commission. ACCENT COLOR SCIENCES, INC. REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-3 PART II INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS ITEM 14. OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION. AMOUNT - ---------- Registration Fees--Securities and Exchange Commission $ 1,998.52 Legal Fees and Expenses... 10,000.00* Accounting Fees and Expenses... 7,500.00* TOTAL............................................$19,498.52 *Estimated. The Company shall pay reasonable legal and accounting fees, filing and registration fees of the Registration. The Selling Stockholder shall pay all commissions, transfer taxes, and the fees and expenses of counsel to the Selling Stockholders. ITEM 15. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS. The Company is a Connecticut corporation. Sections 33-770 through 33-778 of the Connecticut Act provide that, unless limited by its certificate of incorporation, a corporation shall indemnify any director or officer of the corporation against reasonable expenses incurred by him in connection with any action, suit or proceeding in which he is made or is threatened to be made a party by reason of having been a director or officer of the corporation if he was wholly successful in the action, on the merits or otherwise. In addition, such sections of the Connecticut Act allow a corporation by action of the Board of Directors to indemnify an individual made a party to a proceeding because he was a director or officer of the corporation if: (1) he conducted himself in good faith, and (2) he reasonably believed (A) in the case of conduct in his official capacity with the corporation, his conduct was in the best interests of the corporation and (B) in all other cases, that his conduct was at least not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and (3) in the case of any criminal proceeding, he had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. Section 33-771 also provides, however, that a corporation may not indemnify a director or officer (1) in connection with a proceeding by or in the right of the corporation in which the director or officer was adjudged liable to the corporation or (2) in connection with any other proceeding charging improper personal benefit to the director or officer in which he was adjudged liable on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received by him, whether or not the action involved was taken in his official capacity. The Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company includes a provision limiting the personal liability of a director to the Company or its shareholders for monetary damages for breach of duty as a director, to an amount equal to the amount of compensation received by the Director for serving the Company during the calendar year in which the violation occurred, subject to a number of exceptions, including violations involving a knowing and culpable violation of law, a breach of duty which enables a director or an associate to receive an improper personal gain, conduct showing a lack of good faith and conscious disregard of duty to the Company, a sustained and unexcused pattern of inattention, or the approval of an illegal distribution of assets of the Company to its shareholders. An associate of a director, in terms of improper personal gains, is defined as (A) any corporation or organization of which a Company director is an officer or partner or is, directly or indirectly, the beneficial owner of ten percent or more of any class of voting stock, (B) any trust or other estate in which a Company director has at least ten percent beneficial interest or as to which a Company director serves as trustee or in a similar fiduciary capacity and (C) any relative or spouse of a Company director, or any relative of such spouse who has the same name as the Company director. In addition, the Company also maintains a directors' and officers' insurance and reimbursement policy. Item 16. EXHIBITS. 3 (ii) Bylaws of the Registrant, as amended December 29, 1997 5 Opinion of Murtha, Cullina, Richter and Pinney 23 (i) Consent of Murtha, Cullina, Richter and Pinney (included in the opinion under Exhibit 5) 23 (ii) Consent of Price Waterhouse LLP 24 Power of Attorney pursuant to which this Registration Statement is signed by certain Directors Item 17. UNDERTAKINGS. The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes: (1) to file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement: (i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933, to the extent that the information required to be included in the post-effective amendment is not contained in periodic reports filed by the Company with or furnished to the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d)of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and incorporated by reference herein; (ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the Registration Statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the Registration Statement, to the extent that the information required to be included in the post-effective amendment is not contained in periodic reports filed by the Company with or furnished to the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d)of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and incorporated by reference herein; and (iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration Statement or any material change to such information in the Registration Statement. (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering. The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that is incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue. SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of East Hartford, State of Connecticut on this 30th day of December 1997. ACCENT COLOR SCIENCES, INC. By: /s/ Norman L. Milliard Title: President, Chief Executive Officer and Director Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated. Signature Title Date President, Chief December 30, 1997 /s/ Norman L. Milliard Executive Officer - -------------------------- (Principal Norman L. Milliard Executive Officer) and Director /s/ Patrick J. Pedonti - ------------------------- Chief Financial Officer December 30,1997 Patrick J. Pedonti and Treasurer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) * Director - December 30, 1997 - ------------------------- Richard J. Coburn * Director - - ------------------------- Richard Hodgson * Director - - -------------------------- Willard F. Pinney, Jr. * Director - - -------------------------- Robert H. Steele /s/ Norman L. Milliard December 30, 1997 - --------------------------- Norman L. Milliard, Attorney-in-Fact * Signature by Attorney-in-Fact Exhibit index 3 (ii) Bylaws of the Registrant, as amended December 29, 1997 5 Opinion of Murtha, Cullina, Richter and Pinney 23 (i) Consent of Murtha, Cullina, Richter and Pinney (included in the opinion under Exhibit 5 23 (ii)Consent of Price Waterhouse LLP 24 Power of Attorney pursuant to which this Registration Statement is signed by certain Directors EX-3 2 BYLAWS OF ACCENT COLOR SCIENCES, INC. Adopted May 21, 1993, as amended through December 29, 1996 INDEX TO BYLAWS ARTICLE I - Name and Location Section 1.1 - Name Section 1.2 - Principal Office Section 1.3 - Change of Office ARTICLE II - Meetings of Stockholders Section 2.1 - Place and Notice Section 2.2 - Annual Meetings Section 2.3 - Special Meetings Section 2.4 - Quorum Section 2.5 - Order of Business Section 2.6 - Consents ARTICLE III Board of Directors Section 3.1 - Number, Election and Term of Office Section 3.2 - Directors' Meetings Section 3.3 - Notice of Meetings Section 3.4 - Consents Section 3.5 - Quorum Section 3.6 - Voting Section 3.7 - Compensation Section 3.8 - Vacancies Section 3.9 - Removal of Directors ARTICLE IV - Officers Section 4.1 - Officers and Qualifications Section 4.2 - Chairman Section 4.3 - President Section 4.4 - Vice President Section 4.5 - Treasurer Section 4.6 - Assistant Treasurer Section 4.7 - Secretary Section 4.8 - Assistant Secretary Section 4.9 - Term of Office Section 4.10 - Compensation ARTICLE V - Seal Section 5.1 - Seal ARTICLE VI - Certificates of Stock Section 6.1 - Description of Stock Certificates Section 6.2 - Transfer of Stock ARTICLE VII - Dividends Section 7.1 - When Declared ARTICLE VIII - Bills, Notes, Etc. Section 8.1 - How Made ARTICLE IX - Contract in Which Directors Have an Interest Section 9.1 - Validity of Contracts and Liability of Directors ARTICLE X - Waiver of Notice Section 10.1 - Authority to Waive Notice ARTICLE XI - Books and Records; Fiscal Year Section 11.1 - Books and Records Section 11.2 - Power to Establish Fiscal Year ARTICLE XII - Amendments Section 12.1 - Amendments ARTICLE XIII - Committees Section 13.1 - Committees BYLAWS OF ACCENT COLOR SCIENCES, INC. ARTICLE I Name and Location Section 1.1 - Name. The name of the corporation shall be ACCENT COLOR SCIENCES, INC. Section 1.2 - Principal Office. The principal office of the corporation shall be at such place in the Town of East Hartford in the State of Connecticut as the Board of Directors shall from time to time designate. The corporation may have such other offices within or without the State of Connecticut as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine. Section 1.3 - Change of Office. The Board of Directors may, from time to time, designate such other place or places as the principal office and for the transaction of corporate business as it may determine. ARTICLE II Meetings of Shareholders Section 2.1 - Place and Notice. All meetings of Shareholders shall be held either at the principal office of the corporation or at such other place, either within or without the State of Connecticut, as may be designated by the Directors. The Secretary shall serve personally or by mail a written notice, not less than three (3) days nor more than fifty (50) days before such meeting, addressed to each Shareholder at the Shareholder's address as it appears on the stock book; but at any meeting at which all Shareholders shall be present and at which no Shareholder objects to the lack of notice, or at any meeting where all not present have waived notice in writing, the notice requirement shall be waived. Section 2.2 - Annual Meetings. The Annual Meeting of Shareholders of the corporation shall be held in May of each year, or in such other month and at such time and place as the Directors shall determine. Section 2.3 - Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Shareholders other than those regulated by Statute may be called at any time by a majority of the Directors or by the President and must be called by the President upon written request of the holders of not less than one-tenth (1/10) of the voting power of all shares entitled to vote at such special meeting. Notice of such meeting shall be given as provided in Section 2.1. The purpose for which such meeting is called shall be stated in the notice and no business other than that specified in the call for the meeting shall be transacted at any special meeting of the Shareholders. Section 2.4 - Quorum. The presence, in person or by proxy, of the holders of fifty-one percent (51%) of the voting power of all shares entitled to vote shall be necessary to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, provided, however, if a quorum is not present a majority of the voting power of the shares entitled to vote represented at the meeting may adjourn to some future time, not less than three (3) days later, and the Secretary shall give at least two (2) days' notice by mail to each Shareholder entitled to vote who was absent from such meeting. Section 2.7 - Order of Business. The order of business at all meetings of the Shareholders (unless otherwise specified in the notice of meeting or determined by the Directors) shall be as follows: 1. Roll call 2. Proof of notice of meeting or waiver of notice 3. Reading of minutes of preceding meeting 4. Reports of officers 5. Reports of committees 6. Ratification 7. Election of Directors 8. Unfinished Business 9. New Business Section 2.8 - Consents. Whenever the vote of Shareholders is required to be taken at a meeting in connection with any corporate action, the meeting and the vote of Shareholders may be dispensed with if all the Shareholders who would have been entitled to vote upon the action, if such meeting were held, shall consent in writing to such corporate actions being taken. ARTICLE III Board of Directors Section 3.1 - Number, Election and Term of Office. The property, business and affairs of the corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of a Board of Directors comprising not less than three (3) nor more than fifteen (15) directorships in number, except that if the corporation shall at any time have less than three (3) shareholders, the number of directorships may be decreased to a number not less than the number of shareholders. The actual number of directorships shall be fixed from time to time by resolution of the shareholders or the directors or, in the absence thereof, shall be the number of directors elected at the preceding annual meeting of shareholders. Directors standing for election shall be elected by the shareholders at the annual meeting, and it shall not be a qualification of office that the directors be shareholders or residents of the State of Connecticut. Each director shall hold office for the term for which he or she is elected and until his or her successor has been elected and qualified, except that a director shall cease to be in office upon his or her death, resignation, lawful removal or court order decreeing that he or she is no longer a director in office. Section 3.2 - Directors' Meetings. An Annual Meeting of the Board of Directors shall be held immediately following the Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Regular meetings may be held at such intervals as the Board of Directors may determine. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the Chairman of the Board and/or the President at any time and shall be called by the President or Secretary upon the written request of one (1) Director. Section 3.3 - Notice of Meetings. Notice of meetings other than the Annual Meetings shall be given by service upon each Director in person or by mailing to such Director, at his or her last known post office address, at least three (3) days before the date designated for such meeting, including the day of mailing, a written or printed notice specifying the time and place of such meeting and the business to be brought before the meeting; and no business other than that specified in such notice shall be transacted at any such special meeting. At any meeting at which every member of the Board of Directors shall be present and at which no Director objects to the lack of notice, or at which Directors not present have waived notice in writing, the notice requirement shall be waived, and any business may be transacted which might have been transacted if the meeting had been duly called. Section 3.4 - Consents. Whenever the vote of Directors is required to be taken at a meeting in connection with any corporate action, the meeting and the vote of Directors may be dispensed with if all the Directors who would have been entitled to vote upon the action, if such meeting were held, shall consent in writing to such corporate actions being taken. Section 3.5 - Quorum. At any meeting of the Board of Directors, a majority of the then current Directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, but in the event of a quorum not being present, a lesser number may adjourn the meeting to some future time, not more than ten (10) days later. Section 3.6 - Voting. At all meetings of the Board of Directors, each Director is to have one vote, irrespective of the number of shares of stock held by that Director. At all meetings of the Board of Directors, all questions, the determination of which is not specifically regulated by statute, shall be decided by a majority vote of the total number of Directorships of the corporation. Section 3.7 - Compensation. Each Director shall be entitled to receive, for attendance at each meeting of the Board or of any duly constituted committee of the Board such fee as is fixed by the Board from time to time. Section 3.8 - Vacancies. A vacancy on the Board occurring between Annual Meetings may be filled for the unexpired portion of the term by an individual elected by a majority of the remaining Directors, or the sole remaining Director. Section 3.9 - Removal of Directors. No Director shall be removed except by the affirmative vote of two-thirds (2/3) or more of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the corporation entitled to vote for the election of directors generally. ARTICLE IV Officers Section 4.1 - Officers and Qualifications. The directors shall elect a Chairman, a President, and a Secretary, and such other officers as the Board of Directors may from time to time appoint, which may include one or more Vice Presidents, a Treasurer, and Assistant Treasurers and Assistant Secretaries. Any two or more offices may be held by the same person except the offices of President and Secretary. The duties of officers of the corporation shall be such as are prescribed by these Bylaws and as may be prescribed by the directors. Section 4.2 - Chairman. The Chairman shall preside at all meetings of the directors and of the stockholders and unless the directors otherwise determine, he or she shall be the chief executive officer of the corporation. As chief executive officer, he or she shall have general control and management of the corporation's business and affairs, subject to the direction of the Board of Directors. He or she shall consult with and advise the President concerning the operations of the corporation. The Chairman shall perform such additional duties as may be assigned to him or her from time to time by the Board of Directors. Section 4.3 - President. The President shall perform all duties incident to the office of President and shall have full authority and responsibility for the operation of the business of the corporation, subject to the direction of the Board of Director and the chief executive officer. In the event of the absence or disability of the Chairman, the President shall perform the duties and have the power of the Chairman. The President shall perform such additional duties as may be assigned to him or her from time to time by the Board of Directors or the chief executive officer. Section 4.4 - Vice President. Each Vice President, if any, shall assist the President in the performance of his or her duties and shall perform such duties as may from time to time be assigned to him or her by the Board of Directors or delegated to him by the President. In case of the death, disability or absence of the President, the Vice President, if any, or, if there shall be more than one, the Vice Presidents, in the order of seniority or in any other order determined by the Board, shall perform the duties and exercise the powers of the President. Section 4.5 - Treasurer. The Treasurer, if any, shall have charge and custody of and be responsible for all funds and securities of the corporation, keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements and other customary financial records of the corporation, deposit all moneys and valuable effects in the name and to the credit of the corporation in depositories designated by the Board of Directors and, in general, perform such other duties as may from time to time be assigned to him or her by the Board of Directors or by the Chief Executive Officer or as are incident to the office of Treasurer. Section 4.6 - Assistant Treasurer. The Assistant Treasurer, if any, shall assist the Treasurer in the performance of the Treasurer's duties and shall carry out the duties of the Treasurer whenever the Treasurer is unable to perform such duties. There may be more than one Assistant Treasurer. Section 4.7 - Secretary. The Secretary shall keep a book of minutes of all meetings of shareholders and the Board of Directors and shall issue all notices required by law or by these bylaws, and he or she shall discharge all other duties required of a corporate secretary by law or imposed from time to time by the Board of Directors or by the chief executive officer or as are incident to the office of Secretary. He or she shall have the custody of the seal of the corporation and all books, records and papers of the corporation, except such as shall be in the charge of the Treasurer or of some other person authorized to have custody and possession thereof by a resolution of the Board of Directors. Section 4.8 - Assistant Secretary. The Assistant Secretary, if any, shall assist the Secretary in the performance of the Secretary's duties and shall carry out the duties of the Secretary whenever the Secretary is unable to perform such duties. There may be more than one Assistant Secretary. Section 4.9 - Term of Office. Each of such officers shall serve for the term of one year and until his or her successor is duly appointed and qualified, but any officer may be removed by the Board of Directors at any time with or without cause. Vacancies among the officers by reason of death, resignation or other causes shall be filled by the Board of Directors. Section 4.10 - Compensation. The compensation of all officers shall be fixed by the Board of Directors, and may be changed from time to time by a majority vote of the Board. ARTICLE V Seal Section 5.1 - Seal. The seal of the corporation shall be the name of the corporation encircled about the words "Seal" and "Connecticut," in such form as adopted by the Board of Directors. ARTICLE VI Certificates of Stock Section 6.1 - Description of Stock Certificates. The certificates of stock shall be bound in a book and shall be numbered, registered and issued in consecutive order. There shall be entered the names and addresses of the persons owning the shares thereby represented, with the number of shares and the date of issue. Such certificates shall exhibit the name of the corporation, a statement that the corporation is organized under the laws of Connecticut, the holder's name, the number, class and designation of series of shares, the date of issue and the par value of such shares or a notation that they are without par value. They shall be signed by the President or Vice President and Secretary or Assistant Secretary or Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer and sealed with the seal of the corporation. Section 6.2 - Transfer of Stock. The stock of the corporation shall be assignable and transferable on the books of the corporation only by the person in whose name it appears on said books or his legal representatives. In case of transfer by attorney, the power of attorney, duly executed and acknowledged, shall be deposited with the Secretary. In all cases of transfer, the former certificates must be surrendered up and cancelled before the new certificate may be issued, unless the transferor files a sworn affidavit with the Secretary of the corporation stating that any missing certificates have been mislaid or lost and agrees that he will indemnify the corporation from loss should it issue a new certificate based upon such affidavit. No transfer shall be made upon the books of the corporation within ten (10) days next preceding the Annual Meeting of Shareholders. ARTICLE VII Dividends Section 7.1 - When Declared. The Board of Directors, in its discretion, may by vote declare and pay dividends out of unreserved and unrestricted earned surplus of the corporation. ARTICLE VIII Bills, Notes, Etc. Section 8.1 - How Made. All bills payable, notes, checks or other negotiable instruments of the corporation shall be made in the name of the corporation and shall be signed by those persons designated by resolution of the Board of Directors. No officer, either singly or jointly with others, shall have the power to make any bills payable, notes, checks, drafts or warrants or other negotiable instruments or endorse the same in the name of the corporation or contract or cause to be contracted any debt or liability in the name or in behalf of the corporation, unless expressly authorized by resolution of the Board of Directors. ARTICLE IX Contracts in Which Directors Have an Interest Section 9.1 - Validity of Contracts and Liability of Directors. A contract or transaction between a corporation and a Director or a member of his immediate family or between the corporation and another corporation or organization in which a Director and his immediate family have a substantial interest, or between the corporation and another corporation having common Directors or officers, shall not be voidable and such Director shall not incur any liability merely because of the Director's interest, family relationship, or position as a Director or officer in the contracting corporation if (a) such interest, family relationship, or position is fully disclosed, the contract or transaction is not unfair to the corporation and the contract or transaction is authorized by all of the Directors not having an interest in the transaction; or (b) such interest is fully disclosed and the contract or transaction is approved by a majority of the voting power of the shares entitled to vote thereon; or (c) the contract or transaction is not with the Director or a member of his immediate family, personally, and the contract or transaction is not unfair to the corporation or it has been approved by a majority of the voting power of the shares entitled to vote thereon; or (d) the contract or transaction is fair to the corporation. ARTICLE X Waiver of Notice Section 10.1 - Authority to Waive Notice. Whenever under the provisions of these Bylaws or of any Statute, any Shareholder or Director is entitled to notice of any regular or special meeting or of any action to be taken by the corporation, such meeting may be held or such action may be taken without the giving of such notice, provided every Shareholder or Director entitled to such notice waives such notice. The attendance of any person at a meeting without protesting, prior to or at the commencement of the meeting, the lack of proper notice shall be deemed to be a waiver of notice of such meeting. ARTICLE XI Books and Records; Fiscal Year Section 11.1 - Books and Records. There shall be kept correct and complete books and records of account and minutes of the proceedings of the corporation's incorporators, Shareholders, and committees of Directors. There shall also be maintained at the principal office of the corporation, a record of the corporation's Shareholders, giving the names and addresses of all Shareholders and the number and class of shares held by each. Section 11.2 - Power to Establish Fiscal Year. The Board of Directors shall have power to fix and from time to time to change the fiscal year of the corporation. ARTICLE XII Amendments Section 12.1 - Amendments. The bylaws of the corporation may be altered, amended or repealed at any validly called and convened meeting of the Board of Directors by the affirmative vote of directors holding a majority of the number of directorships at the time, or at any validly called and convened meeting of the shareholders by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of shares entitled to vote thereon, or by the unanimous written consent of the Board of Directors, or by the unanimous written consent of the holders of the shares entitled to vote thereon. Any notice of a meeting of shareholder or the Board of Directors at which bylaws are to be adopted, amended or repealed shall include notice of such proposed action. ARTICLE XIII Committees Section 13.1 - Committees. The Board of Directors may, by resolution adopted by the affirmative vote of directors holding a majority of the directorships, at a meeting at which a quorum is present, designate two or more directors to constitute an Executive Committee or other committees, and may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any such committees, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. Any such committee shall have and may exercise all such authority of the Board of Directors as shall be delegated to it in such resolution or thereafter by similar resolution. EX-5 3 Securities and Exchange Commission December 29, 1997 Page 1 December 29, 1997 Securities and Exchange Commission 450 Fifth Street, N.W. Judiciary Plaza Washington, D.C. 20549 Re: Accent Color Sciences, Inc. Ladies and Gentlemen: We have acted as counsel for Accent Color Sciences, Inc., a Connecticut corporation ("the Company"), in connection with the registration by the Company of up to an aggregate of 2,550,455 shares of the Company's common stock, without par value (the "Common Stock"), for the account of certain security holders of the Company (the "Registration") as described in the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the "Registration Statement") being filed this date under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. In connection with the following opinion, we have reviewed the Registration Statement and are familiar with the action taken by the Company to date with respect to the approval and authorization of the Registration. We have examined originals, or copies, certified or otherwise authenticated to our satisfaction, of such corporate records of the Company, agreements and other instruments, certificates of public officials, officers and representatives of the Company and such other documents as we have deemed necessary as a basis for the opinion hereinafter expressed. We are furnishing this opinion in connection with the filing of the Registration Statement. Based upon the foregoing, we are of the opinion that, upon the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, the shares of Common Stock proposed to be registered by the Company under the Registration Statement will be, when sold, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. We hereby consent to the inclusion of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the reference to our firm under the caption "Legal Matters" in the prospectus constituting a part of the Registration Statement. Very truly yours, MURTHA, CULLINA, RICHTER AND PINNEY By /s/ Willard F. Pinney, Jr. Willard F. Pinney, Jr. A Partner EX-23 4 CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Prospectus constituting part of the Registration Statement on Form S-3 of our report dated February 26, 1997, except as to Note 13, which is as of March 27, 1997 appearing on page 16 of Accent Color Sciences, Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1996. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading "Experts" in such Prospectus. /s/ Price Waterhouse LLP Hartford, CT December 30, 1997 EX-24 5 POWER OF ATTORNEY KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each of the undersigned does hereby appoint and constitute Richard J. Coburn and Norman L. Milliard and each of them as his agent and attorney-in- fact to execute in his name, place and stead (whether on behalf of the undersigned individually or as an officer or director of Accent Color Sciences, Inc. or otherwise) a Registration Statement on Form S-3 of Accent Color Sciences, Inc. respecting the registration of shares of Common Stock of certain stockholders of Accent Color Sciences, Inc. and to file such Registration Statement and any such amendment thereto with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Each of the said attorneys shall have the power to act hereunder with or without the other. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this instrument this 26th day of December, 1997. /s/ Richard J. Coburn /s/ Richard Hodgson Richard J. Coburn Richard Hodgson /s/ Norman L. Milliard /s/ Robert H. Steele Norman L. Milliard Robert H. Steele /s/ Willard F. Pinney, Jr. Willard F. Pinney, Jr. -----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----