-----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, FlQqdjycUi26KXkxCMdhQPPa+9O6nhSFLqS1+AACiCgtYRxiZF7oab5jjm2DIbz2 f1Xhja8RSDwJFKemcxowMg== 0000931763-97-000543.txt : 19970411 0000931763-97-000543.hdr.sgml : 19970411 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000931763-97-000543 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 10-K/A PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 1 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 19961231 FILED AS OF DATE: 19970410 SROS: NASD FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: LAW COMPANIES GROUP INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000853323 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: SERVICES-MANAGEMENT CONSULTING SERVICES [8742] IRS NUMBER: 580537111 STATE OF INCORPORATION: GA FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 10-K/A SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 000-19239 FILM NUMBER: 97578043 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 114 TOWNPARK DRIVE STE 500 CITY: KENNESAW STATE: GA ZIP: 30144 BUSINESS PHONE: 7704213400 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 114 TOWN PARK DRIVE CITY: KENNESAW STATE: GA ZIP: 30144 10-K/A 1 AMENDED ANNUAL REPORT SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 FORM 10-K/A NO. 1 X Annual Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange ___ Act of 1934 (Fee required ) For the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996. ___ Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (No fee required) For the transition period from ___________ to ______________. Commission file number 0-19239 LAW COMPANIES GROUP, INC - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) Georgia 58-0537111 - ------------------------------- --------------------------------- (State or other jurisdiction of (IRS Employer Identification No.) incorporated or organization) 114 Townpark Drive, Kennesaw, GA 30144 - ---------------------------------------- ---------- (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code) Registrant's telephone number, including area code 770-396-8000 Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: None Securities pursuant to section 12(g) of the Act: Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share - --------------------------------------- (Title of class) Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes X No --- --- Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (Paragraph 229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant's knowledge in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K [X]. The aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non-affiliates of the Registrant as of March 1, 1997. Common Stock, $1 par value - $20,815,403 The number of shares outstanding of the Registrant's class of common stock as of March 1, 1997. Common Stock, $1 par value - 1,894,797 The Annual Report on Form 10-K of Law Companies Group, Inc. which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 25, 1997 is hereby amended to reflect the information required as of March 31, 1997 and to add the signature of Ernst & Young LLP to their Report of Independent Auditors dated March 14, 1997. ITEM 5 - MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON STOCK AND RELATED SHAREHOLDER MATTERS There is no regular market for the Company's common stock (the "Common Stock"). As mandated by the Company's Third Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended (the "Articles"), the Common Stock's fair market value is determined by independent appraisals conducted throughout the year. The appraised fair market value per share was determined to be $12.61 and $16.91 at December 31, 1996, and 1995, respectively. As of March 1, 1997, the fair market value per share was $ 12.61. As of March 1, 1997, there were 1,894,797 shares of Common Stock outstanding directly and beneficially owned by 1,712 shareholders. In addition, as of March 1, 1997, stock options to acquire 315,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock were outstanding pursuant to the 1990 Stock Option Plan, 176,400 of which are currently exercisable. No dividends have been paid for each of the years ended December 31, 1996 and 1995. The Company's current amended and restated credit facilities (the "1997 Facilities") prohibit the payment of cash dividends through the term of the credit facilities. (See Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Result of Operations - Dividends). STOCK REPURCHASES The Company's Common Stock is not listed on a national securities exchange or traded in any organized over-the-counter market. Since 1994, the Company conducted workforce reductions in order to reduce labor related expenses to make them consistent with the Company's level of business and to improve its overall operating performance. In the course of these efforts, over 220 employees left the Company, with severance and related costs aggregating approximately $0.8 million in 1995, and $0.4 million in 1996. The Company is entitled under its Articles to redeem shares of shareholders whose employment with the Company has ended, through either paying cash or issuing notes. The Company has historically repurchased all shares of Common Stock from employees exiting the Company through the issuance of such notes or cash payments; however, the 1995 credit facilities (the "1995 Facilities") and the 1996 credit facilities limited the Company from continuing the repurchases. Notwithstanding the significant number of departures, and the restrictions on share repurchases contained in the credit facilities, the Company continued to deem it appropriate to redeem or repurchase all of the shares of exiting employees in 1995 in order to continue to meet a required 95% employee ownership threshold required by certain Internal Revenue Service Regulations. Thus, subject to the condition subsequent of lender approval, the Company (i) exercised its right to redeem or repurchase all of the shares held by employee shareholders who exited the Company in 1995 and (ii) commenced negotiations with its lenders regarding the terms and conditions under which the Company could redeem or repurchase the shares without violating any covenants in its credit facilities. As a result of these efforts, the Company obtained approval from its lenders to make cash payments and to issue interest bearing notes in amounts aggregating approximately $3.9 million for employees who terminated in 1995. As of December 31, 1996, the Company's aggregate obligations to former employees of the Company arising from the repurchase or redemption of their shares was approximately $13.1 million. All notes issued to employees who left the Company in 1995 specify that the notes are subordinated to the Company's senior credit facilities. There can be no assurance that the Company will have either sufficient cash flow or permission of its senior lenders to pay any principal on such notes when due. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Liquidity and Capital Resources." 2 In 1996, the Company elected to report taxable income for tax reporting purposes on an accrual basis rather than a cash basis, effective for the year beginning January 1, 1995. The conversion to accrual basis taxable income recognition eliminated the need for the Company to maintain at least 95% employee ownership of its capital stock since this requirement arose from an Internal Revenue Service Regulation for cash basis revenue recognition (governing engineering and other professional companies). In 1996, the Company's Board of Directors repealed the Bylaws provision requiring 95% employee ownership. The Articles continue to give the Company the right, but not the obligation, to redeem shares of Common Stock of employees exiting the Company, but the Company has not exercised that right since the beginning of 1996. There can be no assurance that the Company will, under the terms of its existing credit facilities, be able to repurchase shares from employees exiting the Company. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Liquidity and Capital Resources." 3 REPORT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS The Board of Directors and Shareholders Law Companies Group, Inc. We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Law Companies Group, Inc. as of December 31, 1996 and 1995, and the related consolidated statements of operations, shareholders' equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 1996. Our audits also include the financial statement schedule listed in the Index at Item 14(a). These financial statements and schedule are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and schedule based on our audits. We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion. In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of Law Companies Group, Inc. at December 31, 1996 and 1995, and the consolidated results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 1996, in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. /s/ Ernst & Young LLP Atlanta, Georgia March 14, 1997 4 SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this amendment to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized. LAW COMPANIES GROUP, INC. Date: April 8, 1997 By: /s/ Bruce C. Coles ------------------- Bruce C. Coles Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer 5 -----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----