As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 3, 2007

Securities Act File No. 333-      

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

Form S-1

REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

COMPASS DIVERSIFIED TRUST

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in charter)

 

 

COMPASS GROUP DIVERSIFIED HOLDINGS LLC

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

Sixty One Wilton Road

Second Floor

Westport, CT 06880

(203) 221-1703

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

 

I. Joseph Massoud

Chief Executive Officer

Compass Group Diversified Holdings LLC

Sixty One Wilton Road

Second Floor

Westport, CT 06880

(203) 221-1703

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

Copies to:

 

 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public:  As soon as practicable after the effective date of this registration statement

 

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 check the following box:  o

 

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:  o

 

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:  o

 

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) 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:  o

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

 

 

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.

 

 

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED          , 2007

 

PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS

 

          Shares

 

 

Each Share Represents One Beneficial Interest in the Trust

 

We are offering to sell           shares of Compass Diversified Trust, which we refer to as the trust. Each share of the trust represents one undivided beneficial interest in the trust property. The purpose of the trust is to hold 100% of the trust interests of Compass Group Diversified Holdings LLC, which we refer to as the company. Each beneficial interest in the trust corresponds to one trust interest of the company.

 

Compass Group Investments, Inc., through a wholly owned subsidiary, has agreed to purchase, in a separate private placement transaction to close in conjunction with the closing of this offering, a number of shares in the trust having an aggregate purchase price of approximately $30 million, at a per share price equal to the public offering price (which will be approximately           shares, at the public offering price per share of $     ).

 

The shares trade on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “CODI.” On          , 2007, the closing price of the shares on the NASDAQ Global Select Market was $      .

 

Investing in the shares involves risks.  See the section entitled “Risk Factors” beginning on page 11 of this prospectus for a discussion of the risks and other information that you should consider before making an investment in our securities.

 

 

The underwriters may also purchase up to an additional           shares from us at the public offering price, less the underwriting discount and commissions, within 30 days from the date of this prospectus to cover overallotments.

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

We expect to deliver the shares to the underwriters for delivery to investors on or about           , 2007.

 

 

 

 

Sole Bookrunner

 

 

 

The date of this prospectus is          , 2007

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus. We have not, and the underwriters have not, authorized anyone to provide you with different information. We, and the underwriters, are not making an offer of these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer is not permitted. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front cover of this prospectus.

 

In this prospectus, we rely on and refer to information and statistics regarding market data and the industries of the businesses we own that are obtained from internal surveys, market research, independent industry publications and other publicly available information, including publicly available information regarding public companies. The information and statistics are based on industry surveys and our manager’s and its affiliates’ experience in the industry.

 

This prospectus contains forward-looking statements that involve substantial risks and uncertainties as they are not based on historical facts, but rather are based on current expectations, estimates, projections, beliefs and assumptions about our businesses and the industries in which they operate. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors, some of which are beyond our control and difficult to predict and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or forecasted in the forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which apply only as of the date of this prospectus.

 

 

 

 

SUMMARY

	•	produce stable cash flows;
	•	have strong management teams largely in place;
	•	maintain defensible positions in industries with forecasted long-term macroeconomic growth; and
	•	face minimal threat of technological or competitive obsolescence.

Shares offered by us in this offering.		shares
Shares outstanding after this offering and the separate private placement transaction		shares
Use of proceeds		We estimate that our net proceeds from the sale of the shares in this offering will be approximately $           million (or approximately $           million if the underwriters’ overallotment option is exercised in full). We intend to use the net proceeds from this offering and the $30 million of proceeds from the separate private placement transaction to repay borrowings under our revolving credit facility and any remaining amounts for general corporate purposes. See the section entitled “Use of Proceeds” for more information about the use of the proceeds of this offering.
NASDAQ Global Select Market symbol		CODI
Dividend and distribution policy		We intend to declare and pay regular quarterly cash distributions on all outstanding shares, based on distributions received by the trust on the trust interests in the company. The declaration and amount of any distributions will be subject to the approval of the company’s board of directors, which will include a majority of independent directors, and will be based on the results of operations of our businesses and the desire to provide sustainable levels of distributions to our shareholders. Any cash distribution paid by the company to the trust will, in turn, be paid by the trust to its shareholders.
		See the sections entitled “Dividend and Distribution Policy” for a discussion of our intended distribution rate and “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations” for more information about the tax treatment of distributions by the trust and the company.
Shares of the trust		Each share of the trust represents an undivided beneficial interest in the trust property, and each share of the trust corresponds to one underlying trust interest of the company owned by the trust. Unless the trust is dissolved, it must remain the sole holder of 100% of the trust interests, and at all times the company will have outstanding the identical number of trust interests as the number of outstanding shares of the trust. If the trust is dissolved, each share of the trust will be exchanged for one trust interest in the company. Each outstanding share of the trust is entitled to one vote on any matter with respect to which the trust, as a holder of trust interests in the company, is entitled to vote. The company, as the sponsor of the trust, will provide to our shareholders proxy materials to enable our shareholders to exercise, in proportion to their percentage ownership of outstanding shares, the voting rights of the trust, and the trust will vote its trust interests in the same proportion as the vote of holders of shares. The allocation interests do not grant to our manager voting rights with respect to the company except in certain limited circumstances.

		See the section entitled “Description of Shares” for information about the material terms of the shares, the trust interests and allocation interests.
U.S. federal income tax considerations		Subject to the discussion in “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations,” neither the trust nor the company will incur U.S. federal income tax liability; rather, each holder of trust shares will be required to take into account his or her allocable share of company income, gain, loss, deduction, and other items. The trust is currently seeking approval from the shareholders of record as of April 10, 2007, to authorize the board to amend the trust agreement to provide that the trust be taxed as a partnership. Assuming that approval is granted, the trust will report tax information to the shareholders for the 2007 taxable year and all future taxable years thereafter on Schedule K-1. If that approval is not granted, the trustees intend to dissolve the trust and each shareholder would receive a direct interest in the company in exchange for their shares in the trust. If that occurs, the company will continue to treat the trust as a grantor trust for the initial portion of the 2007 tax year and the trust will report the same tax information as found on the Schedule K-1 to the shareholders on Form 1041.
		See the section entitled “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations” for information about the potential U.S. federal income tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of shares and for a discussion of recent developments concerning treatment of the trust as a grantor trust for federal income tax purposes.
Risk factors		Investing in our shares involves risks. See the section entitled “Risk Factors” and read this prospectus carefully before making an investment decision with the respect to the shares or the company.

		Fiscal Year Ended December 31,
		2006				2005
		($ in thousands, except per share data)
Statements of Operations Data:
Net sales		$	410,873			$	—
Cost of sales			311,641				—
Gross profit			99,232				—
Operating expenses:
Staffing			34,345				—
Selling, general and administrative			36,732				1
Management fee			4,376				—
Supplemental put expense			22,456				—
Research and development expense			1,806				—
Amortization expense			6,774				—
Operating loss		$	(7,257	)		$	(1	)
Loss from continuing operations		$	(27,636	)		$	(1	)
Income from discontinued operations, net of income tax		$	8,387			$
Net loss		$	(19,249	)		$	(1	)
Cash Flow Data:
Cash provided by operating activities		$	20,563			$	—
Cash (used in) investing activities			(362,286	)			—
Cash provided by financing activities			351,073				100
Net increase in cash		$	9,350			$	100
Per Share Data:
Basic and fully diluted loss from continuing operations per share		$	(2.18	)		$	—
Basic and fully diluted loss per share		$	(1.52	)		$	—

		At December 31,
		2006				2005
		($ in thousands)
Balance Sheet Data:
Total current assets		$	140,356			$	3,408
Total assets			525,597				3,408
Current liabilities			162,872				3,309
Long-term debt			—				—
			—				—
Total liabilities			242,755				3,309
Minority interests			27,131				100
Shareholders’ equity (deficit)			255,711				(1	)

		Year Ended
		December 31, 2006
		($ in thousands)
Net loss		$	(19,249	)
Adjustment to reconcile net loss to cash provided by operating activities
Depreciation and amortization			10,290
Supplemental put expense			22,456
Silvue’s in-process R&D expensed at acquisition date			1,120
Advanced Circuit’s loan forgiveness accrual			2,760
Minority interest			2,950
Deferred taxes			(2,281	)
Loss on Ableco debt retirement			8,275
Other			(450	)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities			(5,308	)
Net cash provided by operating activities			20,563
Plus:
Unused fee on delayed term loan(1)			1,291
Changes in operating assets and liabilities			5,308
Less:
Maintenance capital expenditures(2)
CBS Personnel			209
Crosman(3)			1,926
Advanced Circuits			392
Silvue			304
Anodyne			636
Estimated cash flow available for distribution		$	23,695	(a)
Distribution paid July 2006		$	(2,587	)
Distribution paid September 2006			(5,368	)
Distribution paid January 2007			(6,135	)
Total distributions		$	(14,090	)(b)
Distribution Coverage Ratio(a)¸(b)			1.7	x

(1)		Represents the commitment fee on the unused portion of our third-party loans.
(2)		Represents maintenance capital expenditures that were funded from operating cash flow and excludes approximately $2.3 million of growth capital expenditures for the period ended December 31, 2006.
(3)		Crosman was sold on January 5, 2007 (see Note D to the consolidated financial statements).

 

An investment in our shares involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully read and consider all of the risks described below, together with all of the other information contained or referred to in this prospectus, before making a decision to invest in our shares. If any of the following events occur, our financial condition, business and results of operations (including cash flows) may be materially adversely affected. In that event, the market price of our shares could decline, we may be unable to pay distributions on our shares and you could lose all or part of your investment. Throughout this section we refer to our current businesses and the businesses we may acquire in the future collectively as “our businesses.”

 

Risks Related to Our Business and Structure

 

We are a company with limited history and may not be able to continue to successfully manage our businesses on a combined basis.

 

We were formed on November 18, 2005 and have conducted operations since May 16, 2006. Although our management team has collectively approximately 75 years of experience in acquiring and managing middle market businesses, our failure to continue to develop and maintain effective systems and procedures, including accounting and financial reporting systems, or to manage our operations as a consolidated public company, may negatively impact our ability to optimize the performance of the company, which could adversely affect our ability to pay distributions to our shareholders. In that case, our consolidated financial statements might not be indicative of our financial condition, business and results of operations.

 

Our consolidated financial statements will not include meaningful comparisons to prior years.

 

Our audited financial statements only include consolidated results of operations and cash flows for the period from May 16, 2006 through December 31, 2006. Consequently, meaningful year-to-year comparisons are not available and will not be available, at the earliest, until the completion of fiscal 2008.

 

Our future success is dependent on the employees of our manager and the management teams of our businesses, the loss of any of whom could materially adversely affect our financial condition, business and results of operations.

 

Our future success depends, to a significant extent, on the continued services of the employees of our manager, most of whom have worked together for a number of years. While our manager has employment agreements with certain of its employees, including our chief financial officer, these employment agreements may not prevent our manager’s employees from leaving our manager or from competing with us in the future. Our manager does not have an employment agreement with our chief executive officer.

 

In addition, the future success of our businesses also depends on their respective management teams because we operate our businesses on a stand-alone basis, primarily relying on existing management teams for management of their day-to-day operations. Consequently, their operational success, as well as the success of our internal growth strategy, will be dependent on the continued efforts of the management teams of the businesses. We seek to provide such persons with equity incentives in their respective businesses and to have employment agreements and/or non-competition agreements with certain persons we have identified as key to their businesses. However, these measures do not ensure performance of key personnel, and may not prevent them from departing or competing with our businesses in the future. The loss of services of one or more members of our management team or the management team at one of our businesses could materially adversely affect our financial condition, business and results of operations.

 

We are a holding company with no operations and rely entirely on distributions from our businesses to make distributions to our shareholders.

 

The trust’s only business is holding trust interests in the company, which holds controlling interests in our businesses. Therefore, we are dependent upon the ability of our businesses to generate earnings and cash flow and distribute them to us in the form of interest and principal payments on indebtedness and

distributions or dividends on equity to enable us, first, to satisfy our financial obligations, including payments under our revolving credit facility, the management fee, profit allocation and put price, and, second, make distributions to our shareholders. The ability of our businesses to make distributions to us may be subject to limitations under laws of the jurisdictions in which they are incorporated or organized. If, as a consequence of these various restrictions, we are unable to generate sufficient distributions from our businesses, we may not be able to declare, or may have to delay or cancel payment of, distributions to our shareholders, which may have a material adverse effect on the market price of our shares. See “Dividend and Distribution Policy — Restrictions on Distribution Payments” for a more detailed discussion of these restrictions.

 

We do not own 100% of our businesses. While the company will receive cash payments from our businesses in the form of interest payments, debt repayment and dividends and distributions, if any dividends or distributions are paid by our businesses, they will be shared pro rata with the minority shareholders of our businesses and the amounts of distributions made to minority shareholders will not be available to us for any purpose, including payment of our obligations or distributions to our shareholders. Any proceeds from the sale of a business, after payment of the profit allocation to our manager, will be allocated among us and the minority shareholders of the business that is sold; however, we will not necessarily declare a distribution to our shareholders with respect to such proceeds.

 

While we intend to make regular cash distributions to our shareholders, the company’s board of directors has full authority and discretion over the distributions of the company, other than the profit allocation, and it may decide to reduce or eliminate distributions at any time, which may materially adversely affect the market price for our shares.

 

To date, we have declared and paid quarterly distributions, and although we intend to pursue a policy of paying regular distributions, the company’s board of directors has full authority and discretion to determine whether or not a distribution by the company should be declared and paid to the trust and in turn to our shareholders, as well as the amount and timing of any distribution. In addition, the management fee, profit allocation, put price and payments under our revolving credit facility, are payment obligations of the company and, as a result, will be paid, along with other company obligations, prior to the payment of distributions to our shareholders. The company’s board of directors may, based on their review of our financial condition and results of operations and pending acquisitions, determine to reduce or eliminate distributions, which may have a material adverse effect on the market price of our shares. See “Dividend and Distribution Policy — Restrictions on Distribution Payments” for a more detailed discussion of these restrictions.

 

We may not be able to successfully fund future acquisitions of new businesses due to the unavailability of debt or equity financing at the company level on acceptable terms, which could impede the implementation of our acquisition strategy and materially adversely impact our financial condition, business and results of operations.

 

In order to make future acquisitions, we intend to raise capital primarily through debt financing at the company level, additional equity offerings, the sale of stock or assets of our businesses, and by offering equity in the trust or our businesses to the sellers of target businesses or by undertaking a combination of any of the above. Since the timing and size of acquisitions cannot be readily predicted, we may need to be able to obtain funding on short notice to benefit fully from attractive acquisition opportunities. Such funding may not be available on acceptable terms. In addition, the level of our indebtedness may impact our ability to borrow at the company level and the revolving credit facility or other credit agreements we may enter into in the future may contain terms that prohibit us from making acquisitions that may be otherwise advantageous. Another source of capital for us may be the sale of additional shares, subject to market conditions and investor demand for the shares at prices that we consider to be in the interests of our shareholders. These risks may materially adversely affect our ability to pursue our acquisition strategy successfully and materially adversely affect our financial condition, business and results of operations.

 

We face risks with respect to the evaluation and management of future platform or add-on acquisitions.

 

A component of our strategy is to continue to acquire new businesses, which we refer to as new platforms, as well as to acquire add-on businesses to our existing platforms. Generally, because such acquisition targets are held privately, we may experience difficulty in evaluating potential target businesses as the information concerning these businesses is not publicly available. Further, the time and costs associated with identifying and evaluating potential target businesses and their industries may cause a substantial drain on our financial resources and our management team’s attention. In addition, we and our businesses may have difficulty effectively managing or integrating acquisitions. We may experience greater than expected costs or difficulties relating to such acquisitions, in which case we might not achieve the anticipated returns from any particular acquisition, which may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, business and results of operations.

 

The company’s board of directors has the power to change the terms of our shares in its sole discretion in ways with which you may disagree.

 

As an owner of our shares (or if the trust is dissolved, as a direct owner of trust interests in the company), you may disagree with changes made to the terms of our shares or trust interests in the company, and you may disagree with the company’s board of directors’ decision that the changes made to the terms of the shares or trust interests in the company are not materially adverse to you as a shareholder or that they do not alter the characterization of the trust. Your recourse, if you disagree, will be limited because our trust agreement and the LLC agreement give broad authority and discretion to our board of directors. However, neither the trust agreement nor the LLC agreement relieve the company’s board of directors from any fiduciary obligation that is imposed on them pursuant to applicable law. In addition, we may change the nature of the shares (or if the trust is dissolved, the trust interests in the company) to be issued to raise additional equity.

 

Certain provisions of the LLC agreement of the company and the trust agreement make it difficult for third parties to acquire control of the trust and the company and could deprive you of the opportunity to obtain a takeover premium for your shares.

 

The amended and restated LLC agreement of the company, which we refer to as the LLC agreement, and the amended and restated trust agreement of the trust, which we refer to as the trust agreement, contain a number of provisions that could make it more difficult for a third party to acquire, or may discourage a third party from acquiring, control of the trust and the company. These provisions include, among others:

 

 

 

These provisions, as well as other provisions in the LLC agreement and trust agreement, may delay, defer or prevent a transaction or a change in control that might otherwise result in you obtaining a takeover premium for your shares.

 

We may have conflicts of interest with the minority shareholders of our businesses.

 

The boards of directors of our respective businesses have fiduciary duties to all their shareholders, including the company and minority shareholders. As a result, they may make decisions that are in the best interests of their shareholders generally but which are not necessarily in the best interest of the company and therefore the best interests of our shareholders. In dealings with the company, the directors of our businesses may have conflicts of interest and decisions may have to be made without the participation of those directors. Such decisions, therefore, may be different from those that we would otherwise make.

 

Our third party revolving credit facility exposes us to additional risks associated with leverage and inhibits our operating flexibility and reduces cash flow available for distributions to our shareholders.

 

At February 28, 2007, we had approximately $97.4 million of debt outstanding and we expect to increase our level of debt in the future. The revolving credit facility contains various covenants, including financial covenants, with which we must comply. The financial covenants include: (i) a requirement to maintain, on a consolidated basis, a fixed coverage ratio of at least 1.5:1, (ii) an interest coverage ratio not to exceed less than 3:1 and (iii) a total debt to earnings before interest, depreciation and amortization ratio not to exceed 3:1. In addition, the revolving credit facility contains limitations on, among other things, certain acquisitions, consolidations, sales of assets and the incurrence of debt. Currently we are in compliance with all covenants. Outstanding indebtedness under the revolving credit facility will mature on November 21, 2011.

 

If we violate any of these or other covenants, our lender may accelerate the maturity of any debt outstanding and we may be prohibited from making any distributions to our shareholders. Our debt is secured by all of our assets, including the stock we own in our businesses and the rights we have under the loan agreements with our businesses. Our ability to meet our debt service obligations may be affected by events beyond our control and will depend primarily upon cash produced by our businesses. Any failure to comply with the terms of our indebtedness could materially adversely affect us.

 

Changes in interest rates could materially adversely affect us.

 

Our revolving credit facility bears interest at floating rates which will generally change as interest rates change. We have not hedged our exposure to interest rates on our revolving credit facility but may consider doing so in the future. If we do not hedge such exposure, we bear the risk that the rates we are charged by our lender will increase faster than the earnings and cash flow of our businesses, which could reduce profitability, adversely affect our ability to service our debt, cause us to breach covenants contained in our revolving credit facility and reduce cash flow available for distribution, any of which could materially adversely affect us. In addition, the interest rates under our revolving credit facility vary depending on certain financial ratios; therefore, if we fail to achieve these ratios, we will be obligated to pay additional interest.

 

We may engage in a business transaction with one or more target businesses that have relationships with our officers, our directors, our manager or CGI, which may create potential conflicts of interest.

 

We may decide to acquire one or more businesses with which our officers, our directors, our manager or CGI have a relationship. While we might obtain a fairness opinion from an independent investment banking firm, potential conflicts of interest may still exist with respect to a particular acquisition, and, as a result, the terms of the acquisition of a target business may not be as advantageous to our shareholders as it would have been absent any conflicts of interest.

 

CGI may exercise significant influence over the company.

 

CGI, through a wholly owned subsidiary, currently owns 7,350,000 or 35.9% of our shares and will purchase an additional           shares in a separate private placement transaction. As a result, CGI will own approximately 30.2% of our shares and may have significant influence over the company, including the election of directors, in the future as well as matters requiring the approval of our shareholders, including the removal of our manager.

 

If in the future we cease to control and operate our businesses, we may be deemed to be an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

Under the terms of the LLC agreement, we have the latitude to make investments in businesses that we will not operate or control. If we make significant investments in businesses that we do not operate or control or cease to operate and control our businesses, we may be deemed to be an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or the Investment Company Act. If we were deemed to be an investment company, we would either have to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act, obtain exemptive relief from the SEC or modify our investments or organizational structure or our contract rights to fall outside the definition of an investment company. Registering as an investment company could, among other things, materially adversely affect our financial condition, business and results of operations, materially limit our ability to borrow funds or engage in other transactions involving leverage, require us to add directors who are independent of us or our manager, divert the attention of our management team and otherwise will subject us to additional regulation that will be costly and time-consuming. In addition, if we are required to register as an investment company we will no longer satisfy the requirements to be treated as a publicly traded partnership exempt from taxation as a corporation for federal income tax purposes.

 

Risks Relating to Our Manager

 

Our chief executive officer, directors, manager and management team may allocate some of their time to other businesses, thereby causing conflicts of interest in their determination as to how much time to devote to our affairs, which may materially adversely affect our operations.

 

While the members of our management team anticipate devoting a substantial amount of their time to the affairs of the company, only Mr. James Bottiglieri, our chief financial officer, will devote 100% of his time to our affairs. Mr. I. Joseph Massoud, our chief executive officer, and our directors, manager and other members of our management team may engage in other business activities. This may result in a conflict of interest in the allocation of their time between their management and operations of our businesses and their management and operations of other businesses. Their other business endeavors may be related to CGI, which will continue to own several businesses that were managed by our management team prior to the IPO, or affiliates of CGI or other parties. Conflicts of interest that arise over the allocation of time may not always be resolved in our favor and may materially adversely affect our operations. See the section entitled “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions” for a discussion of the potential conflicts of interest of which you should be aware.

 

Our manager and its affiliates, including members of our management team, may engage in activities that compete with us or our businesses.

 

While our management team intends to devote a substantial majority of their time to the affairs of the company, and while our manager and its affiliates currently do not manage any other businesses that are in similar lines of business as our businesses, and while our manager must present all opportunities that meet the company’s acquisition and disposition criteria to the company’s board of directors, neither our management team nor our manager is expressly prohibited from investing in or managing other entities, including those that are in the same or similar line of business as our businesses. In this regard, the management services agreement and the obligation to provide management services will not create a mutually exclusive relationship between our manager and its affiliates, on the one hand, and the company, on the other. Our manager’s or our management team’s investment in or management of businesses that compete with our businesses may result in conflicts of interest that are not resolved in favor of our businesses, which may adversely affect our financial condition, business and results of operations.

 

Our manager need not present an acquisition or disposition opportunity to us if our manager determines on its own that such acquisition or disposition opportunity does not meet the company’s acquisition or disposition criteria.

 

Our manager will review any acquisition or disposition opportunity presented to our manager to determine if it satisfies the company’s acquisition or disposition criteria, as established by the company’s board of directors from time to time. If our manager determines, in its sole discretion, that an opportunity fits our criteria, our manager will refer the opportunity to the company’s board of directors for its authorization and approval prior to the consummation thereof. Opportunities that our manager determines do not fit our criteria do not need to be presented to the company’s board of directors for consideration. If such an opportunity is ultimately profitable, we will have not participated in such opportunity. Upon a determination by the company’s board of directors not to promptly pursue an opportunity presented to it by our manager in whole or in part, our manager will be unrestricted in its ability to pursue such opportunity, or any part that we do not promptly pursue, on its own or refer such opportunity to other entities, including its affiliates.

 

We cannot remove our manager solely for poor performance, which could limit our ability to improve our performance and could materially adversely affect our financial condition, business and results of operations.

 

Under the terms of the management services agreement, our manager cannot be removed as a result of underperformance. Instead, the company’s board of directors can only remove our manager in certain limited circumstances or upon a vote by the majority of the company’s board of directors and the majority of our shareholders to terminate the management services agreement. If our manager underperforms, this limitation could materially adversely affect our financial condition, business and results of operations.

 

We may have difficulty severing ties with our chief executive officer, Mr. Massoud.

 

Under the management services agreement, the company’s board of directors may, after due consultation with our manager, at any time request that our manager replace any individual seconded to the company and our manager will, as promptly as practicable, replace any such individual. However, because Mr. Massoud is the managing member of our manager, we may have difficulty completely severing ties with Mr. Massoud unless we terminate the management services agreement and our relationship with our manager in which case we may be required to purchase the allocation interests of the company held by our manager at a significant cost to us.

 

If the management services agreement is terminated, our manager, as holder of the allocation interests in the company, has the right to cause the company to purchase such allocation interests, which may materially adversely affect our liquidity and ability to grow.

 

If the management services agreement is terminated at any time other than as a result of our manager’s resignation or if our manager resigns on any date that is at least three years after May 16, 2006 (the closing of the IPO), our manager will have the right, but not the obligation, for one year from the date of termination or resignation, as the case may be, to cause the company to purchase the allocation interests for the put price. If our manager elects to cause the company to purchase its allocation interests, we are obligated to do so, such purchase would be a significant expense to us and would adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations, and, until we have done so, our ability to conduct our business, including incurring debt, would be restricted and, accordingly, our liquidity and ability to grow may be adversely affected.

 

The liability associated with the supplemental put agreement is difficult to estimate and may be subject to substantial period-to-period changes, thereby significantly impacting our future results of operations.

 

The company will record the supplemental put agreement at its fair value at each balance sheet date by recording any change in fair value through its income statement. The fair value of the supplemental put agreement is largely related to the value of the profit allocation that our manager, as holder of allocation interests, would receive in connection with the sale of our businesses or, at our manager’s option, after a controlling interest in a business has been held for five years. At any point in time, the supplemental put liability recorded on the company’s balance sheet is our manager’s estimate of what its allocation interests are worth based upon a percentage of the increase in fair value of our businesses over our basis in those businesses. Because the supplemental put price would be calculated based upon an assumed profit allocation for the sale of all of our businesses, the growth of the supplemental put liability over time is indicative of our manager’s estimate of the company’s unrealized gains on its interests in our businesses. A decline in the supplemental put liability is indicative either of the realization of gains associated with the sale a business and the corresponding payment of a profit allocation to our manager (as with Crosman), or a decline in our manager’s estimate of the company’s unrealized gains on its interests in our businesses. We account for the change in the estimated value of the supplemental put liability on a quarterly basis in our income statement. The expected value of the supplemental put liability effects our results of operation but it does not affect our cash flows or our cash flow available for distribution. The valuation of the supplemental put agreement requires the use of complex models, which require highly sensitive assumptions and estimates. The impact of over-estimating or under-estimating the value of the supplemental put agreement could have a material effect on operating results. In addition, the value of the supplemental put agreement is subject to the volatility of our operations which may result in significant fluctuation in the value assigned to this supplemental put agreement.

 

Our manager can resign on 90 days’ notice and we may not be able to find a suitable replacement within that time, resulting in a disruption in our operations that could materially adversely affect our financial condition, business and results of operations as well as the market price of our shares.

 

Our manager has the right, under the management services agreement, to resign at any time on 90 days’ written notice, whether we have found a replacement or not. If our manager resigns, we may not be able to contract with a new manager or hire internal management with similar expertise and ability to provide the same or equivalent services on acceptable terms within 90 days, or at all, in which case our operations are likely to experience a disruption, our financial condition, business and results of operations as well as our ability to pay distributions are likely to be adversely affected and the market price of our shares may decline. In addition, the coordination of our internal management, acquisition activities and supervision of our businesses is likely to suffer if we are unable to identify and reach an agreement with a single institution or group of executives having the expertise possessed by our manager and its affiliates. Even if we are able to retain comparable management, whether internal or external, the integration of such management and

their lack of familiarity with our businesses may result in additional costs and time delays that could materially adversely affect our financial condition, business and results of operations.

 

We must pay our manager the management fee regardless of our performance.

 

Our manager is entitled to receive a management fee that is based on our adjusted net assets, as defined in the management services agreement, regardless of the performance of our businesses. The calculation of the management fee is unrelated to the company’s net income. As a result, the management fee may incentivize our manager to increase the amount of our assets, through, for example, the acquisition of additional assets or the incurrence of third party debt rather than increase the performance of our businesses. In addition, if the performance of the company declines, assuming adjusted net assets remains the same, management fees will increase as a percentage of the company’s net income.

 

We cannot determine the amount of the management fee that will be paid over time with any certainty.

 

The management fee for the year ended December 31, 2006, was $4.4 million. The management fee is calculated by reference to the company’s adjusted net assets at the end of each fiscal quarter, which will be impacted by the acquisition or disposition of businesses, which can be significantly influenced by our manager, as well as the performance of our businesses. Changes in adjusted net assets and in the resulting management fee could be significant, resulting in a material adverse effect on the company’s results of operations.

 

We cannot determine the amount of profit allocation that will be paid over time with any certainty.

 

Because the profit allocation is triggered by the sale of one or our businesses or, at our manager’s election, ownership of one of our businesses for a period of five years, we cannot determine the amount of profit allocation that will be paid over time with any certainty. Such determination would be dependent on the potential sale proceeds received for any of our businesses and the performance of the company and its businesses over a multi-year period of time, among other factors that cannot be predicted with certainty at this time. Such factors may have a significant impact on the amount of any profit allocation to be paid. Likewise, such determination would be dependent on whether certain hurdles were surpassed giving rise to a payment of profit allocation. Any amounts paid in respect of the profit allocation are unrelated to the management fee earned for performance of services under the management services agreement.

 

The fees to be paid to our manager pursuant to the management services agreement, the offsetting management services agreements and transaction services agreements, the profit allocation and put price to be paid to our manager as holder of the allocation interests, pursuant to the LLC agreement may significantly reduce the amount of cash flow available for distribution to our shareholders.

 

Under the management services agreement, the company will be obligated to pay a management fee to, and, subject to certain conditions, reimburse the costs and out-of-pocket expenses of, our manager incurred on behalf of the company in connection with the provision of services to the company. Similarly, our businesses will be obligated to pay fees to and reimburse the costs and expenses of our manager pursuant to any offsetting management services agreements entered into between our manager and one of our businesses, or any transaction services agreements to which such businesses are a party. In addition, our manager, as holder of the allocation interests, will be entitled to receive profit allocations and may be entitled to receive the put price upon the occurrence of certain trigger events. While it is difficult to quantify with any certainty the actual amount of any such payments in the future, we do expect that such amounts could be substantial. See the sections entitled “Our Manager — Our Relationship with Our Manager” and “— Supplemental Put Agreement” and “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions” for more information about these payment obligations of the company. The management fee, profit allocation and put price will be payment obligations of the company and, as a result, will be paid, along with other company obligations, prior to the payment of distributions to shareholders. As a result, the payment of these amounts may significantly reduce the amount of cash flow available for distribution to our shareholders.

 

Our manager’s influence on conducting our operations, including on our engaging in acquisition or disposition transactions, gives it the ability to increase its fees and compensation to our chief executive officer, which may reduce the amount of cash available for distribution to our shareholders.

 

Under the terms of the management services agreement, our manager is paid a management fee calculated as a percentage of the company’s adjusted net assets for certain items and is unrelated to net income or any other performance base or measure. Our manager, which our chief executive officer, Mr. Massoud, controls, may advise us to consummate transactions, incur third party debt or conduct our operations in a manner that, in our manager’s reasonable discretion, are necessary to the future growth of our businesses and are in the best interests of our shareholders. These transactions, however, may increase the amount of fees paid to our manager. In addition, Mr. Massoud’s compensation is paid by our manager from the management fee it receives from the company. Our manager’s ability to increase its fees, through the influence it has over our operations, may increase the compensation paid by our manager to Mr. Massoud. Our manager’s ability to influence the management fee paid to it by us could reduce the amount of cash flow available for distribution to our shareholders.

 

Fees paid by the company and our businesses pursuant to transaction services agreements do not offset fees payable under the management services agreement and will be in addition to the management fee payable by the company under the management services agreement and by our businesses under offsetting management services agreements.

 

The management services agreement provides that our businesses may enter into transaction services agreements with our manager pursuant to which our businesses will pay fees to our manager. See the section entitled “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions” for more information about these agreements. Unlike fees paid under the offsetting management services agreements, fees that are paid pursuant to such transaction services agreements will not reduce the management fee payable by the company. Therefore, such fees will be in addition to the management fee payable by the company.

 

The fees to be paid to our manager pursuant to these transaction service agreements will be paid prior to any principal, interest or dividend payments to be paid to the company by our businesses, which will reduce the amount of cash flow available for distributions to shareholders.

 

Our manager’s profit allocation may induce it to make suboptimal decisions regarding our operations.

 

Our manager, as holder of 100% of the allocation interests in the company, will receive a profit allocation based on ongoing cash flows and capital gains in excess of a hurdle rate upon the sale of one of our businesses. As a result, our manager may be incentivized to recommend the sale of one or more of our businesses to the company’s board of directors at a time that may not optimal for our shareholders.

 

The obligations to pay the management fee, profit allocation or put price may cause the company to liquidate assets or incur debt.

 

If we do not have sufficient liquid assets to pay the management fee, profit allocation or put price, when such payments are due, we may be required to liquidate assets or incur debt in order to make such payments. This circumstance could materially adversely affect our liquidity and ability to make distributions to our shareholders.

 

Risks Related to Taxation

 

The status of the trust for tax purposes is uncertain in light of a recent Internal Revenue Service pronouncement and certain actions of the company in response thereto.

 

The Internal Revenue Service, which we refer to as the IRS, has recently issued a pronouncement stating its position that a grantor trust owning interests in a limited liability company, on facts very similar to our current structure, would be treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes, and not as a

grantor trust. The rationale for this position is that the overall arrangement permits a variance in the investment of the shareholders, even though the trustees of the trust do not have that power directly.

 

In light of this development, the company expects to submit to its shareholders for approval an amendment to the trust agreement that would permit our board to amend the trust agreement to provide that the trust be treated as a tax partnership effective January 1, 2007, and has also initiated discussions with the IRS with respect to a closing agreement that would permit the trust to be treated as a grantor trust with respect to the 2006 taxable year, and possibly a portion of the 2007 taxable year if shareholder approval is not obtained. See “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations.” If the company is not able to satisfactorily conclude a closing agreement, the IRS may challenge the tax status of the trust for 2006 and the portion of 2007 that it is in existence and if successful the trust may lose an opportunity to effectively make an election under Section 754 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, which we refer to as the Code, although it intends to take actions to minimize this risk.

 

All of the company’s income could be subject to a corporate entity-level tax in the United States, which could result in a material reduction in cash flow available for distribution to holders of shares of the trust and thus could result in a substantial reduction in the value of the shares.

 

It is expected that either the trust or the company will be treated as a publicly traded partnership exempt from taxation as a corporation and thus neither the trust nor the company will be subject to a corporate entity-level tax in the United States. See “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations.” If the trust or the company fails to satisfy the “qualifying income” tests or any other requirements to be treated as a publicly traded partnership exempt from taxation as a corporation, it will be treated as a corporation for U.S. federal (and certain state and local) income tax purposes, and would be required to pay income tax at regular corporate rates on its income. Under the qualifying income tests, the trust or company would be treated as a corporation unless each year more than 90% of the gross income of the trust or the company, as the case may be, will consist of dividends, interest (other than interest derived in the conduct of a financial or insurance business or interest the determination of which depends in whole or in part on the income or profits of any person) and gains from the sale of stock or debt instruments which are held as capital assets. Taxation of the trust or the company as a corporation could result in a material reduction in distributions to our shareholders and, thus, would likely result in a reduction in the value of, or materially adversely affect the market price of, the shares of the trust.

 

Our shareholders will be subject to tax on their share of the company’s taxable income, which taxes or taxable income could exceed the cash distributions they receive from the trust.

 

For so long as the company or the trust (if it is treated as a tax partnership) qualifies to be treated as a publicly traded partnership exempt from taxation as a corporation, shareholders will be allocated their share of the company’s taxable income, whether or not the shareholders receive distributions from the trust. See the discussion in “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations.” In that case our shareholders will be subject to U.S. federal income tax and, possibly, state, local and foreign income tax, on their share of the company’s taxable income, which taxes or taxable income could exceed the cash distributions they receive from the trust. There is, accordingly, a risk that our shareholders may not receive cash distributions equal to their portion of our taxable income or sufficient in amount even to satisfy their personal tax liability that results from that income. This may result from gains on the sale or exchange of stock or debt of subsidiaries that will be allocated to shareholders who hold (or are deemed to hold) shares on the day such gains were realized if there is no corresponding distribution of the proceeds from such sales, or where a shareholder disposes of shares after an allocation of gain but before proceeds (if any) are distributed by the trust. Shareholders may also realize income in excess of distributions due to the company’s use of cash from operations or sales proceeds for uses other than to make distributions to shareholders, including to fund acquisitions, satisfy short- and long-term working capital needs of our businesses, or satisfy known or unknown liabilities. In addition, certain financial covenants with the company’s lenders may limit or prohibit the distribution of cash to shareholders. The company’s board of directors is also free to change the company’s distribution policy. The company is under no obligation to

make distributions to shareholders equal to or in excess of their portion of our taxable income or sufficient in amount even to satisfy the tax liability that results from that income.

 

A shareholder may recognize a greater taxable gain (or a smaller tax loss) on a disposition of shares than expected because of the treatment of debt under the partnership tax accounting rules.

 

We may incur debt for a variety of reasons, including for acquisitions as well as other purposes. Under partnership tax accounting principles, debt of the company generally will be allocable to our shareholders, who will realize the benefit of including their allocable share of the debt in the tax basis of their investment in shares. At the time a shareholder later sells shares, the selling shareholder’s amount realized on the sale will include not only the sales price of the shares but also the shareholder’s portion of the company’s debt allocable to his shares (which is treated as proceeds from the sale of those shares). Depending on the nature of the company’s activities after having incurred the debt, and the utilization of the borrowed funds, a later sale of shares could result in a larger taxable gain (or a smaller tax loss) than anticipated.

 

Our structure involves complex provisions of U.S. federal income tax law for which no clear precedent or authority may be available. Our structure also is subject to potential legislative, judicial or administrative change and differing interpretations, possibly on a retroactive basis.

 

The U.S. federal income tax treatment of holders of our shares depends in some instances on determinations of fact and interpretations of complex provisions of U.S. federal income tax law for which no clear precedent or authority may be available. You should be aware that the U.S. federal income tax rules are constantly under review by persons involved in the legislative process, the IRS, and the U.S. Treasury Department, frequently resulting in revised interpretations of established concepts, statutory changes, revisions to regulations and other modifications and interpretations. The present U.S. federal income tax treatment of an investment in our shares may be modified by administrative, legislative or judicial interpretation at any time, and any such action may affect investments and commitments previously made. For example, changes to the U.S. federal tax laws and interpretations thereof could make it more difficult or impossible to meet the qualifying income exception for us to be treated as a publicly traded partnership exempt from taxation as a corporation, affect or cause us to change our investments and commitments, affect the tax considerations of an investment in us and adversely affect an investment in our shares. Our organizational documents and agreements permit our board to modify our operating agreement from time to time, without the consent of the holders of our shares, in order to address certain changes in U.S. federal income tax regulations, legislation or interpretation. In some circumstances, such revisions could have a material adverse impact on some or all of the holders of our shares. Moreover, we will apply certain assumptions and conventions in an attempt to comply with applicable rules and to report income, gain, deduction, loss and credit to holders in a manner that reflects such holders’ beneficial ownership of partnership items, taking into account variation in ownership interests during each taxable year because of trading activity. However, these assumptions and conventions may not be in compliance with all aspects of applicable tax requirements. It is possible that the IRS will assert successfully that the conventions and assumptions used by us do not satisfy the technical requirements of the Code and/or Treasury regulations and could require that items of income, gain, deductions, loss or credit, including interest deductions, be adjusted, reallocated, or disallowed, in a manner that adversely affects holders of our shares.

 

Risks Relating Generally to Our Businesses

 

Our businesses are or may be vulnerable to economic fluctuations and seasonal factors as demand for their products and services tends to decrease as economic activity slows.

 

Demand for the products and services provided by our businesses is sensitive to changes in the level of economic activity in the regions and industries in which they do business. For example, as economic activity slows down, companies often reduce their use of temporary employees and their research and development spending. In addition, spending on capital equipment may also decrease in an economic slow down. Regardless of the industry, pressure to reduce prices of goods and services in competitive industries

increases during periods of economic downturns, which may cause compression on our businesses’ financial margins. Certain of our businesses are subject to fluctuations in demand due to seasonal factors, which may cause the results of operations to vary significantly from quarter to quarter. In addition, economic downturns may negatively impact the demands or ability to pay of customers of our businesses. As a result, a significant economic downturn could have a material adverse effect on the business, results of operations and financial condition of each of our businesses and therefore on our financial condition, business and results of operations.

 

The operations and research and development of some of our businesses’ services and technology depend on the collective experience of their technical employees. If these employees were to leave our businesses and take this knowledge, our businesses’ operations and their ability to compete effectively could be materially adversely affected.

 

The future success of some of our businesses depends upon the continued service of their technical employees who have developed and continue to develop their technology and products. If any of these employees leave our businesses, the loss of their technical knowledge and experience may materially adversely affect the operations and research and development of current and future services. We may also be unable to attract technical employees with comparable experience because competition for such employees is intense. If our businesses are not able to replace their technical employees with new employees or attract additional technical employees, their operations may suffer as they may be unable to keep up with innovations in their respective industries. As a result, their ability to continue to compete effectively and their operations may be materially adversely affected.

 

Our businesses rely on their intellectual property and licenses to use others’ intellectual property, for competitive advantage. If our businesses are unable to protect their intellectual property, are unable to obtain or retain licenses to use other’s intellectual property, or if they infringe upon or are alleged to have infringed upon others’ intellectual property, it could have a material adverse affect on their financial condition, business and results of operations.

 

Our businesses’ success depends in part on their, or licenses to use others’, brand names, proprietary technology and manufacturing techniques. Our businesses rely on a combination of patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, confidentiality procedures and contractual provisions to protect their intellectual property rights. The steps they have taken to protect their intellectual property rights may not prevent third parties from using their intellectual property and other proprietary information without their authorization or independently developing intellectual property and other proprietary information that is similar. In addition, the laws of foreign countries may not protect our businesses’ intellectual property rights effectively or to the same extent as the laws of the United States. Stopping unauthorized use of their proprietary information and intellectual property, and defending claims that they have made unauthorized use of others’ proprietary information or intellectual property, may be difficult, time-consuming and costly. The use of their intellectual property and other proprietary information by others could reduce or eliminate any competitive advantage they have developed, cause them to lose sales or otherwise harm their business.

 

Our businesses may become involved in legal proceedings and claims in the future either to protect their intellectual property or to defend allegations that they have infringed upon others’ intellectual property rights. These claims and any resulting litigation could subject them to significant liability for damages and invalidate their property rights. In addition, these lawsuits, regardless of their merits, could be time consuming and expensive to resolve and could divert management’s time and attention. The costs associated with any of these actions could be substantial and could have a material adverse affect on their financial condition, business and results of operations.

 

If our businesses are unable to continue the technological innovation and successful commercial introduction of new products and services, their financial condition, business and results of operations could be materially adversely affected.

 

The industries in which our businesses operate experience periodic technological changes and ongoing product improvements. Their results of operations depend significantly on the development of commercially viable new products, product upgrades and applications, as well as production technologies and their ability to integrate new technologies. Our future growth will depend on their ability to gauge the direction of the commercial and technological progress in all key end-use markets and upon their ability to successfully develop, manufacture and market products in such changing end-use markets. In this regard, they must make ongoing capital investments.

 

In addition, their customers may introduce new generations of their own products, which may require new or increased technological and performance specifications, requiring our businesses to develop customized products. Our businesses may not be successful in developing new products and technology that satisfy their customers’ demands and their customers may not accept any of their new products. If our businesses fail to keep pace with evolving technological innovations or fail to modify their products in response to their customers’ needs in a timely manner, then their financial condition, business and results of operations could be materially adversely affected as a result of reduced sales of their products and sunk developmental costs.

 

Our businesses do not have long-term contracts with their customers and clients and the loss of customers and clients could materially adversely affect their financial condition, business and results of operations.

 

Our businesses are based primarily upon individual orders and sales with their customers and clients. Our businesses historically have not entered into long-term supply contracts with their customers and clients. As such, their customers and clients could cease using their services or buying their products from them at any time and for any reason. The fact that they do not enter into long-term contracts with their customers and clients means that they have no recourse in the event a customer or client no longer wants to use their services or purchase products from them. If a significant number of their customers or clients elect not to use their services or purchase their products, it could materially adversely affect their financial condition, business and results of operations.

 

Our businesses are subject to federal, state and foreign environmental laws and regulations that expose them to potential financial liability. Complying with applicable environmental laws requires significant resources, and if our businesses fail to comply, they could be subject to substantial liability.

 

Some of the facilities and operations of our businesses are subject to a variety of federal, state and foreign environmental laws and regulations including laws and regulations pertaining to the handling, storage and transportation of raw materials, products and wastes. Compliance with such laws and regulations currently in place and those that may be enacted in the future will require significant expenditures. Compliance with current and future environmental laws is a major consideration for our businesses as any material violations of these laws can lead to substantial liability, revocations of discharge permits, fines or penalties. Because some of our businesses use hazardous materials and generate hazardous wastes in their operations, they may be subject to potential financial liability for costs associated with the investigation and remediation of their own sites, or sites at which they have arranged for the disposal of hazardous wastes, if such sites become contaminated. Even if they fully comply with applicable environmental laws and are not directly at fault for the contamination, our businesses may still be liable. Costs associated with these risks could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, business and results of operations.

 

Some of our businesses rely and may rely on suppliers for the timely delivery of materials used in manufacturing their products. Shortages or price fluctuations in component parts specified by their customers could limit their ability to manufacture certain products, delay product shipments, or cause them to breach supply contracts, all of which may materially adversely affect our financial condition, business and results of operations.

 

Our financial condition, business and operations could be materially adversely affected if our businesses are unable to obtain adequate supplies of raw materials in a timely manner. Strikes, fuel shortages and delays of providers of logistics and transportation services could disrupt our businesses and reduce sales and increase costs. Many of the products our businesses manufacture require one or more components that are supplied by third parties. Our businesses generally do not have any long-term supply agreements. Therefore our businesses’ suppliers could cease supplying materials to our businesses at any time, which would require our businesses to find new suppliers, resulting in possible manufacturing delays and increased costs. At various times, there are shortages of some of the components that they use, as a result of strong demand for those components or problems experienced by suppliers. Suppliers of these raw materials may from time to time delay delivery, limit supplies or increase prices due to capacity constraints or other factors, which could materially adversely affect our businesses’ ability to deliver products on a timely basis. In addition, supply shortages for a particular component can delay production of all products using that component or cause cost increases in those products. Our businesses’ inability to obtain these needed materials may require them to acquire supplies at higher costs or redesign or reconfigure products to accommodate substitute components, which would slow production or assembly, delay shipments to customers, increase costs and reduce operating income. Our businesses may bear the risk of periodic component price increases, which could increase costs and reduce operating income.

 

In addition, our businesses may purchase components in advance of their requirements for those components as a result of a threatened or anticipated shortage. In this event, they will incur additional inventory carrying costs, for which they may not be compensated, and have a heightened risk of exposure to inventory obsolescence. If they fail to manage their inventory effectively, our businesses may bear the risk of fluctuations in materials costs, scrap and excess inventory, all of which may materially adversely affect their financial condition, business and results of operations.

 

Our businesses could experience fluctuations in the costs of raw materials as a result of inflation and other economic conditions, which could have a material adverse effect on their financial condition, business and results of operations.

 

Changes in inflation could materially adversely affect the costs and availability of raw materials used in our manufacturing businesses, and changes in fuel costs likely will affect the costs of transporting materials from our suppliers and shipping goods to our customers, as well as the effective areas from which we can recruit temporary staffing personnel. For example, for Advanced Circuits, the principal raw materials consist of copper and glass and represent approximately 13.4% of the total cost of goods sold in 2006. Prices for key raw materials such as these may fluctuate during periods of high demand. The ability by our businesses to offset the effect of increases in raw material prices by increasing their prices is uncertain. If our businesses are unable to cover price increases of these raw materials, their financial condition, business and results of operations could be materially adversely affected.

 

Defects in the products provided by our businesses could result in financial or other damages to their customers, which could result in reduced demand for our businesses’ products and/or liability claims against our businesses.

 

Some of the products our businesses produce could potentially result in product liability suits against them. Some of our businesses manufacture products to customer specifications that are highly complex and critical to customer operations. Defects in products could result in customer dissatisfaction or a reduction in or cancellation of future purchases or liability claims against our businesses. If these defects occur frequently, our reputation may be impaired. Defects in products could also result in financial or other

damages to customers, for which our businesses may be asked or required to compensate their customers. Any of these outcomes could negatively impact our financial condition, business and results of operations.

 

Some of our businesses are subject to certain risks associated with the movement of businesses offshore.

 

Some of our businesses are potentially at risk of losing business to competitors operating in lower cost countries. An additional risk is the movement offshore of some of our businesses’ customers, leading them to procure products or services from more closely located companies. Either of these factors could negatively impact our financial condition, business and results of operations.

 

Loss of key customers of some of our businesses could negatively impact our financial condition, business and results of operations.

 

Some of our businesses have significant exposure to certain key customers, the loss of which could negatively impact our financial condition, business and results of operations.

 

Our businesses are subject to certain risks associated with their foreign operations or business they conduct in foreign jurisdictions.

 

Some of our businesses have operations or conduct business outside the United States. Certain risks are inherent in operating or conducting business in foreign jurisdictions, including: exposure to local economic conditions; difficulties in enforcing agreements and collecting receivables through certain foreign legal systems; longer payment cycles for foreign customers; adverse currency exchange controls; exposure to risks associated with changes in foreign exchange rates; potential adverse changes in political environments; withholding taxes and restrictions on the withdrawal of foreign investments and earnings; export and import restrictions; difficulties in enforcing intellectual property rights; and required compliance with a variety of foreign laws and regulations. These risks individually and collectively have the potential to negatively impact our financial condition, business and results of operations.

 

Our businesses have recorded a significant amount of goodwill and other identifiable intangible assets, which may never be fully realized.

 

Our businesses collectively had, as of December 31, 2006, $288.0 million of goodwill and intangible assets or 55.5% of our total assets. In connection with the acquisitions of Aeroglide and Halo, we anticipate recording additional goodwill and other intangible assets. In accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement of Financial Accounting Standards, or SFAS, No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets,” we are required to evaluate goodwill and other intangibles for impairment at least annually. Impairment may result from, among other things, deterioration in the performance of these businesses, adverse market conditions, adverse changes in applicable laws or regulations, including changes that restrict the activities of or affect the products and services sold by these businesses, and a variety of other factors. Depending on future circumstances, it is possible that we may never realize the full value of these intangible assets. The amount of any quantified impairment must be expensed immediately as a charge to results of operations. Any future determination of impairment of a material portion of goodwill or other identifiable intangible assets could have a material adverse effect on these businesses’ financial condition and operating results, and could result in a default under our revolving credit facility.

 

The internal controls of our businesses have not yet been integrated and we have only recently begun to examine the internal controls that are in place for each business. As a result, we may fail to comply with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act or our auditors may report a material weakness in the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting.

 

We are required under applicable law and regulations to integrate the various systems of internal control over financial reporting of our businesses. Beginning with our annual report for the year ending December 31, 2007, pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, which we refer to as

Section 404, we will be required to include management’s assessment of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of the end of the fiscal year. Additionally, our independent registered public accounting firm will be required to issue a report on management’s assessment of our internal control over financial reporting and a report on their evaluation of the operating effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting.

 

We are evaluating our businesses’ existing internal controls in light of the requirements of Section 404. During the course of our ongoing evaluation and integration of the internal controls of our businesses, we may identify areas requiring improvement, and may have to design enhanced processes and controls to address issues identified through this review. Since our businesses were not subject to the requirements of Section 404 before being acquired by us, the evaluation of existing controls and the implementation of any additional procedures, processes or controls may be costly. Our initial compliance with Section 404 could result in significant delays and costs and require us to divert substantial resources, including management time and attention, from other activities and hire additional accounting staff to address Section 404 requirements. In addition, under Section 404, we are required to report all significant deficiencies to our audit committee and independent auditor and all material weaknesses to our audit committee and independent auditor and in our periodic reports. We may not be able to successfully complete the procedures, certification and attestation requirements of Section 404 and we or our independent auditor may have to report material weaknesses in connection with the presentation of our financial statements.

 

If we fail to comply with the requirements of Section 404 or if our auditors report such a significant deficiency or material weakness, the accuracy and timeliness of the filing of our annual report may be materially adversely affected and could cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial information, which could have a material adverse effect on the market price of the shares.

 

Risks Related to Advanced Circuits

 

Unless Advanced Circuits is able to respond to technological change at least as quickly as its competitors, its services could be rendered obsolete, which could materially adversely affect its financial condition, business and results of operations.

 

The market for Advanced Circuits’ services is characterized by rapidly changing technology and continuing process development. The future success of its business will depend in large part upon its ability to maintain and enhance its technological capabilities, retain qualified engineering and technical personnel, develop and market services that meet evolving customer needs and successfully anticipate and respond to technological changes on a cost-effective and timely basis. Advanced Circuits’ core manufacturing capabilities are for 2 to 12 layer printed circuit boards. Trends towards miniaturization and increased performance of electronic products are dictating the use of printed circuit boards with increased layer counts. If this trend continues Advanced Circuits may not be able to effectively respond to the technological requirements of the changing market. If it determines that new technologies and equipment are required to remain competitive, the development, acquisition and implementation of these technologies may require significant capital investments. It may be unable to obtain capital for these purposes in the future, and investments in new technologies may not result in commercially viable technological processes. Any failure to anticipate and adapt to its customers’ changing technological needs and requirements or retain qualified engineering and technical personnel could materially adversely affect its financial condition, business and results of operations.

 

Advanced Circuits’ customers operate in industries that experience rapid technological change that cause short product life cycles and as a result, if the product life cycles of its customers slow materially, and research and development expenditures are reduced, its financial condition, business and results of operations will be materially adversely affected.

 

Advanced Circuits’ customers compete in markets that are characterized by rapidly changing technology, evolving industry standards and continuous improvement in products and services. These conditions frequently result in short product life cycles. As professionals operating in research and development

departments represent the majority of Advanced Circuits’ net sales, the rapid development of electronic products is a key driver of Advanced Circuits’ sales and operating performance. Any decline in the development and introduction of new electronic products could slow the demand for Advanced Circuits’ services and could have a material adverse effect on its financial condition, business and results of operations.

 

Electronics manufacturing services corporations are increasingly acting as intermediaries, positioning themselves between PCB manufacturers and OEMs, which could reduce operating margins.

 

Advanced Circuits’ OEM customers are increasingly outsourcing the assembly of equipment to third party manufacturers. These third party manufacturers typically assemble products for multiple customers and often purchase circuit boards from Advanced Circuits in larger quantities than OEMs. The ability of Advanced Circuits to sell products to these customers at margins comparable to historical averages is uncertain. Any material erosion in margins could have a material adverse effect on Advanced Circuits’ financial condition, business and results of operations.

 

Risks Related to Aeroglide

 

Aeroglide requires additional manufacturing capacity to maintain its current level of growth; failure to add capacity or broaden its outsourcing relationships could adversely affect Aeroglide’s financial condition, business and results of operations.

 

Aeroglide’s facilities are at or near capacity. Aeroglide will need to either increase its manufacturing capacity or add outsourced manufacturing capacity in order to materially grow the business. Aeroglide’s failure to add capacity or broaden its outsourcing relationships could adversely affect its financial condition, business and results of operations.

 

Risks Related to Anodyne

 

Anodyne recently acquired its first three businesses and faces risks associated with consolidation and integration.

 

Anodyne recently acquired its first three businesses and faces risks associated with consolidation and integration. Anodyne was formed in early 2006 to acquire SenTech Medical Systems, Inc. which we refer to as SenTech, and AMF Support Surfaces, Inc., which we refer to as AMF. On October 5, 2006, Anodyne acquired Anatomic Gobal, Inc., which we refer to as Anatomic. In addition to SenTech, AMF, and Anatomic, Anodyne intends to acquire other businesses in the medical mattress and support surface sector. Anodyne’s operating results will be influenced by the ability of Anodyne’s management to integrate these other businesses.

 

Anodyne’s business could be materially impacted by fluctuations in raw material costs, such as foam, vinyl or fabric.

 

Anodyne’s results of operations could be materially impacted by fluctuations in the cost of raw materials such as foam, vinyl or fabric. In particular, fluctuations in the cost of polyurethane foam could have a material effect on profitability. Since August 2005, the cost of polyurethane foam has increased significantly, in some cases by over 40%. There can be no assurance that increases in the costs of raw materials such as polyurethane foam can be passed along to customers. Any inability to pass on increases in the costs of raw materials could materially impact Anodyne’s profitability.

 

Certain of Anodyne’s products are subject to regulation by the FDA.

 

Certain of Anodyne’s mattress products are Class II devices within Section 201(h) of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (21 USC §321(h)), which we refer to as the FDCA, and, as such, are subject to the requirements of the FDCA and certain rules and regulations of the Food and Drug Administration which we refer to as the FDA. Prior to our acquisition of Anodyne, one of its subsidiaries

received a warning letter from the FDA in connection with certain deficiencies identified during a regular FDA audit, including noncompliance with certain design control requirements, certain good manufacturing practice regulations and certain record keeping requirements. Anodyne’s subsidiary has undertaken corrective measures to address the deficiencies and continues to fully cooperate with the FDA. The FDA has the authority to inspect without notice, and to take any disciplinary action that it sees fit, any one of which may have a material adverse effect on Anodyne’s financial condition, business or results of operations.

 

A change in Medicare Reimbursement Guidelines may reduce demand for Anodyne’s products.

 

Certain changes in Medicare Reimbursement Guidelines if and when effective may reduce the amount of Medicare funds available for purchasing certain products, which could in turn reduce demand for medical support surfaces and have a material adverse effect on Anodyne’s financial condition, business or results of operations. We cannot predict when any such change in the Guidelines may be effected, or the effect of such changes on Anodyne’s business and operations.

 

Risks Related to CBS Personnel

 

CBS Personnel’s business depends on its ability to attract and retain qualified staffing personnel that possess the skills demanded by its clients.

 

As a provider of temporary staffing services, the success of CBS Personnel’s business depends on its ability to attract and retain qualified staffing personnel who possess the skills and experience necessary to meet the requirements of its clients or to successfully bid for new client projects. CBS Personnel must continually evaluate and upgrade its base of available qualified personnel through recruiting and training programs to keep pace with changing client needs and emerging technologies. CBS Personnel’s ability to attract and retain qualified staffing personnel could be impaired by rapid improvement in economic conditions resulting in lower unemployment, increases in compensation or increased competition. During periods of economic growth, CBS Personnel faces increasing competition for retaining and recruiting qualified staffing personnel, which in turn leads to greater advertising and recruiting costs and increased salary expenses. If CBS Personnel cannot attract and retain qualified staffing personnel, the quality of its services may deteriorate and its financial condition, business and results of operations may be materially adversely affected. Moreover, evolving technological innovations may require CBS Personnel to seek better educated and trained workers, who may not be available in sufficient numbers.

 

Customer relocation of positions filled by CBS Personnel may materially adversely affect CBS Personnel’s financial condition, business and results of operations.

 

Many companies have built offshore operations, moved their operations to offshore sites that have lower employment costs or outsourced certain functions. If CBS Personnel’s customers relocate positions filled by CBS Personnel, this would have a material adverse effect on the financial condition, business and results of operations of CBS Personnel.

 

CBS Personnel assumes the obligation to make wage, tax and regulatory payments for its employees, and as a result, it is exposed to client credit risks.

 

CBS Personnel generally assumes responsibility for and manages the risks associated with its employees’ payroll obligations, including liability for payment of salaries and wages (including payroll taxes), as well as group health and retirement benefits for its leased employees. These obligations are fixed, whether or not its clients make payments required by services agreements, which exposes CBS Personnel to credit risks of its clients, primarily relating to uncollateralized accounts receivables. If CBS Personnel fails to successfully manage its credit risk, its financial condition, business and results of operations may be materially adversely affected.

 

CBS Personnel is exposed to employment-related claims and costs and periodic litigation that could materially adversely affect its financial condition, business and results of operations.

 

The temporary services business entails employing individuals and placing such individuals in clients’ workplaces. CBS Personnel’s ability to control the workplace environment of its clients is limited. As the employer of record of its temporary employees, it incurs a risk of liability to its temporary employees and clients for various workplace events, including: claims of misconduct or negligence on the part of its employees; discrimination or harassment claims against its employees, or claims by its employees of discrimination or harassment by its clients; immigration-related claims; claims relating to violations of wage, hour and other workplace regulations; claims relating to employee benefits, entitlements to employee benefits, or errors in the calculation or administration of such benefits; and possible claims relating to misuse of customer confidential information, misappropriation of assets or other similar claims. CBS Personnel may incur fines and other losses and negative publicity with respect to any of these situations. Some the claims may result in litigation, which is expensive and distracts management’s attention from the operations of CBS Personnel’s business. Furthermore, while CBS Personnel maintains insurance with respect to many of these items, it, may not be able to continue to obtain insurance at a cost that does not have a material adverse effect upon it. As a result, such claims (whether by reason of it not having insurance or by reason of such claims being outside the scope of its insurance) may have a material adverse effect on CBS Personnel’s financial condition, business and results of operations.

 

CBS Personnel’s workers’ compensation loss reserves may be inadequate to cover its ultimate liability for workers’ compensation costs.

 

CBS Personnel self-insures its workers’ compensation exposure for certain employees. The calculation of the workers’ compensation reserves involves the use of certain actuarial assumptions and estimates. Accordingly, reserves do not represent an exact calculation of liability. Reserves can be affected by both internal and external events, such as adverse developments on existing claims or changes in medical costs, claims handling procedures, administrative costs, inflation, and legal trends and legislative changes. As a result, reserves may not be adequate. If reserves are insufficient to cover the actual losses, CBS Personnel would have to increase its reserves and incur charges to its earnings that could be material.

 

Risks Related to Halo

 

Increases in the portion of end customers buying directly from manufacturers could have a material adverse effect on the business of Halo.

 

The promotional products industry supply chain is comprised of multiple levels. As a distributor, Halo does not manufacture or decorate the promotional products it sells. Though management believes distributors play a valuable role in the industry, increases in the portion of end customers buying directly from manufacturers could have a material adverse effect on the financial condition, business and results of operations of Halo.

 

The loss of a significant number of account executives could adversely affect the business of Halo.

 

Halo relies on its large staff of account executives to develop and maintain relationships with end customers. Halo’s sales force is comprised of both full time employees and sub-contractors. These professionals have relationships with customers of varying sizes and profitability. Though management believes its compensation structure and support of its sales forces is comparable or better than many industry participants, there can be no assurances that Halo will be able to retain their continuing services. The loss of a significant number of account executives could adversely affect the business of Halo.

 

Halo relies on suppliers for the timely delivery of products to end customers. Delays in the delivery of promotional products to customers could adversely affect Halo’s results of operations.

 

Halo often relies on many of its suppliers to ship directly to its end customers. Delays in the shipment of products or supply shortages in promotional products in high demand could affect Halo’s reputation and standing with its end customers and adversely affect Halo’s results of operations.

 

Risks Related to Silvue

 

Silvue derives a significant portion of its revenue from the eyewear industry. Any economic downturn in this market or increased regulations by the FDA, would materially adversely affect its operating results and financial condition.

 

Silvue’s management estimates that in 2006 approximately 88% of its net sales were from the premium eyewear industry. Because Silvue’s customers are concentrated in the eyewear industry, the economic factors impacting this industry also impact its operations and revenues. Any downturn in this market would materially adversely affect its operating results and financial condition. Further, Silvue’s coating technology is used primarily on mid and high value lenses. A decline in the ophthalmic and sunglass lens industry in general, or a change in consumers’ preferences from mid and high value lenses to low value lenses within the industry, may have a material adverse effect on its financial condition, business and results of operations.

 

Silvue’s technology is compatible with certain substrates and processes and competes with a number of products currently sold on the market. A change in the substrate, process or competitive landscape could have a material adverse affect on its financial condition, business and results of operations.

 

Silvue provides material for the coating of polycarbonate, acrylic, glass, metals and other surfaces. Its business is dependent upon the continued use of these substrates and the need for its products to be applied to these substrates. In addition, Silvue’s products are compatible with certain application techniques. New application techniques designed to improve performance and decrease costs are being developed that may be incompatible with Silvue’s coating technologies. Further, Silvue competes with a number of large and small companies in the research, development, and production of coating systems. A competitor may develop a coating system that is technologically superior and render Silvue’s products less competitive. Any of these conditions may have a material adverse effect on its financial condition, business and results of operations.

 

Risks Related to this Offering

 

We have broad discretion in using the net proceeds of this offering. Our failure to effectively use these proceeds could adversely affect our ability to earn profits.

 

We will receive net proceeds in this offering of approximately $     . We intend to use the net proceeds to repay existing indebtedness and for general corporate purposes, including the acquisition of other businesses. If we fail to identify desirable acquisition targets, or fail to effectively consummate such acquisitions, or ability to earn profits could be adversely affected.

 

Our shares are thinly traded and you may not be able to sell the securities at all or when you want to do so.

 

Our shares currently are quoted on the NASDAQ Global Select Market and currently are thinly traded. Since the closing of the IPO, the weekly trading volume for our shares has been as low as           shares per week and as high as           shares per week as reported by NASDAQ. Our average daily trading volume was 51,054 for the quarter ended March 31, 2007 as reported by NASDAQ. Because of the limited public market for our shares, you may be unable to sell our shares when you want to do so.

 

Future sales of shares may cause the market price of our shares to decline.

 

We cannot predict what effect, if any, future sales of our shares, or the availability of shares for future sale, will have on the market price of our shares. Sales of substantial amounts of our shares in the public market following this offering, or the perception that such sales could occur, could materially adversely affect the market price of our shares and may make it more difficult for you to sell your shares at a time and price which you deem appropriate. A decline below the offering price, in the future, is possible. After the consummation of this offering and the separate private placement transaction, there will be           shares of the trust issued and outstanding (           shares if the underwriters exercise their over-allotment option in full). The           shares sold in this offering (           shares if the underwriters exercise their over-allotment option in full) will be freely tradable without restriction or further registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, by persons other than our affiliates within the meaning of Rule 144 under the Securities Act. In addition, under the terms of the registration rights agreements with CGI and Pharos, we will be required to file a shelf registration statement under the Securities Act relating to the resale of all shares owned by such holders (subject to the restrictions contained in those agreements) as soon as reasonably possible following May 16, 2007, the one year anniversary of our IPO. See “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transaction — Contractual Relationships with Related Parties — Registration Rights Agreements.”

 

We, CGI, Pharos I LLC, which we refer to as Pharos, the employees of our manager and our officers and directors have agreed that, with limited exceptions, we and they will not directly or indirectly, without the prior written consent of Citigroup Global Markets Inc., on behalf of the underwriters, offer to sell, sell or otherwise dispose of any shares for a period of 90 days after the date of this prospectus.

 

We may issue additional debt and equity securities which are senior to our shares as to distributions and in liquidation, which could materially adversely affect the market price of our shares and result in dilution to our shareholders.

 

In the future, we may attempt to increase our capital resources by entering into additional debt or debt-like financing that is secured by all or up to all of our assets, or issuing debt or equity securities, which could include issuances of commercial paper, medium-term notes, senior notes, subordinated notes or equity securities, including preferred securities. Specifically, we do intend to issue our shares as consideration for future acquisitions. In the event of our liquidation, our lenders and holders of our debt securities would receive a distribution of our available assets before distributions to our shareholders. Any preferred securities, if issued, may have a preference with respect to distributions and upon liquidation, which could further limit our ability to make distributions to our shareholders. Because our decision to incur debt and issue securities in our future offerings will depend on market conditions and other factors beyond our control, we cannot predict or estimate the amount, timing or nature of our future offerings and debt financing. Further, market conditions could require us to accept less favorable terms for the issuance of our securities in the future. Thus, you will bear the risk of our future offerings reducing the value of your shares and diluting your interest in us. In addition, we can change our leverage strategy from time to time without shareholder approval, which could materially adversely affect the market share price of our shares.

 

Our earnings and cash distributions may affect the market price of our shares.

 

Generally, the market price of our shares may be based, in part, on the market’s perception of our growth potential and our current and potential future cash distributions, whether from operations, sales, acquisitions or refinancings, and on the value of our businesses. For that reason, our shares may trade at prices that are higher or lower than our net asset value per share. Should we retain operating cash flow for investment purposes or working capital reserves instead of distributing the cash flows to our shareholders, the retained funds, while increasing the value of our underlying assets, may materially adversely affect the market price of our shares. Our failure to meet market expectations with respect to earnings and cash distributions could materially adversely affect the market price of our shares.

 

If the market price of our shares declines, you may be unable to resell your shares at or above the public offering price. We cannot assure you that the market price of our shares will not fluctuate or decline significantly, including a decline below the public offering price, in the future.

 

The market price, trading volume and marketability of our shares may, from time to time, be significantly affected by numerous factors beyond our control, which may materially adversely affect the market price of your shares and our ability to raise capital through future equity financings.

 

The market price and trading volume of our shares may fluctuate significantly. Many factors that are beyond our control may significantly affect the market price and marketability of our shares and may materially adversely affect our ability to raise capital through equity financings. These factors include: price and volume fluctuations in the stock markets generally which create highly variable and unpredictable pricing of equity securities; significant volatility in the market price and trading volume of securities of companies in the sectors in which our businesses operate, which may not be related to the operating performance of these companies and which may not reflect the performance of our businesses; changes and variations in our earnings and cash flows; any shortfall in revenue or net income or any increase in losses from levels expected by securities analysts; changes in regulation or tax law; operating performance of companies comparable to us; general economic trends and other external factors including inflation, interest rates, and costs and availability of raw materials, fuel and transportation; and loss of a major funding source.

 

All of our shares sold in this offering will be freely transferable by persons other than our affiliates and those persons subject to lock-up agreements, without restriction or further registration under the Securities Act.

 

This prospectus, including the sections entitled “Prospectus Summary,” “Risk Factors,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and “Business,” and elsewhere contains forward-looking statements. We may, in some cases, use words such as “project,” “predict,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “expect,” “estimate,” “intend,” “should,” “would,” “could,” “potentially,” or “may” or other words that, convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes to identify these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this prospectus are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, some of which are beyond our control, including, among other things:

 

 

 

Our actual results, performance, prospects or opportunities could differ materially from those expressed in or implied by the forward-looking statements. A description of some of the risks that could cause our actual results to differ appears under the section “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this prospectus. Additional risks of which we are not currently aware or which we currently deem immaterial could also cause our actual results to differ.

 

In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, you should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. The forward-looking events discussed in this prospectus may not occur. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this prospectus. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements after the completion of this offering, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

 

We estimate that our net proceeds from the sale of           shares in this offering will be approximately $      million (or approximately $      million if the underwriters’ overallotment option is exercised in full), based on the public offering price of $      per share and after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions of approximately $      million (or approximately $      million if the underwriters’ overallotment option is exercised in full), but without giving effect to the payment of public offering costs of approximately $      million. In addition, CGI has agreed to purchase in a separate private placement transaction to close in conjunction with the closing of this offering a number of shares in the trust having an aggregate purchase price of approximately $30 million at a per share price equal to the public offering price. We intend to use approximately $      of the net proceeds from this offering and from the separate private placement transaction to repay borrowings under our revolving credit facility and any remaining amounts for general corporate purposes, including to fund acquisitions, if and when identified and consummated. Our revolving credit facility has been used to provide funding for our acquisitions and loans to our businesses. Our revolving credit facility permits borrowings up to $255 million with an option to increase the facility by $45 million. The revolving credit facility allows for loans at either base rate or LIBOR. Base rate loans bear interest at a fluctuating rate per annum equal to the greater of (i) the prime rate of interest published by the Wall Street Journal and (ii) the sum of the Federal Funds Rate plus 0.5% for the relevant period, plus a margin ranging from 1.50% to 2.50% based upon the company’s ratio of total debt to adjusted consolidated earnings before interest expense, tax expense, and depreciation and amortization expenses for such period (the “total debt to EBITDA ratio”). LIBOR loans bear interest at a fluctuating rate per annum equal to the London Interbank Offer Rate, or LIBOR, for the relevant period plus a margin ranging from 2.50% to 3.50% based on the company’s total debt to EBITDA ratio. As of          , 2007, there was an aggregate of $      million of base rate loans and $      of LIBOR loans outstanding under the revolving credit facility. As of          , 2007 the interest rate for base rate loans was    % and the interest rate for LIBOR loans was    %. Outstanding indebtedness under the revolving credit facility will mature on November 21, 2011. We are required to pay commitment fees ranging between 0.75% and 1.25% per annum on the unused portion of the revolving credit facility.

 

Our shares trade on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “CODI.” On April  , 2007, the last reported sale price of our shares on the NASDAQ Global Select Market was $      per share. The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the high and low sales prices of the shares as reported on the NASDAQ Global Select Market.

 

 

As of March 31, 2007 we had 20,450,000 of our shares outstanding that were held by fewer than ten holders of record; however, we believe the number of beneficial owners of our shares is approximately 5,500.

 

The company’s board of directors intends to declare and pay regular quarterly cash distributions on all outstanding shares. On July 18, 2006, the trust paid a pro rata distribution of $0.1327 per share to holders of record on July 11, 2006 for the quarter ended June 30, 2006. On October 19, 2006, the trust paid a distribution of $0.2625 to holders of record as of October 13, 2006 for the quarter ended September 30, 2006. On January 24, 2007, the trust paid a distribution of $0.30 to holders of record as of January 18, 2007 for the quarter ended December 31, 2006. The company’s board of directors intends to set each distribution on the basis of the current results of operations of our businesses and other resources available to the company, including the third party credit facility, and the desire to provide sustainable levels of distributions to our shareholders.

 

Our distribution policy is based on the predictable and stable cash flows of our businesses and our intention to provide sustainable levels of distributions to our shareholders while reinvesting a portion of our cash flows in our businesses or in the acquisition of new businesses. If we successfully implement our strategy, we expect to maintain and increase the level of our distributions to shareholders in the future.

 

The declaration and payment of any future distribution will be subject to the approval of a majority of the company’s board of directors. The board of directors will at all times include a majority of independent directors. The company’s board of directors will take into account such matters as general business conditions, our financial condition, results of operations, capital requirements and any contractual, legal and regulatory restrictions on the payment of distributions by us to our shareholders or by our subsidiaries to us, and any other factors that the board of directors deems relevant. However, even in the event that the company’s board of directors were to decide to declare and pay distributions, our ability to pay such distributions may be adversely impacted due to unknown liabilities, government regulations, financial covenants of the debt of the company, funds needed for acquisitions and to satisfy short- and long-term working capital needs of our businesses, or if our businesses do not generate sufficient earnings and cash flow to support the payment of such distributions. In particular, we may incur debt in the future to acquire new businesses, which debt will have substantial payment obligations, which must be satisfied before we can make distributions. These factors could affect our ability to continue to make distributions.

 

We may use cash flow from our businesses, the capital resources of the company, including borrowings under the company’s third party credit facility, or a reduction in equity to pay a distribution. See the section entitled “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations” for more information about the tax treatment of distributions to our shareholders.

 

Restrictions on Distribution Payments

 

We are dependent upon the ability of our businesses to generate earnings and cash flow and to make distributions to us in the form of interest and principal payments on indebtedness and distributions on equity to enable us to, first, satisfy our financial obligations, including payments under our revolving credit facility, the management fee, profit allocation and put price, and, second, make distributions to our shareholders. There is no guarantee that we will continue to make quarterly distributions. Our ability to make quarterly distributions may be subject to certain restrictions, including:

 

 

 

As a consequence of these various restrictions, we may not be able to declare, or may have to delay or cancel payment of, distributions to our shareholders.

 

Because the company’s board of directors intends to continue to declare and pay regular quarterly cash distributions on all outstanding shares, our growth may not be as fast as businesses that reinvest their available cash to expand ongoing operations. We expect that we will rely upon external financing sources, including issuances of debt or debt-like financing arrangements and the issuance of debt and equity securities, to fund our acquisitions and expansion of capital expenditures. As a result, to the extent we are unable to finance growth externally, our decision to declare and pay regular quarterly distributions will significantly impair our ability to grow.

 

Our decision to incur debt and issue securities in future offerings will depend on market conditions and other factors beyond our control. Therefore, we cannot predict or estimate the amount, timing or nature of our future offerings and debt financings. Likewise, holders of our shares may be diluted pursuant to additional equity issuances.

 

The following table sets forth our unaudited pro forma capitalization, assuming no exercise of the underwriters’ overallotment option, at the public offering price of $      per share of the trust and the application of the estimated net proceeds of such sale (after deducting underwriting discounts and commission and our estimated offering expenses) as well as the proceeds from the separate private placement transaction. “As Adjusted” reflects the repayment of outstanding debt from the proceeds of the sale of Crosman, cash used and debt incurred for the acquisitions of Aeroglide and Halo and the application of the net proceeds of this offering as further described in the “Pro Forma Condensed Financial Statements” included within this prospectus. This table should be read in conjunction with “Use of Proceeds,” “Pro Forma Condensed Financial Statements” and our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus.

 

 

 

 

The following unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet as of December 31, 2006, gives effect to the following transactions, as if the following transactions had been completed as of December 31, 2006:

 

 

The purchase price for these acquisitions are subject to adjustment. The actual amount of such adjustments, which we do not expect to be material, will depend upon the actual working capital of Aeroglide and Halo as of February 28, 2007.

 

The following unaudited pro forma condensed combined statements of operations for the year ended December 31, 2006, gives effect to this offering, the separate private placement transaction and the acquisition of Aeroglide and Halo as if they had occurred at the beginning of the fiscal period presented. The “as reported” financial information in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet at December 31, 2006, and for the year ended December 31, 2006, for Aeroglide and Halo are derived from the audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2006 of each of the businesses, which are included elsewhere in this prospectus. The “as reported” financial information for the trust at December 31, 2006 and for the year ended December 31, 2006, is derived from the audited financial statements of the trust as of December 31, 2006 and for the year ended December 31, 2006 and is included in this prospectus.

 

The following unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements, or the pro forma financial statements, have been prepared assuming that our acquisition of the Aeroglide and Halo businesses will be accounted for under the purchase method of accounting. Under the purchase method of accounting, the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed will be recorded at their respective fair value at the date of acquisition. The total purchase price has been allocated to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on estimates of their respective fair values, which are subject to revision if the finalization of the respective fair values results in a material difference to the preliminary estimate used.

 

The unaudited pro forma condensed combined statement of operations includes the results of operations for Aeroglide and Halo as if they were purchased on January 1, 2006 and the actual historical results of operations of our other businesses as of the date of acquisition, which was May 16, 2006 for our initial businesses and August 1, 2006 for Anodyne. As such these pro forma financial statements are not necessarily indicative of operating results that would have been achieved had the transactions described above been completed at the beginning of the period presented and should not be construed as indicative of future operating results.

 

You should read these unaudited pro forma condensed financial statements in conjunction with the financial statements and accompanying footnotes of Aeroglide and Halo included in this prospectus and the consolidated financial statements for the trust and the company, including the notes thereto.

 

Compass Diversified Trust

 

Condensed Combined Pro Forma Balance Sheet

at December 31, 2006

 

 

 

Compass Diversified Trust

 

Condensed Combined Pro Forma Statement of Operations

for the year ended December 31, 2006

 

Notes to Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Statements
(Unaudited)

 

This information in Note 1 provides all of the pro forma adjustments from each line item in the pro forma Condensed Combined Financial Statements. Note 2 describes how the adjustments were derived or calculated. Unless otherwise noted, all amounts are in thousands of dollars ($000).

 

 

Balance Sheet:

 

 

Statement of Operations:

 

 

 

As a further illustration, we have grouped the pro forma adjustments detailed in Note 1 to the Pro Forma Condensed Financial Statements by each business to show the combine effect of the pro forma adjustments on each business.

 

Balance Sheet

 

a. Sale of Crosman

 

Reflects the sale of Crosman on January 5, 2007 whereby the company received proceeds of $119,722 and applied $85,000 of such proceeds from the sale to repay revolving credit facility borrowings outstanding on the date of the sale. Partial funding for the acquisitions of Aeroglide and Halo were provided by the cash remaining after the repayment of the $85.0 million of revolving credit facility borrowings. The sale resulted in a gain of $35,903 that will be recorded in fiscal 2007.

 

b. Reflects borrowings from the revolving credit facility to partially fund the Aeroglide and Halo acquisitions:

 

 

c. Reflect the use of cash for the acquisitions of Aeroglide and Halo:

 

 

d. Reflects the partial use of the net proceeds from the offering to repay revolving credit facility borrowing incurred to fund the acquisitions of Aeroglide and Halo:

 

 

e. Aeroglide Acquisition

 

The following information represents the pro forma adjustments made by us in Note 1 to reflect our acquisition of a 89.0% equity interest in and loans to Aeroglide for a total cash investment of approximately $56.3 million. This investment of $56.3 million was assigned to assets of $76.4 million, current liabilities of $17.8 million consisting of the historical carrying values for accounts payable and accrued expenses and $2.3 million to minority interest. The asset allocation represents $18.6 million of current assets valued at their historical carrying values, property and equipment of $7.0 million valued through a preliminary asset appraisal, $22.2 million of intangible and other assets and $28.6 million of goodwill representing the excess of the purchase price over identifiable assets. The preliminary intangible asset values consist principally of customer relationships valued at $13.0 million, trade names valued at $3.4 million order backlog valued at $3.4 million, process know-how valued at $2.0 million and non-compete agreements valued at $0.4 million.

 

The customer relationships were valued at $13.0 million using an excess earnings methodology, in which an asset is valuable to the extent that the asset enables its owner to earn a return in excess of the required returns on and of the other assets utilized in the business. Customer relationships were analyzed separately for each of the capital equipment and aftermarket and other segments of the business, as described in the following two paragraphs.

 

Capital equipment customer relationships were valued at $5.0 million. The key assumptions in this analysis were an economic margin of approximately 9.0% (on average) of sales attributable to Aeroglide’s capital equipment customer relationships, an estimate that sales to these capital equipment customers would be $29.6 million in 2008 prior to factoring in customer attrition, an attrition rate (reflecting the rate at which Aeroglide’s capital equipment customer relationships are lost) of 20% per annum, a risk-adjusted discount rate of 19%, and a remaining useful life of 10 years.

 

Aftermarket and other customer relationships were valued at $8.0 million. The key assumptions in this analysis were an economic margin of approximately 17.5% (on average) of sales attributable to Aeroglide’s aftermarket and other customer relationships, an estimate that sales to these aftermarket and other customers would be $12.6 million in 2008 prior to factoring in customer attrition, an attrition rate (reflecting the rate at which Aeroglide’s aftermarket and other customer relationships are lost) of 10% per annum, a risk-adjusted discount rate of 19%, and a remaining useful life of 12 years.

 

Order backlog (representing unfulfilled customer orders for the purchase of goods or services from Aeroglide) was valued at $3.4 million using an excess earnings methodology, in which an asset is valuable to the extent that the asset enables its owner to earn a return in excess of the required returns on and of the

other assets utilized in the business. Order backlog was analyzed separately for each of the capital equipment and aftermarket and other segments of the business, as described in the following two paragraphs.

 

Capital equipment order backlog was valued at $2.6 million. The key assumptions in this analysis were an economic margin of 12.4%, order backlog sales of $19.0 million to be fulfilled in six months, and a risk-adjusted discount rate of 18%.

 

Aftermarket and other order backlog was valued at $0.8 million. The key assumptions in this analysis were an economic margin of 21.3%, order backlog sales of $3.2 million to be fulfilled in three months, and a risk-adjusted discount rate of 18%.

 

The trade names were valued at $3.4 million using a royalty savings methodology, in which an asset is valuable to the extent that ownership of the asset relieves the company from the obligation of paying royalties for the benefits generated by the asset. The key assumptions in this analysis were a royalty rate equal to 1% of sales, a royalty sales base equal to 100% of Aeroglide’s total sales, a risk-adjusted discount rate of 19%, and an indefinite remaining useful life.

 

The process know-how (representing Aeroglide’s institutional knowledge and collective technical expertise regarding various industrial applications of process driers and coolers) was valued at $2.0 million using a royalty savings methodology, in which an asset is valuable to the extent that ownership of the asset relieves the company from the obligation of paying royalties for the benefits generated by the asset. The key assumptions in this analysis were a royalty rate equal to 1% of sales, an initial royalty sales base equal to 100% of Aeroglide’s total sales, an obsolescence factor (reflecting the rate at which the utility of the core technology degrades relative to time) of 5% per annum, a risk-adjusted discount rate of 19%, and a remaining useful life of 13 years.

 

The non-competition agreements were valued in aggregate (for 10 Aeroglide executives) at $0.45 million using a lost profits methodology, in which such agreements are valuable to the extent that the company avoids suffering a reduction in cash flow by virtue of the protection afforded by the agreements. The key assumptions in this analysis were an estimated loss of 5% of annual revenues during a hypothetical two-year period of competition from the subject executives, a 20% probability each year the subject executives would compete in the absence of the agreements, a risk-adjusted discount rate of 19%, and a remaining useful life of two years.

 

The value assigned to minority interest was derived from the equity value contributed by the minority holders at the time of acquisition.

 

1. Reflects (1) purchase accounting adjustments to reflect Aeroglide’s assets acquired and liabilities assumed at their estimated fair values, (2) redemption of existing debt of Aeroglide and (3) elimination of historical shareholders’ equity:

 

 

f. Halo Acquisition

 

The following information represents the pro forma adjustments made by us in Note 1 to reflect our acquisition of a 73.6% equity interest in, and loans to Halo for a total cash investment of approximately

$61.9 million. This investment of $61.9 million was assigned to assets of $98.0 million, current liabilities of $19.5 million consisting of the historical carrying values for accounts payable and accrued expenses, $13.8 million to deferred tax liabilities and $2.8 million to minority interest. The asset allocation represents $29.1 million of current assets valued at their historical carrying values, property and equipment of $1.9 million valued through a preliminary asset appraisal, $35.5 million of intangible and other assets and $31.5 million of goodwill representing the excess of the purchase price over identifiable assets. The preliminary intangible asset values consist principally of the customer relationships and order processing network valued at $30.0 million, trade names valued at $5.1 million and non-compete covenants valued at $0.4 million.

 

The customer relationships and order processing network were valued at $30.0 million using an excess earnings methodology, in which an asset is valuable to the extent that the asset enables its owner to earn a return in excess of the required returns on and of the other assets utilized in the business. The key assumptions in this analysis were an economic margin of approximately 3.5% (on average) of sales attributable to Halo’s account executive relationships, an estimate that sales attributable to these account executive relationships would be $131.8 million in 2008 prior to factoring in attrition, an attrition rate (reflecting the rate at which Halo’s account executive relationships are lost) of 5% per annum, a risk-adjusted discount rate of 15%, and a remaining useful life of 15 years.

 

The trade names were valued at $5.1 million using a royalty savings methodology, in which an asset is valuable to the extent that ownership of the asset relieves the company from the obligation of paying royalties for the benefits generated by the asset. The key assumptions in this analysis were a royalty rate equal to 0.5% of sales, a royalty sales base equal to 100% of Halo’s total sales, a risk-adjusted discount rate of 15%, and an indefinite remaining useful life.

 

The non-competition agreements were valued in aggregate (for two Halo executives) at $0.37 million using a lost profits methodology, in which such agreements are valuable to the extent that the company avoids suffering a reduction in cash flow by virtue of the protection afforded by the agreements. The key assumptions in this analysis were an estimated loss of 5% of annual revenues during a hypothetical two-year period of competition from the subject executives, a 5% probability each year the subject executives would compete in the absence of the agreements, a risk-adjusted discount rate of 15%, and a remaining useful life of three years.

 

The value assigned to minority interest was derived from the equity value contributed by the minority holders at the time of acquisition.

 

1. Reflects (1) purchase accounting adjustments to reflect Halo’s assets acquired and liabilities assumed at their estimated fair values, (2) redemption of existing debt of Halo and (3) elimination of historical shareholders’ equity:

 

Statement of Operations: