Form S-3
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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 10, 2006

Registration No. 333-            


SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


Form S-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 


QUALITY DISTRIBUTION, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

 


 

Florida   4213   59-3239073

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(Primary Standard Industrial

Classification Code Number)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

3802 Corporex Park Drive

Tampa, Florida 33619

(813) 630-5826

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

 


Gerald L. Detter

Chief Executive Officer

Quality Distribution, Inc.

3802 Corporex Park Drive

Tampa, Florida 33619

(813) 569-7100

 


With copies to:

David J. Johnson Jr., Esq.

John M. Scott, Esq.

O’Melveny & Myers LLP

7 Times Square

New York, New York 10036

(212) 326-2000

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

 


Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: As soon as practicable after this Registration Statement becomes effective.

If the only securities being registered on this form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box.  ¨

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933 check the following box.  x

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ¨

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ¨

If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box.  ¨

If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box.  ¨

 


CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE


Title of each Class of Securities to be Registered    Amount To Be
Registered
  

Proposed Maximum
Offering Price
Per Share(1)

  

Proposed Maximum

Aggregate

Offering Price(1)

  

Amount of

Registration Fee

Common Stock, no par value per share

   16,390,981 shares    $12.96    $212,427,114    $22,730

(1) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, based on a per share price of $12.96, the average of the high and low reported sale prices of the Registrant’s common stock on the Nasdaq National Market on July 6, 2006.

 


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, as amended, or until the Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

 



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The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. A registration statement relating to these securities has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These securities may not be sold until the registration statement is effective. This preliminary prospectus is not an offer to sell nor does it seek an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED JULY 10, 2006

Quality Distribution, Inc.

LOGO

Common Stock

 


We may offer and sell, from time to time, shares of common stock in amounts, at prices and on terms that we will decide at the time of the offering. In addition, our stockholders may offer and sell, from time to time, shares of our common stock. Our common stock covered by this prospectus may be sold at fixed prices or prices that may be changed, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to those prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices. We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of our common stock by the selling stockholders.

We will provide the specific terms of these offers and sales by us and the selling stockholders in supplements to this prospectus. This prospectus may not be used to sell common stock unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement. You should read this prospectus and any supplements carefully before you invest. We may, and the selling stockholders may, offer common stock directly to investors or through agents, underwriters, or dealers. If any agents, underwriters, or dealers are involved in the sale of any of our common stock, their name and any applicable purchase price, fee, commission or discount arrangement will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Our common stock is traded on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol “QLTY.” The last reported sale price on July 7, 2006 was $12.77 per share.

 


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.

 


The date of this prospectus is                  , 2006


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You should rely only on the information contained in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with any other information. You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the date of this prospectus, or that information contained in any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference is accurate as of any date other than the date of that document. This document may only be used where it is legal to sell these securities.

The distribution of this prospectus in some jurisdictions may be restricted by law. Persons who receive this prospectus should inform themselves about and observe any such restrictions. This prospectus does not constitute, and may not be used in connection with, an offer or solicitation by anyone in any jurisdiction in which such offer or solicitation is not authorized or in which the person making such offer or solicitation is not authorized or in which the person making such offer or solicitation is not qualified to do so or to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation.

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     Page

PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

   1

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AND CERTAIN CONSIDERATIONS

   2

USE OF PROCEEDS

   4

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

   5

LEGAL MATTERS

   8

EXPERTS

   8

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

   8

 


The information contained in this prospectus is accurate only as of the date of this prospectus, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus or of any sale of our common stock. In this prospectus, unless the context otherwise requires or indicates, (i) the terms “our company,” “Quality Distribution,” “QDI,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to Quality Distribution, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries and their predecessors and (ii) the term “QD LLC” refer to our wholly owned subsidiary, Quality Distribution, LLC, and its consolidated subsidiaries and their predecessors.

 

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Prospectus Summary

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, using a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may offer and sell, from time to time, shares of our common stock, in one or more offerings and at prices and on terms that we determine at the time of the offering. In addition, our stockholders may offer and sell, from time to time, shares of our common stock. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the common stock that is offered or may be offered in the future. Each time we or the selling stockholders offer any of our common stock under this prospectus, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering. The prospectus supplements may add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. To the extent that any statement we make in a prospectus supplement is inconsistent with statements made in this prospectus, the statements made in this prospectus will be deemed modified or superseded by those made in the prospectus supplement. You should read this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with the additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”

Quality Distribution, Inc.

We operate the largest dedicated bulk tank truck network in North America based on bulk service revenues reported in Bulk Transporter’s 2005 Annual Gross Revenue Report. The bulk tank truck market in North America includes all items shipped by bulk tank truck carriers and consists primarily of the shipping of chemicals, gasoline and food-grade products. We transport a broad range of chemical products and provide our customers with value-added services and other logistics services. We are a core carrier for many of the Fortune 500 companies engaged in chemical processing, including The Dow Chemical Company, Procter & Gamble Company, E.I. duPont and PPG Industries, and we provide services to most of the top 100 chemical producers with U.S. operations.

Our revenue is principally a function of the volume of shipments by the bulk chemical industry, our market share, and the allocation of shipments between tank truck transportation and other modes of transportation such as rail. The volume of shipments of chemical products are, in turn, affected by many other industries, including consumer and industrial products, automotive, paint and coatings, and paper, and tend to vary with changing economic conditions. Additionally, we provide leasing, tank cleaning, transloading and warehousing. We also facilitate insurance products for drivers and affiliates through an independent third party.

 


Our company is a Florida corporation formed in 1994. Our principal executive offices are located at 3802 Corporex Park Drive, Tampa, Florida 33619, and our telephone number is (813) 569-7100. We are a holding company with no significant assets or operations other than the ownership of 100% of the membership units of Quality Distribution, LLC.

 

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Forward-Looking Statements and Certain Considerations

This prospectus along with other documents that are publicly disseminated by us contain or might contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act. All statements included in this prospectus and in any subsequent filings made by us with the SEC, other than statements of historical fact, that address activities, events or developments that we or our management expect, believe or anticipate will or may occur in the future, are forward-looking statements. These statements represent our reasonable judgment on the future based on various factors and using numerous assumptions and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause our actual results and financial position to differ materially. We claim the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements provided in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. Examples of forward-looking statements include: (i) projections of revenue, earnings, capital structure and other financial items, (ii) statements of our plans and objectives, (iii) statements of expected future economic performance, and (iv) assumptions underlying statements regarding us or our business. Forward-looking statements can be identified by, among other things, the use of forward-looking language, such as “believes,” “expects,” “estimates,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “seeks,” “plans,” “intends,” “anticipates” or “scheduled to” or the negatives of those terms, or other variations of those terms or comparable language, or by discussions of strategy or other intentions.

Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the statements. The forward-looking information is based on various factors and was derived using numerous assumptions. Important factors that could cause our actual results to be materially different from the forward-looking statements include the risks and other factors discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005 and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2006, each of which is incorporated herein by reference, as well as in this prospectus. Some of these factors include:

 

    general economic conditions;

 

    the cyclical nature of the transportation industry due to various economic factors such as excess capacity in the industry, the availability of qualified drivers, changes in fuel and insurance prices, interest rate fluctuations, and downturns in customers’ business cycles and shipping requirements;

 

    our liability as a self-insurer to the extent of our deductibles as well as our ability or inability to reduce our claims exposure through insurance due to changing conditions and pricing in the insurance marketplace;

 

    competitive rate fluctuations;

 

    the availability and cost of diesel fuel;

 

    adverse weather conditions;

 

    loss of qualified personnel, which could limit our growth and negatively affect operations;

 

    our dependence on affiliates and owner-operators and our ability to attract and retain owner-operators, affiliates and company-drivers;

 

    changes in, or our inability to comply with, governmental regulations and legislative changes affecting the transportation industry;

 

    increased unionization, which could increase our operating costs or constrain operating flexibility;

 

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    our obligations under both historical and future environmental regulations and the increasing costs of environmental compliance;

 

    our substantial leverage and restrictions contained in our debt agreements, including our credit facility and our indentures;

 

    the loss of one or more significant customers;

 

    the cost of complying with existing and future anti-terrorism security measures enacted by federal, state and municipal authorities;

 

    changes in senior management;

 

    our ability to successfully integrate acquired businesses;

 

    our ability to achieve anticipated operating results in fiscal 2006; and

 

    interests of Apollo Management, L.P., which controls our largest shareholder, which may conflict with your interests.

In addition, there may be other factors that could cause our actual results to be materially different from the results referenced in the forward-looking statements.

All forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we do not intend to update or otherwise revise the forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this prospectus or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

 

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Use of Proceeds

Unless we inform you otherwise in a prospectus supplement, we expect to use the net proceeds from the sale of our common stock from time to time as our board of directors may determine, principally to repay or refinance our indebtedness and for general corporate purposes. We may temporarily invest net proceeds from the sale of our common stock in short-term securities. We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of shares of our common stock by our stockholders. See “Plan of Distribution.”

 

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Plan of Distribution

We and the selling stockholders currently intend to offer and sell pursuant to one or more prospectus supplements, from time to time, the shares of our common stock offered by this prospectus, in one or more underwritten or other public offerings and at prices and on terms that will be determined at the time of the offering. The selling stockholders initially acquired their shares of our common stock in private placement transactions completed prior to the date of this prospectus. We will pay for all costs, expenses and fees in connection with the registration of the shares. In addition, we have agreed to indemnify the selling stockholders against certain liabilities in connection with the offering of the shares of common stock offered hereby. The selling stockholders will pay for all selling discounts and commissions, if any, on the shares of stock offered by them.

However, we and/or the selling stockholders also may offer and sell our common stock, as applicable:

 

    through agents or underwriters;

 

    through a block trade in which the broker or dealer engaged to handle the block trade will attempt to sell the shares of our common stock as agent, but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction;

 

    directly to one or more purchasers (through a specific bidding or auction process or otherwise); or

 

    through a combination of any of these methods of sale.

The distribution of our common stock may be effected from time to time in one or more transactions either:

 

    at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed;

 

    at market prices prevailing at the time of sale;

 

    at prices relating to the prevailing market prices; or

 

    at negotiated prices.

Offers to purchase our common stock may be solicited by agents designated by us and/or the selling stockholders from time to time. Any agent involved in the offer or sale of our common stock will be named, and any commissions payable by us and/or the selling stockholders to the agent will be described, in the applicable prospectus supplement. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, any such agent will be acting on a best efforts basis for the period of its appointment. Any agent may be deemed to be an underwriter, as such term is defined in the Securities Act, of the securities so offered and sold.

The selling stockholders may transfer their shares of common stock in ways not involving market makers or established trading markets, including directly by gift, distribution, or other transfer. The selling stockholders may also sell any shares of common stock that qualify for sale pursuant to Rule 144.

If we and/or the selling stockholders offer and sell our common stock through an underwriter or underwriters, we and/or the selling stockholders will execute an underwriting agreement with the underwriter or underwriters. The names of the specific managing underwriter or underwriters, as well as any other underwriters, and the terms of the transactions, including compensation of the underwriters and dealers, which may be in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions, if any, will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement, which, along with this prospectus, will be used by the underwriters to make resales of our common stock. If underwriters are used in the sale of any of our common stock in connection with this prospectus, those securities will be acquired by the underwriters for their own account and may be resold from time to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at fixed public offering prices or at varying prices determined by the underwriters

 

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and us and/or the selling stockholders at the time of sale. Our common stock may be offered to the public either through underwriting syndicates represented by managing underwriters or directly by one or more underwriters. If any underwriter or underwriters are used in the sale of our common stock, unless otherwise indicated in a related prospectus supplement, the underwriting agreement will provide that the obligations of the underwriters are subject to some conditions precedent and that with respect to a sale of our common stock the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all such securities if any are purchased.

If any underwriters are involved in the offer and sale of our common stock, they will be permitted to engage in transactions that maintain or otherwise affect the price of the common stock or other securities of ours. These transactions may include over-allotment transactions, purchases to cover short positions created by an underwriter in connection with the offering and the imposition of penalty bids. If an underwriter creates a short position in the common stock in connection with the offering, i.e., if it sells more shares of common stock than set forth on the cover page of the applicable prospectus supplement, the underwriter may reduce that short position by purchasing common stock in the open market. In general, purchases of common stock to reduce a short position could cause the price of the common stock to be higher than it might be in the absence of such purchases. As noted above, underwriters may also choose to impose penalty bids on other underwriters and/or selling group members. This means that if underwriters purchase common stock on the open market to reduce their short position or to stabilize the price of the common stock, they may reclaim the amount of the selling concession from those underwriters and/or selling group members who sold such common stock as part of the offering.

If we and/or the selling stockholders offer and sell our common stock through a dealer, we, the selling stockholders or an underwriter will sell our common stock to the dealer, as principal. The dealer may then resell our common stock to the public at varying prices to be determined by the dealer at the time of resale. Any such dealer may be deemed to be an underwriter, as such term is defined in the Securities Act, of our common stock so offered and sold. The name of the dealer and the terms of the transactions will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

We and/or the selling stockholders may solicit offers to purchase our common stock directly and we and/or the selling stockholders may sell our common stock directly to institutional or other investors, who may be deemed to be an underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act with respect to any resales of those securities. The terms of these sales, including the terms of any bidding or auction process, if utilized, will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

We and/or the selling stockholders may enter into agreements with agents, underwriters and dealers under which we may agree to indemnify the agents, underwriters and dealers against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute to payments they may be required to make with respect to these liabilities. The terms and conditions of this indemnification or contribution will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Some of the agents, underwriters or dealers or their affiliates may be customers of, engage in transactions with or perform services for us, the selling stockholders or any of our or their affiliates in the ordinary course of business.

We and/or the selling stockholders may authorize our respective agents or underwriters to solicit offers to purchase our common stock at the public offering price under delayed delivery contracts. The terms of these delayed delivery contracts, including when payment for and delivery of our common stock sold will be made under the contracts and any conditions to each party’s performance set forth in the contracts, will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. The compensation received by underwriters or agents soliciting purchases of our common stock under delayed delivery contracts will also be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

From time to time, the selling stockholders may pledge or grant a security interest in some or all of our shares of common stock owned by them. If the selling stockholders default in the performance of their secured obligations, the pledgees or secured parties may offer and sell such common stock from time to time by this prospectus. The selling stockholders also may transfer and donate our common stock owned by them in other circumstances. The number of shares of our common stock beneficially owned by selling stockholders will decrease as and when the selling stockholders transfer or donate their shares of our common stock or default in performing

 

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obligations secured by their shares of our common stock. The plan of distribution for the securities offered and sold under this prospectus will otherwise remain unchanged, except that the transferees, donees, pledgees, other secured parties or other successors in interest will be the selling stockholders for purposes of this prospectus.

If we sell any common shares pursuant to a prospectus supplement, the shares will be listed on the Nasdaq National Market.

 

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Legal Matters

The validity of the common stock offered hereby will be passed upon for us by Shumaker Loop & Kendrick, LLP.

Experts

The consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2004 and 2005 and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2005 and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting (which is included in Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting) as of December 31, 2005, incorporated by reference into this prospectus, have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered certified public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

Where You Can Find More Information

We have filed a Registration Statement on Form S-3 with the SEC regarding this offering. This prospectus, which is part of the registration statement, does not contain all of the information included in the registration statement, and you should refer to the registration statement and its exhibits to read that information. We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any document we file with the SEC at the SEC’s public reference facilities maintained by the SEC at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. You can also request copies of those documents, upon payment of a duplicating fee, by writing to the SEC. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the operation of the public reference rooms. The SEC also maintains an Internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding issuers that file with the SEC. The site’s Internet address is www.sec.gov. Certain information about our company may also be obtained from our website at www.qualitydistribution.com. Information contained on our website or any other website does not constitute a part of this prospectus.

You may also request a copy of these filings, at no cost, by writing or telephoning us at:

Quality Distribution Inc.

3802 Corporex Park Drive

Tampa, FL 33619

Phone: 813-569-7100

The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference into this prospectus the information we file with the SEC. This means that we are disclosing important information to you by referring to other documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus, except for any information superseded by information contained directly in this prospectus. Information that we file later with the SEC under the Exchange Act will automatically update information in this prospectus. In all cases, you should rely on the later information over different information included in this prospectus. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below (other than any portions thereof, which under the Exchange Act and applicable SEC rules, are not deemed “filed” under the Exchange Act) and any future filings made with the SEC under Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act until this offering is completed:

 

    Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005;

 

    Our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2006;

 

    Our definitive proxy statement dated April 18, 2006;

 

    Our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed February 10, 2006 and February 14, 2006; and

 

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    The description of our common stock contained in the Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed on November 5, 2003, including any amendments or reports filed for the purposes of updating such description.

All other documents that we file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the initial filing of the registration statement and prior to the termination of the offerings being made by this prospectus shall also be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus and to be a part hereof from the respective dates of the filing of such documents (other than any such documents, or portions thereof, which under the Exchange Act and applicable SEC rules, are not deemed “filed” under the Exchange Act). If we have incorporated by reference any statement or information in this prospectus and we subsequently modify that statement or information with information contained in this prospectus or a subsequent incorporated document, the statement or information previously incorporated in this prospectus is also modified or superseded in the same manner.

You may also request a copy of these filings, at no cost, by writing or telephoning us at:

Quality Distribution Inc.

3802 Corporex Park Drive

Tampa, FL 33619

Phone: 813-569-7100

Exhibits to any documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus will not be sent, however, unless those exhibits have been specifically referenced in this prospectus.

 

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PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution

The following table sets forth the costs and expenses payable by Quality Distribution, Inc. in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities being registered. All amounts are estimates except the SEC registration fee.

 

SEC Registration fee

   $ 22,730

Printing expenses

   $ 104,000

Legal and accounting fees and expenses

   $ 428,000

Miscellaneous

   $ 25,270
      

Total

   $ 580,000
      

Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

Section 607.0850 of the Florida Business Corporation Act, or FBCA, permits, in general, a Florida corporation to indemnify any person who was or is a party to any proceeding (other than an action by, or in the right of, the corporation) by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or officer of the corporation, or served another entity in any capacity at the request of the corporation, against liability incurred in connection with such proceeding, including the estimated expenses of litigating the proceeding to conclusion and the expenses actually and reasonably incurred in connection with the defense or settlement of such proceeding, including any appeal thereof, if such person acted in good faith for a purpose he or she reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to the best interest of the corporation and, in criminal actions or proceedings, additionally had no reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful. Section 607.0850(6) of the FBCA permits the corporation to pay such costs or expenses in advance of a final disposition of such action or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the director or officer to repay such amount if he or she is ultimately found not to be entitled to indemnification under the FBCA. Section 607.0850 of the FBCA provides that the indemnification and advancement of expense provisions contained in the FBCA shall not be deemed exclusive of any rights to which a director or officer seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled.

In accordance with the provisions of our bylaws, we shall indemnify, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any person who is or was a party, or is threatened to be made a party to, any threatened, pending or contemplated action, suit or other type of proceeding (other than an action by or in our right), whether civil, criminal, administrative, investigative or otherwise, and whether formal or informal, by reason of the fact that such person is or was our director or our officer or is or was serving at our request (as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise) against judgments, amounts paid in settlement, penalties, fines (including an excise tax assessed with respect to any employee benefit plan) and expenses (including counsel fees) actually and reasonably incurred in connection with any such action, suit or other proceeding, including any appeal thereof, if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, our best interests and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe such person’s conduct was unlawful. The termination of any such action, suit or other proceeding by judgment, order, settlement or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner that such person reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, our best interests or, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that such person’s conduct was unlawful. In addition, we also carry insurance on behalf of our directors, officers, employees or agents that may cover liabilities under the Securities Act.

At present, there is no pending litigation or proceeding involving any of our directors, officers or employees regarding which indemnification is sought, nor are we aware of any threatened litigation that may result in claims for indemnification.

 

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Item 16. Exhibits.

 

Exhibit No.   

Description

  1.1*    Form of Underwriting Agreement.
  5.1†    Opinion of Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP.
  4.1    Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement, dated as of February 10, 1998, among MTL, Apollo Investment Fund III, L.P., Apollo Overseas Partners III, L.P., Apollo U.K. Fund III, L.P. and certain shareholders of QDI. Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit No. 4.13 to Quality Distribution, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 29, 2002.
  4.2    Amended and Restated Common and Preferred Stock Purchase and Shareholders’ Agreement, dated as of August 28, 1998, among BT Investment Partners, Inc., MTL Equity Investors, L.L.C., Apollo Investment Fund III, L.P., Apollo Overseas Partners III, L.P., Apollo U.K. Fund III, L.P. and MTL. Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit No. 4.14 to Quality Distribution, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 29, 2002.
  4.3    Amendment No. 1, dated as of April 2, 2002, to the Amended and Restated Common and Preferred Stock Purchase and Shareholders’ Agreement, dated as of August 28, 1998, among BT Investment Partners, Inc., MTL Equity Investors, L.L.C., Apollo Investment Fund III, L.P., Apollo Overseas Partners III, L.P., Apollo U.K. Fund III, L.P. and MTL. Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit No. 10.3 to Quality Distribution, LLC’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 14, 2002 (Registration No. 333-98077).
  4.4    Second Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of August 28, 1998, among Apollo Investment Fund III, L.P., Apollo Overseas Partners III, L.P., Apollo U.K. Fund III, L.P., QDI and certain shareholders of QDI. Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit No. 10.4 to Quality Distribution, LLC’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 14, 2002 (Registration No. 333-98077).
  4.5    Agreement, dated as of May 30, 2002, among Apollo Investment Fund III, L.P., Apollo Overseas Partners III, L.P., Apollo U.K. Fund III, L.P., QDI and certain shareholders of QDI. Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit No. 10.5 to Quality Distribution, LLC’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 14, 2002 (Registration No. 333-98077).
23.1    Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.
23.2†    Consent of Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).
24.1    Powers of Attorney.

* To be filed by amendment or incorporated by reference as an exhibit to a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this registration statement.

† To be filed by amendment.

Item 17. Undertakings.

(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement;

(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;

Provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(iii) of this section do not apply if the registration statement is on Form S-3 and the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those

 

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paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.

(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

(4) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:

(A) Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and

(B) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.

(b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers, and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is therefore unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification by the registrant against such liabilities, other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding, is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

(d) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that:

(i) For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a

 

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form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective.

(ii) For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Tampa, State of Florida, on the 10th day of July, 2006.

 

QUALITY DISTRIBUTION, INC.
By:  

/S/ GERALD L. DETTER

 

Gerald L. Detter

Chief Executive Officer

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated:

 

Signature

  

Title

 

Date

/S/ GERALD L. DETTER

Gerald L. Detter

  

Chief Executive Officer and Director

(Principal Executive Officer)

  July 10, 2006

/S/ TIMOTHY B. PAGE

Timothy B. Page

  

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

  July 10, 2006

*

Marc E. Becker

  

Director

  July 10, 2006

*

Robert H. Falk

  

Director

  July 10, 2006

*

Robert E. Gadomski

  

Director

  July 10, 2006

*

Joshua J. Harris

  

Director

  July 10, 2006

*

Richard B. Marchese

  

Director

  July 10, 2006

*

Thomas R. Miklich

  

Director

  July 10, 2006

*

Donald C. Orris

  

Director

  July 10, 2006

*

Eric L. Press

  

Director

  July 10, 2006

*

M. Ali Rashid

  

Director

  July 10, 2006

*

Alan H. Schumacher

  

Director

  July 10, 2006

*

Michael D. Weiner

  

Director

  July 10, 2006

 

* By:  

/S/ TIMOTHY B. PAGE

  Attorney-in-fact

 

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INDEX TO EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit No.   

Description

  1.1*    Form of Underwriting Agreement.
  5.1†    Opinion of Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP.
10.1    Amended and Restated Shareholders’ Agreement, dated as of February 10, 1998, among MTL, Apollo Investment Fund III, L.P., Apollo Overseas Partners III, L.P., Apollo U.K. Fund III, L.P. and certain shareholders of QDI. Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit No. 4.13 to Quality Distribution, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 29, 2002.
10.2    Amended and Restated Common and Preferred Stock Purchase and Shareholders’ Agreement, dated as of August 28, 1998, among BT Investment Partners, Inc., MTL Equity Investors, L.L.C., Apollo Investment Fund III, L.P., Apollo Overseas Partners III, L.P., Apollo U.K. Fund III, L.P. and MTL. Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit No. 4.14 to Quality Distribution, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 29, 2002.
10.3    Amendment No. 1, dated as of April 2, 2002, to the Amended and Restated Common and Preferred Stock Purchase and Shareholders’ Agreement, dated as of August 28, 1998, among BT Investment Partners, Inc., MTL Equity Investors, L.L.C., Apollo Investment Fund III, L.P., Apollo Overseas Partners III, L.P., Apollo U.K. Fund III, L.P. and MTL. Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit No. 10.3 to Quality Distribution, LLC’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 14, 2002 (Registration No. 333-98077).
10.4    Second Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of August 28, 1998, among Apollo Investment Fund III, L.P., Apollo Overseas Partners III, L.P., Apollo U.K. Fund III, L.P., QDI and certain shareholders of QDI. Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit No. 10.4 to Quality Distribution, LLC’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 14, 2002 (Registration No. 333-98077).
10.5    Agreement, dated as of May 30, 2002, among Apollo Investment Fund III, L.P., Apollo Overseas Partners III, L.P., Apollo U.K. Fund III, L.P., QDI and certain shareholders of QDI. Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit No. 10.5 to Quality Distribution, LLC’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 14, 2002 (Registration No. 333-98077).
23.1    Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.
23.2†    Consent of Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).
24.1    Powers of Attorney.

* To be filed or incorporated by reference as an exhibit to a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this registration statement.

† To be filed by amendment.

 

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