As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 13, 2000 Registration Statement No. 333-_______ SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 ---------------------- FORM S-3 ---------------------- REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 ---------------------- VERTEX PHARMACEUTICALS INCORPORATED (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) ---------------------- Massachusetts 04-3039129 (State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) incorporation or organization) 130 Waverly Street Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139 617-577-6000 (Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant's principal executive offices) --------------------- Joshua S. Boger Chief Executive Officer Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated 130 Waverly Street Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139 617-577-6000 (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service) ---------------------- Copies to: Michael L. Fantozzi, Esq. Sarah P. Cecil, Esq. Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky Corporate Counsel and Popeo, PC Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated One Financial Center Cambridge, MA 02139 Boston, MA 02111 617-577-6499 617-542-6000
APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO 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, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. [X] If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. [ ] _______ If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. [ ] _______ If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434, please check the following box. [ ] ------------------------------ CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Proposed Proposed Title Of Each Class Maximum Maximum Of Securities To Be Amount To Be Offering Aggregate Amount Of Registered Registered Price Per Unit Offering Price Registration Fee - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5% Convertible Subordinated Notes due September 19, 2007 $345,000,000 (1) 100% $345,000,000 $91,080 Common Stock, par value $.01 per share 3,739,432 (2) (3) (3) (3) Common Stock, par value $.01 per share $51,750,000(4) $13,662 Rights to purchase Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock (5) (5) (5) (5) - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (1) Equals the aggregate principal amount of the notes being registered. (2) Represents the number of shares of common stock that are currently issuable upon conversion of the notes, based on the initial conversion price of $92.26 per share (equivalent to 10.8389 shares of common stock for each $1,000 principal amount of the notes). In addition, pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933, the amount to be registered also includes an indeterminate number of shares of common stock that may be issued as a result of stock splits, stock dividends and antidilution provisions.
(3) No additional consideration will be received for the common stock, and, therefore, no registration fee is required pursuant to Rule 457(i). (4) Equals the maximum aggregate value of common stock that may be issued as a "make-whole" payment upon redemption of the notes. (5) No separate consideration will be received for the rights. 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 this Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the SEC, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine. THE INFORMATION IN THIS PROSPECTUS IS NOT COMPLETE AND MAY BE CHANGED. THE SELLING HOLDERS MAY NOT SELL THESE SECURITIES UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION IS EFFECTIVE. THIS PROSPECTUS IS NOT AN OFFER TO SELL THESE SECURITIES AND IT IS NOT SOLICITING AN OFFER TO BUY THESE SECURITIES IN ANY STATE WHERE THE OFFER OR SALE IS NOT PERMITTED. PROSPECTUS Subject to completion, dated November 13, 2000 VERTEX PHARMACEUTICALS INCORPORATED $345,000,000 5% CONVERTIBLE SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE SEPTEMBER 19, 2007 3,739,432 SHARES OF COMMON STOCK ISSUABLE UPON CONVERSION OF THE NOTES SHARES OF COMMON STOCK WITH A POTENTIAL AGGREGATE VALUE OF $51,750,000 ISSUABLE WITH RESPECT TO THE MAKE-WHOLE PAYMENT, -------------------------- This prospectus covers resales by selling holders of: - - our 5% Convertible Subordinated Notes due September 19, 2007; and - - our common stock into which the notes are convertible This prospectus also covers the issuance by us of shares of our common stock in settlement of the make-whole payment relating to the notes, as described in this prospectus. The notes are convertible, at the option of the holder, at any time on or before the maturity date into shares of our common stock. The notes are convertible at a conversion price of $92.26 per share, which is equal to a conversion rate of 10.8389 shares per $1,000 principal amount of notes, subject to adjustment. On November 9, 2000 the last sale price of our common stock on the Nasdaq National Market was $91.00 per share. We will pay interest on the notes on March 19 and September 19 of each year, beginning March 19, 2001. The notes will mature on September 19, 2007. We may redeem some or all of the
notes at any time before September 19, 2003 at a redemption price of $1,000 per $1,000 principal amount of notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date, if the closing price of our common stock has exceeded 150% of the conversion price then in effect for at least 20 trading days within a period of 30 consecutive trading days ending on the trading day before the date we mail the provisional redemption notice. Upon any provisional redemption, we will make an additional payment in cash or shares, at our option, to compensate investors for interest payments not yet received through the redemption date. We may redeem some or all of the notes at any time on or after September 19, 2003 at the redemption prices described in this prospectus, if the closing price of our common stock has exceeded 120% of the conversion price then in effect for at least 20 trading days within a period of 30 consecutive trading days ending on the trading day before the date we mail the optional redemption notice. The notes are unsecured and subordinated to our existing and future senior indebtedness. The selling holders may sell the notes or common stock at any time at market prices or at privately negotiated prices. We may issue shares under this prospectus in settlement of the make-whole payment described under "Description of the Notes - Provisional Redemption." Sales by the selling holders may be made directly to purchasers or through underwriters, broker-dealers or agents, who may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions. The selling holders will be responsible for any commissions or discounts due to brokers or dealers. The amount of those commissions or discounts cannot be known now because they will be negotiated at the time of the sales. We will pay all other offering expenses. We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of the notes or shares by the selling holders, nor will we receive cash proceeds from the issuance of shares in connection with the settlement of the make-whole payment. Our common stock is quoted on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol "VRTX." The notes are currently eligible for trading on the PORTAL market. INVESTING IN THE NOTES OR OUR COMMON STOCK INVOLVES RISKS THAT ARE DESCRIBED IN THE "RISK FACTORS" SECTION BEGINNING ON PAGE 9 OF THIS PROSPECTUS. --------------------- NEITHER THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR ANY OTHER REGULATORY BODY HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED OF THESE SECURITIES OR PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE. --------------------- The date of this prospectus is ______ , 2000
TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ----- Forward-Looking Statements.............................................................. 3 Summary................................................................................. 4 Risk Factors............................................................................ 9 Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges...................................................... 18 Use of Proceeds......................................................................... 18 Description of the Notes................................................................ 18 Description of Capital Stock............................................................ 36 United States Federal Income Tax Considerations......................................... 38 Selling Holders......................................................................... 40 Plan of Distribution.................................................................... 45 Legal Matters........................................................................... 46 Independent Accountants................................................................. 46 Where You Can Find More Information..................................................... 47 Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference......................................... 48 "Vertex" and "Incel" are trademarks of Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated. "Agenerase" is a trademark of the Glaxo Wellcome Group of companies. "Prozei" is a trademark of Kissei Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. Other brands, names and trademarks contained in this prospectus are the property of their respective owners. In this prospectus, "we," "our" and "us" refer to Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated. All share and per share data in this prospectus give effect to the 2-for-1 stock split that we effected as a stock dividend on August 23, 2000. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS Our disclosure in this prospectus contains some forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements give our current expectations or forecasts of future events. You can identify these statements by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. Such statements may include words such as "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "project," "intend," "plan," "believe" and other words and terms of similar meaning in connection with any discussion of future operating or financial performance. In particular, these statements include, among other things, statements relating to: - our business strategy; - our predicted development and commercial timelines; - the development of our products; - the establishment and development of collaborative partnerships; - our ability to identify new potential products; - our ability to achieve commercial acceptance of our products; -3-
- our ability to scale-up our manufacturing capabilities and facilities; - our projected capital expenditures; and - our liquidity. Any or all of our forward-looking statements in this prospectus may turn out to be wrong. They can be affected by inaccurate assumptions we might make or by known or unknown risks and uncertainties. Many factors mentioned in our discussion in this prospectus will be important in determining future results. Consequently, no forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. Actual future results may vary materially. We caution you not to put undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, and advise you to consult additional disclosures we make in our Form 10-Q, 8-K and 10-K reports to the SEC. Also note that we provide a cautionary discussion of risks and uncertainties under "Risk Factors" beginning on page 9 of this prospectus. These are factors that we think could cause our actual results to differ materially from expected results. Other factors besides those listed there could also adversely affect us. SUMMARY THIS SUMMARY MAY NOT CONTAIN ALL OF THE INFORMATION THAT YOU SHOULD CONSIDER BEFORE INVESTING IN THE NOTES OR THE SHARES OF COMMON STOCK ISSUABLE UPON THEIR CONVERSION OR ISSUABLE WITH RESPECT TO THE MAKE-WHOLE PAYMENT DESCRIBED BELOW. YOU SHOULD READ THE ENTIRE PROSPECTUS AND THE DOCUMENTS WE HAVE INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE INTO THE PROSPECTUS CAREFULLY. We design, develop and commercialize novel small molecule drugs that address significant markets with major unmet medical needs, including the treatment of viral diseases, cancer, autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, and neurological disorders. Our drug design platform integrates advanced biology, chemistry, biophysics and information technologies to make the drug discovery process more efficient and productive. To date, we have discovered and advanced one product that has reached the market--the HIV protease inhibitor Agenerase-TM- (amprenavir)--and seven additional drug candidates that are now in clinical development. We have significant collaborations with Aventis, Eli Lilly, Glaxo Wellcome, Kissei, Novartis, Schering AG (Germany), and Taisho. These collaborations provide us with financial support and other valuable resources for our research programs, development of our clinical drug candidates, and marketing and sales of our products. We believe that we are positioned to commercialize multiple products over the next two to five years, which we expect will generate increased milestone payments, product revenues and royalty payments. We have additional research programs underway, and we expect novel Vertex drug candidates for the treatment of bacterial infection, hepatitis C and stroke to enter pre-clinical studies within the next 12 to 18 months. We believe that the emergence of large amounts of information from genomic research represents an unprecedented opportunity for drug discovery directed at novel biological targets. Our approach to drug discovery, which we call "chemogenomics," seeks to take advantage of this opportunity by combining medicinal chemistry and molecular biology to identify and describe many of the possible drug candidates for a drug target or group of drug targets. As part of this approach, we are pursuing a strategy of parallel drug design directed at gene families, which are groups of genes with similar sequences that code for structurally similar proteins. Using this strategy, we seek to identify classes of chemical inhibitors (drug-like molecules) that are applicable for clusters of closely related targets that have different biological functions. We believe that -4-
chemogenomics will enhance the speed and productivity of drug design efforts directed at novel biological targets, secure for us valuable intellectual property in gene families of interest and ultimately result in the market introduction of new drugs. We are presently applying our expertise in chemogenomics to focus on the protein kinase and caspase gene families, two areas in which we believe we can leverage our drug design expertise to rapidly create product candidates that address a variety of sizable therapeutic indications. In May 2000, we entered into a collaboration with Novartis which will provide us up to $800 million in pre-commercial payments to discover, develop and commercialize up to eight kinase inhibitors for the treatment of a range of diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and inflammatory diseases. The financial and technological support provided by Novartis enables us to expand both our infrastructure and chemogenomics efforts in the protein kinase gene family. In addition, we have begun exploring other gene families. We aim to establish additional partnerships with major pharmaceutical companies in order to obtain the funding and resources needed to expand our discovery efforts in additional families. Over the next few years, we expect to continue our research and development efforts and to bring drug candidates through late stage clinical development and into commercialization. We also expect to license and acquire technologies, resources and products that have the potential to strengthen our drug discovery platform, product pipeline and commercial capabilities. AGENERASE Our first product, Agenerase, received accelerated approval from the FDA in April 1999 and was launched in May 1999. We received European Union approval in October 2000. Agenerase, which was designed by Vertex, is marketed in the United States by Glaxo Wellcome. We co-promote Agenerase in the United States, and we plan to co-promote Agenerase in selected countries in the European Union following launch. Total sales of the drug for the twelve months ended September 30, 2000 were $79.1 million, resulting in $12.0 million in royalties to Vertex from Glaxo Wellcome. More than 14,000 patients in the United States take Agenerase as part of combination therapy for the treatment of HIV. Since the beginning of 2000, Agenerase's share of the HIV protease inhibitor market in the United States has increased from just over 6% to more than 8%. We believe that Agenerase is distinguished from other protease inhibitors by its: - longer half-life, which allows for convenient twice-daily dosing and provides high levels of the drug in the bloodstream; - ability to be dosed effectively on a full or empty stomach; and - lower levels of cross-resistance to other protease inhibitors. Recent research results presented at major medical conferences have highlighted the use of Agenerase in combination with the protease inhibitor ritonavir, a regimen that boosts Agenerase levels in the bloodstream of patients. We believe that based on these research results many physicians combine Agenerase and ritonavir in clinical practice, to: - achieve drug levels in the bloodstream sufficient to reduce viral replication in patients who have extensive prior treatment experience and may harbor strains of virus that is resistant to other HIV therapies; - offset lower blood levels of Agenerase caused by administration of efavirenz, a reverse transcriptase inhibitor used to treat HIV; and -5-
- reduce the overall pill count. PRODUCTS IN DEVELOPMENT Agenerase is the first of many Vertex-discovered products that we intend to commercialize, by ourselves and with partners, in the coming years. The accompanying chart describes our product pipeline. Seven of our drug candidates in development are presently in Phase II clinical development, and five are in preclinical development. COMPANY WITH ESTIMATED U.S. DRUG CLINICAL INDICATIONS PHASE MARKETING RIGHTS (REGION) PATIENT - ---- -------------------- ----- ------------------------- POPULATION (MILLIONS) --------------------- ANTIVIRALS VX-175 HIV II Glaxo Wellcome (Worldwide); 0.9 Vertex co-promote (U.S. & E.U.) VX-497 Chronic hepatitis C II Vertex (Worldwide) 2.7 CANCER Incel-TM- Multidrug resistant solid II Vertex (Worldwide) 0.5 (tumor incidence tumor cancers in target diseases) VX-853 Multidrug resistant solid I/II Vertex (Worldwide) 0.5 (tumor incidence tumor cancers in target diseases) INFLAMMATION AND AUTOIMMUNE VX-740 Rheumatoid arthritis (RA); II Aventis (Worldwide); Vertex 2.1 (RA) inflammatory diseases co-promote (U.S. & E.U.) VX-745 RA; inflammatory diseases II Kissei (Japan); Vertex (R.O.W.) 2.1 (RA) VX-148 Autoimmune diseases Preclinical Vertex (Worldwide) NA VX-944 Autoimmune diseases Preclinical Vertex (Worldwide) NA VX-954 Inflammatory diseases Preclinical Kissei (Japan); Vertex (R.O.W.) NA VX-702 Inflammatory diseases Preclinical Kissei (Japan); Vertex (R.O.W.) NA VX-765 Inflammatory diseases Preclinical Vertex (Worldwide) NA NEUROLOGICAL Timcodar (VX-853) Diabetic neuropathy II Schering AG(c) (E.U.; profit 1.3 (symptomatic) sharing in U.S.) - ----------- (a) Development option -6-
RESEARCH PROGRAMS We have numerous research programs underway at the discovery stage, including multitarget programs that are representative of our chemogenomics approach, as well as numerous single target programs. We also have several "second generation" programs where we are advancing drug candidates that will augment existing products in development. We expect to advance numerous drug candidates into development in the next several years that are based on this ongoing research. MOLECULAR TARGET CLINICAL INDICATIONS COMPANY WITH - ---------------- -------------------- MARKETING RIGHTS (REGION) ------------------------- Caspases Stroke; cardiovascular diseases Taisho (Japan); Vertex (R.O.W.) Kinases Cancer; inflammatory diseases; Novartis (Worldwide); Vertex co-promote (U.S. & neurodegenerative diseases E.U.) HCV protease Hepatitis C Eli Lilly (Worldwide); Vertex co-promote (U.S.) HCV helicase Hepatitis C Vertex (Worldwide) Bacterial DNA gyrase B Bacterial infections Vertex (Worldwide) STRATEGY Our strategy is to: - continue to advance our seven clinical drug candidates through late-stage clinical development and commercialization, either alone or with corporate partners; - use our technological and organizational advantages to drive a strong flow of new products into clinical development; - maximize the long-term commercial opportunities of our research and development programs through a series of collaborative arrangements; and - license and acquire technologies, resources and products that have the potential to strengthen our drug discovery platform, product pipeline and commercial capabilities. Our headquarters and main research facilities are at 130 Waverly Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, and our telephone number is (617) 577-6000. We also have a research facility in Oxford, England. Our company was incorporated under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in 1989. -7-
THE OFFERING Securities offered........ The resale by selling holders of $345,000,000 principal amount of 5% Convertible Subordinated Notes due September 19, 2007 and the 3,739,432 shares of common stock into which they are convertible, and the issuance by us of a maximum of $51,750,000 in aggregate value of shares of common stock in settlement of the make-whole payment, which is described below under "Provisional redemption". Maturity of Notes......... September 19, 2007. Interest.................. 5% per annum, payable semiannually on March 19 and September 19, beginning on March 19, 2001. Conversion rights......... The notes are convertible, at the option of the holder, at any time on or prior to maturity into shares of our common stock at a conversion price of $92.26 per share, which is equal to a conversion rate of 10.8389 shares per $1,000 principal amount of notes. The conversion price is subject to adjustment. Ranking................... The notes are unsecured and subordinated to our existing and future senior debt, as defined. At September 30, 2000, we had approximately $5.3 million of senior debt outstanding. Because the notes are subordinated, in the event of bankruptcy, liquidation, dissolution or acceleration of payment on the senior debt, holders of the notes will not receive any payment until holders of the senior debt have been paid in full. The indenture under which the notes were issued does not prevent us or our subsidiaries from incurring additional senior debt or other obligations. Provisional redemption.... We may redeem the notes, in whole or in part, at any time before September 19, 2003, at a redemption price equal to $1,000 per $1,000 principal amount of notes to be redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of the provisional redemption if: - the closing price of our common stock has exceeded 150% of the conversion price then in effect for at least 20 trading days within a period of 30 consecutive trading days ending on the trading day before the date we mail the provisional redemption notice and - the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part is effective and available for use and is expected to remain effective and available for use for the 30 days following the provisional redemption date. Upon any provisional redemption, we will make an additional "make-whole" payment with respect to the notes called for redemption, equal to $150.00 per $1,000 principal amount of notes, less the amount of any interest we have actually paid on the notes before the provisional redemption date. We may make this "make-whole" payment, at our option, in either cash or our common stock (or a combination of both). -8-
We have to make this additional payment on all notes that we call for provisional redemption, including any notes converted after the notice date and before the provisional redemption date. Optional redemption....... We may redeem all or some of the notes on or after September 19, 2003 at the redemption prices listed in this prospectus, plusaccrued and unpaid interest, if the closing price of our common stock has exceeded 120% of the conversion price then in effect for at least 20 trading days within a period of 30 consecutive trading days ending on the trading day before the date we mail the optional redemption notice. Change of control......... Upon a change of control event, each holder of the notes may require us to repurchase some or all of its notes at a purchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes plus accrued and unpaid interest. We may, at our option, instead of paying the change of control purchase price in cash, pay it in shares of our common stock valued at 95% of the average of the closing sales prices of our common stock for the five trading days immediately preceding and including the third trading day before the date we are required to repurchase the notes. We cannot pay the change of control purchase price in common stock unless we satisfy the conditions described in the indenture under which the notes were issued. Use of proceeds........... We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of securities by the selling holders under this prospectus, nor will we receive cash proceeds from the issuance of shares in connection with the settlement of the make-whole payment.. Trading................... The notes are eligible for trading in the PORTAL market; however, we can provide no assurance as to the liquidity of, or trading markets for, the notes. Our common stock is traded on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol "VRTX." Risk factors.............. See "Risk Factors" and the other information in this prospectus for a discussion of the factors you should carefully consider before deciding to invest in the notes or our common stock. RISK FACTORS AN INVESTMENT IN THE SECURITIES OFFERED BY THIS PROSPECTUS INVOLVES A HIGH DEGREE OF RISK. YOU SHOULD CAREFULLY CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING FACTORS AND OTHER INFORMATION IN THIS PROSPECTUS BEFORE DECIDING TO PURCHASE THE NOTES OR OUR COMMON STOCK. THESE RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES WE FACE. OTHERS THAT WE DO NOT KNOW ABOUT NOW, OR THAT WE DO NOT NOW THINK ARE IMPORTANT, MAY IMPAIR OUR BUSINESS OR THE TRADING PRICE OF OUR SECURITIES. WE DO NOT KNOW HOW SUCCESSFUL AGENERASE WILL BE IN THE MARKET. Agenerase was launched in the U.S. in May 1999 and received European Union approval in October 2000. Agenerase is currently awaiting marketing approval by regulatory authorities in a number of other major markets. It is too early to predict the extent to which Agenerase will be successful in the market. Five other HIV protease inhibitors are on the market, as well as a number -9-
of other products for the treatment of HIV infection and AIDS. In addition, other drugs are still in development by our competitors, which may have more efficacy, fewer side effects, easier administration and/or lower costs than Agenerase. HIV has been shown to develop resistance to antiviral drugs, including currently marketed HIV protease inhibitors. We cannot be sure whether such disease resistance or other factors may limit the efficacy of Agenerase. In addition, we cannot be certain that the clinical benefit of strategies used to boost drug levels of Agenerase by co-administering other antiretrovirals will be proven to be effective, or will result in increased revenues. Regulatory approval of Agenerase in other major markets may be delayed. As a result, we may not recognize additional royalty and milestone revenues on Agenerase as soon as we have planned. Further, although we co-promote Agenerase in the U.S. and intend to co-promote it in Europe, most of the marketing and sales efforts are being made by Glaxo Wellcome, and we will have little control over the success of those efforts. Glaxo Wellcome has the right to terminate its agreement with us without cause upon twelve months' notice. WE DO NOT KNOW WHETHER DEVELOPMENT OF OUR DRUG PIPELINE WILL BE SUCCESSFUL. The products that we are pursuing will require extensive additional development, testing and investment, as well as regulatory approvals, prior to commercialization. We cannot be sure whether our product research and development efforts will be successful, that drug candidates will enter preclinical studies as anticipated, that required regulatory approvals will be obtained or that any products, if introduced, will be commercially successful. The results of preclinical and initial clinical trials of products under development by us are not necessarily predictive of results that will be obtained from large-scale clinical testing. We cannot be sure that clinical trials of products under development will demonstrate the safety and efficacy of such products or will result in a marketable product. In addition, the administration alone or in combination with other drugs of any product developed by us may produce undesirable side effects in humans. The failure to demonstrate adequately the safety and efficacy of a therapeutic drug under development could delay or prevent regulatory approval of the product and could have a material adverse effect on our company. In addition, the FDA may require additional clinical trials, which could result in increased costs and significant development delays. If any of our development efforts are delayed or unsuccessful, we may not receive expected milestone payments. Moreover, commercial formulation and manufacturing processes have yet to be developed for our drug candidates other than Agenerase. We or our collaborators may encounter difficulties in manufacturing process development and formulation activities that could result in delays in clinical trials, regulatory submissions, regulatory approvals, and commercialization of our products, or cause negative financial and competitive consequences. DEVELOPMENT PROGRESS MAY BE SLOWED BY CLINICAL TRIAL DELAYS. The rate of completion of clinical trials of our products is dependent upon, among other factors, the rate of patient accrual. Patient accrual is a function of many factors, including the size of the patient population, the proximity of patients to clinical sites, the eligibility criteria for the trial, the level of compliance by the clinical sites to clinical trial protocols, and the availability of clinical trial material. Delays in planned patient enrollment in clinical trials may result in increased costs, program delays or both, which could have a material adverse effect on our company. We cannot be certain that if clinical trials are completed, we will be able to submit a new drug application or that any such application will be reviewed and approved by the FDA in a timely manner, if at all. -10-
WE MAY NOT OBTAIN REGULATORY APPROVAL FOR OUR PRODUCTS ON A TIMELY BASIS, OR AT ALL. The FDA and comparable agencies in foreign countries impose substantial requirements on the introduction of therapeutic pharmaceutical products through lengthy and detailed laboratory and clinical testing procedures, sampling activities and other costly and time-consuming procedures. Satisfaction of these requirements typically takes several years or longer and may vary substantially based upon the type, complexity and novelty of the pharmaceutical product. Data obtained from preclinical and clinical activities are susceptible to varying interpretations, which could delay, limit or prevent regulatory approval. In addition, delays or rejections may be encountered based on changes in, or additions to, regulatory policies for drug approval during the period of product development and regulatory review. The effect of government regulation may be to delay or prevent the commencement of clinical trials or marketing of our products, if any are developed and submitted for approval, for a considerable period of time, to impose costly procedures upon our activities and to provide competitive advantages to companies more experienced in regulatory affairs that compete with us. Moreover, even if approval is granted, such approval may entail limitations on the indicated uses for which a compound may be marketed. OUR PRODUCTS, EVEN IF APPROVED BY THE FDA OR FOREIGN REGULATORY AUTHORITIES, MAY NOT BE ACCEPTED BY PHYSICIANS, INSURERS OR PATIENTS. If any of our products after receiving FDA or other foreign regulatory approval fails to achieve market acceptance, our ability to become profitable in the future could be adversely affected. We believe that market acceptance depends on our ability to provide acceptable evidence of safety, efficacy and cost-effectiveness, among other factors. WE DEPEND ON COLLABORATIVE PARTNERS FOR RESEARCH SUPPORT AND THE DEVELOPMENT AND COMMERCIALIZATION OF OUR PRODUCTS. Our collaborative partners have agreed to fund portions of our research and development programs and/or to conduct certain research and development relating to specified products. In exchange, we have given them technology, product and marketing rights relating to those products. Some of our corporate partners have rights to control the planning and execution of product development and clinical programs. The corporate partners may exercise their control rights in ways that may negatively impact the timing and success of those programs. Our collaborations are subject to termination rights by the collaborators. If any of our corporate collaborators were to terminate its relationship with us, or fail to meet its contractual obligations, it could have a material adverse effect on our ability to undertake research, to fund related and other programs and to develop, manufacture and market any products that may have resulted from the collaboration. We expect to seek additional collaborative arrangements to provide research support and to develop and commercialize our products in the future. We cannot be certain that we will be able to establish acceptable collaborative arrangements in the future or that such collaborative arrangements will be successful. Under certain of our collaborative agreements, our partners have agreed to provide funding for only a portion of our research and development activities and we are committed to investing our own capital to fund the remainder of the agreed upon programs. We cannot be sure that we will have adequate financial resources to satisfy those requirements. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT WE MAY LOSE OUR TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANTAGE BECAUSE PHARMACEUTICAL RESEARCH TECHNOLOGIES CHANGE RAPIDLY. The pharmaceutical research field is characterized by rapid technological progress and intense competition. As a result, we may not realize the expected benefits of our chemogenomics approach and parallel drug design strategy. Further, we believe that interest in the application of structure-based drug design, parallel drug design and related approaches may continue and may accelerate as the strategies become more widely understood. Businesses, academic institutions, -11-
governmental agencies and other public and private research organizations are conducting research to develop technologies that may compete with those we use. It is possible that our competitors could acquire or develop technologies that would render our technology obsolete or noncompetitive. We cannot be certain that we will be able to access the same technologies at an acceptable price, or at all. OUR COMPETITORS MAY BRING SUPERIOR PRODUCTS TO MARKET OR MAY BRING THEIR PRODUCTS TO MARKET BEFORE WE DO. We do not know whether our products in development will be able to compete effectively with products which are currently on the market or new products that may be developed by others. There are many other companies developing products for the same indications that we are pursuing in development. In order to compete successfully in these areas, we must demonstrate improved safety, efficacy, ease of manufacturing and market acceptance over competing products which have received regulatory approval and are currently marketed. Many of our competitors have substantially greater financial, technical and human resources than we do. In addition, many of our competitors have significantly greater experience than we do in conducting preclinical testing and human clinical trials of new pharmaceutical products, and in obtaining FDA and other regulatory approvals of products. Accordingly, our competitors may succeed in obtaining regulatory approval for products more rapidly than we do. If we obtain regulatory approval and launch commercial sales of our products, we will also compete with respect to manufacturing efficiency and sales and marketing capabilities, areas in which we currently have limited experience. THE LOSS OF THE SERVICES OF KEY EMPLOYEES OR THE FAILURE TO HIRE QUALIFIED EMPLOYEES WOULD NEGATIVELY IMPACT OUR BUSINESS AND FUTURE GROWTH. Because our products are highly technical in nature, only highly qualified and trained scientists have the necessary skills to develop our products. Our future success will depend in large part on the continued services of our key scientific and management personnel. We face intense competition for these professionals from our competitors, our collaborative partners and other companies throughout our industry. Our failure to retain, as well as hire, train and effectively integrate into our organization, a sufficient number of qualified scientists and professionals would negatively impact our business and our ability to grow our business. In addition, the level of funding under certain of our collaborative agreements, in particular the Novartis collaboration, depends on the number of our scientists performing research under those agreements. If we cannot hire and retain the required personnel, funding received under the agreements may be reduced. IF WE FAIL TO MANAGE OUR GROWTH EFFECTIVELY, OUR BUSINESS MAY SUFFER. Our ability to commercialize our products, achieve our expansion objectives, manage our growth effectively and satisfy our commitments under our collaboration agreements depends on a variety of factors. Key factors include our ability to develop products internally, enter into strategic partnerships with collaborators, attract and retain skilled employees and effectively expand our internal organization to accommodate anticipated growth. If we are unable to manage growth effectively, there could be a material adverse effect on our business. WE DEPEND ON THIRD PARTY MANUFACTURERS. Our ability to conduct clinical trials and our ability to commercialize our potential products will depend, in part, on our ability to manufacture our products on a large scale, either directly or through third parties, at a competitive cost and in accordance with FDA and other regulatory requirements. We currently do not have the capacity to manufacture drugs in large-scale quantities. We depend on third party manufacturers or collaborative partners for the production of our compounds for preclinical research, clinical trial purposes and commercial production. If we are not -12-
able to obtain contract manufacturing on commercially reasonable terms, we may not be able to conduct or complete clinical trials or commercialize our products as planned. We have no experience in manufacturing pharmaceutical or other products, and we do not know whether we will be able to develop such capabilities. Some of our current corporate partners have manufacturing rights with respect to our products under development. If those partners do not either supply products to us promptly and on acceptable terms or transfer the manufacturing technology to us, we may not be able to conduct our development programs and commercialize any resulting products in a timely and efficient manner. OUR PATENTS MAY NOT PROTECT OUR PRODUCTS, AND OUR PRODUCTS MAY INFRINGE THIRD-PARTY PATENTS. Our success will depend, in significant part, on our ability to obtain and maintain United States and foreign patent protection for our products, their uses and our processes to preserve our trade secrets and to operate without infringing the proprietary rights of third parties. We do not know whether any patents will issue from any of our patent applications or, even if patents issue or have issued, that the issued claims will provide us with any significant protection against competitive products or otherwise be valuable commercially. Legal standards relating to the validity of patents and the proper scope of their claims in the biopharmaceutical field are still evolving, and there is no consistent law or policy regarding the valid breadth of claims in biopharmaceutical patents or the effect of prior art on them. If we are not able to obtain adequate patent protection, our ability to prevent competitors from making, using and selling competing products will be limited. Furthermore, our activities may infringe the claims of patents held by third parties. We are currently contesting a suit filed by Chiron Corporation claiming infringement of three U.S. patents issued to Chiron. Although we believe that the ultimate outcome of the action will not have a material impact on our consolidated financial position, defense and prosecution of patent claims, including those at issue in the Chiron case, as well as participation in other inter-party proceedings, can be expensive and time-consuming, even in those instances in which the outcome is favorable to us. If the outcome of any such litigation or proceeding were adverse, we could be subject to significant liabilities to third parties, could be required to obtain licenses from third parties or could be required to cease sales of the affected products, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our company. WE EXPECT TO INCUR FUTURE LOSSES AND CANNOT BE CERTAIN THAT WE WILL BECOME A PROFITABLE COMPANY. We have incurred significant operating losses each year since our inception and expect to incur a significant operating loss in 2000. We believe that operating losses will continue beyond 2000, even if we receive significant future payments under our existing and future collaborative agreements and royalties on Agenerase sales, because we are planning to make significant investments in research and development, and will incur significant selling, general, and administrative expenses for our potential products. We expect that losses will fluctuate from quarter to quarter and year to year, and that such fluctuations may be substantial. We cannot be certain that we will ever achieve and sustain profitability. WE MAY NEED TO RAISE ADDITIONAL CAPITAL THAT MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE. We expect to incur substantial research and development and related supporting expenses as we design and develop existing and future compounds and undertake clinical trials of potential drugs resulting from such compounds. We also expect to incur substantial administrative and commercialization expenditures in the future and substantial expenses related to the filing, prosecution, defense and enforcement of patent and other intellectual property claims. We anticipate that we will finance these substantial cash needs with: - the net proceeds from the offering of the notes; -13-
- Agenerase royalty revenue; - future product sales to the extent that we market products directly; - future payments under our collaborative agreements; - existing cash reserves, together with interest earned on those reserves; - facilities and equipment financing; and - additional collaborative agreements. If funds from these sources are not sufficient to fund our activities, it will be necessary to raise additional funds through public offerings or private placements of equity or debt securities or other methods of financing. Any equity financings could result in dilution to our then existing securityholders. Any debt financing, if available at all, may be on terms which, among other things, restrict our ability to pay dividends and interest (although we do not intend to pay dividends for the foreseeable future). If adequate funds are not available, we may be required to curtail significantly or discontinue one or more of our research, drug discovery or development programs, including clinical trials, or attempt to obtain funds through arrangements with collaborative partners or others that may require us to relinquish rights to certain of our technologies or products in research or development. We cannot know whether additional financing will be available on acceptable terms, if at all. GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE INSURANCE PLANS MAY NOT PAY FOR OUR PRODUCTS. The success of our products in the United States and other significant markets will depend, in part, upon the extent to which a consumer will be able to obtain reimbursement for the cost of such products from government health administration authorities, third-party payors and other organizations. We cannot always determine in advance the reimbursement status of newly approved therapeutic products. Even if a product is approved for marketing, we cannot be sure that adequate reimbursement will be available. Also, future legislation or regulation, or related announcements or developments, concerning the health care industry or third-party or governmental coverage and reimbursement may adversely affect our business. In particular, legislation or regulation limiting consumers' reimbursement rights could have a material adverse effect on our company. OUR SALES AND MARKETING EXPERIENCE IS LIMITED. We currently have little experience in marketing and selling pharmaceutical products. We must either develop a marketing and sales force or enter into arrangements with third parties to market and sell any of our product candidates which are approved by the FDA. In the territories where we retain marketing and co-promotion rights, we may not be able to develop successfully our own sales and marketing force. We do not know whether we will be able to enter into marketing and sales agreements with others on acceptable terms, if at all. If we develop our own marketing and sales capability, we may be competing with other companies that currently have experienced and well-funded marketing and sales operations. To the extent that our collaborative partners have commercial rights to our products, any revenues we receive from those products will depend on the sales and marketing efforts of others, and we do not know how successful those efforts will be. WE MAY INCUR PRODUCT LIABILITY EXPENSES. Our business will expose us to potential product liability risks that arise from the testing, manufacturing and sales of our products. In addition to direct expenditures for damages, settlement -14-
and defense costs, there is the possibility of adverse publicity as a result of product liability claims. These risks will increase as our products receive regulatory approval and are commercialized. We do not know whether we will be able to maintain our existing levels of product liability insurance or be able to obtain or maintain any additional insurance we may need in the future on acceptable terms. Nor can we be sure that our existing insurance or any such additional insurance will provide adequate coverage against potential liabilities. SOME OF OUR OPERATIONS INVOLVE HAZARDOUS MATERIALS, WHICH COULD SUBJECT US TO SIGNIFICANT LIABILITY. Our research and development activities may from time to time involve the controlled use of hazardous materials, including hazardous chemicals and radioactive materials. Accordingly, we are subject to federal, state and local laws governing the use, handling and disposal of these materials. Although we believe that our safety procedures for handling and disposing of hazardous materials comply with regulatory requirements, we cannot completely eliminate the risk that accidental contamination or injury from these materials could expose us to significant liability. EVENTS WITH RESPECT TO OUR SHARE CAPITAL COULD CAUSE THE PRICE OF OUR COMMON STOCK TO DECLINE. Sales of substantial amounts of our common stock in the open market, or the availability of such shares for sale, could adversely affect the price of our common stock. As of September 30, 2000, we had 54,601,768 shares of common stock outstanding, excluding shares reserved for issuance upon the exercise of outstanding stock options, employee stock purchase and 401(k) plans. As of September 30, 2000, we had granted stock options to purchase 11,026,425 shares of our common stock at a weighted average exercise price of approximately $13.66 per share, subject to adjustment in certain circumstances. Of this total, 5,669,495 were currently exercisable at an average exercise price of approximately $11.35 per share. The shares of our common stock that may be issued under the options will be freely tradeable or transferable pursuant to an effective registration statement. WE HAVE ADOPTED ANTI-TAKEOVER PROVISIONS THAT MAY DISCOURAGE A CHANGE OF CONTROL. Our corporate charter and by-law provisions and stockholder rights plan may discourage certain types of transactions involving an actual or potential change of control of Vertex which might be beneficial to the company or its securityholders. Our charter provides for staggered terms for the members of the Board of Directors. Our by-laws grant the directors a right to adjourn annual meetings of stockholders, and certain provisions of the by-laws may be amended only with an 80% stockholder vote. Pursuant to our stockholder rights plan, each share of common stock has an associated preferred share purchase right. The rights will not trade separately from the common stock until, and are exercisable only upon, the acquisition or the potential acquisition through tender offer by a person or group of 15% or more of the outstanding common stock. We may issue shares of any class or series of preferred stock in the future without stockholder approval and upon such terms as our Board of Directors may determine. The rights of the holders of common stock will be subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights of the holders of any class or series of preferred stock that may be issued in the future. -15-
ADOPTION OF SAB 101 MAY DECREASE OUR REPORTED REVENUES AND INCREASE OUR REPORTED NET LOSSES. In December 1999, the SEC issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 101, "Revenue Recognition in Financial Statements," (SAB 101) which, as amended, is to be implemented no later than the fiscal quarter ending December 31, 2000. Vertex and its independent accountants are continuing to review the effect that the implementation of SAB 101 will have on the Company's net financial results. The Company expects that the net effect of SAB 101 will be to defer revenue recognition for some portion of the amounts received by the Company under contract partnerships into future accounting periods. Vertex would record the cumulative effect of this change in accounting principle as of January 1, 2000. The implementation of SAB 101 is expected to have a material effect on the reported financial results for the year ending December 31, 2000. OUR STOCK PRICE MAY FLUCTUATE BASED ON FACTORS BEYOND OUR CONTROL. Market prices for securities of companies such as Vertex are highly volatile. Within the 12 months ended November 10, 2000 our common stock has traded between $11.68 and $99.25. The market for our stock, like that of other companies in the biotechnology field, has from time to time experienced significant price and volume fluctuations that are unrelated to our operating performance. Fluctuations in the trading price of our common stock will affect the trading price of the notes. The future market price of our securities could be significantly and adversely affected by factors such as: - announcements of results of clinical trials; - technological innovations or the introduction of new products by our competitors; - government regulatory action; - public concern as to the safety of products developed by others; - developments in patent or other intellectual property rights or announcements relating to these matters; - developments in domestic and international governmental policy or regulation, for example relating to intellectual property rights; and - developments and market conditions for pharmaceutical and biotechnology stocks, in general. OUR OUTSTANDING INDEBTEDNESS HAS INCREASED WITH OUR ISSUANCE OF THE NOTES. As of September 30, 2000, we had approximately $348 million in long-term debt, including $345 million from the sale of the notes. The high level of our indebtedness will impact us by: - making it more difficult for us to make payments on the notes; - significantly increasing our interest expense and related debt service costs; - making it more difficult to obtain additional financing for working capital, capital expenditures, debt service requirements or other purposes; and - constraining our ability to react quickly in an unfavorable economic climate. -16-
WE ARE NOT GENERATING SUFFICIENT CASH FLOW TO PAY INTEREST ON THE NOTES. Currently, we are not generating sufficient cash flow to satisfy the annual debt service payments that will be required as a result of the consummation of sale of the notes. This may require us to use a portion of the proceeds from the sale of the notes to pay interest on the notes or borrow additional funds or sell additional equity to meet our debt service obligations. If we are unable to satisfy our debt service requirements, substantial liquidity problems could result, which would negatively impact our future prospects. THE NOTES ARE SUBORDINATED TO ANY EXISTING AND FUTURE SENIOR DEBT. The notes are contractually subordinated in right of payment to our existing and future senior debt. As of September 30, 2000, we had approximately $5.3 million of senior debt. The indenture under which the notes were issued does not limit the creation of additional senior debtor any other indebtedness. In connection with the expansion of our facilities, we expect that we may significantly increase our senior debt in the near future. Any significant additional senior debt incurred may materially adversely impact our ability to service our debt, including the notes. Due to subordination provisions contained in the indenture under which the notes were issued and other agreements relating to our senior debt, in the event of our insolvency, funds which we would otherwise use to pay the holders of the notes will be used to pay the holders of senior debt to the extent necessary to pay the senior debt in full. As a result of these payments, our general creditors may recover less, ratably, than the holders of our senior debt and such general creditors may recover more, ratably, than the holders of our notes or our other subordinated indebtedness. In addition, the holders of our senior debt may, under certain circumstances, restrict or prohibit us from making payments on the notes. OUR ABILITY TO REPURCHASE NOTES, IF REQUIRED, MAY BE LIMITED. In certain circumstances involving a change of control, each holder of the notes may require us to repurchase some or all of the holder's notes. We cannot assure you that we will have sufficient financial resources at such time or would be able to arrange financing to pay the repurchase price of the notes. Our ability to repurchase the notes in such event may be limited by law, the indenture, by the terms of other agreements relating to our senior debt and as such indebtedness and agreements may be entered into, replaced, supplemented or amended from time to time. We may be required to refinance our senior debt in order to make such payments. AN ACTIVE TRADING MARKET FOR THE NOTES MAY NOT BE SUSTAINED. Although the notes are eligible for trading in the PORTAL market, we cannot predict whether an active trading market for the notes will be sustained. If an active market for the notes fails to be sustained, the trading price of the notes could fall. Whether or not the notes will trade at lower prices depends on many factors, including: - prevailing interest rates and the markets for similar securities; - general economic conditions; and - our financial condition, historic financial performance and future prospects. -17-
ANY RATING OF THE NOTES MAY CAUSE THEIR TRADING PRICE TO FALL. If the rating agencies rate the notes, they may assign a lower rating than expected by investors. Rating agencies may also lower ratings on the notes in the future. If the rating agencies assign a lower than expected rating or reduce their ratings in the future, the trading price of the notes could decline. RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES We present below the ratio of our earnings to our fixed charges. Earnings consist of net loss from operations, income (loss) in equity affiliate and fixed charges. Fixed charges consist of interest expense and that portion of rental expense we believe to be representative of interest. Year ended Nine Months December 31, ended September 30, ------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------- 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- Ratio of earnings to fixed charges (1) (1) (1) (1) (1) (1) (1) For the years ended December 31, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, and 1999 and for the nine months ended September 30, 2000, earnings were insufficient to cover fixed charges by $21.5 million, $40.0 million, $19.8 million, $33.1 million, $41.0 million, and $28.4 million, respectively. For this reason, no ratios are provided. USE OF PROCEEDS We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of the notes or of our securities by the selling holders under this prospectus, nor will we receive cash proceeds from the issuance of shares in connection with the settlement of the make-whole payment.. DESCRIPTION OF THE NOTES The notes were issued under an indenture between us and State Street Bank and Trust Company, as trustee, dated September 19, 2000. We will make copies of the indenture, notes and registration rights agreement available to prospective investors in the notes upon request to us. A copy of the indenture is filed with the SEC as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. We have summarized portions of the indenture below. This summary is not complete. We urge you to read the indenture because it defines your rights as a holder of the notes. Terms not defined in this description have the meanings given them in the indenture. In this section, "Vertex", "we", "our" and "us" each refers only to Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated and not to any existing or future subsidiary. GENERAL The notes are unsecured, subordinated obligations of Vertex and are convertible into our common stock as described under "Conversion Rights" below. The notes were issued in an aggregate principal amount of $345,000,000, and will mature on September 19, 2007. -18-
The notes bear interest at the rate of 5% per year from the date of issuance of the notes, or from the most recent date to which interest had been paid or provided for, subject to adjustment if a reset transaction occurs. See "Interest Rate Adjustments" below. Interest is payable semi-annually on March 19 and September 19 of each year, commencing March 19, 2001, to holders of record at the close of business on the preceding March 1 and September 1, respectively. Interest is computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months. In the event of the maturity, conversion, purchase by us at the option of the holder or redemption of a note, interest will cease to accrue on the note under the terms of and subject to the conditions of the indenture. We will make payments of principal, and you may present the notes for conversion, registration of transfer and exchange, without service charge, at our office or agency in New York City, which shall initially be the office or agency of the trustee in New York, New York. See "Form, Denomination and Registration." The indenture does not contain any financial covenants or any restrictions on our payment of dividends, incurrence of senior debt or other indebtedness, or issuance or repurchase of securities. The indenture contains no covenants or other provisions to protect holders of the notes in the event of a highly leveraged transaction or a change in control, except to the extent described under "Interest Rate Adjustments" and under "Change of Control Permits Purchase of Notes at the Option of the Holder" below. INTEREST RATE ADJUSTMENTS If a reset transaction occurs, the interest rate will be adjusted to equal the adjusted interest rate from the effective date of the reset transaction to, but not including, the effective date of any succeeding Reset Transaction. A "reset transaction" means: - a merger, consolidation or statutory share exchange involving the entity that is the issuer of the common stock into which the notes are then convertible; - a sale of all or substantially all the assets of that entity; - a recapitalization of that common stock; or - a distribution described in clause (4) of the fourth paragraph under "Conversion Rights" below, after the effective date of which transaction or distribution the notes would be convertible into: - shares of an entity the common stock of which had a dividend yield for the four fiscal quarters immediately preceding the public announcement of the transaction or distribution that was more than 2.5% higher than the dividend yield on our common stock (or other common stock then issuable upon conversion of the notes) for the four fiscal quarters preceding the public announcement of the transaction or distribution; or - shares of an entity that announces a dividend policy prior to the effective date of the transaction or distribution which policy, if implemented, would result in a dividend yield on that entity's common stock for the next four fiscal quarters that would result in such a 2.5% increase. -19-
The "adjusted interest rate" with respect to any reset transaction will be the rate per year that is the average of the rates quoted by two dealers engaged in the trading of convertible securities selected by us as the rate at which interest should accrue so that the fair market value, expressed in dollars, of a note immediately after the later of: - the public announcement of the reset transaction; or - the public announcement of a change in dividend policy in connection with the reset transaction, will equal the average trading price of a note for the 20 trading days preceding the date of public announcement of the reset transaction. However, the adjusted interest rate will not be less than 5% per year. For purposes of the definition of reset transaction, the dividend yield on any security for any period means the dividends paid or proposed to be paid pursuant to an announced dividend policy on the security for that period divided by, if with respect to dividends paid on that security, the average closing price (as defined in the indenture) of the security during that period and, if with respect to dividends proposed to be paid on the security, the closing price of such security on the effective date of the related reset transaction. The "trading price" of a security on any date of determination means: - the closing sale price (or, if no closing sale price is reported, the last reported sale price) of a security on the New York Stock Exchange on that date; - if that security is not listed on the NYSE on that date, the closing sale price as reported in the composite transactions for the principal U.S. securities exchange on which that security is listed; - if that security is not so listed on a U.S. national or regional securities exchange, the closing sale price as reported by the Nasdaq National Market; - if that security is not so reported, the last price quoted by Interactive Data Corporation for that security or, if Interactive Data Corporation is not quoting such price, a similar quotation service selected by us; - if that security is not so quoted, the average of the mid-point of the last bid and ask prices for that security from at least two dealers recognized as market-makers for that security; or - if that security is not so quoted, the average of the last bid and ask prices for that security from a dealer engaged in the trading of convertible securities. SUBORDINATION The notes are unsecured obligations and are subordinated in right of payment, as provided in the indenture, to the prior payment in full of all our existing and future senior debt. As of September 30, 2000, we had approximately $5.3 million of senior debt outstanding. The indenture does not restrict the incurrence by us or our subsidiaries of indebtedness or other obligations. -20-
The term "senior debt" means the principal of, premium, if any, interest (including all interest accruing subsequent to the commencement of any bankruptcy or similar proceeding, whether or not a claim for post-petition interest is allowable as a claim in any such proceeding) and rent payable on or termination payment with respect to or in connection with, and all fees, costs, expenses and other amounts accrued or due on or in connection with, our indebtedness, whether outstanding on the date of the indenture or subsequently created, incurred, assumed, guaranteed or in effect guaranteed by us (including all deferrals, renewals, extensions or refundings of, or amendments, modifications or supplements to, the foregoing), except for - any indebtedness that by its terms expressly provides that such indebtedness shall not be senior in right of payment to the notes or expressly provides that such indebtedness is equal with or junior to the notes, and - any indebtedness between or among us and/or any of our subsidiaries, a majority of the voting stock of which we directly or indirectly own, or any of our affiliates. The term "indebtedness" means, with respect to any person: 1. all indebtedness, obligations and other liabilities (contingent or otherwise) of that person for borrowed money (including our obligations in respect of overdrafts, foreign exchange contracts, currency exchange agreements, interest rate protection agreements, and any loans or advances from banks, whether or not evidenced by notes or similar instruments) or evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other instruments for the payment of money, or incurred in connection with the acquisition of any property, services or assets (whether or not the recourse of the lender is to the whole of the assets of such person or to only a portion of those assets), other than any account payable or other accrued current liability or obligation to trade creditors incurred in the ordinary course of business in connection with the obtaining of materials or services; 2. all reimbursement obligations and other liabilities (contingent or otherwise) of that person with respect to letters of credit, bank guarantees, bankers' acceptances, surety bonds, performance bonds or other guaranty of contractual performance; 3. all obligations and liabilities (contingent or otherwise) in respect of (A) leases of such person required, in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles, to be accounted for as capitalized lease obligations on the balance sheet of such person, and (B) any lease or related documents (including a purchase agreement) in connection with the lease of real property which provides that such person is contractually obligated to purchase or cause a third party to purchase the leased property and thereby guarantee a minimum residual value of the leased property to the landlord and the obligations of such person under such lease or related document to purchase or to cause a third party to purchase the leased property; 4. all obligations of such person (contingent or otherwise) with respect to an interest rate or other swap, cap or collar agreement or other similar instrument or agreement or foreign currency hedge, exchange, purchase or similar instrument or agreement; 5. all direct or indirect guaranties or similar agreements by that person in respect of, and obligations or liabilities (contingent or otherwise) of that person to purchase or otherwise acquire or otherwise assure a creditor against loss in respect of, indebtedness, obligations or liabilities of another person of the kind described in clauses (1) through (4); 6. any indebtedness or other obligations described in clauses (1) through (4) secured by any mortgage, pledge, lien or other encumbrance existing on property which is owned or held by -21-
such person, regardless of whether the indebtedness or other obligation secured thereby shall have been assumed by such person; and 7. any and all deferrals, renewals, extensions, refinancings, replacements, restatements and refundings of, or amendments, modifications or supplements to, any indebtedness, obligation or liability of the kind described in clauses (1) through (6). Any senior debt will continue to be senior debt and will be entitled to the benefits of the subordination provisions irrespective of any amendment, modification or waiver of any of its terms. The indenture provides that in the event of any payment or distribution of our assets upon our dissolution, winding up, liquidation or reorganization, the holders of our senior debt shall first be paid in respect of all senior debt in full in cash or other payment satisfactory to the holders of senior debt before we make any payments of principal of, or premium, if any, and interest (including liquidated damages, if any) on the notes. In addition, if the notes are accelerated because of an event of default, the holders of any senior debt would be entitled to payment in full in cash or other payment satisfactory to the holders of senior debt of all obligations in respect of senior debt before the holders of the notes are entitled to receive any payment or distribution. Under the indenture, we must promptly notify holders of senior debt if payment of the notes is accelerated because of an event of default. The indenture further provides if any default by us has occurred and is continuing in the payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on, rent or other payment obligations in respect of, any senior debt, then no payment shall be made on account of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the notes (including any liquidated damages, if any) or to acquire any of the notes, until all such payments due in respect of that senior debt have been paid in full in cash or other payment satisfactory to the holders of that senior debt. During the continuance of any event of default with respect to any designated senior debt (other than a default in payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on, rent or other payment obligations in respect of any designated senior debt), permitting the holders thereof to accelerate the maturity thereof (or, in the case of any lease, permitting the landlord either to terminate the lease or to require us to make an irrevocable offer to terminate the lease following an event of default thereunder), no payment may be made by us, directly or indirectly, with respect to principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the notes (including any liquidated damages, if any) for 179 days following written notice to us, from any holder, representative or trustee under any agreement pursuant to which that designated senior debt may have been issued, that such an event of default has occurred and is continuing, unless such event of default has been cured or waived or that designated senior debt has been paid in full in cash or other payment satisfactory to the holders of that designated senior debt. However, if the maturity of that designated senior debt is accelerated (or, in the case of a lease, as a result of such events of default, the landlord under the lease has given us notice of its intention to terminate the lease or to require us to make an irrevocable offer to terminate the lease following an event of default thereunder), no payment may be made on the notes until that designated senior debt has been paid in full in cash or other payment satisfactory to the holders of that designated senior debt or such acceleration (or termination, in the case of the lease) has been cured or waived. The term "designated senior debt" means our senior debt which, at the date of determination, has an aggregate amount outstanding of, or under which, at the date of determination, the holders thereof are committed to lend up to, at least $20 million and is specifically designated in the instrument evidencing or governing that senior debt as "designated senior debt" for purposes of the indenture. However, the instrument may place limitations and conditions on the right of that senior debt to exercise the rights of designated senior debt. Borrowings under the Credit Agreement, dated -22-
December 21, 1999, by and among Vertex and Fleet Bank, N.A. shall constitute designated senior debt. At September 30, 2000, we had no designated senior debt outstanding. By reason of these subordination provisions, in the event of insolvency, funds which we would otherwise use to pay the holders of notes will be used to pay the holders of Senior Debt to the extent necessary to pay Senior Debt in full in cash or other payment satisfactory to the holders of Senior Debt. As a result of these payments, our general creditors may recover less, ratably, than holders of Senior Debt and such general creditors may recover more, ratably, than holders of notes. The notes are effectively subordinated to all existing and future liabilities of our subsidiaries. Any right we have to receive assets of any of our existing and future subsidiaries upon the latter's liquidation or reorganization (and the consequent right of the holders of the notes to participate in those assets) will be effectively subordinated to the claims of that subsidiary's creditors, except to the extent that we are ourselves recognized as a creditor of that subsidiary, in which case our claims would still be subordinate to any security interests in the assets of that subsidiary and any indebtedness of that subsidiary senior to that held by us. There are no restrictions in the indenture on the ability of our subsidiaries to incur Indebtedness or other liabilities. As of September 30, 2000, our existing subsidiaries had no indebtedness outstanding. We are obligated to pay reasonable compensation to the trustee and to indemnify the trustee against any losses, liabilities or expenses incurred by it in connection with its duties relating to the notes. The trustee's claims for such payments will be senior to those of holders of the notes in respect of all funds collected or held by the trustee. CONVERSION RIGHTS The holders of notes may, at any time prior to the close of business on the final maturity date of the notes, convert any outstanding notes (or portions thereof) into our common stock, initially at a conversion price of $92.26 per share, subject to adjustment as described below. Holders may convert notes only in denominations of $1,000 and whole multiples of $1,000. Except as described below, no payment or other adjustment will be made on conversion of any notes for interest accrued thereon or dividends paid on any common stock. If notes are converted after a record date for an interest payment but prior to the next interest payment date, those notes must be accompanied by funds equal to the interest payable to the record holder on the next interest payment date on the principal amount so converted, provided that no such payment will be required from a holder if such notes have been called for redemption. We will not issue fractional shares of common stock upon conversion of notes and instead will pay a cash adjustment based upon the market price of our common stock on the last business day before the date of the conversion. In the case of notes called for redemption, conversion rights will expire at the close of business on the business day preceding the date fixed for redemption, unless we default in payment of the redemption price. A holder may exercise the right of conversion by delivering the note to be converted to the specified office of a conversion agent, with a completed notice of conversion, together with any funds that may be required as described in the preceding paragraph. The conversion date will be the date on which the notes, the notice of conversion and any required funds have been so delivered. A holder delivering a note for conversion will not be required to pay any taxes or duties relating to the issuance or delivery of the common stock for such conversion, but will be required to pay any tax or duty which may be payable relating to any transfer involved in the issuance or delivery of the common stock in a name other than the holder of the note. Certificates representing shares of common stock will be issued or delivered only after all applicable taxes and duties, if any, payable by the holder have been paid. If any note is converted within two years after its original issuance, -23-
the common stock issuable upon conversion will not be issued or delivered in a name other than that of the holder of the note unless the applicable restrictions on transfer have been satisfied. The initial conversion price will be adjusted for certain events, including: 1. the issuance of our common stock as a dividend or distribution on our common stock; 2. certain subdivisions and combinations of our common stock; 3. the issuance to all holders of our common stock of certain rights or warrants to purchase our common stock (or securities convertible into our common stock) at less than (or having a conversion price per share less than) the current market price of our common stock; 4. the dividend or other distribution to all holders of our common stock of shares of our capital stock (other than common stock) or evidences of our indebtedness or our assets (including securities, but excluding those rights and warrants referred to in clause (3) above and dividends and distributions in connection with a reclassification, change, consolidation, merger, combination, sale or conveyance resulting in a change in the conversion consideration pursuant to the second succeeding paragraph below and dividends or distributions paid exclusively in cash); 5. dividends or other distributions consisting exclusively of cash to all holders of our common stock (excluding any cash that is distributed upon a reclassification, change, merger, consolidation, statutory share exchange, combination, sale or conveyance as described in the second succeeding paragraph hereof or as part of a distribution referred to in clause (4) above) to the extent that such distributions, combined together with (A) all other such all-cash distributions made within the preceding 12 months for which no adjustment has been made plus (B) any cash and the fair market value of other consideration paid for any tender or exchange offers by us or any of our subsidiaries for our common stock concluded within the preceding 12 months for which no adjustment has been made, exceeds 10% of our market capitalization on the record date for such distribution; market capitalization is the product of the then current market price of our common stock times the number of shares of our common stock then outstanding; and 6. payments to holders of our common stock pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made by us or any of our subsidiaries to the extent that the same involves aggregate consideration that, together with (A) any cash and the fair market value of any other consideration paid in any other tender or exchange offer by us or any of our subsidiaries for our common stock expiring within the 12 months preceding such tender or exchange offer for which no adjustment has been made plus (B) the aggregate amount of any all-cash distributions referred to in clause (5) above to all holders of our common stock within 12 months preceding the expiration of such tender or exchange offer for which no adjustments have been made, exceeds 10% of our market capitalization on the expiration of such tender or exchange offer. No adjustment in the conversion price will be required unless such adjustment would require a change of at least 1% in the conversion price then in effect at such time. Any adjustment that would otherwise be required to be made shall be carried forward and taken into account in any subsequent adjustment. Except as stated above, the conversion price will not be adjusted for the -24-
issuance of our common stock or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for our common stock or carrying the right to purchase any of the foregoing. In the case of: - any recapitalization, reclassification or change of our common stock (other than changes in par value or resulting from a subdivision or combination), - a consolidation, merger or combination involving us, - a sale, conveyance or lease to another corporation of all or substantially all of our property and assets, or - any statutory share exchange, in each case as a result of which holders of our common stock are entitled to receive stock, other securities, other property or assets (including cash or any combination thereof) with respect to or in exchange for our common stock, the holders of the notes then outstanding will be entitled thereafter to convert those notes into the kind and amount of shares of stock, other securities or other property or assets (including cash or any combination thereof) which they would have owned or been entitled to receive upon such recapitalization, reclassification, change, consolidation, merger, combination, sale, conveyance or statutory share exchange had such notes been converted into our common stock immediately prior to such recapitalization, reclassification, change, consolidation, merger, combination, sale, conveyance or statutory share exchange. We may not become a party to any such transaction unless its terms are consistent with the foregoing. If a taxable distribution to holders of our common stock or other transaction occurs which results in any adjustment of the conversion price, the holders of notes may, in certain circumstances, be deemed to have received a distribution subject to U.S. income tax as a dividend. In certain other circumstances, the absence of an adjustment may result in a taxable dividend to the holders of common stock. See "United States Federal Income Tax Considerations." We may from time to time, to the extent permitted by law, reduce the conversion price of the notes by any amount for any period of at least 20 days. In that case we will give at least 15 days' notice of such decrease. We may make such reductions in the conversion price, in addition to those set forth above, as our board of directors deems advisable to avoid or diminish any income tax to holders of our common stock resulting from any dividend or distribution of stock (or rights to acquire stock) or from any event treated as such for income tax purposes. PROVISIONAL REDEMPTION We may redeem the notes, in whole or in part, at any time prior to September 19, 2003, at a redemption price equal to $1,000 per $1,000 principal amount of notes to be redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the provisional redemption date if: - the closing price of our common stock has exceeded 150% of the conversion price then in effect for at least 20 trading days within a period of 30 consecutive trading days ending on the trading day prior to the date of mailing of the provisional redemption notice (which date shall be at least 20 but not more than 60 days prior to the provisional redemption date); and - the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part is effective and available for use and is expected to remain effective for the 30 days following the provisional redemption date. -25-
Upon any provisional redemption, we will make an additional "make-whole" payment with respect to the notes called for redemption to holders on the notice date in an amount equal to $150.00 per $1,000 principal amount of notes, less the amount of any interest actually paid on the notes prior to the provisional redemption date. We may make this "make-whole" payment, at our option, either in cash or in our common stock or a combination of cash and common stock, if the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part is effective and expected to remain effective and available for use for the 30 days following the provisional redemption date and if we satisfy certain other conditions specified in the indenture. We will specify the type of consideration for the "make-whole" payment in the redemption notice. Payments made in our common stock will be valued at 97% of the average of the closing sales prices of our common stock for the five trading days ending on the day prior to the provisional redemption date. WE WILL BE OBLIGATED TO MAKE THIS ADDITIONAL PAYMENT ON ALL NOTES CALLED FOR PROVISIONAL REDEMPTION, INCLUDING ANY NOTES CONVERTED AFTER THE NOTICE DATE AND BEFORE THE PROVISIONAL REDEMPTION DATE. REDEMPTION OF NOTES AT OUR OPTION There is no sinking fund for the notes. On and after September 19, 2003, we are entitled to redeem some or all of the notes on at least 20 but not more than 60 days' notice, at the redemption prices set out below, together with accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the date fixed for redemption, if the closing price of our common stock has exceeded 120% of the conversion price then in effect for at least 20 trading days within a period of 30 consecutive trading days ending on the trading day prior to the date of mailing of the optional redemption notice. However, if a redemption date is an interest payment date, the semi-annual payment of interest becoming due on such date shall be payable to the holder of record as of the relevant record date and the redemption price shall not include such interest payment. The table below shows redemption prices of a note per $1,000 principal amount if redeemed during the periods described below. PERIOD REDEMPTION PRICE ------ ----------------- September 19, 2003 through September 18, 2004...................................... 102.857% September 19, 2004 through September 18, 2005...................................... 102.143% September 19, 2005 through September 18, 2006...................................... 101.429% Thereafter......................................................................... 100.714% If we do not redeem all of the notes, the trustee will select the notes to be redeemed in principal amounts of $1,000 or whole multiples of $1,000 by lot, on a pro rata basis or in accordance with any other method the trustee considers fair and appropriate. If any notes are to be redeemed in part only, a new note or notes in principal amount equal to the unredeemed principal portion thereof will be issued. If a portion of a holder's notes is selected for partial redemption and the holder converts a portion of its notes, the converted portion will be deemed to be taken from the portion selected for redemption. CHANGE OF CONTROL PERMITS PURCHASE OF NOTES AT THE OPTION OF THE HOLDER If a change of control occurs, each holder of notes will have the right to require us to repurchase all of that holder's notes not previously called for redemption, or any portion of those notes that is equal to $1,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000, on the date that is 45 days after the date -26-
we give notice at a repurchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes to be repurchased, together with interest accrued and unpaid to, but excluding, the repurchase date. Instead of paying the repurchase price in cash, we may pay the repurchase price in common stock. The number of shares of common stock a holder will receive will equal the repurchase price divided by 95% of the average of the closing sales prices of our common stock for the five trading days immediately preceding and including the third trading day prior to the repurchase date. However, we may not pay in common stock unless we satisfy certain conditions prior to the repurchase date as provided in the indenture. Within 30 days after the occurrence of a change of control, we are required to give notice to all holders of notes, as provided in the indenture, of the occurrence of the change of control and of their resulting repurchase right. We must also deliver a copy of our notice to the trustee. To exercise the repurchase right, a holder of notes must deliver prior to or on the 30th day after the date of our notice irrevocable written notice to the trustee of the holder's exercise of its repurchase right, together with the notes with respect to which the right is being exercised. A "change of control" will be deemed to have occurred at such time after the original issuance of the notes when the following has occurred: - the acquisition by any person of beneficial ownership, directly or indirectly, through a purchase, merger or other acquisition transaction or series of transactions of shares of our capital stock entitling that person to exercise 50% or more of the total voting power of all shares of our capital stock entitled to vote generally in elections of directors, other than any acquisition by us, any of our subsidiaries or any of our employee benefit plans; - our consolidation or merger with or into any other person, any merger of another person into us, or any conveyance, transfer, sale, lease or other disposition of all or substantially all of our properties and assets to another person, other than: any transaction (A) that does not result in any reclassification, conversion, exchange or cancellation of outstanding shares of our capital stock and (B) pursuant to which holders of our capital stock immediately prior to the transaction are entitled to exercise, directly or indirectly, 50% or more of the total voting power of all shares of our capital stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors of the continuing or surviving person immediately after the transaction; or any merger solely for the purpose of changing our jurisdiction of incorporation and resulting in a reclassification, conversion or exchange of outstanding shares of common stock solely into shares of common stock of the surviving entity; - during any consecutive two-year period, individuals who at the beginning of that two-year period constituted our board of directors (together with any new directors whose election to our board of directors, or whose nomination for election by our stockholders, was approved by a vote of a majority of the directors then still in office who were either directors at the beginning of such period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved) cease for any reason to constitute a majority of our board of directors then in office; or - we are liquidated or dissolved or our stockholders pass a resolution approving a plan of liquidation or dissolution. The beneficial owner shall be determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3 promulgated by the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The term "person" includes any syndicate or group which would be deemed to be a "person" under Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act. -27-
Rule 13e-4 under the Exchange Act, as amended, requires the dissemination of certain information to security holders if an issuer tender offer occurs and may apply if the repurchase option becomes available to holders of the notes. We will comply with this rule to the extent applicable at that time. We may, to the extent permitted by applicable law, at any time purchase the notes in the open market or by tender at any price or by private agreement. Any note so purchased by us may, to the extent permitted by applicable law, be reissued or resold or may be surrendered to the trustee for cancellation. Any notes surrendered to the trustee may not be reissued or resold and will be canceled promptly. The foregoing provisions would not necessarily protect holders of the notes if highly leveraged or other transactions involving us occur that may adversely affect holders. Our ability to repurchase notes upon the occurrence of a change of control is subject to important limitations. The occurrence of a change of control could cause an event of default under, or be prohibited or limited by, the terms of existing or future Senior Debt. As a result, any repurchase of the notes would, absent a waiver, be prohibited under the subordination provisions of the indenture until the Senior Debt is paid in full. Further, we cannot assure you that we would have the financial resources, or would be able to arrange financing, to pay the repurchase price for all the notes that might be delivered by holders of notes seeking to exercise the repurchase right. Any failure by us to repurchase the notes when required following a change of control would result in an event of default under the indenture, whether or not such repurchase is permitted by the subordination provisions of the indenture. Any such default may, in turn, cause a default under existing or future Senior Debt. See "Subordination" above. CONSOLIDATION, MERGER AND SALE OF ASSETS We may, without the consent of the holders of notes, consolidate with, merge into or transfer all or substantially all of our assets to any corporation, limited liability company, partnership or trust organized under the laws of the United States or any of its political subdivisions provided that: - the surviving entity assumes all our obligations under the indenture and the notes; - at the time of such transaction, no event of default, and no event which, after notice or lapse of time, would become an event of default, shall have happened and be continuing; and - an officers' certificate and an opinion of counsel, each stating that the consolidation, merger or transfer complies with the provisions of the indenture, have been delivered to the trustee. INFORMATION REQUIREMENT We have agreed that, during any period in which we are not subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, to make available to holders of the notes, or beneficial owners of interests therein, or any prospective purchaser of the notes, the information required by Rule 144A(d)(4) to be made available in connection with the sale of notes or beneficial interests in the notes. We are not required, however, to furnish such information in connection with any request made on or after the date which is two years from the later of the date such notes were last acquired by us or an affiliate. -28-
EVENTS OF DEFAULT Each of the following constitutes an event of default under the indenture: 1. our failure to pay when due the principal of or premium, if any, on any of the notes at maturity, upon redemption or exercise of a repurchase right or otherwise, whether or not such payment is prohibited by the subordination provisions of the indenture; 2. our failure to pay an installment of interest (including liquidated damages, if any) on any of the notes for 30 days after the date when due, whether or not such payment is prohibited by the subordination provisions of the indenture; 3. our failure to deliver shares of common stock, together with cash instead of fractional shares, when those shares of common stock or cash instead of fractional shares, are required to be delivered following conversion of a note, and that failure continues for 10 days; 4. our failure to perform or observe any other term, covenant or agreement contained in the notes or the indenture for a period of 60 days after written notice of such failure, requiring us to remedy the same, shall have been given to us by the trustee or to us and the trustee by the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the notes then outstanding; 5. our failure to make any payment by the end of the applicable grace period, if any, after the maturity of any Indebtedness for borrowed money in an amount in excess of $5 million, or there is an acceleration of Indebtedness for borrowed money in an amount in excess of $5 million because of a default with respect to such Indebtedness without such Indebtedness having been discharged or such acceleration having been cured, waived, rescinded or annulled, in either case, for a period of 30 days after written notice to us by the trustee or to us and the trustee by holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the notes then outstanding; and 6. certain events of our bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization. If an event of default specified in clause (6) above occurs and is continuing, then the principal of all the notes and the interest thereon shall automatically become immediately due and payable. If an event of default shall occur and be continuing, other than with respect to clause (6) above, the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the notes then outstanding may declare the notes due and payable at their principal amount together with accrued interest, and thereupon the trustee may, at its discretion, proceed to protect and enforce the rights of the holders of notes by appropriate judicial proceedings. Such declaration may be rescinded and annulled with the written consent of the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the notes then outstanding subject to the provisions of the indenture. The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of notes at the time outstanding through their written consent, or the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of notes then outstanding represented at a meeting at which a quorum is present by a written resolution, may waive any existing default or event of default and its consequences except any default or event of default: - in any payment on the notes; - in respect of the conversion rights of the notes; or -29-
- in respect of the covenants or provisions in the indenture that may not be modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each note affected as described in "Modification, Waiver and Meetings" below. Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the notes then outstanding through their written consent, or the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the notes then outstanding represented at a meeting at which a quorum is present by a written resolution, may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the trustee, subject to the provisions of the indenture. The indenture contains a provision entitling the trustee, subject to the duty of the trustee during a default to act with the required standard of care, to be indemnified by the holders of notes before proceeding to exercise any right or power under the indenture at the request of such holders. The rights of holders of the notes to pursue remedies with respect to the indenture and the notes are subject to a number of additional requirements set forth in the indenture. The right of any holder: - to receive payment of principal, premium, if any, the change of control purchase price and interest in respect of the notes held by that holder on or after the respective due dates expressed in the notes; - to convert those notes; and - to bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the respective due dates expressed in the notes, and the right to convert; will not be impaired or affected without that holder's consent. The indenture provides that the trustee shall, within 90 days of the occurrence of a default of which the trustee has received written notice, give to the registered holders of the notes notice of all uncured defaults known to it, but the trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if it, in good faith, determines that the withholding of such notice is in the best interest of such registered holders, except in the case of a default in the payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, any of the notes when due or in the payment of any redemption or repurchase obligation. We are required to furnish annually to the trustee a statement as to the fulfillment of our obligations under the indenture. In addition, we are required to file with the trustee a written notice of the occurrence of any default or event of default within five business days of our becoming aware of the occurrence of any default or event of default. MODIFICATION, WAIVER AND MEETINGS The indenture contains provisions for convening meetings of the holders of notes to consider matters affecting their interests. The indenture (including the terms and conditions of the notes) may be modified or amended by us and the trustee, without the consent of the holder of any note, for the purposes of, among other things: - adding to our covenants for the benefit of the holders of notes; - surrendering any right or power conferred upon us; -30-
- providing for conversion rights of holders of notes if any reclassification or change of our common stock or any consolidation, merger or sale of all or substantially all of our assets occurs; - providing for the assumption of our obligations to the holders of notes in the case of a merger, consolidation, conveyance, transfer or lease; - reducing the conversion price, provided that the reduction will not adversely affect the interests of holders of notes in any material respect; - complying with the requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification of the indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939; - making any changes or modifications to the indenture necessary in connection with the registration of the notes under the Securities Act of 1933 as contemplated by the registration rights agreement, provided that this action does not adversely affect the interests of the holders of the notes in any material respect; - curing any ambiguity or correcting or supplementing any defective provision contained in the indenture, provided that such modification or amendment does not, in the good faith opinion of our board of directors and the trustee, adversely affect the interests of the holders of the notes in any material respect; or - adding or modifying any other provisions which we and the trustee may deem necessary or desirable and which will not adversely affect the interests of the holders of notes in any material respect. Modifications and amendments to the indenture or to the terms and conditions of the notes may also be made, and noncompliance by us with any provision of the indenture or the notes may be waived, either: - with the written consent of the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the notes at the time outstanding; or - by the adoption of a resolution at a meeting of holders at which a quorum is present by at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the notes represented at such meeting. However, no such modification, amendment or waiver may, without the written consent or the affirmative vote of the holder of each note affected: - change the maturity of the principal of or any installment of interest on any note (including any payment of liquidated damages); - reduce the principal amount of, or any premium, if any, on any note; - reduce the interest rate or interest (including any liquidated damages) on any note; - change the currency of payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any note; - impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect to, or the conversion of, any note; -31-
- modify our obligations to maintain an office or agency in New York City; - except as otherwise permitted or contemplated by provisions of the indenture concerning specified reclassifications or corporate reorganizations, adversely affect the conversion rights of holders of the notes; - adversely affect the repurchase option of holders upon a change of control; - modify the subordination provisions of the notes in a manner adverse to the holders of notes; - reduce the percentage in aggregate principal amount of notes outstanding necessary to modify or amend the indenture or to waive any past default; or - reduce the percentage in aggregate principal amount of notes outstanding required for the adoption of a resolution or the quorum required at any meeting of holders of notes at which a resolution is adopted. The quorum at any meeting called to adopt a resolution will be persons holding or representing a majority in aggregate principal amount of the notes at the time outstanding. SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE We may discharge our obligations under the indenture while notes remain outstanding, subject to certain conditions, if: - all outstanding notes will become due and payable at their scheduled maturity within one year; or - all outstanding notes are scheduled for redemption within one year, and, in either case, we have deposited with the trustee an amount sufficient to pay and discharge all outstanding notes on the date of their scheduled maturity or the scheduled date of redemption. FORM, DENOMINATION AND REGISTRATION The notes are issued in fully registered form, without coupons, in denominations of $1,000 principal amount and whole multiples of $1,000. GLOBAL NOTES: BOOK-ENTRY FORM. The notes were offered only to qualified institutional buyers as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act . Except as provided below, the notes are and will continue to be evidenced by one or more global notes deposited with the trustee as custodian for The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York, and registered in the name of Cede & Co. as DTC's nominee. Prior to resale under this prospectus, the global notes and any notes issued in exchange for the global notes are subject to the restrictions on transfer in the global notes and in the indenture. Record ownership of the global notes may be transferred, in whole or in part, only to another nominee of DTC or to a successor of DTC or its nominee, except as set forth below. A QIB may hold its interests in a global note directly through DTC if such QIB is a participant in DTC, or indirectly through organizations which are direct DTC participants. Transfers between direct DTC participants will be effected in the ordinary way in accordance with DTC's rules and will be settled in same-day funds. QIBs may also beneficially own interests in the global notes held by DTC through certain banks, brokers, dealers, trust companies and other parties that -32-
clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a direct DTC participant, either directly or indirectly. So long as Cede & Co., as nominee of DTC, is the registered owner of the global notes, Cede & Co. for all purposes will be considered the sole holder of the global notes. Except as provided below, owners of beneficial interests in the global notes will not be entitled to have certificates registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of certificates in definitive form, and will not be considered holders thereof. The laws of some states require that certain persons take physical delivery of securities in definitive form. Consequently, the ability to transfer a beneficial interest in the global notes to such persons may be limited. We will wire, through the facilities of the trustee, principal, premium, if any, and interest payments on the global notes to Cede & Co., the nominee for DTC, as the registered owner of the global notes. Vertex, the trustee and any paying agent will have no responsibility or liability for paying amounts due on the global notes to owners of beneficial interests in the global notes. It is DTC's current practice, upon receipt of any payment of principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the global notes, to credit participants' accounts on the payment date in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in the notes represented by the global notes, as shown on the records of DTC, unless DTC believes that it will not receive payment on the payment date. Payments by DTC participants to owners of beneficial interests in notes represented by the global notes held through DTC participants will be the responsibility of DTC participants, as is now the case with securities held for the accounts of customers registered in "street name." If you would like to convert your notes into common stock pursuant to the terms of the notes, you should contact your broker or other direct or indirect DTC participant to obtain information on procedures, including proper forms and cut-off times, for submitting those requests. Because DTC can only act on behalf of DTC participants, who in turn act on behalf of indirect DTC participants and other banks, your ability to pledge your interest in the notes represented by global notes to persons or entities that do not participate in the DTC system, or otherwise take actions in respect of such interest, may be affected by the lack of a physical certificate. Neither Vertex nor the trustee, nor any registrar, paying agent or conversion agent under the indenture, will have any responsibility for the performance by DTC or direct or indirect DTC participants of their obligations under the rules and procedures governing their operations. DTC has advised us that it will take any action permitted to be taken by a holder of notes, including, without limitation, the presentation of notes for conversion as described below, only at the direction of one or more direct DTC participants to whose account with DTC interests in the global notes are credited and only for the principal amount of the notes for which directions have been given. DTC has advised us as follows: DTC is a limited purpose trust company organized under the laws of the State of New York, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a "clearing corporation" within the meaning of the Uniform Commercial Code and a "clearing agency" registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange Act. DTC was created to hold securities for DTC participants and to facilitate the clearance and settlement of securities transactions between DTC participants through electronic book-entry changes to the accounts of its participants, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates. Participants include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies and clearing corporations and may include certain other organizations such as the initial purchasers of the notes. Certain DTC participants or their representatives, together with other entities, own DTC. Indirect access to the DTC system is available to others such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear through, or maintain a custodial relationship with, a participant, either directly or indirectly. -33-
Although DTC has agreed to the foregoing procedures in order to facilitate transfers of interests in the global notes among DTC participants, it is under no obligation to perform or continue to perform such procedures, and such procedures may be discontinued at any time. If DTC is at any time unwilling or unable to continue as depositary and a successor depositary is not appointed by us within 90 days, we will cause notes to be issued in definitive form in exchange for the global notes. None of Vertex, the trustee or any of their respective agents will have any responsibility for the performance by DTC, direct or indirect DTC participants of their obligations under the rules and procedures governing their operations, including maintaining, supervising or reviewing the records relating to, or payments made on account of, beneficial ownership interests in global notes. According to DTC, the foregoing information with respect to DTC has been provided to its participants and other members of the financial community for informational purposes only and is not intended to serve as a representation, warranty or contract modification of any kind. CERTIFICATED NOTES. The notes represented by a global note are exchangeable for notes in definitive form of like tenor as that global note in denominations of $1,000 and in any greater amount that is an integral multiple of $1,000 if: - DTC notifies us in writing that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depositary for that global note or if at any time DTC ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and a successor depositary is not appointed by us within 90 days; - we, at our option, notify the trustee in writing that we elect to issue the notes in definitive form in exchange for all or any part of the notes represented by the global notes; or - there is, or continues to be, an event of default and the registrar has received a request from DTC for the issuance of definitive notes in exchange for the global notes. Any note that is exchangeable pursuant to the preceding sentence is exchangeable for notes registered in the names which DTC will instruct the trustee. DTC's instructions may be based upon directions received by DTC from its participants with respect to ownership of beneficial interests in that global note. Subject to the foregoing, a global note is not exchangeable except for a global note or global notes of the same aggregate denominations to be registered in the name of DTC or its nominee. RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER; LEGENDS. Prior to resale under this prospectus, certificates evidencing the notes will bear a restrictive legend as described in the indenture. -34-
NOTICES Except as otherwise provided in the indenture, notices to holders of notes will be given by mail to the addresses of holders of the notes as they appear in the note register. GOVERNING LAW The indenture, the notes and the registration rights agreement will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of New York. INFORMATION REGARDING THE TRUSTEE State Street Bank and Trust Company, as trustee under the indenture, has been appointed by us as paying agent, conversion agent, registrar and custodian with regard to the notes. EquiServe Limited Partnership is the transfer agent and registrar for our common stock. The trustee or its affiliates may from time to time in the future provide banking and other services to us in the ordinary course of their business. REGISTRATION RIGHTS OF HOLDERS OF THE NOTES When we issued the notes, we entered into a registration rights agreement with the initial purchasers of the notes. As required under that agreement, we have filed with the SEC, at our expense, a shelf registration statement, of which this prospectus forms a part, covering the resale by holders of the notes and the common stock issuable upon conversion of the notes, and covering the original issuance by us of the shares of common stock issuable with respect to the settlement of the make-whole payment. Under the terms of the registration rights agreement, we have agreed to use our best efforts to keep the registration statement effective until September 19, 2002 or such earlier date when the holders of the notes and the common stock issuable upon conversion of the notes are able to sell all such securities immediately without restriction pursuant to the volume limitation provisions of Rule 144 under the Securities Act or any successor rule thereto or otherwise. We have also agreed to provide to each registered holder copies of this prospectus and take other actions that are required to permit unrestricted resales of the notes and the common stock issuable upon conversion of the notes. A holder who sells the notes and the common stock issuable upon conversion of the notes pursuant to the shelf registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part must be named as a selling stockholder in this prospectus (or a supplement to this prospectus) and must deliver this prospectus (together with any prospectus supplement) to the purchasers. The holder is also bound by the provisions of the registration rights agreement including certain indemnification provisions. Each holder must notify us not later than three business days prior to any proposed sale by that holder pursuant to the shelf registration statement. This notice will be effective for five business days. We may suspend the holder's use of the prospectus for a reasonable period not to exceed 45 days (60 days under certain circumstances relating to a proposed or pending material business transaction, the disclosure of which would impede our ability to consummate such transaction) in any 90-day period, and not to exceed an aggregate of 90 days in any 12-month period, if we, in our reasonable judgment, believe we may possess material non-public information the disclosure of which would have a material adverse effect on us and our subsidiaries taken as a whole. Each holder, by its acceptance of a note, agrees to hold any communication by us in response to a notice of a proposed sale in confidence. If any of the following events, which we refer to as a registration default, occurs: -35-
- the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part ceases to be effective or fails to be usable without being succeeded within five business days by a post-effective amendment or a report filed with the SEC pursuant to the Exchange Act that cures the failure of the registration statement to be effective or usable; or - on the 45th or 60th day, as the case may be, of any period that the prospectus has been suspended as described in the preceding paragraph, such suspension has not been terminated, then additional interest as liquidated damages will accrue on the notes, from and including the day following the registration default to but excluding the day on which the registration default has been cured. Liquidated damages will be paid semi-annually in arrears, with the first semi-annual payment due on the first interest payment date, as applicable, following the date on which such liquidated damages begin to accrue, and will accrue at a rate per year equal to: - an additional 0.25% of the principal amount to and including the 90th day following the registration default; and - an additional 0.5% of the principal amount from and after the 91st day following the registration default. In no event will liquidated damages accrue at a rate per year exceeding 0.5%. If a holder has converted some or all of its notes into common stock, the holder will be entitled to receive equivalent amounts based on the principal amount of the notes converted. The specific provisions relating to the registration described above are contained in the registration rights agreement between Vertex and the initial purchasers of the notes, which is available to holders upon request to us, and a copy of which has been filed with the SEC. DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK Vertex's authorized capital stock consists of 100,000,000 shares of common stock, $.01 par value, and 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $.01 par value. COMMON STOCK As of September 30, 2000, there were 54,601,768 shares of common stock outstanding held by approximately 200 stockholders of record. Holders of common stock are entitled to one vote for each share held on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders and do not have cumulative voting rights. Accordingly, holders of a majority of the shares of common stock entitled to vote in any election of directors may elect all of the directors standing for election. Holders of common stock are entitled to receive ratably such dividends, if any, as may be declared by the Board of Directors out of funds legally available therefor, subject to any preferential dividend rights of any outstanding preferred stock. Upon the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of Vertex, the holders of common stock are entitled to receive ratably the net assets of Vertex available after the payment of all debts and other liabilities and subject to any prior rights of any outstanding preferred stock. Holders of common stock have no preemptive, subscription, redemption or conversion rights. The shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of the notes and in settlement of the make-whole payment, when issued and paid for, will be, fully paid and nonassessable. The rights, preferences and privileges of holders of -36-
common stock are subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights of the holders of shares of any series of preferred stock which we may designate and issue in the future. PREFERRED STOCK Our Board of Directors has the authority, without further action by the stockholders, to issue up to 1,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock in one or more series and to fix the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions thereof, including dividend rights, conversion rights, voting rights, terms of redemption, liquidation preferences, sinking fund terms and the number of shares constituting any series or the designation of such series, without any further vote or action by stockholders. The issuance of Preferred Stock could adversely affect the voting power of holders of our common stock and the likelihood that such holders will receive dividend payments and payments upon liquidation and could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control. We have no present plan to issue any shares of Preferred Stock. OPTIONS As of September 30, 2000, there were outstanding options for the purchase of 11,026,425 shares of our common stock at exercise prices ranging from $3.88 per share to $89.65 per share. Options for the purchase of 5,669,495 shares were exercisable as of that date. STOCKHOLDER RIGHTS PLAN Pursuant to our Stockholder Rights Plan, each share of common stock has an associated preferred share purchase right. Each right entitles the holder to purchase from Vertex one half of one-hundredth of a share of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, $.01 par value, of Vertex at a price of $135 per one half of one-hundredth of a Junior Preferred Share, subject to adjustment. The rights are not exercisable until after acquisition by a person or group of 15% or more of the outstanding common stock (an "acquiring person") or after the announcement of an intention to make or commencement of a tender offer or exchange offer the consummation of which would result in the beneficial ownership by a person or group of 15% or more of the outstanding common stock (the earlier of such dates being called the "Distribution Date"). Until a right is exercised, the holder thereof will have no rights as a stockholder of Vertex. Until the Distribution Date (or earlier redemption or expiration of the Rights), the Rights will be transferred with and only with the common stock. In the event that any person or group becomes an acquiring person, each holder of a right, other than rights beneficially owned by the acquiring person, will thereafter have the right to receive upon exercise that number of shares of common stock having a market value of two times the purchase price, and in the event that Vertex is acquired in a business combination transaction or 50% or more of its assets are sold, each holder of a right will thereafter have the right to receive upon exercise that number of shares of common stock of the acquiring company which at the time of the transaction will have a market value of two times the purchase price. At any time after any person becomes an acquiring person and prior to the acquisition by such person or group of 50% or more of the outstanding common stock, our Board of Directors may cause the rights (other than rights owned by such person or group) to be exchanged, in whole or in part, for common stock or junior preferred shares, at an exchange rate of one share of common stock per right or one half of one-hundredth of a junior preferred share per right. At any time prior to the acquisition by a person or group of beneficial ownership of 15% or more of the outstanding common stock, our Board of Directors may redeem the rights in whole at a price of $.01 per right. -37-
The rights have certain anti-takeover effects, in that they will cause substantial dilution to a person or group that attempts to acquire a significant interest in Vertex on terms not approved by the Board of Directors. PROVISIONS OF OUR CHARTER AND BY-LAWS RELATING TO A CHANGE IN CONTROL Our corporate charter and by-law provisions and Stockholder Rights Plan may discourage certain types of transactions involving an actual or potential change in control of Vertex which might be beneficial to the company or its stockholders. Our charter provides for staggered terms for the members of the Board of Directors. Our by-laws grant the directors a right to adjourn annual meetings of stockholders, and certain provisions of the by-laws may be amended only with an 80% stockholder vote. TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTRAR The Transfer Agent and Registrar for our common stock is EquiServe Limited Partnership. The Transfer Agent's address is P.O. Box 8040, Boston, MA 02266-8040, and its telephone number is 781-575-3120. UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS The following is a discussion of the material U.S. federal income tax considerations to a U.S. holder relating to the purchase, ownership and disposition of the notes and common stock into which the notes may be converted. This discussion is based upon the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, existing and proposed Treasury Regulations, and judicial decisions and administrative interpretations thereunder, as of the date hereof, all of which are subject to change, possibly with retroactive effect. There can be no assurance that the Internal Revenue Service will not challenge one or more of the tax results described herein, and we have not obtained, nor do we intend to obtain, a ruling from the IRS with respect to the U.S. federal tax consequences of acquiring or holding notes or common stock. This discussion does not purport to address all tax considerations that may be important to a particular U.S. holder in light of the U.S. holder's particular circumstances (such as the alternative minimum tax provisions of the Code), or to certain categories of investors (such as certain financial institutions, tax-exempt organizations, dealers in securities, persons who hold notes or common stock as part of a hedge, conversion or constructive sale transaction, or straddle or other risk reduction transaction or persons who are not U.S. holders) that may be subject to special rules. This discussion is limited to U.S. holders of notes who hold the notes and any common stock into which the notes are converted as capital assets. This discussion also does not address the tax consequences arising under the laws of any foreign, state or local jurisdiction. PERSONS CONSIDERING THE PURCHASE OF A NOTE SHOULD CONSULT THEIR OWN TAX ADVISORS AS TO THE PARTICULAR TAX CONSEQUENCES TO THEM OF ACQUIRING, HOLDING, CONVERTING OR OTHERWISE DISPOSING OF THE NOTES AND COMMON STOCK, INCLUDING THE EFFECT AND APPLICABILITY OF STATE, LOCAL OR FOREIGN TAX LAWS. PERSONS THAT ARE NOT UNITED STATES PERSONS (WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 7701(a)(30) OF THE CODE) THAT ARE CONSIDERING THE PURCHASE OF A NOTE SHOULD CONSULT THEIR OWN TAX ADVISORS AS TO THE UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES OF AN INVESTMENT IN THE NOTES, INCLUDING THE POTENTIAL APPLICATION OF THE UNITED STATES WITHHOLDING TAXES. For purposes of this discussion, the term "U.S. holder" means a beneficial owner of a note or common stock that is for U.S. federal income tax purposes: -38-
- a natural person who is a citizen or resident of the United States, - a corporation or partnership created or organized in or under the laws of the United States or any state thereof, or - an estate or trust that is a United States person (within the meaning of section 7701(a)(30) of the Code). TAX CONSEQUENCES TO U.S. HOLDERS We believe that the notes and the common stock into which the notes will be converted will be treated as described below. The description below assumes, and we believe, that the possibility of our making certain payments (other than principal and stated interest) with respect to the notes is remote, and also that the possibility of an additional payment in connection with a provisional redemption does not result in the notes being treated as "contingent payment debt instruments." Persons that are considering the purchase of a note should consult their own tax advisors as to the foregoing. PAYMENTS OF INTEREST. Payments of stated interest on a note will be includable in the income of a U.S. holder as ordinary income at the time it accrues or is received in accordance with the U.S. holder's method of accounting for federal income tax purposes. The notes will not be treated as bearing original issue discount for federal income tax purposes. SALE, EXCHANGE OR RETIREMENT OF NOTES. Upon the sale, exchange or retirement of a note, a U.S. holder will recognize taxable gain or loss equal to the difference between such holder's adjusted tax basis in the note and the amount realized on the sale, exchange or retirement (including any additional payment received upon a provisional redemption but excluding amounts representing interest not previously included in income). A U.S. holder's adjusted tax basis in a note will generally equal the cost of the note to such holder. In general, gain or loss realized on the sale, exchange or retirement of a note will be capital gain or loss. Prospective investors should consult their tax advisers regarding the treatment of capital gains (which may be taxed at lower rates than ordinary income for taxpayers who are individuals, trust or estates and have held their notes for more than one year) and losses (the deductibility of which is subject to limitations). CONVERSION OF NOTES. A U.S. holder's conversion of a note into common stock will generally not be a taxable event, except for (i) any cash received instead of a fractional share of common stock, as described below, and (ii) any cash received as an additional payment following conversion of a note after receiving notice of a provisional redemption, to the extent described below. The receipt of cash in lieu of a fractional share of common stock should generally result in capital gain or loss (measured by the difference between the cash received for the fractional share interest and the U.S. holder's tax basis in the fractional share interest), the taxation of which is described above in "Sale, Exchange or Retirement of Notes." Although the treatment of any cash payment that we will be required to make in connection with a provisional redemption is unclear, it is likely that you will be required to recognize gain, if any, that you realize to the extent not in excess of such cash payment. Any gain so recognized will generally be capital gain. A U.S. holder's basis in the common stock received on conversion of a note generally will be the same as the U.S. holder's basis in the note at the time of conversion, increased by the amount of gain, if any, recognized or as a result of the additional payment in connection with a provisional redemption, and reduced by the amount of such additional payment and by any tax basis allocable to a fractional share. The holding period for the common stock received on conversion will include the holding period of the note converted. If we repurchase a note in exchange for common stock after a change of control, although the matter is not entirely clear, such exchange should be treated in the same -39-
manner as a conversion of the note as described in this paragraph (except with respect to any common stock received that is attributable to accrued interest on the notes). OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF COMMON STOCK. Dividends, if any, paid on the common stock generally will be includable in the income of a U.S. holder as ordinary income to the extent of the U.S. holder's ratable share of our current or accumulated earnings and profits. Upon the sale or exchange of common stock, a U.S. holder generally will recognize capital gain or capital loss equal to the difference between the amount realized on such sale or exchange and the holder's adjusted tax basis in such shares. Prospective investors should consult their tax advisers regarding the treatment of capital gains (which may be taxed at lower rates than ordinary income for taxpayers who are individuals, trust or estates and have held their common stock for more than one year) and losses (the deductibility of which is subject to limitations). ADJUSTMENT OF CONVERSION PRICE. If at the time we make a distribution to shareholders that would be taxable to such shareholders as a dividend for federal income tax purposes (for example, distributions of evidence of indebtedness or assets, but generally not stock dividends or rights to subscribe for common stock) and, pursuant to the anti-dilution provisions of the indenture, the Conversion Price of the notes is reduced, such reduction may be deemed to represent the payment of a taxable dividend to the U.S. holders of notes in a corresponding amount. If the Conversion Price is reduced at our discretion or in certain other circumstances, such reduction also may be deemed to represent the payment of a taxable dividend to U.S. holders of notes in a corresponding amount. Moreover, in certain other circumstances, the absence of such an adjustment to the Conversion Price of the notes may result in a taxable dividend to the holders of common stock. INFORMATION REPORTING REQUIREMENTS AND BACKUP WITHHOLDING Information reporting will apply to payments of interest or dividends made by us on, or the proceeds of the sale or other disposition of, the notes or shares of common stock with respect to certain noncorporate U.S. holders, and backup withholding at a rate of 31% may apply unless the recipient of such payment supplies a taxpayer identification number, certified under penalties of perjury, as well as certain other information or otherwise establishes an exemption from backup withholding. Any amount withheld under the backup withholding rules is allowable as a credit against the U.S. holder's federal income tax, provided that the required information is provided to the IRS. SELLING HOLDERS The notes were originally issued by us and sold by Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation, Robertson Stephens, Inc., Chase Securities Inc. and J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. as the initial purchasers in transactions exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act to persons reasonably believed by the initial purchasers to be qualified institutional buyers. Selling holders, including their transferees, pledgees or donees or their successors, may from time to time offer and sell any or all of the notes and the common stock into which the notes are convertible pursuant to this prospectus. The selling holders may offer all, some or none of the notes and the common stock into which the notes are convertible. The table below sets forth information, as of November 7, 2000, with respect to the selling holders and the principal amounts of notes and amounts of common stock beneficially owned by each selling holder that may be offered under this prospectus by the selling holders. The information is based on information provided by or on behalf of the selling holders. The selling holders identified below may have sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of all or a portion of their notes or common stock since the date on which they provided the information regarding their notes or common stock in transactions exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act. -40-
Because the selling holders may offer all or some portion of the notes or the common stock to be offered by them, we cannot estimate the amount of the notes or our common stock that will be held by the selling holders upon completion of any sales. No selling holder named in the table below beneficially owns one percent or more of our common stock, assuming conversion of a selling holder's notes. None of the selling holders has had any material relationship with us or our affiliates within the past three years, except that Robertson Stephens, Inc. and J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. acted as initial purchasers of the notes. NUMBER OF SHARES OF COMMON STOCK PRINCIPAL AMOUNT ISSUABLE UPON OF NOTES CONVERSION OF NAME OF SECURITY HOLDER BENEFICIALLY THE NOTES - ----------------------- OWNED AND THAT MAY BE OFFERED(1) OFFERED ---------- ------- AAM/Zazone Institutional Income Fund L.P. $ 850,000 9,213 Alexandra Global Investment Fund 1 Ltd $ 3,000,000 32,517 AllState Insurance Company $ 2,000,000 21,678 AIG/National Union Fire Insurance $ 775,000 8,400 Arkansas Teachers Retirement $ 5,850,000 63,407 Argent Classic Arbitrage fund (Bermuda) L.P. $ 4,400,000 47,691 Argent Classic Convertible Arbitrage Fund (Bermuda) L.P. $ 5,400,000 58,530 Argent Classic Convertible Arbitrage Fund L.P. $ 1,600,000 17,342 Attorney's Title Insurance Fund, Inc. $ 500,000 5,419 Bankers Trust Company Trustee for Daimler Chrysler Corp. empl #1 $ 3,655,000 39,616 Pension Plan DTS 4/1/89 Baptist Health Southern Florida $ 297,000 3,219 BNP Arbitrage SNC $ 2,812,000 30,479 BNP Cooper Neff Convertible Strategies Fund, L.P. $ 188,000 2,038 Boilermakers Blacksmith Pension Trust $ 1,650,000 17,884 Boston Museum of Fine Arts $ 151,000 1,636 BP Amoco PLC Master Trust $ 1,758,000 19,055 California Public Employees Retirement System Nominee Name: $ 3,000,000 32,517 Surfboard & Co. Canyon Value Realization (Cayman) Ltd. $ 11,000,000 119,228 CFFX, LLC $ 2,000,000 21,678 CIBC World Markets $ 5,000,000 54,195 Clinton Riverside Convertible Portfolio Limited $ 4,000,000 43,356 -41-
Conseco Fund Group - Convertible Securities Fund $ 3,250,000 35,227 Conseco Health Insurance Company - Convertible $ 1,500,000 16,258 Conseco Senior Health Insurance Company Convertible $ 1,500,000 16,258 Conseco Variable Insurance Company - Convertible $ 750,000 8,129 Cove Bond Debenture Fund $ 500,000 5,419 D.E. Shaw Investments, L.P. $ 700,000 7,587 D.E. Shaw Valence, L.P. $ 1,300,000 14,091 Deephaven Domestic Convertible Trading Co. $ 1,000,000 10,839 Delphi Financial Group, Inc. $ 500,000 5,419 Delaware PERS $ 1,840,000 19,943 Deutsche Bank Securities $ 48,500,000 525,688 Elf Aquitaine $ 200,000 2,168 Engineers Joint Pension Fund $ 621,000 6,730 Employee Benefit Convertible Securities Fund $ 200,000 2,168 Franklin and Marshall College $ 245,000 2,656 First Republic Bank $ 225,000 2,438 Fuji U.S. Income Open $ 500,000 5,419 Gaia Offshore Master Fund Ltd. $ 2,500,000 27,097 Granville Capital Corporation $ 6,000,000 65,034 Hamilton Partners Limited $ 4,000,000 43,356 Hotel Union & Hotel Industry of Hawaii $ 980,000 10,622 ICI American Holdings Trust $ 980,000 10,622 Island Holdings $ 50,000 541 ITG, Inc. $ 203,000 2,200 J.P. Morgan Securities, Inc. $ 10,950,000 118,686 Jeffries & Company Inc. $ 11,000 119 Kentfield Trading, Ltd. $ 3,760,000 40,754 Lazard Freres & Co. LLC $ 1,000,000 10,839 Lipper Convertibles Series II, L.P.'s $ 1,875,000 20,323 Lipper Offshore Convertibles, L.P. $ 1,875,000 20,323 Lipper Offshore Convertibles, L.P. #2 $ 750,000 8,129 Lippers Convertibles, L.P.'s $ 13,500,000 146,326 Lord Abbett Bond Debenture Fund $ 2,000,000 21,678 Lord Abbett Bond Debenture Fund $ 500,000 5,421 Lumberman's Mutual Casualty $ 643,000 6,969 -42-
Mainstay Convertible Fund $ 5,000,000 54,194 Mainstay VP Convertible Portfolio $ 1,000,000 10,838 McMahan Securities $ 2,150,000 23,304 Morgan Stanley & Co. $ 5,000,000 54,195 Nalco Chemical Company $ 295,000 3,197 Nations Convertible Securities Fund $ 3,300,000 35,768 New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation $ 15,600,000 169,087 New York Life Insurance Company $ 1,400,000 15,175 Nicholas Applegate Convertible Fund $ 2,107,000 22,837 Occidental Petroleum Corporation $ 200,000 2,168 Oxford, Lord Abbett & Co, $ 800,000 8,671 Penn Treaty Network America Insurance Company $ 295,000 3,197 Peoples Benefit Life Insurance Company Teamsters $ 3,725,000 40,375 PGEP IV, LLC $ 113,000 1,225 Physicians Life $ 487,000 5,278 PIMCO Convertible Bond $ 3,000,000 32,517 Putnam Investment Management Inc. on behalf of: Putnam Asset $ 190,000 2,059 Allocation Funds-Balanced Portfolio Putnam Investment Management, Inc. on behalf of: Putnam Asset $ 130,000 2,059 Allocation Funds - Conservative Portfolio Putnam Investment Management, Inc. on behalf of: Putnam $ 1,000,000 10,839 Convertible Income-Growth Trust Putnam Investment Management, Inc. on behalf of: Putnam $ 70,000 759 Convertible Opportunities and Income Trust Quattro Global Capital, LLC $ 1,500,000 16,258 Quattro Global Capital, LLC $ 1,500,000 16,258 Robertson Stephens $ 15,000,000 162,584 San Diego City Retirement $ 1,247,000 13,516 San Diego County Convertible $ 2,674,000 28,983 San Diego Employees Retirement Association $ 1,900,000 20,594 Screen Actors Guild Convertible $ 662,000 7,175 Shell Pension Trust $ 280,000 3,035 Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance $ 600,000 6,503 State of Maryland Retirement Agency $ 2,730,000 29,590 State of Oregon Equity $ 5,975,000 64,762 State Street Bank custodian For GE Pension Trust $ 1,805,000 19,564 -43-
Starvest Combined Portfolio $ 94,500 10,242 Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association $ 3,500,000 37,936 The Estate of James Campbell $ 895,000 9,701 The Putnam Advisory Company, Inc. on behalf of: University of $ 30,000 325 Rochester The Putnam Advisory Company, Inc. on behalf of: Parker-Hammifin $ 50,000 542 Corporation The Putnam Advisory Company, Inc. on behalf of: Museum of Fine $ 30,000 325 Arts, Boston The Putnam Advisory Company, Inc. on behalf of: ProMutual $ 100,000 1,084 Tracor, Inc. Employees Retirement Plan $ 172,000 1,864 Transamerica Life Insurance and Annuity Company $ 8,000,000 3,344 Transamerica Premier Balanced Fund $ 1,000,000 10,839 UBS O'Connor LLC, F/B/O UBS Global Equity Arbitrage Master $ 4,000,000 43,356 Limited Value Realization Fund B, LP $ 450,000 4,878 Value Realization Fund, LP $ 8,000,000 86,711 Viacom Inc. Pension Plan Master Trust $ 68,000 737 Wake Forest University $ 1,163,000 12,605 Writers Guild Convertible $ 385,000 4,172 Wyoming State Treasurer $ 1,329,000 14,404 Zeneca Holdings Trust $ 765,000 8,291 Zurich HFR Master Hedge Fund Index Ltd $ 100,000 1,084 Zurich HFR Master Hedge Fund Index Ltd $ 250,000 2,710 Others $ 64,340,945 Total $345,000,000 (1) The number of securities beneficially owned is determined under the rules of the SEC and the information is not necessarily indicative of beneficial ownership for any other purpose. Under those rules, beneficial ownership includes any securities as to which the individual has sole or shared voting power or investment power and also any securities which the individual has the right to acquire within 60 days after the date the selling holder provided this information, through the exercise of any stock option or other right. The inclusion in the table of securities, however, does not constitute an admission that the selling holders are direct or indirect beneficial owners of those securities. The selling holders have sole voting power and investment power with respect to all securities of capital stock listed as owned by the selling holders. -44-
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION The selling holders and their successors, including their transferees, pledgees or donees or their successors, may sell the notes and our common stock into which the notes are convertible directly to purchasers or through underwriters, broker-dealers or agents, who may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the selling holders or the purchasers. These discounts, concessions or commissions as to any particular underwriter, broker-dealer or agent may be in excess of those customary in the types of transactions involved. The common stock issuable in settlement of the make-whole payment will be originally issued by us if and when we elect to settle the make-whole payment using our common stock. The notes and common stock issuable upon conversion of the notes may be sold in one or more transactions at fixed prices, at prevailing market prices at the time of sale, at prices related to the prevailing market prices, at varying prices determined at the time of sale, or at negotiated prices. These sales may be effected in transactions, which may involve crosses or block transactions: - on any national securities exchange or U.S. inter-dealer system of a registered national securities association on which the notes or our common stock may be listed or quoted at the time of sale; - in the over-the-counter market; - otherwise than on these exchanges or systems or in the over-the-counter market; - through the writing of options, whether the options are listed on an options exchange or otherwise; or - through the settlement of short sales. In connection with the sale of the notes and common stock issuable upon conversion of the notes, the selling holders may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions, which may in turn engage in short sales of the notes or common stock in the course of hedging the positions they assume. The selling holders may also sell the notes or common stock issuable upon conversion of the notes short and deliver these securities to close out their short positions, or loan or pledge the notes or common stock to broker-dealers that in turn may sell these securities. The aggregate proceeds to the selling holders from the sale of the notes or common stock offered by them will be the purchase price of the notes or common stock less discounts and commissions, if any. Each of the selling holders reserves the right to accept and, together with their agents from time to time, to reject, in whole or in part, any proposed purchase of notes or common stock to be made directly or through agents. We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sales by the selling holders. Our common stock is quoted on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol "VRTX." The notes are currently eligible for trading on the PORTAL market. However, we do not intend to list the notes for trading on any national securities exchange or on the Nasdaq National Market and can give no assurance about the development of any trading market for the notes. In order to comply with the securities laws of some states, if applicable, the notes and common stock may be sold in these jurisdictions only through registered or licensed brokers or -45-
dealers. In addition, in some states the notes and common stock may not be sold unless they have been registered or qualified for sale or an exemption from registration or qualification requirements is available and is complied with. The selling holders and any underwriters, broker-dealers or agents that participate in the sale of the notes and common stock may be "underwriters" within the meaning of Section 2(11) of the Securities Act. Any discounts, commissions, concessions or profit they earn on any resale of the shares may be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act. Selling holders who are "underwriters" within the meaning of Section 2(11) of the Securities Act will be subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act. The selling holders have acknowledged that they understand their obligations to comply with the provisions of the Exchange Act and the rules thereunder relating to stock manipulation, particularly Regulation M. In addition, any securities covered by this prospectus which qualify for sale pursuant to Rule 144 or Rule 144A of the Securities Act may be sold under Rule 144 or Rule 144A rather than under this prospectus. A selling holder may not sell any notes or common stock described in this prospectus and may not transfer, devise or gift these securities by other means not described in this prospectus. To the extent required, the specific notes or shares of our common stock to be sold, the names of the selling holders, the respective purchase prices and public offering prices, the names of any agent, dealer or underwriter, and any applicable commissions or discounts with respect to a particular offer will be set forth in an accompanying prospectus supplement or, if appropriate, a post-effective amendment to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. We entered into a registration rights agreement for the benefit of holders of the notes to register their notes and our common stock under applicable federal and state securities laws under specific circumstances and at specific times. The registration rights agreement provides for cross-indemnification of the selling holders and us and our respective directors, officers and controlling persons against specific liabilities in connection with the offer and sale of the notes and our common stock, including liabilities under the Securities Act. We will pay substantially all of the expenses incurred by the selling holders of incident to their offering and sale of the notes and our common stock. We estimate that our total expenses of the offering of the notes and common stock will be approximately $150,750. LEGAL MATTERS Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, PC will pass upon the legality of the issuance of the notes and the shares of common stock offered in this prospectus on our behalf. INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS The financial statements incorporated in this prospectus by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated for the year ended December 31, 1999 have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent accountants, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting. With respect to the unaudited financial information of Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2000 and 1999, for the three and six-month periods ended June 30, 2000 and 1999, and for the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2000 and 1999, incorporated by reference in this Prospectus, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP reported that they have applied limited procedures in accordance with professional standards for a review of such information. However, their separate reports dated April 28, 2000, July 25, 2000 and -46-
October 24, 2000 incorporated by reference herein, state that they did not audit and they do not express an opinion on that unaudited financial information. Accordingly, the degree of reliance on their reports on such information should be restricted in light of the limited nature of the review procedures applied. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP is not subject to the liability provisions of Section 11 of the Securities Act of 1933 for their reports on the unaudited financial information because those reports are not a "report" or a "part" of the registration statement prepared or certified by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP within the meaning of Sections 7 and 11 of the Act. WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION We are subject to the information and reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, as amended, under which we file periodic reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Copies of the reports, proxy statements and other information may be examined without charge at the Public Reference Section of the Securities and Exchange Commission, 450 Fifth Street, N.W. Room 1024, Washington, D.C. 20549, and the Securities and Exchange Commission's Regional offices located at 500 West Madison Street, Suite 1400, Chicago IL 60661, and 7 World Trade Center, 13th Floor, New York, NY 10048 or on the Internet at www.sec.gov. Copies of all or a portion of such materials can be obtained from the Public Reference Section of the Securities and Exchange Commission upon payment of prescribed fees. Please call the Securities and Exchange Commission at 800-SEC-0330 for further information about the Public Reference Room. These reports, proxy statements and other information may also be inspected at the offices of Nasdaq Operations, 1735 K Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20006. We have agreed that if, at any time that the notes or the common stock issuable upon conversion of the notes are "restricted securities" within the meaning of the Securities Act and we are not subject to the information reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, we will furnish to holders of the notes and such common stock and to prospective purchasers designated by them the information required to be delivered pursuant to Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act to permit compliance with Rule 144A in connection with resales of the notes and such common stock. -47-
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE The SEC allows us to "incorporate" into this prospectus information that we file with the SEC in other documents. This means that we can disclose important information to you by referring to other documents that contain that information. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus. Information contained in this prospectus and information that we file with the SEC in the future and incorporate by reference in this prospectus automatically updates and supersedes previously filed information. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below and any future filings we make with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to the sale of all the notes and shares of our common stock covered by this prospectus. (1) Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999 (Commission File No. 000-19319); (2) Our Current Reports on Form 8-K (Commission File No. 000-19319) filed with the SEC on: - March 27, 2000; - August 1, 2000; - September 11, 2000; - September 14, 2000; - September 15, 2000; - September 19, 2000; and - October 5, 2000. (3) Our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q (Commission File No. 000-19319) for the quarters ended March 31, 2000, June 30, 2000 and September 30, 2000. (4) The description of our common stock contained in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A, as that description is amended from time to time. You may request, orally or in writing, a copy of these documents, which we will provide to you at no cost, by contacting: Corporate Communications Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated 130 Waverly Street Cambridge, MA 02139 Telephone: (617) 577-6000 PART II INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS ITEM 14. OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION. The following table sets forth the various expenses to be incurred in connection with the registration of the securities being registered hereby, all of which will be borne by Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (except any underwriting discounts and commissions and expenses incurred by the selling stockholders for brokerage, accounting, tax or legal services or any other expenses incurred by the selling stockholders in disposing of the notes or the shares). All amounts shown are estimates except the Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee . -48-
SEC registration fee.....................................$ 104,742 Legal fees and expenses..................................$ 25,000 Accounting fees and expenses.............................$ 11,000 Printing fees............................................$ 5,000 Miscellaneous expenses...................................$ 5,008 ----------- Total expenses...........................................$ 150,750 ITEM 15. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS. Part D of Article 6 of the Restated Articles of Organization of the Registrant provides that no director of the Registrant shall be personally liable to the Registrant or its stockholders for monetary damages for any breach of fiduciary duty as a director. Such paragraph provides further, however, that to the extent provided by applicable law it will not eliminate or limit the liability of a director (i) for any breach of the director's duty of loyalty to the Registrant or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) under Section 61 or 62 of the Massachusetts Business Corporation Law, or (iv) for any transactions from which the director derived an improper personal benefit. Article V of the Registrant's By-laws provides that the Registrant shall indemnify each of its directors and officers (including persons who serve at the Registrant's request as a director, officer, or trustee of another organization in which the Registrant has any interest, direct or indirect, as a stockholder, creditor, or otherwise or who serve at the Registrant's request in any capacity with respect to any employee benefit plan) against all liabilities and expenses, including amounts paid in satisfaction of judgments, in compromise, or as fines and penalties, and counsel fees reasonably incurred by such director or officer in connection with the defense or disposition of any action, suit, or other proceeding, whether civil or criminal, in which such director or officer may be involved or with which such person may be threatened, while in office or thereafter, by reason of such person's being or having been such a director, officer, or trustee, except with respect to any matter as to which such director or officer shall have been adjudicated in any proceeding not to have acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that such director's or officer's action was in the best interest of the Registrant or, to the extent that such matter relates to service with respect to an employee benefit plan, in the best interest of the participants or beneficiaries of such employee benefit plan. As to any matter disposed of by a compromise payment by any such person, pursuant to a consent decree or otherwise, Article V of the Registrant's Bylaws provides that no indemnification shall be provided to such person for such payment or for any other expenses unless such compromise has been approved as in the best interests of the Registrant, after notice that it involves such indemnification (i) by a disinterested majority of the directors then in office or (ii) by a majority of the disinterested directors then in office provided there has been obtained an opinion in writing of independent legal counsel to the effect that such director or officer appeared to have acted in good faith in the reasonable belief that such person's action as in the best interest of the Registrant, or (iii) by the holders of a majority of the outstanding stock at the time entitled to vote for directors, voting as a single class, exclusive of any stock owned by any interested director or officer. Article V of the Registrant's By-laws provides that expenses, including counsel fees, reasonably incurred by any director or officer in connection with the defense or disposition of any such action, suit or other proceeding may be paid from time to time by the Registrant at the discretion of a majority of the disinterested directors then in office, in advance of the final disposition thereof, upon receipt of an undertaking by such director or officer to repay the Registrant the amounts so paid if it is ultimately determined that indemnification for such expenses -49-
is not authorized under Article V of the Bylaws, which undertaking may be accepted by the Registrant without reference to the financial ability of such director or officer to make repayment. Article V of the Registrant's By-laws gives the Board of Directors of the Registrant the power to authorize the purchase and maintenance of insurance, in such amounts as the Board of Directors may from time to time deem appropriate, on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, or agent of the Registrant, or who is or was serving at the request of the Registrant as a director, officer or agent of another organization in which the Registrant has any interest, direct or indirect, as a shareholder, creditor or otherwise, or with respect to any employee benefit plan, against any liability incurred by such person in any such capacity, or arising out of such person's status as such agent, whether or not such person is entitled to indemnification by the Registrant pursuant to Article V of otherwise and whether or not the Registrant would have the power to indemnify the person against such liability. Section 13(b)(1 1/2) of the Massachusetts Business Corporation Law, Chapter 156B of the General Laws of Massachusetts (the `MBCL') authorizes the provisions, described above, contained in Part D Article 6 of the Restated Articles of Organization of the Registrant. Section 67 of the MBCL authorizes the provisions, described above, contained in Article V of the By-laws of the Registrant. Section 65 of the MBCL provides that performance by a director, officer, or incorporator of his duties in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believes to be in the best interest of the corporation, and with such care as an ordinarily prudent person in a like position would use under similar circumstances, shall be a complete defense to any claim asserted against him, whether under Sections 60 to 64, inclusive, or otherwise, except as expressly provided by statute, by reason of his being or having been a director, officer, or incorporator of the corporation. ITEM 16. EXHIBITS Exhibit Number Description - ------- ----------- 4.1 Indenture dated as of September 19, 2000 between the Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company, including therein the forms of the notes (filed as Exhibit 4.1 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2000 (SEC File No. 000-19319) and incorporated herein by reference). 4.2 Supplemental Indenture dated as of ___________ , 2000 between the Registrant and State Street Bank and Trust Company (to be filed by amendment). 4.3 Registration Rights Agreement dated as of September 19, 2000 among the Registrant and Merrill Lynch & Co., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation, Robertson Stephens, Inc., Chase Securities Inc. and J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., as Initial Purchasers (filed as Exhibit 4.2 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2000 (SEC File No. 000-19319) and incorporated herein by reference). 5.1 Opinion of Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, PC with respect to the legality of the securities being registered. 23.1 Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. 23.2 Consent of Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, PC, included in Exhibit 5.1 filed herewith. 24.1 Power of Attorney (See page 54 of this Registration Statement). -50-
25 Form T-1. Statement of Eligibility under the Trust Indenture Act of State Street Bank and Trust Company. 99 Awareness Letter of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. ITEM 17. UNDERTAKINGS. The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes: (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement: (i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933; (ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of this 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 this Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in the 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; and (iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in this Registration Statement or any material change to such information in this Registration Statement; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that paragraphs (1)(i) and (1)(ii) do not apply if the information required to be included is a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by the Company pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement. (2) That, for the purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, 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 the time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering. The Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein and the offering of such securities at the time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. -51-
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the indemnification provisions described herein, 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 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue. The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under Subsection (a) of Section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the Commission under Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act. -52-
SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Cambridge, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, on November 10, 2000. VERTEX PHARMACEUTICALS INCORPORATED By: /s/ Joshua S. Boger ----------------------- Joshua S. Boger President and Chief Executive Officer -53-
SIGNATURES AND POWER OF ATTORNEY We, the undersigned officers and directors of Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, hereby severally constitute and appoint Joshua S. Boger, Richard H. Aldrich and Thomas G. Auchincloss, Jr., and each of them singly, our true and lawful attorneys with full power to any of them, and to each of them singly, to sign for us and in our names in the capacities indicated below the Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed herewith and any and all pre-effective and post-effective amendments to said Registration Statement (or any other Registration Statement for the same offering that is to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933) and generally to do all such things in our name and behalf in our capacities as officers and directors to enable Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and all requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying and confirming our signatures as they may be signed by our said attorneys, or any of them, to said Registration Statement and any and all amendments thereto. Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated. /s/ Joshua S. Boger Director, President and November 10, 2000 - -------------------- Chief Executive Officer Joshua S. Boger (Principal Executive Officer) /s/ Thomas G. Auchincloss, Jr. Vice President of Finance November 10, 2000 - ------------------------------- and Treasurer Thomas G. Auchincloss, Jr. (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) /s/ Barry M. Bloom Director November 10, 2000 - ------------------------------- Barry M. Bloom /s/ Roger W. Brimblecombe Director November 10, 2000 - ------------------------------- Roger W. Brimblecombe /s/ Donald R. Conklin Director November 10, 2000 - ---------------------------- Donald R. Conklin /s/ Bruce I. Sachs Director November 10, 2000 - ---------------------------- Bruce I. Sachs /s/ Charles A. Sanders Director November 10, 2000 - ---------------------------- Charles A. Sanders /s/ Elaine S. Ullian Director November 10, 2000 - ---------------------------- Elaine S. Ullian -54-
EXHIBIT 5.1 Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C. One Financial Center Boston, Massachusetts 02111 617 542 6000 617 542 2241 FAX September 19, 2000 MERRILL LYNCH & CO. Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation Robertson Stephens, Inc. Chase Securities Inc. J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. c/o Merrill Lynch & Co. Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated North Tower World Financial Center New York, New York 10281-1209 Ladies and Gentlemen: This opinion is being furnished to you pursuant to Section 5(a) of the Purchase Agreement, dated September 13, 2000 (the "Purchase Agreement") by and between each of you (together, the "Initial Purchasers") and Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, a Massachusetts corporation (the "Company") pursuant to which the Company has agreed to issue and sell to you, and you have agreed to purchase from the Company an aggregate of $300,000,000 principal amount of its 5.00% Convertible Subordinated Notes due September 2007 (the "Initial Securities") and an aggregate of $45,000,000 additional principal amount thereof (the "Option Securities"). The Initial Securities and the Option Securities are collectively referred to herein as the "Securities." The Securities will be issued under an indenture dated as of September 19, 2000 (the "Indenture") between the Company and State Street Bank and Trust Company, as trustee (the "Trustee"). Holders of the Securities will have the registration rights set forth in the Resale Registration Rights Agreement dated as of September 19, 2000 (the "Registration Rights Agreement") by and among the Company and the Initial Purchasers. Capitalized terms defined in the Purchase Agreement and not otherwise defined herein are used herein with the meanings so defined in the Purchase Agreement. We have acted as outside counsel for the Company in connection with the preparation, execution and delivery of the Purchase Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby. In connection therewith, we have examined executed originals or counterparts of the Purchase Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement and the Indenture (collectively, the "Transaction Documents"), the Offering BOSTON NEW YORK RESTON WASHINGTON
MINTZ, LEVIN, COHN, FERRIS, GLOVSKY AND POPEO, P.C. September 19, 2000 Page 2 Memorandum (as defined in the Purchase Agreement) and such other documents as we have deemed necessary for purposes of this opinion. Insofar as this opinion relates to factual matters, we have relied upon representations and warranties of the Company, certificates of officers of the Company and of public officials, and certificates delivered to you in connection with the Transaction Documents and the transactions contemplated thereby. As used herein, any reference to "our knowledge", "best of our knowledge", "of which we have knowledge", "known to us" or words of similar import, shall mean the conscious awareness of the existence or absence of any facts or other information by any lawyer in this firm who was involved in representing the Company in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents or is otherwise involved on an ongoing basis in providing legal services to the Company. Except as expressly set forth in this opinion, we have not undertaken any independent investigation, including, without limitation, any investigation of corporate, court or other documents or records, to determine the existence or absence of any such facts or other information, and no inference as to our knowledge of the existence or absence of any facts or other information should be drawn from the fact of our representation of the Company. In rendering the opinions set forth herein, we have assumed without independent inquiry or investigation, (i) the genuineness of all signatures on all documents and instruments examined by us, (ii) the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, and (iii) the conformity to originals of all documents submitted to us as certified, photostatic or conformed copies, and the authenticity of the originals of such documents. We have also assumed that each of the parties to the Transaction Documents (other than the Company) has all requisite power and authority and has taken all necessary action (corporate or otherwise) to execute and deliver the Transaction Documents to which it is a party and to effect the transactions contemplated thereby and that the Transaction Documents constitute the legal, valid and binding obligation of each of such other parties enforceable in accordance with their respective terms. Our opinions contained in paragraphs (vi), (vii) and (viii) as to enforceability are subject to the further qualification that such enforceability may be (1) limited by bankruptcy, insolvency (including, without limitation, fraudulent conveyances and fraudulent transfers), reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors' rights generally, (2) limited by general equitable principles, including, without limitation, concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing (regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law), (3) subject to the effect of any public policy considerations or court decisions which may limit the rights of any person or entity to obtain indemnification, and (4) subject to the effects of generally applicable rules of law that (A) limit or affect the enforcement of provisions that purport to require waiver or modification of the obligations of good faith, fair dealing, diligence, reasonableness or due notice or to waive equitable rights,
MINTZ, LEVIN, COHN, FERRIS, GLOVSKY AND POPEO, P.C. September 19, 2000 Page 3 remedies, or defenses, or to release or indemnify a party from or against liability for the party's own unlawful or willful misconduct, recklessness or gross negligence, or to preclude modification of the Transaction Documents through custom or course of conduct, or (B) provide that forum selection clauses are not necessarily binding on the court or courts in the forum selected. Based upon and subject to the foregoing assumptions, limitations and qualifications, and subject to the penultimate paragraph of this letter, we are of the opinion that: (i) The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. (ii) The Company has corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Offering Memorandum and to enter into and perform its obligations under the Purchase Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Indenture and the Securities. (iii) The Company is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction within the United States in which such qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the maintenance of an office, except where the failure so to qualify or to be in good standing could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. (iv) The authorized, issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company is as set forth in the Offering Memorandum in the column entitled "Actual" under the caption "Capitalization" (except for subsequent issuances, if any, pursuant to the Purchase Agreement or pursuant to reservations, agreements, employee benefit plans or the exercise of convertible securities or options referred to in the Offering Memorandum); the shares of issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company issued since January 1, 2000 have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable; and none of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company was issued in violation of the preemptive or other similar rights of any securityholder of the Company, pursuant to any agreement disclosed to us after inquiry of the Company. (v) Vertex Security Corp. ("Vertex Securities") has been duly organized and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, has corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the maintenance of an office, except where the failure so to qualify or to be in good standing could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. To the best of our knowledge and information, the
MINTZ, LEVIN, COHN, FERRIS, GLOVSKY AND POPEO, P.C. September 19, 2000 Page 4 Company does not have any subsidiaries other than the Subsidiaries, Altus Biologics Inc. and Versal Technologies Inc. (vi) The Purchase Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company. The Registration Rights Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company, and constitutes a valid and legally binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms. (vii) The Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and (assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery thereof by the Trustee) constitutes a valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms. (viii) The Securities are in the form contemplated by the Indenture, have been duly authorized by the Company and, when executed by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee in the manner provided in the Indenture (assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery of the Indenture by the Trustee) and issued and delivered against payment of the purchase price therefor will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, and will be entitled to the benefits of the Indenture. (ix) Upon issuance and delivery of the Securities in accordance with the Purchase Agreement and the Indenture, the Securities shall be convertible at the option of the holder thereof for shares of Common Stock in accordance with the terms of the Securities and the Indenture; the shares of Common Stock initially issuable upon conversion of the Securities and such additional shares of Common Stock that may be issued in satisfaction of the Company's obligations under the Make Whole Payment pursuant to the Provisional Redemption of the Securities, have been duly authorized and reserved for issuance upon such conversion by all necessary corporate action; such shares, when issued upon such conversion against payment of the conversion price and in accordance with the provisions of the Securities and the Indenture and such additional shares of Common Stock that may be issued in satisfaction of the Company's obligations under the Make Whole Payment pursuant to the Provisional Redemption of the Securities, if issued in accordance with the provisions of the Securities and the Indenture, will be validly issued and will be fully paid and non-assessable and free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, equities or claims imposed by or arising from actions of the Company and no holder of such Common Stock is or will be subject to personal liability by reason of being such a holder. (x) The issuance of the shares of Common Stock upon conversion of the Securities and such additional shares of Common Stock that may be issued in satisfaction of the Company's obligations under the Make Whole Payment pursuant to the Provisional Redemption of the Securities, is not subject to the preemptive or other similar
MINTZ, LEVIN, COHN, FERRIS, GLOVSKY AND POPEO, P.C. September 19, 2000 Page 5 rights of any securityholder of the Company pursuant to any agreement disclosed to us after inquiry of the Company. (xi) The Indenture conforms in all material respects with the 1939 Act. (xii) Based solely on our preparation of the Offering Memorandum and review and discussion of the contents thereof with the Company, to the best of our knowledge, except as disclosed in the Offering Memorandum, there is no pending or threatened action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation, to which the Company or any Subsidiary is a party, or to which the property of the Company or any Subsidiary thereof is subject, before or brought by any court or governmental agency or body, which could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, or which could materially and adversely affect the properties or assets thereof or the consummation of the transactions contemplated in the Purchase Agreement, the Indenture, the Securities and the Registration Rights Agreement or the performance by the Company of its obligations thereunder or the transactions contemplated by the Offering Memorandum. (xiii) The information in the Offering Memorandum under "Description of Notes," "Description of Capital Stock" and "Certain Federal Income Tax Considerations," to the extent that it constitutes matters of law, summaries of legal matters or legal documents or instruments, the Company's charter and bylaws, or legal conclusions, has been reviewed by us and fairly summarizes the matters referred to therein (except that we express no opinion as to the due authorization, valid issuance and non-accessibility of shares of capital stock of the Company issued prior to January 1, 2000). To the best of our knowledge, there are no other statutes or regulations that are required to be described in the Offering Memorandum that are not described as required. (xiv) To the best of our knowledge, there are no franchises, contracts, indentures, mortgages, loan agreements, notes or leases that would be required to be described in the Offering Memorandum that are not described or referred to in the Offering Memorandum, and the descriptions thereof or references thereto fairly summarize such arrangements. (xv) To the best of our knowledge, neither the Company nor Vertex Securities is in violation of its charter or by-laws and based solely on an inquiry of the Company, we know of no default by the Company or Vertex Securities that exists in the due performance or observance of any material obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any contract, indenture, mortgage, loan agreement, note, lease or other agreement or instrument that is described or referred to in the Offering Memorandum. (xvi) No filing with, or authorization, approval, consent, license, order, registration, qualification or decree of, any court or governmental authority or agency, domestic or foreign (other than such as may be required under the applicable securities laws of the various jurisdictions in which the Securities will be offered or sold, as to
MINTZ, LEVIN, COHN, FERRIS, GLOVSKY AND POPEO, P.C. September 19, 2000 Page 6 which we need express no opinion) is necessary or required in connection with the due authorization, execution and delivery of the Purchase Agreement or the Registration Rights Agreement or the due execution, delivery or performance of the Indenture by the Company or for the offering, issuance, sale or delivery of the Securities to the Initial Purchasers or the resale by the Initial Purchasers in accordance with the terms of the Purchase Agreement or for the issuance of shares of Common Stock upon conversion of Securities. (xvii) It is not necessary in connection with the offer, sale and delivery of the Securities to the Initial Purchasers and to each Subsequent Purchaser in the manner contemplated by the Purchase Agreement and the Offering Memorandum or in connection with the conversion of the Notes into shares of the Common Stock in the manner contemplated in the Indenture to register the Securities or the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Notes under the 1933 Act or to qualify the Indenture under the 1939 Act. (xviii) The execution, delivery and performance of the Purchase Agreement, the Indenture, the Registration Rights Agreement and the Securities and the consummation of the transactions contemplated in the Purchase Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement and in the Offering Memorandum (including the use of the proceeds from the sale of the Securities as described in the Offering Memorandum under the caption "Use Of Proceeds" and the issuance of the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Securities) and compliance by the Company with its obligations under the Purchase Agreement, the Indenture, the Registration Rights Agreement and the Securities do not and will not, whether with or without the giving of notice or lapse of time or both, conflict with or constitute a breach of, or default or Repayment Event (as defined in Section 1(a)(xiv) of the Purchase Agreement) under or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or Vertex Securities pursuant to any contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan or credit agreement, note, lease or any other agreement or instrument, referred to in the Offering Memorandum, to which the Company or Vertex Securities is a party or by which either of them may be bound, or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or Vertex Securities is subject (except for such conflicts, breaches or defaults or liens, charges or encumbrances that could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or have been waived pursuant to the amendment to the Credit Agreement, dated as of September 13, 2000, by and between the Company and Fleet National Bank, relating to the issuance of the Securities), nor will such action result in any violation of the provisions of the charter or by-laws of the Company or Vertex Securities, or any applicable law, statute, rule, regulation (other than such as may be required under the applicable securities laws of the various jurisdictions in which Securities will be offered or sold, as to which we offer no opinion), and any judgment, order, writ or decree, known to us, of any government, government instrumentality or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or Vertex Securities or any of their respective properties, assets or operations.
MINTZ, LEVIN, COHN, FERRIS, GLOVSKY AND POPEO, P.C. September 19, 2000 Page 7 (xiv) The Company is not, and, upon the offering and sale of the Securities as contemplated in the Purchase Agreement and the application of the net proceeds therefrom as described in the Offering Memorandum, will not be, an "investment company" or an entity "controlled" by an "investment company," as such terms are defined in the 1940 Act. In the course of the preparation of the Offering Memorandum, we participated in conferences with officers, representatives and in-house attorneys of the Company, representatives of the independent public accountants for the Company, and with the Initial Purchasers and their counsel during which the contents of the Offering memorandum and related matters were discussed, and although we have not verified and are not passing upon and do not assume any responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the statements contained in the Offering Memorandum, on the basis of the foregoing, no facts have come to our attention which have caused us to believe that the Offering Memorandum as of the date the Offering Memorandum was issued or at the Closing Time, contained or contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except that we express no view or belief with respect to the financial statements (including the notes thereto) and schedules and other financial and accounting data included in the Offering Memorandum. We express no opinion as to any matter other than as expressly set forth above, and no other opinion is intended to be implied nor may be inferred herefrom. The opinions expressed herein are given as of the date hereof, and we undertake no obligation hereby and disclaim any obligation to advise you of any change after the date hereof pertaining to any matter referred to herein. This opinion is rendered solely for your benefit and may not be circulated, quoted, relied upon or otherwise referred to by any other person without our written consent, except that State Street Bank and Trust Company, in its capacity as Trustee under the Indenture, may rely on this opinion as if addressed to it.
MINTZ, LEVIN, COHN, FERRIS, GLOVSKY AND POPEO, P.C. September 19, 2000 Page 8 Very truly yours, /s/ Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C. MINTZ, LEVIN, COHN, FERRIS, GLOVSKY and POPEO, P.C.
EXHIBIT 23.1 CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-3 of our report dated February 16, 2000, except as to the information in Note R for which the date is February 28, 2000, relating to the financial statements, which appear in Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading "Independent Accountants" in such Registration Statement. /s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP Boston, Massachusetts November 10, 2000 -1-
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 FORM T-1 ---------- STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939 OF A CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY OF A TRUSTEE PURSUANT TO SECTION 305(b)(2) STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY (EXACT NAME OF TRUSTEE AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER) Massachusetts 04-1867445 (JURISDICTION OF INCORPORATION OR (I.R.S. EMPLOYER ORGANIZATION IF NOT A U.S. NATIONAL BANK) IDENTIFICATION NO.) 225 Franklin Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02110 (ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES) (ZIP CODE) Maureen Scannell Bateman, Esq. Executive Vice President and General Counsel 225 Franklin Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02110 (617) 654-3253 (NAME, ADDRESS AND TELEPHONE NUMBER OF AGENT FOR SERVICE) VERTEX PHARMACEUTICALS INCORPORATED (EXACT NAME OF OBLIGOR AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER) MASSACHUSETTS 04-3039129) (STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF (I.R.S. EMPLOYER INCORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION) IDENTIFICATION NO.) 130 WAVERLY STREET CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS 02139 (617) 577-6000 CONVERTIBLE SUBORDINATED NOTES
GENERAL ITEM 1. GENERAL INFORMATION. FURNISH THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION AS TO THE TRUSTEE: (a) NAME AND ADDRESS OF EACH EXAMINING OR SUPERVISORY AUTHORITY TO WHICH IT IS SUBJECT. Department of Banking and Insurance of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 100 Cambridge Street, Boston, Massachusetts. Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Washington, D.C., Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Washington, D.C. (b) WHETHER IT IS AUTHORIZED TO EXERCISE CORPORATE TRUST POWERS. Trustee is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers. ITEM 2. AFFILIATIONS WITH OBLIGOR. IF THE OBLIGOR IS AN AFFILIATE OF THE TRUSTEE, DESCRIBE EACH SUCH AFFILIATION. The obligor is not an affiliate of the trustee or of its parent, State Street Corporation. (See note on page 2.) ITEM 3. THROUGH ITEM 15. NOT APPLICABLE. ITEM 16. LIST OF EXHIBITS. LIST BELOW ALL EXHIBITS FILED AS PART OF THIS STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY. 1. A COPY OF THE ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION OF THE TRUSTEE AS NOW IN EFFECT. A copy of the Articles of Association of the trustee, as now in effect, is on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission as Exhibit 1 to Amendment No. 1 to the Statement of Eligibility and Qualification of Trustee (Form T-1) filed with the Registration Statement of Morse Shoe, Inc. (File No. 22-17940) and is incorporated herein by reference thereto. 2. A COPY OF THE CERTIFICATE OF AUTHORITY OF THE TRUSTEE TO COMMENCE BUSINESS, IF NOT CONTAINED IN THE ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION. A copy of a Statement from the Commissioner of Banks of Massachusetts that no certificate of authority for the trustee to commence business was necessary or issued is on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission as Exhibit 2 to Amendment No. 1 to the Statement of Eligibility and Qualification of Trustee (Form T-1) filed with the Registration Statement of Morse Shoe, Inc. (File No. 22-17940) and is incorporated herein by reference thereto. 3. A COPY OF THE AUTHORIZATION OF THE TRUSTEE TO EXERCISE CORPORATE TRUST POWERS, IF SUCH AUTHORIZATION IS NOT CONTAINED IN THE DOCUMENTS SPECIFIED IN PARAGRAPH (1) OR (2), ABOVE. A copy of the authorization of the trustee to exercise corporate trust powers is on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission as Exhibit 3 to Amendment No. 1 to the Statement of Eligibility and Qualification of Trustee (Form T-1) filed with the Registration Statement of Morse Shoe, Inc. (File No. 22-17940) and is incorporated herein by reference thereto. 4. A COPY OF THE EXISTING BY-LAWS OF THE TRUSTEE, OR INSTRUMENTS CORRESPONDING THERETO. A copy of the by-laws of the trustee, as now in effect, is on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission as Exhibit 4 to the Statement of Eligibility and Qualification of Trustee (Form T-1) filed with the Registration Statement of Eastern Edison Company (File No. 33-37823) and is incorporated herein by reference thereto. 1
5. A COPY OF EACH INDENTURE REFERRED TO IN ITEM 4. IF THE OBLIGOR IS IN DEFAULT. Not applicable. 6. THE CONSENTS OF UNITED STATES INSTITUTIONAL TRUSTEES REQUIRED BY SECTION 321(b) OF THE ACT. The consent of the trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Act is annexed hereto as Exhibit 6 and made a part hereof. 7. A COPY OF THE LATEST REPORT OF CONDITION OF THE TRUSTEE PUBLISHED PURSUANT TO LAW OR THE REQUIREMENTS OF ITS SUPERVISING OR EXAMINING AUTHORITY. A copy of the latest report of condition of the trustee published pursuant to law or the requirements of its supervising or examining authority is annexed hereto as Exhibit 7 and made a part hereof. NOTES In answering any item of this Statement of Eligibility which relates to matters peculiarly within the knowledge of the obligor or any underwriter for the obligor, the trustee has relied upon information furnished to it by the obligor and the underwriters, and the trustee disclaims responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of such information. The answer furnished to Item 2. of this statement will be amended, if necessary, to reflect any facts which differ from those stated and which would have been required to be stated if known at the date hereof. SIGNATURE Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, the trustee, State Street Bank and Trust Company, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, has duly caused this statement of eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in the City of Boston and The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, on the OCTOBER 31, 2000. STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY By: /s/ Andrew M. Sinasky ----------------------------- NAME ANDREW M. SINASKY TITLE ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT 2
EXHIBIT 6 CONSENT OF THE TRUSTEE Pursuant to the requirements of Section 321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, in connection with the proposed issuance by VERTEX PHARMACEUTICALS INCORPORATED of its CONVERTIBLE SUBORDINATED NOTES, we hereby consent that reports of examination by Federal, State, Territorial or District authorities may be furnished by such authorities to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon request therefor. STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY By: Andrew M. Sinasky -------------------------------- NAME ANDREW M. SINASKY TITLE ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT DATED: OCTOBER 31, 2000 3
EXHIBIT 7 Consolidated Report of Condition of State Street Bank and Trust Company, Massachusetts and foreign and domestic subsidiaries, a state banking institution organized and operating under the banking laws of this commonwealth and a member of the Federal Reserve System, at the close of business JUNE 30, 2000 published in accordance with a call made by the Federal Reserve Bank of this District pursuant to the provisions of the Federal Reserve Act and in accordance with a call made by the Commissioner of Banks under General Laws, Chapter 172, Section 22(a). Thousands of ASSETS Dollars Cash and balances due from depository institutions: Noninterest-bearing balances and currency and coin .................................. 2,341,675 Interest-bearing balances ........................................................... 17,635,684 Securities ..................................................................................... 15,489,812 Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell in domestic offices of the bank and its Edge subsidiary ................................................. 14,013,742 Loans and lease financing receivables: Loans and leases, net of unearned income ............................................ 6,559,292 Allowance for loan and lease losses ................................................. 52,764 Allocated transfer risk reserve...................................................... 0 Loans and leases, net of unearned income and allowances ............................. 6,506,528 Assets held in trading accounts ................................................................ 1,974,906 Premises and fixed assets ...................................................................... 487,980 Other real estate owned ........................................................................ 0 Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries ..................................................... 15,759 Customers' liability to this bank on acceptances outstanding ................................... 130,338 Intangible assets .............................................................................. 226,048 Other assets.................................................................................... 1,662,049 ---------- Total assets ................................................................................... 60,484,521 ========== LIABILITIES Deposits: In domestic offices ................................................................. 12,028,809 Noninterest-bearing .......................................................... 9,491,690 Interest-bearing ............................................................. 2,537,119 In foreign offices and Edge subsidiary .............................................. 25,813,926 Noninterest-bearing .......................................................... 65,867 Interest-bearing ............................................................. 25,748,059 Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase in domestic offices of the bank and of its Edge subsidiary ................................................. 14,912,914 Demand notes issued to the U.S. Treasury........................................................ 116,130 Trading liabilities.................................................................. 1,092,461 Other borrowed money ........................................................................... 1,387,789 Subordinated notes and debentures .............................................................. 0 Bank's liability on acceptances executed and outstanding ....................................... 130,338 Other liabilities .............................................................................. 1,747,374 Total liabilities .............................................................................. 57,229,741 ---------- EQUITY CAPITAL Perpetual preferred stock and related surplus................................................... 0 Common stock ................................................................................... 29,931 Surplus ........................................................................................ 536,421 Undivided profits and capital reserves/Net unrealized holding gains (losses) ................... 2,763,560 Net unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities............... (56,871) Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustments ........................................... (18,261) Total equity capital ........................................................................... 3,254,780 ---------- Total liabilities and equity capital ........................................................... 60,484,521 ---------- 4
I, Frederick P. Baughman, Senior Vice President and Comptroller of the above named bank do hereby declare that this Report of Condition has been prepared in conformance with the instructions issued by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and is true to the best of my knowledge and belief. Frederick P. Baughman We, the undersigned directors, attest to the correctness of this Report of Condition and declare that it has been examined by us and to the best of our knowledge and belief has been prepared in conformance with the instructions issued by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and is true and correct. Ronald E. Logue David A. Spina Truman S. Casner 5
Exhibit 99 November 10, 2000 Securities and Exchange Commission 450 Fifth Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20549 Commissioners: We are aware that our reports dated April 28, 2000, July 25, 2000 and October 24, 2000 on our reviews of interim financial information of Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (the "Company") for the periods ended March 31, 2000, June 30, 2000, and September 30, 2000, respectively, and included in the Company's quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarters then ended are incorporated by reference in its registration statement on Form S-3 dated November 10, 2000. Yours very truly, /s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP