sv1za
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
May 9, 2006
Securities Act File
No. 333-130326
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
AMENDMENT NO. 6
TO
FORM S-1
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
COMPASS DIVERSIFIED TRUST
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in charter)
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Delaware |
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7363 |
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57-6218917 |
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization) |
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(Primary Standard Industrial
Classification Code Number) |
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(I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number) |
COMPASS GROUP DIVERSIFIED HOLDINGS LLC
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
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Delaware |
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7363 |
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20-3812051 |
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization) |
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(Primary Standard Industrial
Classification Code Number) |
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(I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number) |
Sixty One Wilton Road
Second Floor
Westport, CT 06880
(203) 221-1703
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including
area code, of registrants principal executive offices)
I. Joseph Massoud
Chief Executive Officer
Compass Group Diversified Holdings LLC
Sixty One Wilton Road
Second Floor
Westport, CT 06880
(203) 221-1703
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number,
including area code, of agent for service)
Copies to:
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Steven B. Boehm
Cynthia M. Krus
Christopher M. Zochowski
Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP
1275 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20004
(202) 383-0100
(202) 637-3593 Facsimile |
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Ralph F. MacDonald, III
Michael P. Reed
Alston & Bird LLP
One Atlantic Center
1201 West Peachtree Street
Atlanta, GA 30309
(404) 881-7000
(404) 253-8272 Facsimile |
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the
public:
As soon as practicable after the effective date of this
registration statement
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be
offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to
Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933 check the
following
box: o
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an
offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act,
please check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration statement number of the earlier effective
registration statement for the same
offering: o
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to
Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following
box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of
the earlier effective registration statement for the same
offering: o
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to
Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following
box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of
the earlier effective registration statement for the same
offering: o
The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on
such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective
date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which
specifically states that this Registration Statement shall
thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a)
of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the Registration
Statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission,
acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Compass Diversified Trust and Compass Group Diversified Holdings
LLC are filing this Amendment No. 6 to the Registration
Statement on
Form S-1 (File
No. 333-130326)
solely for the purpose of filing exhibits 5.1, 5.2, and
23.10 thereto, and no changes or additions are being made hereby
to the prospectus that forms a part of the Registration
Statement. Accordingly, the prospectus is being omitted from
this filing.
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
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Item 13. |
Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution. |
The estimated expenses payable by us in connection with the
offering described in this registration statement (other than
the underwriting discount and commissions and the representative
non-accountable expense allowance) will be as follows:
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SEC Registration Fee
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$ |
30,763 |
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Financial Advisory Fee
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$ |
525,000 |
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NASD Filing Fee
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$ |
29,250 |
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Listing Application Fee
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$ |
5,000 |
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Accounting Fees and Expenses
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$ |
1,635,000 |
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Printing and Engraving Expenses
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$ |
750,000 |
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Legal Fees and Expenses
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$ |
2,800,000 |
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Hart Scott Rodino Filing Fee
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$ |
125,000 |
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Miscellaneous(1)
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$ |
104,987 |
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Total
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$ |
6,000,000 |
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(1) |
This amount represents additional expenses that may be incurred
by the company or underwriters in connection with the offering
over and above those specifically listed above, including
distribution and mailing costs. |
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Item 14. |
Indemnification of Directors and Officers. |
Certain provisions of our LLC agreement are intended to be
consistent with Section 145 of the Delaware General
Corporation Law, which provides that a corporation has the power
to indemnify a director, officer, employee or agent of the
corporation and certain other persons serving at the request of
the corporation in related capacities against amounts paid and
expenses incurred in connection with an action or proceedings to
which he is, or is threatened to be made, a party by reason of
such position, if such person shall have acted in good faith and
in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to
the best interests of the corporation, and, in any criminal
proceedings, if such person had no reasonable cause to believe
his conduct was unlawful; provided that, in the case of actions
brought by or in the right of the corporation, no
indemnification shall be made with respect to any matter as to
which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the
corporation unless and only to the extent that the adjudicating
court determines that such indemnification is proper under the
circumstances.
Our LLC agreement includes a provision that eliminates the
personal liability of its directors for monetary damages for
breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except for liability:
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for any breach of the directors duty of loyalty to the
company or its members; |
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for acts or omissions not in good faith or a knowing violation
of law; |
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regarding unlawful dividends and stock purchases analogous to
Section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation Law; or |
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for any transaction from which the director derived an improper
benefit. |
Our LLC agreement provides that:
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we must indemnify our directors and officers, manager and
members to the equivalent extent permitted by Delaware General
Corporation Law; |
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we may indemnify our other employees and agents to the same
extent that we indemnified our officers and directors, unless
otherwise determined by the companys board of
directors; and |
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we must advance expenses, as incurred, to our directors and
executive officers in connection with a legal proceeding to the
extent permitted by Delaware law and may advance expenses as
incurred to our other employees and agents, unless otherwise
determined by the companys board of directors. |
II-1
The indemnification provisions contained in our LLC agreement
are not exclusive of any other rights to which a person may be
entitled by law, agreement, vote of members or disinterested
directors or otherwise.
In addition, we will maintain insurance on behalf of our
directors and executive officers and certain other persons
insuring them against any liability asserted against them in
their respective capacities or arising out of such status.
Pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement filed as Exhibit 1.1
to this registration statement, we have agreed to indemnify the
underwriters and the underwriters have agreed to indemnify us
against certain civil liabilities that may be incurred in
connection with this offering, including certain liabilities
under the Securities Act.
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Item 15. |
Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities. |
Not Applicable
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Item 16. |
Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules. |
(a) The following exhibits are filed as part of this
Registration Statement:
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Exhibit No. |
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Description |
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1 |
.1 |
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Form of Underwriting Agreement** |
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2 |
.1 |
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Form of Stock Purchase Agreement by and among Compass Group
Diversified Holdings LLC, Compass Group Investments, Inc.,
Compass CS Partners, L.P., Compass CS II Partners, L.P., Compass
Crosman Partners, L.P., Compass Advanced Partners, L.P. and
Compass Silvue Partners, L.P. |
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3 |
.1 |
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Certificate of Trust of Compass Diversified Trust |
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3 |
.2 |
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Trust Agreement dated as of November 18, 2005 of Compass
Diversified Trust |
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3 |
.3 |
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Certificate of Formation of Compass Group Diversified Holdings
LLC |
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3 |
.4 |
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LLC Agreement dated as of November 18, 2005 of Compass
Group Diversified Holdings LLC* |
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3 |
.5 |
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Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of Compass Diversified
Trust* |
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3 |
.6 |
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Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of Compass Group
Diversified Holdings LLC* |
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4 |
.1 |
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Specimen certificate evidencing a share of trust of Compass
Diversified Trust (included in Exhibit 3.5)* |
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4 |
.2 |
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Specimen certificate evidencing an interest of Compass Group
Diversified Holdings LLC (included in Exhibit 3.6)* |
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5 |
.1 |
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Form of Opinion of Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A. |
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5 |
.2 |
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Form of Opinion of Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A. |
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8 |
.1 |
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Form of Tax Opinion** |
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10 |
.1 |
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Form of Management Services Agreement among Compass Group
Diversified Holdings LLC and Compass Group Management LLC* |
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10 |
.2 |
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Form of Option Plan** |
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10 |
.3 |
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Form of Registration Rights Agreement** |
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10 |
.4 |
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Form of Supplemental Put Agreement by and between Compass Group
Management LLC and Compass Group Diversified Holdings LLC* |
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10 |
.5 |
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Employment Agreement by and between Compass Group Management LLC
and James Bottiglieri dated as of September 28, 2005 |
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10 |
.6 |
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Form of Share Purchase Agreement by and between Compass Group
Diversified Holdings LLC, Compass Diversified Trust and CGI
Diversified Holdings, LP** |
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10 |
.7 |
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Form of Share Purchase Agreement by and between Compass Group
Diversified Holdings LLC, Compass Diversified Trust and
Pharos I LLC** |
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10 |
.8 |
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Form of Credit Agreement by and between Compass Group
Diversified Holdings LLC and each of the initial businesses* |
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10 |
.9 |
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Shareholders Agreement for holders of CBS Personnel
Holdings, Inc. Class C common stock |
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10 |
.10 |
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Stockholders Agreement for holders of Crosman Acquisition
Corp. common stock |
II-2
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Exhibit No. |
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Description |
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10 |
.11 |
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Stockholders Agreement for holders of Compass AC Holdings,
Inc. common stock |
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10 |
.12 |
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Stockholders Agreement for holders of Silvue Technologies
Group, Inc. common stock |
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10 |
.14 |
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Diablo Marketing LLC Members Agreement |
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10 |
.15 |
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Management Services Agreement by and between Compass CS Inc. and
Kilgore Consulting II LLC dated as of October 13,
2000 |
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10 |
.16 |
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Form of Amendment of Management Services Agreement by and
between Compass CS Inc. and Kilgore Consulting II LLC |
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10 |
.17 |
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Management Services Agreement by and between Crosman Corporation
and Kilgore Consulting III LLC dated as of
February 10, 2004 |
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10 |
.18 |
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Form of Amendment of Management Services Agreement by and
between Crosman Corporation and Kilgore Consulting III
LLC |
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10 |
.19 |
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Management Services Agreement by and between Advanced Circuits,
Inc. and WAJ, LLC dated as of September 20, 2005 |
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10 |
.20 |
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Form of Amendment of Management Services Agreement by and
between Advanced Circuits, Inc. and WAJ, LLC |
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10 |
.21 |
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Management Services Agreement by and between SDC Technologies,
Inc. and Kilgore Consulting III LLC dated as of
September 2, 2004 |
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10 |
.22 |
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Form of Second Amendment of Management Services Agreement by and
between SDC Technologies, Inc. and Kilgore Consulting III
LLC |
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10 |
.23 |
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Form of Amendment to Stockholders Agreement for holders of
Silvue Technologies Group, Inc. common stock |
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10 |
.24 |
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Commitment Letter by and among Compass Group Diversified
Holdings LLC The Compass Group International LLC and Ableco
Finance LLC |
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23 |
.1 |
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Consent of Grant Thornton LLP |
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23 |
.2 |
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Consent of Grant Thornton LLP |
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23 |
.3 |
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Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP |
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23 |
.4 |
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Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP |
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23 |
.5 |
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Consent of Bauerle and Company, P.C. |
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23 |
.6 |
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Consent of White, Nelson & Co. LLP |
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23 |
.7 |
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Consent of Grant Thornton LLP |
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23 |
.8 |
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Consent of Grant Thornton LLP |
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23 |
.9 |
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Consent of Sutherland, Asbill & Brennan LLP (included
in Exhibit 8.1)** |
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23 |
.10 |
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Consent of Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A. (included in
Exhibits 5.1 and 5.2) |
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24 |
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Powers of Attorney |
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99 |
.1 |
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Consent of Duff & Phelps LLC |
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Previously filed on December 14, 2005. |
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Previously filed on April 13, 2006. |
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* |
Previously filed on April 26, 2006. |
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** |
Previously filed on May 5, 2006. |
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(b) |
All financial statement schedules required pursuant to this item
were either included in the financial information set forth in
the prospectus or are inapplicable, and, therefore, have been
omitted. |
II-3
The undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering
of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this
registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method
used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities
are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the
following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a
seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell
such securities to such purchaser:
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(i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the
undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be
filed pursuant to Rule 424; |
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(ii) any free writing prospectus relating to the offering
prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used
or referred to by the undersigned registrant; |
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(iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus
relating to the offering containing material information about
the undersigned registration or its securities provided by or on
behalf of the undersigned registrant; and |
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(iv) Any other communication that is an offer in the
offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser. |
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to provide to the
underwriters at the closing specified in the underwriting
agreements certificates in such denominations and registered in
such names as required by the underwriters to permit prompt
delivery to each purchaser.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers,
and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the
foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been
advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange
Commission such indemnification is against public policy as
expressed in the Securities Act 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 that:
(1) For purposes of determining any liability under the
Securities Act of 1933, the information omitted from the form of
prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in
reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of
prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to
Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities
Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as
of the time it was declared effective.
(2) For the purpose of determining any liability under the
Securities Act of 1933, each post-effective amendment that
contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new
registration statement relating to the securities offered
therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall
be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
II-4
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
Registrant has duly caused this Amendment No. 6 to the
registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Westport,
in the State of Connecticut, on May 9, 2006.
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COMPASS DIVERSIFIED TRUST |
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By: |
COMPASS GROUP DIVERSIFIED |
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By: |
/s/ I. Joseph Massoud
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I. Joseph Massoud |
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Chief Executive Officer |
II-5
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
Registrant has duly caused this Amendment No. 6 to the
registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Westport,
in the State of Connecticut, on May 9, 2006.
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COMPASS GROUP DIVERSIFIED HOLDINGS LLC |
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By: |
/s/ I. Joseph Massoud
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I. Joseph Massoud |
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Chief Executive Officer |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Amendment No. 6 to the registration statement has been
signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the
dates indicated.
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Signature |
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Title |
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Date |
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/s/ I. Joseph Massoud
I. Joseph Massoud |
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Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
and Director |
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May 9, 2006 |
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/s/ James J.
Bottiglieri
James J. Bottiglieri |
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Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial and
Accounting Officer)
and Director |
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May 9, 2006 |
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*
C. Sean Day |
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Director |
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May 9, 2006 |
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*
D. Eugene Ewing |
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Director |
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May 9, 2006 |
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*
Ted Waitman |
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Director |
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May 9, 2006 |
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*
Harold S. Edwards |
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Director |
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May 9, 2006 |
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*
Mark H. Lazarus |
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Director |
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May 9, 2006 |
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*By: |
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/s/ I. Joseph Massoud
I.
Joseph Massoud
Attorney-in-fact |
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II-6
EXHIBIT INDEX
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Exhibit No. |
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Description |
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5 |
.1 |
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Opinion of Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A. |
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5 |
.2 |
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Opinion of Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A. |
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23 |
.10 |
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Consent of Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A. (included in
Exhibits 5.1 and 5.2) |
II-7
exv5w1
Exhibit 5.1
Richards, Layton & Finger
a professional association
One Rodney Square
920 North King Street
Wilmington, Delaware 19801
(302) 651-7700
Fax: (302) 651-7701
www.rlf.com
May 9, 2006
Compass Diversified Trust
Sixty One Wilton Road
Second Floor
Westport, Connecticut 06880
Re: Compass Diversified Trust
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as special Delaware counsel for Compass Diversified Trust, a Delaware statutory
trust (the Trust), in connection with the matters set forth herein. At your request, this
opinion is being furnished to you.
For purposes of giving the opinions hereinafter set forth, our examination of documents has
been limited to the examination of originals or copies of the following:
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The Certificate of Trust of the Trust (the Certificate of Trust),
as filed with the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware
(the Secretary of State) on November 18, 2005; |
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(b) |
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The Trust Agreement, dated as of November 18, 2006 among
Compass Diversified Holdings LLC (the Company) and the trustees named
therein; |
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(c) |
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Amendment No. 3 to the Registration Statement, as amended (the
Registration Statement), on Form S-1 (No. 333-130326), including a
preliminary prospectus (the Prospectus) relating to the shares of the Trust
representing beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust (each, a Share
and collectively, the Shares), filed by the Company and the Trust with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on April 13, 2006; |
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(d) |
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The Amended and Restated Trust Agreement for the Trust (the
Trust Agreement), dated as of April 25, 2006, entered into among the Company
and the trustees of the Trust named therein (including the form of Share
certificate attached thereto as Exhibit A), attached as exhibit 3.5 to
Amendment No. 4 to the Registration Statement; and |
Compass Diversified Trust
May 9, 2006
Page 2
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(e) |
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A Certificate of Good Standing for the Trust, dated May 3,
2006, obtained from the Secretary of State. |
For purposes of this opinion, we have not reviewed any documents other than the documents
listed in paragraphs (a) through (e) above. We have conducted no independent factual investigation
of our own, but rather have relied solely upon the foregoing documents, the statements and
information set forth therein and the additional matters recited or assumed herein, all of which we
have assumed to be true, complete and accurate in all material respects.
Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined are used as defined in the Trust
Agreement.
With respect to all documents examined by us, we have assumed (i) the authenticity of all
documents submitted to us as originals, (ii) the conformity with the originals of all documents
submitted to us as copies or forms, and (iii) the genuineness of all signatures.
For purposes of this opinion, we have assumed (i) that the Trust Agreement and the Certificate
of Trust will be in full force and effect and will not be amended as of the date the Shares are
issued, (ii) the due organization or due formation, as the case may be, and valid existence in good
standing of each party to the documents (other than the Trust or, to
the extent covered in the opinion of Richards, Layton & Finger,
P.A. of even date herewith, the Company) examined by us under the laws of the
jurisdiction governing its organization or formation, (iii) the legal capacity of natural persons
who are signatories to the documents examined by us, (iv) that each of the parties to the documents
(other than the Trust or, to
the extent covered in the opinion of Richards, Layton & Finger,
P.A. of even date herewith, the Company) examined by us has the power and authority to execute and deliver, and to
perform its obligations under, such documents, (v) the due authorization, execution and delivery by
all parties thereto of all documents (other than the Trust or, to
the extent covered in the opinion of Richards, Layton & Finger,
P.A. of even date herewith, the Company) examined by us, (vi) the receipt by
each Person to whom a Share is to be issued by the Trust (collectively, the Shareholders) of
either (A) a Share Certificate for such Share or (B) confirmation of the Trusts registration in
the Share Register of such Person as the registered owner of such Share, and the payment for such
Share, in accordance with the Trust Agreement and the Registration Statement as of the date the
Shares are issued, and (vii) that the Shares will be authenticated, issued and sold to the
Shareholders in accordance with the Trust Agreement and the Registration Statement. We have not
participated in the preparation of the Registration Statement or the Prospectus and assume no
responsibility for their contents, other than this opinion.
This opinion is limited to the laws of the State of Delaware (excluding the
blue sky laws of the State of Delaware), and we have not considered and express no opinion on
the laws of any other jurisdiction, including federal laws and rules and regulations relating
thereto. Our opinions are rendered only with respect to Delaware laws and rules, regulations and
orders thereunder which are currently in effect.
Based upon the foregoing, and upon our examination of such questions of law and statutes of
the State of Delaware as we have considered necessary or appropriate, and subject to the
assumptions, qualifications, limitations and exceptions set forth herein, we are of the opinion
that:
Compass Diversified Trust
May 9, 2006
Page 3
1. The Trust has been duly created and is validly existing in good standing as a statutory
trust under the Statutory Trust Act.
2. The Shares of the Trust will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable beneficial
interests in the assets of the Trust.
3. The Shareholders, as beneficial owners of the Trust, will be entitled to the same
limitation of personal liability extended to stockholders of private corporations for profit
organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
We consent to the filing of this opinion with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an
exhibit to the Registration Statement. We hereby consent to the use of our name under the heading
Legal Matters in the Prospectus. In giving the foregoing consents, we do not thereby admit that
we come within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended, or the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission
thereunder.
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Very truly yours,
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/s/ Richards, Layton & Finger,
P.A. |
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EAM/JWP
exv5w2
Exhibit 5.2
[LETTERHEAD OF RICHARDS, LAYTON & FINGER, P.A.]
May 9, 2006
Compass Group Diversified Holdings LLC
Sixty One Wilton Road
Second Floor
Westport, Connecticut 06880
Re: Compass Group Diversified Holdings LLC
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as special Delaware counsel for Compass Group Diversified Holdings LLC, a
Delaware limited liability company (the LLC), in connection with the matters set forth herein.
At your request, this opinion is being furnished to you.
For purposes of giving the opinions hereinafter set forth, our examination of documents has
been limited to the examination of originals or copies of the following:
(a) The Certificate of Formation of the LLC, dated November 18, 2005,
as filed in the office of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware (the Secretary of
State) on November 18, 2005, as amended by the
Certificate of Amendment thereto, as filed in the office of the
Secretary of State on May 2, 2006 (as so amended, the LLC
Certificate);
(b) The Operating Agreement of the LLC, dated as of November 18, 2005, entered into by Compass
Group Management LLC, as the sole member of the Company (the Initial Member);
(c) Amendment No. 3 to the Registration Statement, as amended (the Registration Statement)
on Form S-1, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 13, 2006, including a
related preliminary prospectus (the Prospectus), relating to the Trust Interests of the LLC
(each, a Trust Interest and collectively, the Trust Interests), and the shares representing
beneficial interests of Compass Diversified Trust, a Delaware statutory trust (the Trust);
(d) The Amended and Restated Operating Agreement for the LLC (the LLC Agreement), dated as
of April 25, 2006, entered into between the Trust and the Initial Member, as members, attached as
exhibit 3.6 to Amendment No. 4 to the Registration Statement; and
Compass Group Diversified Holdings LLC
May 9, 2006
Page 2
(e) A
Certificate of Good Standing for the LLC, dated May 4, 2006, obtained from the Secretary
of State.
Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined are used as defined in the LLC
Agreement.
For purposes of this opinion, we have not reviewed any documents other than the documents
listed in paragraphs (a) through (e) above. We have conducted no independent factual investigation
of our own, but rather have relied solely upon the foregoing documents, the statements and
information set forth therein and the additional matters recited or assumed herein, all of which we
have assumed to be true, complete and accurate in all material respects.
With respect to all documents examined by us, we have assumed (i) the authenticity of all
documents submitted to us as authentic originals, (ii) the conformity with the originals of all
documents submitted to us as copies or forms, and (iii) the genuineness of all signatures.
For purposes of this opinion, we have assumed (i) that the LLC Agreement
and the LLC Certificate will be in full force and effect and will not have been amended as of the date on which
the Trust Interests are issued, (ii) that each of the parties (other than the LLC or, to
the extent covered in the opinion of Richards, Layton & Finger,
P.A. of even date herewith, the Trust) to the documents examined
by us has been duly created, organized or formed, as the case may be, and is validly existing in
good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction governing its creation, organization or formation,
(iii) the legal capacity of natural persons who are signatories to the documents examined by us,
(iv) that each of the parties (other than the LLC or, to
the extent covered in the opinion of Richards, Layton & Finger,
P.A. of even date herewith, the Trust) to the documents examined by us has the power
and authority to execute and deliver, and to perform its obligations under, such documents, (v)
that each of the parties to the documents examined by us will have duly authorized, executed and
delivered such documents as of the date on which the Trust Interests are issued, (vi) that each
Person to whom a Trust Interest is to be issued by the LLC (each, a Trust Interest Holder and
collectively, the Trust Interest Holders) will receive a Trust Interest Certificate for such
Trust Interest and will pay for the Trust Interest acquired by it, in accordance with the LLC
Agreement and the Registration Statement, (vii) that the books and records of the LLC set forth the
names and addresses of all Persons to be admitted as members of the LLC and the dollar value of
each such members contribution to the LLC, and (viii) that the Trust Interests are issued and sold
to the Trust Interest Holders in accordance with the Registration Statement and the LLC Agreement.
We have not participated in the preparation of the Registration Statement or the Prospectus and
assume no responsibility for their contents, other than this opinion.
Compass Group Diversified Holdings LLC
May 9, 2006
Page 3
This opinion is limited to the laws of the State of Delaware (excluding the
blue sky laws of the State of Delaware), and we have not considered and express no opinion on
the laws of any other jurisdiction, including federal laws and rules and regulations relating
thereto. Our opinions are rendered only with respect to Delaware laws and rules, regulations and
orders thereunder which are currently in effect.
Based upon the foregoing, and upon our examination of such questions of law and statutes of
the State of Delaware as we have considered necessary or appropriate, and subject to the
assumptions, qualifications, limitations and exceptions set forth herein, we are of the opinion
that:
1. The LLC has been duly formed and is validly existing in good standing as a limited
liability company under the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act (6 Del. C. § 18-101,
et seq.) (the LLC Act).
2. The Trust Interests will be validly issued and, subject to the qualifications set forth in
paragraph 3 below, fully paid and nonassessable limited liability company interests in the LLC.
3. A Trust Interest Holder shall not be obligated personally for any of the debts, obligations
or liabilities of the LLC, whether arising in contract, tort or otherwise, solely by reason of
being a member of the LLC, except as a Trust Interest Holder may be obligated to repay any funds
wrongfully distributed to it. We note that a Trust Interest Holder may be obligated pursuant to
the LLC Agreement to provide the Transfer Agent sufficient indemnity in connection with the
issuance of replacement Trust Interest Certificates.
We consent to the filing of this opinion with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an
exhibit to the Registration Statement. In addition, we hereby consent to the use of our name under
the heading Legal Matters in the Prospectus. In giving the foregoing consents, we do not thereby
admit that we come within the category of persons or entities whose consent is required under
Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the rules and regulations of the Securities
and Exchange Commission thereunder.
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Very truly yours,
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/s/ Richards, Layton & Finger,
P.A. |
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MVP/JXM
corresp
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Ferris, Baker Watts, Incorporated |
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Investments |
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Member NYSE, SIPC |
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100 Light Street |
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Baltimore, MD 21202 |
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(410) 685-2600 |
May 9, 2006
Via Facsimile (202-772-9205) and EDGAR
Mr. Larry Spirgel
Securities and Exchange Commission
Division of Corporate Finance
100 F Street, NE
Washington, DC 20549
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Re:
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Compass Diversified Trust (the Trust) and Compass Group Diversified Holdings
LLC (the Company)
Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File Nos. 333-130326; 333-130326-01)
Delivery of Preliminary Prospectuses |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as Representative of the several underwriters in connection with the issuance
and sale of shares of the Trust.
Pursuant to Rule 461 of the General Rules and Regulations of the Securities and Exchange
Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, we, acting on behalf of the several
underwriters, wish to advise you that, between April 13, 2006 and May 9, 2006, we distributed 9,500
copies of the Preliminary Prospectus dated April 13, 2006, of which 7,000 copies were distributed
to other underwriters, 0 to other securities dealers and approximately 500 to investors, including
individuals and institutions. Copies of the Preliminary Prospectus were available to anyone
requesting the same at the offices of the underwriters.
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Very truly yours,
FERRIS, BAKER WATTS, INCORPORATED
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By: |
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Samer S. Tahboub |
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Vice President |
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Cliff Booth
Michael P. Reed, Esq. |