Q: In the past, you've questioned whether we really want a future offering "smart" structures.

Now he was there with the $40 million Datalogix for the same reason: to increase the company's public exposure for a future public offering.

Nonetheless, companies rarely cancel offerings, because doing so casts a shadow over any future public offering they may consider.

In 2000, Mars expected to gross $300 million in sales and was planning for a future initial public offering.

Instead, there is a single prospectus for multiple, undefined future offerings.

These "mini offerings" have been used to help small companies raise capital and test the water for future initial public offerings.

The college is working to develop additional future offerings.

Indeed, Tivoli says it may even adopt the Object Model as a subset of its own future offerings.

Mr. Stang said he expects future offerings to provide modest discounts from the prevailing market value.

No financing schedule has been determined, and future offerings will depend on the needs of the Farm Credit System.