- Accuride to be Acquired by Crestview
Partners for $2.58 Per Share
- The Accuride Board of Directors
Recommends Shareholders Vote “FOR” the Value-Creating, All Cash
Transaction on the WHITE Proxy
Card
- Comments on Coliseum Capital Management
Proxy Solicitation
Accuride Corporation (NYSE:ACW) (“Accuride” or the “Company”) –
a leading supplier of components to the North American and European
commercial vehicle industries – today announced that it is mailing
a letter to shareholders in connection with the Company’s Special
Meeting of Shareholders regarding the proposed transaction to be
acquired by affiliates of Crestview Partners (“Crestview”).
In the Company’s letter, Accuride highlights that:
- Crestview’s $2.58 per share cash offer
is a significant premium to Accuride’s stock price and provides
immediate value to shareholders;
- Accuride conducted an extensive process
to maximize value, culminating in the proposed Crestview
transaction;
- Coliseum is asking shareholders to
forego the high-premium Crestview offer, but declined to
participate in the “go-shop” process and has not made any proposal
to deliver greater value;
- Accuride believes, and Coliseum did not
disagree, that an equity capital infusion of at least $100 million,
representing approximately 119% of Accuride’s market capitalization
as of the last trading day prior to public announcement of the
Crestview transaction, would likely be required to refinance the
debt capital structure and position the Company to execute its
standalone plan;
- The Accuride Board is concerned that,
if the Crestview transaction is not approved, there is substantial
risk of our share price declining significantly from current levels
to below pre-announcement trading levels; and
- If the Crestview transaction is not
approved, the Board believes the required equity capital financing
will be negotiated from a position of weakness – likely resulting
in a transaction that is highly dilutive to shareholders and
potentially resulting in a change in control at a price
significantly less than $2.58 per share.
Accuride’s Board of Directors serves the interest of ALL
shareholders and urges the Company’s shareholders to vote
FOR Crestview’s value-creating,
significant premium all-cash transaction on the WHITE proxy card today.
The full text of the letter follows:
ACCURIDE SHAREHOLDERS:VOTE TO APPROVE
THE VALUE-CREATING, ALL CASH CRESTVIEW TRANSACTION
YOUR VOTE IS
IMPORTANTCALL (800) 676-0281 TO VOTE THE WHITE PROXY CARD TODAY
October 24, 2016
Dear Accuride shareholder,
On November 15, 2016, Accuride Corporation (“Accuride” or the
“Company”) will hold a Special Meeting of Shareholders to vote on
the proposed transaction with Crestview Partners (“Crestview”).
The Accuride Board of Directors unanimously recommends that
Accuride shareholders vote “FOR” the
transaction with Crestview on the enclosed WHITE proxy card today.
Please beware – failing to vote has the
same effect as a vote against the transaction.
CRESTVIEW’S $2.58 PER SHARE CASH OFFER IS A
SIGNIFICANT PREMIUM TO ACCURIDE’S STOCK PRICEAND PROVIDES
IMMEDIATE VALUE TO SHAREHOLDERS
The $2.58 per share all-cash offer, unanimously approved by
Accuride’s Board, represents an 86% premium to the 90-day
volume weighted average price of Accuride’s stock as of September
1, 2016, the day prior to the announcement of the Crestview
transaction. Notably, earlier this year, in February 2016,
Accuride’s stock traded as low as $0.77 per share—Crestview’s offer
represents a 233% premium to that price.
ACCURIDE CONDUCTED AN EXTENSIVE PROCESS TO
MAXIMIZE VALUE,CULMINATING IN THE PROPOSED CRESTVIEW
TRANSACTION
For over a year, Accuride’s Board evaluated all of the Company’s
strategic alternatives, including the merits of continuing to
operate on a standalone basis. The Crestview transaction was the
result of an extensive process during which more than 60 unique
strategic and financial parties (including
Coliseum) were approached. This process began in 2014,
culminating in a 35-day “go-shop” period after signing the
Crestview transaction. The “go-shop” period expired on October 7,
2016, and no party, including Coliseum, submitted an alternative
acquisition proposal. After conducting this thorough process,
the Accuride Board believes the proposed Crestview transaction is
the best strategic alternative to generate value for the Company’s
shareholders.
COLISEUM IS ASKING SHAREHOLDERS TO FOREGO
THE HIGH-PREMIUM CRESTVIEW OFFER, BUT DECLINEDTO PARTICIPATE
IN THE “GO-SHOP” PROCESS AND HAS NOT MADE ANY PROPOSAL TO DELIVER
GREATERVALUE
As you may be aware, Coliseum Capital Management, LLC
(“Coliseum”) has announced that it intends to solicit votes against
the Crestview transaction. Coliseum was invited to participate in
the “go-shop” process and declined to do so. Representatives of
Accuride’s Board of Directors and management team met with Coliseum
representatives on the morning of October 21, 2016, with the goal
of better understanding Coliseum’s perspective and proposed
strategy. In the meeting, Accuride indicated its serious concern
that the ideas mentioned by Coliseum (for example, a rights
offering that is supported by Coliseum) are likely to be highly
dilutive to shareholders and may result in Coliseum acquiring
control of Accuride without paying a control premium.
Coliseum did not present and has never presented a proposal
to the Accuride Board, nor has Coliseum provided any financing
commitment that shareholders can rely upon as a viable alternative
to the high-premium Crestview offer.
THE INDUSTRY CONTINUES TO FACE SIGNIFICANT
CHALLENGES
The North American commercial vehicle industry is experiencing
an extended period of uncertainty and decline. In evaluating the
Company’s options, Accuride’s Board examined the current and
expected market conditions and observed a continuing downward
trend with no certainty as to the timing or strength of an
upturn. The cyclical dynamics over the past two months have
been even more challenging than anticipated and Class 8 build
forecasts continue to be revised downward, with weakness in build
levels expected to continue into 2017. Additionally, the Trailer
market appears to be starting its cyclical decline following a 2015
peak and could be headed for a sustained trough as transportation
companies have recently substantially replaced their trailer
fleets. Competitive dynamics in the marketplace are compounding
these demand challenges, as low-cost country-sourced wheel and
wheel-end products continue to pressure Accuride’s market share and
profitability in certain products and end-markets.
ACCURIDE PROVIDES PRELIMINARY THIRD QUARTER
2016 RESULTS AND REVISES DOWNWARD FULL-YEAR2016
GUIDANCE
Given the significant industry headwinds outlined above, on
October 17, 2016, Accuride announced preliminary unaudited results
from continuing operations, which indicate that revenue for the
third quarter 2016 is expected to be approximately $125 million,
compared with $145.6 million in the third quarter 2015. Accuride
expects Adjusted EBITDA in the third quarter 2016 to be in the
range of $13 million to $14 million, compared with $21.6 million in
the same quarter last year.
Accuride expects 2016 revenue from continuing operations to be
in the range of $535 million to $545 million, with Adjusted EBITDA
to be $68 million to $72 million. Free Cash Flow is expected to be
$2 million to $6 million, excluding approximately $10 million of
negative Free Cash Flow related to Brillion prior to its
divestiture.
While we are working diligently to cut costs and enhance
operational efficiencies, our financial performance is
significantly impacted by conditions in our key end markets, which
are beyond our control.
THE ACCURIDE BOARD IS CONCERNED THAT, IF THE
CRESTVIEW TRANSACTION IS NOT APPROVED, THECOMPANY’S SHARE
PRICE COULD DECLINE SUBSTANTIALLY FROM CURRENT LEVELS
Prior to the announcement of the Crestview transaction, the last
closing price for Accuride shares on September 1, 2016 was $1.66
per share. Since that time, the end market conditions and the
Company’s outlook have both worsened, leading Accuride to publicly
announce lower guidance for full year 2016 financial results, and
creating additional uncertainty regarding the Company’s standalone
plan in the absence of a significant equity infusion and successful
refinancing of the Company’s debt capital structure. Further,
Accuride’s extensive outreach to financial and strategic parties
during the go-shop process failed to generate any alternative
acquisition proposal, let alone a proposal that is superior to the
high premium Crestview offer. In addition, there could be
meaningful selling pressure on Accuride’s stock if the Crestview
transaction is not approved, as arbitrageurs and other short term
shareholders seek to exit their positions and our shareholder base
returns to a more traditional composition. Based upon these
factors, Accuride’s Board is concerned that, if the Crestview
transaction is not approved, there is substantial risk of our share
price declining significantly from current levels to below
pre-announcement trading levels.
ACCURIDE BELIEVES, AND COLISEUM DID NOT
DISAGREE, THAT AN EQUITY CAPITAL INFUSION OF ATLEAST $100
MILLION WOULD LIKELY BE REQUIRED TO REFINANCE THE DEBT CAPITAL
STRUCTURE ANDPOSITION THE COMPANY TO EXECUTE ITS STANDALONE
PLAN
Given current industry and financing market conditions,
Accuride believes it would require a significant equity
investment to refinance its capital structure on reasonable
terms and be positioned to execute against its standalone plan,
which would leave little, if any, capital to pursue incremental
growth initiatives. Accuride’s Board believes, after consultation
with its financial advisor, that the minimum equity investment
required to refinance the capital structure on reasonable terms as
a public company is $100 million. At the October 21, 2016
meeting, notwithstanding its public assertion that a “modest”
capital raise would be sufficient, Coliseum representatives did not
disagree with Accuride’s view that an equity capital infusion of at
least $100 million would likely be required to refinance the
capital structure and execute on a standalone plan. If this equity
investment of $100 million were to be priced at the last
pre-announcement trading share price of $1.66 (as an example), it
would represent approximately 119% of Accuride's market
capitalization.
IF THE CRESTVIEW TRANSACTION IS NOT
APPROVED, ACCURIDE’S BOARD BELIEVES THE REQUIREDEQUITY
CAPITAL FINANCING WILL BE NEGOTIATED FROM A POSITION OF WEAKNESS –
LIKELY RESULTINGIN A TRANSACTION THAT IS HIGHLY DILUTIVE TO
SHAREHOLDERS AND POTENTIALLY RESULTING IN ACHANGE IN CONTROL
AT A PRICE SIGNIFICANTLY LESS THAN $2.58 PER SHARE
Issuing equity at share price levels that are at or below
pre-announcement trading levels would be highly dilutive to those
shareholders that are not willing or able to participate. In the
absence of a committed alternative, if the Crestview transaction is
not approved, Accuride would expect to seek a near-term equity
capital infusion of at least $100 million to refinance its capital
structure and execute on a standalone basis. This capital infusion
would likely need to occur quickly, in light of both the August
2018 maturity date of the notes and the continued strain on the
Company’s free cash flow generation. Although the Accuride Board
would seek to negotiate the best transaction then available for the
Company and its shareholders, it may be difficult to complete a
transaction in a timely manner, if at all, and Accuride is
currently not aware of any investors other than Coliseum that may
be interested in making an equity infusion in Accuride as a public
company. As such, if the Crestview transaction is not approved
and alternative equity financing sources are not identified,
Accuride’s Board expects to negotiate an equity capital investment
from a position of weakness, on terms dictated by Coliseum (if they
even choose to make an investment at all).
If, for example, this equity capital infusion takes the form
of a rights offering backstopped by Coliseum, at a price level
significantly below the $2.58 per share consideration offered in
the Crestview transaction, existing shareholders that do not
participate in the rights offering are likely to suffer substantial
dilution, with Coliseum acquiring control of
the Company without having paid a control premium.
VOTE “FOR” THE
CRESTVIEW TRANSACTIONON THE WHITE PROXY CARD TODAY
Our proposed acquisition by Crestview provides Accuride
shareholders with a substantial premium and immediate cash value
for their shares and eliminates the significant business and
capital structure risks associated with executing against a
standalone plan.
Accuride’s Board believes the proposed Crestview transaction
maximizes the value of your investment and unanimously recommends that you vote to
approve it. Your vote is important, no matter
how many shares you own. Shareholders may vote by following
the instructions on the enclosed WHITE
proxy card, or, if your shares are held in "street name" through a
broker, bank or nominee, by instructing your broker, bank or
nominee on how to vote your shares using the voting instruction
form furnished by your broker, bank or nominee.
Please take a moment to vote “FOR” the merger with Crestview TODAY.
Thank you for your support.
Sincerely,
John W. RisnerChairman
Richard F. DauchPresident and Chief Executive Officer
If you have questions or need assistance
voting your shares please contact:
Georgeson LLC1290 Avenue of the
Americas, 9th FloorNew York, NY 10104
Shareholders call toll-free: (800) 676-0281
Additional Information About the Acquisition and Where to
Find It
Accuride filed a definitive proxy statement and related
materials with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on
October 17, 2016 for its special meeting of shareholders in
connection with the proposed merger contemplated by the Agreement
and Plan of Merger, dated September 2, 2016, by and among the
Company, Armor Parent Corp. and Armor Merger Sub Corp. (such
merger, the “proposed transaction” and such agreement, the “Merger
Agreement”). The definitive proxy statement was first mailed to
shareholders of Accuride on or about October 17, 2016. The
definitive proxy statement contains important information about the
proposed transaction and related matters. INVESTORS OF ACCURIDE ARE
URGED TO READ THE DEFINITIVE PROXY STATEMENT AND OTHER RELEVANT
MATERIALS CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT ACCURIDE, ARMOR PARENT CORP., ARMOR
MERGER SUB CORP. AND THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION. Investors may obtain
a free copy of these materials and other documents filed by
Accuride with the SEC at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov, at
Accuride’s website at www.accuridecorp.com or by sending
a written request to Accuride at 7140 Office Circle, Evansville,
Indiana 47715, Attention: General Counsel and Corporate
Secretary.
Participants in the Solicitation
Accuride and its directors, executive officers and certain other
members of management and employees may be deemed to be
participants in soliciting proxies from its shareholders in
connection with the proposed transaction. Information regarding the
persons who may, under the rules of the SEC, be considered to be
participants in the solicitation of Accuride’s shareholders in
connection with the proposed transaction is set forth in Accuride’s
definitive proxy statement for its special shareholder meeting,
which was filed on October 17, 2016. Additional information
regarding these individuals and any direct or indirect interests
they may have in the proposed transaction is set forth in the
definitive proxy statement. Information relating to the foregoing
can also be found in Accuride’s definitive proxy statement for its
2016 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “2016 Proxy Statement”),
which was filed with the SEC on March 18, 2016. To the extent that
holdings of Accuride’s securities have changed since the amounts
set forth in the 2016 Proxy Statement, such changes have been or
will be reflected on Statements of Change in Ownership on Form 4
filed with the SEC.
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements contained in this document may be considered
forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S.
securities laws, including Section 27A of the Securities Act of
1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended, including statements regarding the proposed
transaction and the ability to consummate the proposed transaction.
These forward-looking statements generally include statements that
are predictive in nature and depend upon or refer to future events
or conditions, and include words such as “believes,” “plans,”
“anticipates,” “projects,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,”
“strategy,” “future,” “opportunity,” “may,” “will,” “should,”
“could,” “potential,” or similar expressions. Statements that are
not historical facts are forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements are based on current beliefs and
assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Readers
are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking
statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. Actual
results could differ materially from those contained in any
forward-looking statement as a result of various factors,
including, without limitation: (1) Accuride may be unable to obtain
shareholder approval for the proposed transaction; (2) the
conditions to the closing of the proposed transaction may not be
satisfied and required regulatory approvals may not be obtained;
(3) the proposed transaction may involve unexpected costs,
liabilities or delays; (4) the business of Accuride may suffer as a
result of uncertainty surrounding the proposed transaction; (5) the
outcome of any legal proceedings related to the proposed
transaction; (6) Accuride may be adversely affected by other
economic, business, legislative, regulatory and/or competitive
factors; (7) the occurrence of any event, change or other
circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the Merger
Agreement; (8) risks that the proposed transaction disrupts current
plans and operations and the potential difficulties in employee
retention as a result of the proposed transaction; (9) the failure
by Armor Parent Corp. or Armor Merger Sub Corp. to obtain the
necessary debt and equity financing arrangements set forth in the
commitment letters received in connection with the proposed
transaction; and (10) other risks to consummation of the proposed
transaction, including the risk that the proposed transaction will
not be consummated within the expected time period or at all. If
the proposed transaction is consummated, Accuride’s shareholders
will cease to have any equity interest in Accuride and will have no
right to participate in its earnings and future growth. The
foregoing review of important factors that could cause actual
results to differ from expectations should not be construed as
exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with statements that
are included herein and elsewhere, including Accuride’s filings
with the SEC, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended December 31, 2015, the 2016 Proxy Statement, the
definitive proxy statement filed in connection with the proposed
transaction and recent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current
Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC, which are available on the
SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Except as required by applicable
law, Accuride undertakes no obligation to update any
forward-looking statement, or to make any other forward-looking
statements, whether as a result of new information, future events
or otherwise. Accuride does not intend, and assumes no obligation,
to update any forward-looking statements. Accuride’s filings with
the SEC, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended December 31, 2015, the 2016 Proxy Statement, the definitive
proxy statement filed in connection with the proposed transaction
and recent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on
Form 8-K filed with the SEC, which are available on the SEC’s
website at www.sec.gov.
View source
version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161024005448/en/
ACCURIDEMEDIA RELATIONSTimothy G. Weir,
APR, 812-962-5128Director of Public Affairs, Communications
& Marketingtweir@accuridecorp.comorINVESTOR
RELATIONSTodd Taylor, 812-962-5105Vice President and
Treasurerttaylor@accuridecorp.comorJOELE FRANK, WILKINSON
BRIMMER KATCHERDan Katcher, Jim Golden or Priscila
Roney212-355-4449
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