UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
_____________________
Form 8-K
_____________________
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event Reported): November 20, 2017
WORTHINGTON INDUSTRIES, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
Ohio | 1-8399 | 31-1189815 |
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation) | (Commission File Number) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
200 Old Wilson Bridge Road, Columbus, Ohio 43085 |
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code) |
(614) 438-3210
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions: | ||
[ ] | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) | |
[ ] | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) | |
[ ] | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) | |
[ ] | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (17 CFR §230.405) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (17 CFR §240.12b-2). Emerging growth company [ ]
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. [ ]
Item 8.01. Other Events.
On November 20, 2017, Worthington Industries, Inc. (the “Company”) announced that its joint venture Worthington Armstrong Venture (“WAVE”), a global leader in ceiling suspension systems solutions, has agreed to sell its business and operations in Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia, to Knauf Group, a family-owned manufacturer of building materials headquartered in Germany. It is part of a broader transaction with Armstrong World Industries (NYSE: AWI), the other partner in the WAVE joint venture. The agreement includes the sale of WAVE businesses and operations in the United Kingdom, France, China and India. The WAVE and AWI businesses and operations in the Americas are not part of the agreement. A copy of the news release issued by the Company on November 20, 2017 is included with this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(a) – (c) Not applicable. (d) Exhibits: The following exhibit is included with this Current Report on Form 8-K:Exhibit No. Description 99.1 News Release issued by Worthington Industries, Inc. on November 20, 2017.
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
WORTHINGTON INDUSTRIES, INC. | ||
Date: November 20, 2017 | By: | /s/ Dale T. Brinkman |
Dale T. Brinkman | ||
Vice President-Administration, General Counsel & Secretary | ||
EXHIBIT 99.1
WAVE to Sell European and Pacific Rim Businesses
COLUMBUS, Ohio, Nov. 20, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Worthington Industries, Inc. (NYSE:WOR) announced today that its Worthington Armstrong Venture, WAVE, a global leader in ceiling suspension systems solutions, has agreed to sell its business and operations in Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia, to Knauf Group, a family-owned manufacturer of building materials headquartered in Germany. It is part of a broader transaction with Armstrong World Industries (NYSE:AWI) the other partner in the WAVE joint venture.
The agreement includes the sale of WAVE businesses and operations in the United Kingdom, France, China and India. The WAVE and AWI businesses and operations in the Americas are not part of this agreement. Worthington expects to realize approximately $45 million for its 50% share of the WAVE operations being sold. Once completed, the sale is expected to reduce Worthington’s share of equity income from WAVE by approximately $5 million per year. The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions and is anticipated to close in mid-2018.
“The returns from the international business at WAVE have always been challenging, and the sale will allow WAVE leadership to focus on expanding market leading business in the U.S. where growth opportunities and returns are more attractive,” said John McConnell, Chairman and CEO of Worthington Industries.
“The strength of our operations has been in the Americas and we believe that geographic market has tremendous potential,” said Rose Mary Clyburn, WAVE President. “This transaction will allow us to focus our resources on our Americas total ceiling solutions and accelerate our strategy.”
Please refer to AWI’s news release for more detail at ir.armstrongceilings.com
About WAVE
WAVE is the worldwide leader in the production of suspended ceiling system solutions sold under the Armstrong brand name. A joint venture between AWI and Worthington for 25 years, WAVE combines the culture and strengths of both partners. WAVE employs over 600 people and operates nine manufacturing locations in five countries. AWI is a global leader in the design and manufacture of innovative commercial and residential ceiling, wall and suspension system solutions with over 3,700 employees and fiscal 2016 revenues from ceiling operations in excess of $1.2 billion.
About Worthington Industries
Worthington Industries is a leading global diversified metals manufacturing company with 2017 fiscal year sales of $3.0 billion. Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, Worthington is North America's premier value-added steel processor providing customers with wide ranging capabilities, products and services for a variety of markets including automotive, construction and agriculture; a global leader in manufacturing pressure cylinders for propane, refrigerant, and industrial gases and for cryogenic applications, water well tanks for commercial and residential uses, CNG and LNG storage, transportation and alternative fuel tanks, oil & gas equipment, and consumer products for camping, grilling, hand torch solutions and helium balloon kits; and a manufacturer of operator cabs for heavy mobile industrial equipment; laser welded blanks for light weighting applications; automotive racking solutions; and through joint ventures, complete ceiling grid solutions; automotive tooling and stampings; and steel framing for commercial construction. Worthington employs approximately 11,000 people and operates 85 facilities in 11 countries.
Safe Harbor Statement
The Company wishes to take advantage of the Safe Harbor provisions included in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the “Act"). This press release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Act. All statements by the Company, other than statements regarding historical information, included in this press release that address activities, events or developments that the Company expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Act. These statements include the anticipated impact of the pending sale of WAVE’s European and Pacific Rim operations. All forward-looking statements are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, including the successful completion of the single, integrated sale of the AWI international business and the WAVE international business, general economic factors and other factors described in the Company's reports filed with the SEC.
Contacts:
CATHY M. LYTTLE
VP, CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS
AND INVESTOR RELATIONS
614.438.3077 | cathy.lyttle@WorthingtonIndustries.com
SONYA L. HIGGINBOTHAM
DIRECTOR, CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS
614.438.7391 | sonya.higginbotham@worthingtonindustries.com
200 Old Wilson Bridge Rd. | Columbus, Ohio 43085
WorthingtonIndustries.com