0001193125-12-514878.txt : 20121226 0001193125-12-514878.hdr.sgml : 20121226 20121226160229 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001193125-12-514878 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 8-K PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 3 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20121221 ITEM INFORMATION: Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement ITEM INFORMATION: Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers: Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers ITEM INFORMATION: Financial Statements and Exhibits FILED AS OF DATE: 20121226 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20121226 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: Fortress Investment Group LLC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001380393 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: INVESTMENT ADVICE [6282] IRS NUMBER: 000000000 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 8-K SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-33294 FILM NUMBER: 121285377 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 1345 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS STREET 2: 46TH FLOOR CITY: NEW YORK STATE: NY ZIP: 10105 BUSINESS PHONE: 212-798-6100 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 1345 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS STREET 2: 46TH FLOOR CITY: NEW YORK STATE: NY ZIP: 10105 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: Fortress Investment Group Holdings LLC DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 20061107 8-K 1 d458774d8k.htm FORM 8-K Form 8-K

 

 

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) December 26, 2012 (December 21, 2012)

 

 

Fortress Investment Group LLC

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

Delaware

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

 

001-33294   20-5837959

(Commission

File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

1345 Avenue of the Americas, 46th Floor

New York, New York

  10105
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code (212) 798-6100

(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 (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

¨  

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))

 

 

 


Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

Purchase Agreement

On December 21, 2012, in connection with the separation described in Item 5.02 below, Fortress Operating Entity I LP, FOE II (New) LP and Principal Holdings I LP (collectively, the “Purchasers”), each a subsidiary of Fortress Investment Group LLC (the “Company”), entered into a Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) with Robert I. Kauffman, a principal, co-founder, officer and director of the Company, and Aldel LLC, an entity controlled by Mr. Kauffman (together with Mr. Kauffman, the “Sellers”).

The Purchase Agreement, among other things, provides for the sale by the Sellers, and the purchase by the Purchasers, of (i) 2,082,684 Class A Shares of the Company, (ii) 49,189,480 Class B Shares of the Company and (iii) 49,189,480 Class B Common Units of each of the Purchasers, for an aggregate purchase price of $179,452,584 (or $3.50 per share), of which $30,000,000 is payable in cash and $149,452,584 is payable in the form of promissory notes, each with a term of fourteen months.

The parties have made customary representations, warranties and covenants to each other in the Purchase Agreement. The transaction closed on December 24, 2012.

Credit Agreement Amendment

On December 21, 2012, in connection with the separation described in Item 5.02 below, FIG LLC, certain subsidiaries and affiliates of FIG LLC, the lenders party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, entered into a Second Amendment, Consent and Waiver (the “Amendment”) to the Credit Agreement, dated as of October 7, 2010 (as amended, the “Credit Agreement”), among FIG LLC, as borrower, certain subsidiaries and affiliates of FIG LLC, as guarantors, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as administrative agent and L/C issuer and the other parties thereto, as lenders.

Pursuant to the Amendment, among other things, (i) the required lenders under the Credit Agreement consented to the consummation of certain specified transactions and (ii) the definition of Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio under the Credit Agreement was amended to exclude payments pursuant to the Purchase Agreement and related notes.

 

Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers

On December 21, 2012, FIG LLC, a subsidiary of the Company, entered into a Separation and Release Agreement (the “Separation Agreement”) with Mr. Kauffman. Pursuant to the Separation Agreement, Mr. Kauffman agreed to resign from all positions he held with FIG LLC and its subsidiaries and their affiliates, including as a director of the Company, and to retire from his employment, each effective December 21, 2012. The Separation Agreement contains a mutual general release of any claims Mr. Kauffman may have against FIG LLC, its subsidiaries and their affiliates, and any claims FIG LLC, its subsidiaries and their affiliates may have against Kauffman, and a waiver of fees on certain investments that Mr. Kauffman has made in investment vehicles managed by affiliates of the Company. The Separation Agreement also incorporates certain provisions of Mr. Kauffman’s employment agreement with FIG LLC, dated as of August 4, 2011, including all of the covenants and ongoing obligations that survive termination of employment thereunder.

The Company has issued a press release, dated December 24, 2012, announcing Mr. Kauffman’s retirement, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.


Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits

 

(d) Exhibits

 

Exhibit

Number

  

Description

99.1    Press Release, dated December 24, 2012, issued by Fortress Investment Group LLC


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.

 

FORTRESS INVESTMENT GROUP LLC

(Registrant)

By:   /s/ David N. Brooks
  David N. Brooks
  General Counsel

Date: December 26, 2012


EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit

Number

  

Description

99.1    Press Release, dated December 24, 2012, issued by Fortress Investment Group LLC
EX-99.1 2 d458774dex991.htm PRESS RELEASE, DATED DECEMBER 24, 2012 Press Release, dated December 24, 2012

Exhibit 99.1

 

LOGO

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Gordon E. Runté

212-798-6082

Fortress Announces Retirement of Co-Founder and Principal Robert Kauffman

Redemption and Buy-Back of Shares to Reduce Dividend-Paying Share Count by 10%

 

 

New York, NY. December 24, 2012 – Fortress Investment Group (NYSE: FIG) today announced that Principal and Director Robert Kauffman has elected to retire from the company and its Board of Directors after a 15 year career at the firm.

With Co-Chairman and Director, Wesley Edens, and interim CEO and Director Randal Nardone, Mr. Kauffman co-founded Fortress in 1998. Mr. Kauffman has held a range of leadership roles at Fortress, including responsibility for the management of the firm’s European private equity investment operations and, most recently, board-level oversight of Logan Circle Partners, the company’s long-only fixed-income business. Mr. Kauffman’s retirement is effective immediately.

In conjunction with Mr. Kauffman’s announced retirement, Fortress will redeem or purchase all of Mr. Kauffman’s beneficially owned shares in the company, which totaled approximately 51.3 million class A or equivalent shares as of December 21, 2012. The company will repurchase Mr. Kauffman’s ownership interests at a price equivalent to $3.50 per share. As a result of this transaction, Fortress’s dividend-paying share count will be reduced by approximately 10%, with immediate effect. Fortress will fund the transaction through a combination of available cash and a 14 month note.

“It has been a privilege to be able to work with such a talented and motivated group of people,” said Kauffman. “I am proud to have contributed to the growth of Fortress into what it is today, and I wish the best of success to the entire team.”

“Rob was part of the leadership team of Fortress even before the company had a name,” said Nardone. “As a Principal and Board member, Rob has contributed to Fortress’s evolution from a start-up boutique into one of the industry’s largest and most diverse investment managers. We are grateful to Rob for his years of service, and wish him the best in his future endeavors.”

About Fortress

Fortress Investment Group LLC is a leading, highly diversified global investment firm with over $50 billion in assets under management as of September 30, 2012. Founded in


1998, Fortress manages assets on behalf of over 1,400 institutional clients and private investors worldwide across a range of investment strategies – private equity, credit, liquid hedge funds and traditional fixed income. Fortress is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: FIG). For additional information, please visit www.fortress.com.

GRAPHIC 3 g458774g53e75.jpg GRAPHIC begin 644 g458774g53e75.jpg M_]C_X``02D9)1@`!`0$`8`!@``#_VP!#``H'!P@'!@H("`@+"@H+#A@0#@T- M#AT5%A$8(Q\E)"(?(B$F*S7J#A(6&AXB)BI*3E)66EYB9FJ*CI*6FIZBIJK*SM+6VM[BYNL+#Q,7& MQ\C)RM+3U-76U]C9VN'BX^3EYN?HZ>KQ\O/T]?;W^/GZ_\0`'P$``P$!`0$! M`0$!`0````````$"`P0%!@<("0H+_\0`M1$``@$"!`0#!`<%!`0``0)W``$" M`Q$$!2$Q!A)!40=A<1,B,H$(%$*1H;'!"2,S4O`58G+1"A8D-.$E\1<8&1HF M)R@I*C4V-S@Y.D-$149'2$E*4U155E=865IC9&5F9VAI:G-T=79W>'EZ@H.$ MA8:'B(F*DI.4E9:7F)F:HJ.DI::GJ*FJLK.TM;:WN+FZPL/$Q<;'R,G*TM/4 MU=;7V-G:XN/DY>;GZ.GJ\O/T]?;W^/GZ_]H`#`,!``(1`Q$`/P#V2BBB@`HH MK`\1^(TTN,VUL0UVP^HC'J??VJX0M'3=2M]4M%N+=L@\,IZJ?0UY[IND7VNSRM&[V/3:*JZ;J5OJEHMQ;MD'AE/53Z&K5< M#33LSH3N%%%%(84444`%%%%`!1110`4444`%%%%`!1110`4444`%%%%`!111 M0`4444`%%%%`!1110`4444`%%%%`!116#XC\1II<9MK8A[MA]1&/4^_M5P@Y MNR%*2BKLVIE>2"1(9!'(5(5\9VGUQ7E^I6EU97\D5[DS9W%B<[\]\U;TKQ%> MZ7+*X;SUER660]6_O5%;V]_XAU0C<9)7.7=NB#^@]J]&C2E1;N]#DG-32MN= MOX:OK&[TQ([-!"8AAXNZGU]\^M<_XSO;">Y2"%`]S$<22@]!_=]_Z5U6EZ5; M:3:""!6:A;I1\RC@2C_&N:E."K7Z&TXR<+&5X,L; MYKPWD:Z1KMYHDDB*N]#D-"_&&]?:DM?$%_;:HU^ M93(\A_>(3PP]/;VK:MAYU)N1G"I&*2/2Z*JZ=J-OJEHMQ;-D'AE/53Z&K5>> MTT[,Z4[A117*WGQ*\*Z?>-9WM]-;W"G!BDM)0Q^@V\TAG545RMO\2O"US>P6 M<=[.)KF011![.5`S$X`R5Q754`%%8FN>,=!\.RI!J5^J7$F-EO&IDE;/3Y5! M-9J_$WPTMPD%[+=Z59S/M'OA>* MT]`\8^'_`!.SII&I1W$D8W-&5*.!ZX8`XH`VZ*0D`$GH!FN17XJ>#V1G_M*4 M*I(+?9)<#'7G;0!U]%<@OQ4\'.A>/4Y)%'4I:2M_):Z+2-7LM=TR'4M.E,MK M/GRW*E$ M?L_VD:A.T`.#*MG,4!^NW%`'745GZ-KVE>(;,W>DWL=U"#M8IU4^A!Y'XU>= MQ'&SG)"@DX&3^5`#J*Y*3XH>$H;@VTNH31W"G#0O9RAP?3;MS4UE\1O#&H:C M;Z?!>3_:+E]D2R6DJ!CZ9*@4`=/116?K6O:7X>L3>ZM>1VL.<`MR6/H`.2?I M0!H45R3?$SP]#Y;7BZC90RG"3W-C*D;?0XKK%8,H93D$9!H`6BH;R\MM/M); MN\GC@MX5W222-A5'UKES\3?#WDM'XM7A\R/$=V@^5^S>QKC-/U&]\/ZBWRLI4[9H6Z-_P#7 M]#7HT+>S?L_B.6I?G][8Z;5O!UO<11'3ML$B85@W1AZGW_G6SI6EV^DV@@@& M2>7<]7/J:P-5\:(L40TP;I&`9V=>%_V<>M;FCZQ;ZQ:^;$=LB\21D\J?\*YZ MBK>S7-L:Q<.;3I]ZCN_!UH^EK!;' M;(?%(T^3[)8E7N%/[QCRJ>WU_E4-WXUA_LM7MD(O'&"C# MB,^OO[5V16(Y8VV,&Z=WAZ=J-OJEHMS;M ME3PRGJI]#7GVE:5=Z_?L2[;<[IIVYQ_B:]$LK*WT^U2VMHPD:_F3ZGWJL7R: M?S"H\WR)Z\4^)%S#9_&?0KFYE6*&%;=Y)&.`JB1B2:]KKQ?XA%#\;O#X?:5_ MT8,&QC_6MUKA.@[_`/X2/PSXIUJRTBUN8]1>,F]5X),K$T97;GZEOT-;NL7X MTK1;W42N[[+;O+CUVJ3C]*:=%L?[7@U181'P& MJZ->Z>S;1=0/%GTW*1G]:`/+O@G:#5[K6/%&HG[3J$DXC65^2N1N8CTSD#Z# M%>@^,M"MO$7A:_L;B-68PL\3$M:KX4UG%G=O('B64X M#.."H/?(P1ZXKTCQEXBLO#?AN\N[J=$D,++#&6^:1R,``?6@#B/@1K=Q>:)? MZ3<2,Z6,BM#N.=JOG*_3*Y_&O4Y?]2_^Z?Y5YM\$O#=UI'A^ZU.]B:*34G4Q M(PP?+4'!Q[DG\,5Z1,0()"3@!3D_A0!XI\%=4L-';Q#0VD&81OF<*"(-+MM%^&FJZ=9AA!!83A-QR>0Q.3]373UA^-B!X'ULDX_P!!E_\`030! MR'P)_P"1*NO^OY__`$!:[_2M+MM&TV+3[,,L$.[:&.3RQ8_J37G_`,""#X+N MP",B^;(_X`M>F4`3;O]X*N?F([9W?I7IE>9?![QJVJ:H_K7IGA.VN[/PEI5M?[OM45I&LH8\@[ M1P?ITH`Y'XWVU_<>"(S:([PQ72OY\?*,#ALG`Z=Z`.O\/6EA8Z!96VESBXLHX@( M90P;VG@"(W8=5FG>2!6[1G'/T)!/XUWM`!6-X@\/Q:Q#Y MD>$NT'ROV8>AK9HJHR<'=":35F>>:5X6O-0EE6<-:I$2I9EY+>@_QJI_I_AW M5>\;%\LB\21D\J?\*R/$WB868:QL7S<'B20 M?\L_8>_\JT?#<.GQZ2C:>=X;_6.?O%N^?3Z5S_C6#3X[E'B;;>/S(BC@CU/H M:YJ48.M:VAK-R]G>YGZ)X>N-:+RLYB@7.92,[F]!Z^]+:>%[^?56LI4,2QG, MDN/EV^H]^$]/N5N8=&A>9#E7G9I2OTWDUTE%`!534]+L=9LVL]1MUN+=B"8V)P2/ MI5NB@#"LO!'AG3;R*\LM&MK>XB.4DC!!!_.I=5\(^'MIZ1;74^P)YDB M\[1T'ZUL44`,AB2"%(8EVQQJ%51V`X`JGJVA:7KT,<.JV4=W'&VY4DS@&K]% M`&/I?A'P_HMY]KTS2H+2?:5WQ`C@^V<5L444`9NK^'=(U[RAJMA%=B'.P29P M,]>/PJ/2?"VA:%$[J:2:XT*UEEE8N[L"68GJ217 MEGH=M%/"P>.09)4CH1DUT-%`!63K7A70O$15M6TR"Z=!M61@0ZCT##!Q6M10 M!@:9X&\-:1=K>6>E1"Y3[LTK-*R_0L3C\*WZ**`*.JZ+IFN6HM=4L8;N$'(6 M5<[3Z@]C]*QK;X<>$+69)4T6-S&86=_J&@WEW>OW[$NVW.Z:=N