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): September 19, 2012
EATON CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Ohio | 1-1396 | 34-0196300 | ||
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) |
(Commission File No.) |
(IRS Employer Identification No.) |
Eaton Center
Cleveland, Ohio 44114
(Address of principal executive offices)
(216) 523-5000
(Registrants telephone number, including area code)
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 7.01. | Regulation FD. |
As previously announced, on May 21, 2012, Cooper Industries plc (Cooper) and Eaton Corporation (Eaton) entered into a transaction agreement, pursuant to which Eaton will acquire Cooper. Pursuant to the terms of the transaction agreement, a holding company incorporated in Ireland that will be renamed Eaton Corporation plc (New Eaton) will acquire Cooper pursuant to a scheme of arrangement under the Irish Companies Act of 1963 and Eaton pursuant to a merger of a wholly owned subsidiary of New Eaton with and into Eaton (the acquisition and the merger, together, the transaction). The transaction was announced in an announcement (the Announcement) pursuant to Rule 2.5 of the Irish Takeover Panel Act, 1997, Takeover Rules, 2007 (as amended) (the Irish Takeover Rules). In connection with the transaction, New Eaton filed a registration statement on Form S-4, which was declared effective on September 7, 2012. The definitive joint proxy statement of Eaton and Cooper that also serves as a prospectus of New Eaton, and which forms a part of the Form S-4, was filed by each of Eaton, Cooper and New Eaton on September 14, 2012 (the joint proxy statement/prospectus). Cooper has commenced mailing to its shareholders the joint proxy statement/prospectus, together with the Profit Forecasts Document (as defined below) and a merger benefit document. Eaton has also commenced mailing to its shareholders the joint proxy statement/prospectus.
Profit Forecasts Document
In accordance with the Irish Takeover Rules, where Eaton or Cooper give earnings guidance (known as a profit forecast under the Irish Takeover Rules), that profit forecast must be repeated in the proxy statement sent to Cooper shareholders and certain attestations to that profit forecast must also be provided. As both Eaton and Cooper have previously publicly disclosed profit forecasts for the financial year ending December 31, 2012, these profit forecasts have been repeated in the joint proxy statement/prospectus on pages 284 and 286 respectively, and also are repeated in a letter (the Profit Forecasts Document) being mailed to Cooper shareholders with the joint proxy statement/prospectus. In addition to such profit forecasts for Eaton and Cooper, the Profit Forecasts Document includes (1) reports from Eatons auditor, Ernst & Young LLP (the Ernst & Young Report), confirming that the Eaton profit forecast has been properly compiled on the basis of the assumptions set out in the profit forecast and the basis of accounting used is consistent with the accounting policies of Eaton, and Eatons financial advisors, Morgan Stanley & Co. Limited and Citigroup Global Markets Limited (the Morgan Stanley & Citi Report), confirming that they consider that the Eaton profit forecast has been made with due care and consideration, each solely for the purpose of complying with Rule 28.3 of the Irish Takeover Rules, and (2) reports from Coopers auditor, Ernst & Young LLP, confirming that the Cooper profit forecast has been properly compiled on the basis of the assumptions made by the directors of Cooper and the basis of accounting used is consistent with the accounting policies of Cooper, and Coopers financial advisor, Goldman, Sachs & Co., confirming that it considers that the Cooper profit forecast has been made with due care and consideration, each prepared solely for the purpose of complying with Rule 28.3 of the Irish Takeover Rules.
At the request of the Irish Takeover Panel, Eaton is furnishing the Ernst & Young Report and the Morgan Stanley & Citi Report, which are attached as Exhibits 99.1 and 99.2, respectively, to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference.
The information contained in this Form 8-K shall not be deemed filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in that filing.
Item 9.01 | Financial Statements and Exhibits. |
(d) | List of Exhibits |
EXHIBIT NO. |
DESCRIPTION | |
99.1 | Ernst & Young Report. | |
99.2 | Morgan Stanley & Citi Report |
NO OFFER OR SOLICITATION
This communication is not intended to and does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to subscribe for or buy or an invitation to purchase or subscribe for any securities or the solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction pursuant to the acquisition or otherwise, nor shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer of securities in any jurisdiction in contravention of applicable law. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION HAS BEEN AND WILL BE FILED WITH THE SEC
A registration statement on Form S-4 has been filed with the SEC, which includes the Joint Proxy Statement of Eaton and Cooper that also constitutes a Prospectus of Eaton Corporation plc(1). The registration statement was declared effective on September 7, 2012. Eaton and Cooper are commencing sending to their respective shareholders (and to Cooper equity award holders for information only) the definitive Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus (including the Scheme) in connection with the transaction. Investors and shareholders are urged to read the definitive Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus (including the Scheme) and other relevant documents filed or to be filed with the SEC carefully because they contain or will contain important information about Eaton, Cooper, Eaton Corporation plc, the transaction and related matters. Investors and security holders may obtain free copies of the definitive Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus (including the Scheme) and other documents filed with the SEC by Eaton Corporation plc, Eaton and Cooper through the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov.
(1) | Currently named Eaton Corporation Limited but expected to be re-registered as Eaton Corporation plc prior to the consummation of the transaction. |
In addition, investors and shareholders may obtain free copies of the definitive Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus (including the Scheme) and other documents filed by Eaton and Eaton Corporation plc with the SEC by contacting Eaton Investor Relations at Eaton Corporation, 1111 Superior Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44114 or by calling (888) 328-6647, and may obtain free copies of the definitive Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus (including the Scheme) and other documents filed by Cooper by contacting Cooper Investor Relations at c/o Cooper US, Inc., P.O. Box 4466, Houston, Texas 77210 or by calling (713) 209-8400.
PARTICIPANTS IN THE SOLICITATION
Cooper, Eaton and Eaton Corporation plc and their respective directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the respective shareholders of Cooper and Eaton in respect of the transaction contemplated by the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus. Information regarding the persons who may, under the rules of the SEC, be deemed participants in the solicitation of the respective shareholders of Cooper and Eaton in connection with the proposed transaction, including a description of their direct or indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, is set forth in the definitive Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus filed with the SEC. Information regarding Coopers directors and executive officers is contained in Coopers Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 and its Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, dated March 13, 2012, which are filed with the SEC. Information regarding Eatons directors and executive officers is contained in Eatons Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 and its Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, dated March 16, 2012, which are filed with the SEC.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This communication may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 concerning Eaton, Eaton Corporation plc, the acquisition and other transactions contemplated by the Transaction Agreement, our acquisition financing, our long-term credit rating and our revenues and operating earnings. These statements or disclosures may discuss goals, intentions and expectations as to future trends, plans, events, results of operations or financial condition, or state other information relating to Eaton or Eaton Corporation plc, based on current beliefs of management as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, management. Forward-looking statements generally will be accompanied by words such as anticipate, believe, plan, could, estimate, expect, forecast, guidance, intend, may, possible, potential, predict, project or other similar words, phrases or expressions. These forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside of our control. Therefore, you should not place undue reliance on such statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include adverse regulatory decisions; failure to satisfy other closing conditions with respect to the Acquisition; the risks that the new businesses will not be integrated successfully or that we will not realize estimated cost savings and synergies; our ability to refinance the bridge loan on favorable terms and maintain our current long-term credit rating; unanticipated changes in the markets for our business segments; unanticipated downturns in business relationships with customers or their purchases from Eaton; competitive pressures on our sales and pricing; increases in the cost of material, energy and other production costs, or unexpected costs that cannot be recouped in product pricing;
the introduction of competing technologies; unexpected technical or marketing difficulties; unexpected claims, charges, litigation or dispute resolutions; new laws and governmental regulations. The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. You should carefully consider the foregoing factors and the other risks and uncertainties that affect our business described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and other documents filed from time to time with the SEC. We do not assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.
STATEMENT REQUIRED BY THE TAKEOVER RULES
The directors of Eaton accept responsibility for the information contained in this communication. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the directors of Eaton (who have taken all reasonable care to ensure such is the case), the information contained in this communication is in accordance with the facts and does not omit anything likely to affect the import of such information.
Persons interested in 1% or more of any relevant securities in Eaton or Cooper may from the date of this communication have disclosure obligations under Rule 8.3 of the Irish Takeover Panel Act, 1997, Takeover Rules 2007 (as amended).
SIGNATURES
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.
EATON CORPORATION | ||
By: | /s/ Thomas E. Moran | |
Name: | Thomas E. Moran | |
Title: | Senior Vice President and Secretary |
Date: September 19, 2012
Index of Exhibits
EXHIBIT NO. |
DESCRIPTION | |
99.1 | Ernst & Young Report | |
99.2 | Morgan Stanley & Citi Report |
Exhibit 99.1
Report of Ernst & Young LLP on Eaton Profit Forecast
Ernst & Young LLP 8484 Westpark Drive McLean, VA 22102
Tel: +1 (703) 747-1000 www.ey.com |
The Directors |
23 July 2012 | |
Eaton Corporation |
||
Eaton Center |
||
Cleveland, Ohio 44114-2584 |
||
USA |
||
Citigroup Global Markets Limited |
||
Citigroup Centre |
||
Canada Square |
||
Canary Wharf |
||
London |
||
E14 5LB |
||
Morgan Stanley & Co. Limited |
||
25 Cabot Square |
||
London |
||
E14 4QA |
Dear Sirs
We refer to the profit forecast comprising the statements made by Eaton Corporation (the Company) in respect of the operating earnings per share and net income per share, for the year ending December 31, 2012 (the Profit Forecast) set out in the Companys Q2 earnings announcement dated 23 July 2012. The bases and assumptions upon which the Profit Forecast is based are set out in the appendix hereto. This report is required by Rule 28.3(a) of the Irish Takeover Panel Act 1997, Takeover Rules, 2007 (as amended) (the Rules) and is given for the purpose of complying with that rule and for no other purpose.
Responsibilities
It is the responsibility of the directors of the Company (the Directors) to prepare the Profit Forecast in accordance with the requirements of the Rules.
It is our responsibility to form an opinion as required by the Rules as to the proper compilation of the Profit Forecast and to report that opinion to you.
Save for any responsibility that we may have to those persons to whom this report is expressly addressed, to the fullest extent permitted by law we do not assume any responsibility and will not accept any liability to any other person for any loss suffered by any such other person as a result of, arising out of, or in connection with, this report.
Basis of preparation of the Profit Forecast
The Profit Forecast has been prepared on the basis stated within the Report and is based on the unaudited interim financial results for the six months ended 30 June 2012, the unaudited management accounts for the six months
ended 30 June 2012 and a forecast to 31 December 2012. The Profit Forecast is required to be presented on a basis consistent with the accounting policies of the Group.
Basis of opinion
We conducted our work in accordance with Standards for Investment Reporting issued by the Auditing Practices Board in the United Kingdom. Our work included evaluating the basis on which the historical financial information included in the Profit Forecast has been prepared and considering whether the Profit Forecast has been accurately computed based upon the disclosed assumptions and the accounting policies of the Group. Whilst the assumptions upon which the Profit Forecast are based (the Assumptions) are solely the responsibility of the Directors, we considered whether anything came to our attention to indicate that any of the Assumptions, which, in our opinion, are necessary for a proper understanding of the Profit Forecast have not been disclosed or if any material Assumption appears to us to be unrealistic.
We planned and performed our work so as to obtain the information and explanations we considered necessary in order to provide us with reasonable assurance that the Profit Forecast has been properly compiled on the basis stated.
Since the Profit Forecast and the Assumptions on which it is based relate to the future and may therefore be affected by unforeseen events, we can express no opinion as to whether the actual results reported will correspond to those shown in the Profit Forecast and differences may be material.
Our work has not been carried out in accordance with auditing or other standards and practices generally accepted in the United States of America or other jurisdictions and accordingly should not be relied upon as if it had been carried out in accordance with those standards and practices.
Opinion
In our opinion, the Profit Forecast has been properly compiled on the basis of the Assumptions as set within the Report and the basis of accounting used is consistent with the accounting policies of the Group.
Yours faithfully,
Ernst & Young LLP
Exhibit 99.2
Report of Morgan Stanley & Co. Limited and
Citigroup Global Markets Limited on Eaton Profit Forecast
Morgan Stanley & Co. Limited | Citigroup Global Markets Limited | |||
Registered in England and Wales, Number 2164628. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority |
Registered in England, Number 1763297. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority | |||
Registered office |
Registered office. | |||
25 Cabot Square |
Citigroup Centre | |||
Canary Wharf |
Canada Square | |||
London El4 4QA |
Canary Wharf | |||
United Kingdom |
London E14 5LB | |||
United Kingdom |
23 July 2012
The Directors
Eaton Corporation
Eaton Centre
Cleveland, Ohio 44114-2584
USA
Attention: Alexander M. Cutler, Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer; President
Dear Sirs
Proposed Acquisition of Cooper Industries plc (Cooper) by Eaton Corporation (Eaton)
Citigroup Global Markets Limited and Morgan Stanley & Co. Limited (together, we) refer to the profit forecasts comprising the statements made by Eaton in respect of the operating earnings per share and net income per share, for the year ending December 31, 2012 (the Profit Forecast) set out in Eatons Q2 earnings announcement dated 23 July 2012. The bases and assumptions upon which the Profit Forecast is based are set out in the Letter (as defined below) and will be included in the Proxy Filing to be issued by Eaton and sent to Cooper shareholders.
We have discussed the Profit Forecast (including the bases and assumptions on which it is made) with you as Directors of Eaton and with Ernst & Young LLP (Ernst & Young), Eatons reporting accountants. You have confirmed to us that all information relevant to the Profit Forecast has been disclosed to us.
We have also examined and discussed the accounting policies and bases of calculation for the Profit Forecast with you as Directors of Eaton and with Ernst & Young. We have also considered the letter from Ernst & Young dated 23 July 2012 addressed to yourselves and ourselves on this matter (the Letter). We have relied upon the accuracy and completeness of all of the financial and other information discussed with us and have assumed such accuracy and completeness for the purposes of providing this letter to you.
This letter is provided solely to the Directors of Eaton in connection with Rule 28 of the Irish Takeover Panel Act, 1997, Takeover Rules 2007 (as amended) and for no other purpose. Accordingly, save for any responsibility that we may have to the Directors of Eaton to whom this letter is expressly addressed, to the fullest extent permitted by law we do not assume any responsibility and will not accept any liability to any person for any loss suffered by any such person as a result of or in connection with this letter or the work undertaken in connection with this letter.
On the basis of the foregoing, each of us considers that the Profit Forecast, for which the Directors of Eaton are solely responsible, has been made with due care and consideration.
Each of Morgan Stanley & Co. Limited and Citigroup Global Markets Limited has given and not withdrawn its consent to the publication of the Profit Forecast with the inclusion of this letter and the references to its name in the form and context in which they appear.
Yours faithfully,
Colm Donlon Managing Director
For and on behalf of Morgan Stanley & Co. Limited |
Basil Geoghegan Managing Director
For and on behalf of Citigroup Global Markets Limited |
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