-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, BGLMFhEKobTvox3Cfi/KnQdw9LRpcoHJAtMMlD2BHME7lLkr4hDIh3NKR3+mZhSz aZpltvUbuxgZvr37wERZ5Q== 0000768158-96-000011.txt : 19961231 0000768158-96-000011.hdr.sgml : 19961231 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000768158-96-000011 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 8-K PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 2 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 19961223 ITEM INFORMATION: Other events ITEM INFORMATION: Financial statements and exhibits FILED AS OF DATE: 19961227 SROS: NASD SROS: PSE FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: NORTH STAR UNIVERSAL INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000768158 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: WHOLESALE-COMPUTER & PERIPHERAL EQUIPMENT & SOFTWARE [5045] IRS NUMBER: 410498850 STATE OF INCORPORATION: MN FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 8-K SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-10134 FILM NUMBER: 96686498 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 5353 WAYZATA BLVD STREET 2: PARK NATIONAL BANK BLDG STE 610 CITY: MINNEAPOLIS STATE: MN ZIP: 55416 BUSINESS PHONE: 612-941-76 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 610 PARK NATIONAL BANK BUILDING STREET 2: 5353 WAYZATA BOULEVARD CITY: MINNEAPOLIS STATE: MN ZIP: 55416 8-K 1 FORM 8-K SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 FORM 8-K Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): December 23, 1996. NORTH STAR UNIVERSAL, INC. (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) Minnesota 1-10134 41-0498850 (State or other jurisdiction (Commission (I.R.S. Employer of incorporation) File Number) Identification No.) 6479 City West Parkway Eden Prairie, Minnesota 55344 (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code) Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (612) 941-3200 Not Applicable (Former name or former address, if changed since last report.) 1 Item 5. Other Events As stated in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus, mailed to shareholders of North Star Universal, Inc. ("NSU") on November 26, 1996, in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors of NSU for use at the NSU Annual Meeting, one of the conditions to consummation of the Reorganization among NSU, NSU Merger Co. and Michael Foods, Inc. ("Michael") is receipt of a favorable tax ruling from the IRS or a tax opinion of counsel or independent certified accountants acceptable to both Michael and NSU. Michael and NSU jointly announced on Monday, December 23, 1996 that due to continuing delays with the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS"), they have elected to proceed with the Reorganization based upon the receipt of a mutually acceptable tax opinion of certified public accountants. As a result, the parties will withdraw a revenue ruling request that was filed nearly one year ago with the IRS. In a recent meeting with the IRS, Michael and NSU learned that it could take another six months, or longer, for the IRS to complete the ruling request process. The tax opinion will be based on customary reliance and subject to customary qualifications, to the effect that for federal income tax purposes: (I) The Merger will be treated as a tax-free reorganization within the meaning of Section 368 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), and no gain or loss will be recognized by any Michael stockholder upon receipt of New Michael Common Stock pursuant to the Merger. (ii) The Reverse Stock Split will not be treated as a stock distribution, or a transaction that has the effect of such a distribution, to which Sections 301, 305(b) or 305(c) of the Code apply. Accordingly, no taxable income will be recognized under such Sections by any of the shareholders of NSU, except for cash paid in lieu of fraction shares. (iii) The Distribution will qualify as a tax-free distribution under Section 355 and 368(a)(1)(D) of the Code, and no gain or loss will be recognized by any NSU shareholder upon the receipt of ENStar Common Stock pursuant to the Distribution (except upon the receipt of cash by an NSU shareholder in lieu of fractional shares of ENStar Common Stock). Also, the tax opinions described above will be based upon certain factual representations made by Michael and NSU. It is expected that the tax opinion will be obtained in early 1997, and that the transactions effecting the Merger will close in the first quarter of 1997, pending stockholder approvals and other closing conditions. Capitalized terms not defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus. 2 Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits (c) Exhibits 99. News Release dated December 23, 1996. 3 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, hereto duly authorized. NORTH STAR UNIVERSAL, INC. Date: December 23, 1996 By /s/ Peter E. Flynn --------------------------------------- Peter E. Flynn Executive Vice President, Secretary and Chief Financial Officer 4 EXHIBIT INDEX Exhibit Description of Exhibit Page Number - ------- ---------------------- ----------- 99 News Release dated December 23, 1996 6 5 EX-99 2 EXHIBIT 99 Exhibit 99 ---------- Contact: Peter E. Flynn, Executive Vice President, North Star Universal, Inc. (612) 941-3200 Contact: Mark D. Witmer, Assistant Treasurer, Michael Foods, Inc. (612) 546-1500 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MICHAEL FOODS AND NORTH STAR UNIVERSAL TO CLOSE MERGER BASED ON TAX OPINION - --------------------------------------------------------------------------- MINNEAPOLIS, December 23 -- Michael Foods, Inc. ("MFI") (Nasdaq/NMS:MIKL) and North Star Universal, Inc. ("NSU") (Nasdaq/NMS:NSRU) jointly announced today that due to continuing delays with the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS"), they have elected to proceed with the merger of the companies based upon the receipt of a mutually acceptable opinion of certified public accountants as to the tax consequences of the transactions. As a result, the parties will withdraw a revenue ruling request that was filed nearly one year ago with the IRS. In a recent meeting with the IRS, the companies learned that it could take another six months, or longer, for the IRS to complete the ruling request process. It is expected that the tax opinion will be obtained in early 1997 and that the transactions effecting the merger of the companies will be able to close in the first quarter of 1997, pending stockholder approvals and other closing conditions. Both MFI and NSU are holding stockholder meetings on December 30, 1996. As background, MFI and NSU previously announced that they had entered into an agreement which provides for a series of transactions. First, MFI will purchase and retire a portion of NSU's stock holdings in MFI by assuming NSU's net outstanding debt. NSU's remaining MFI stock holdings will be allocated pro rata to NSU's shareholders. The repurchase transaction will be accomplished through a business combination of MFI and NSU. In conjunction with this, ENStar Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of NSU, will hold NSU's non-food assets, including its computer networking companies, Americable, Inc. and Transition Networks, and an equity holding in CorVel Corporation. In the second part of the series of transactions, shares of ENStar Inc. will be spun-off to NSU's shareholders and will be publicly traded after the spin-off. The tax opinion will relate to the tax-free nature of the business combination and spin-off. Michael Foods, Inc. is a diversified food processor and distributor with particular interests in egg products, refrigerated grocery products, frozen and refrigerated potato products and specialty dairy products. Principal subsidiaries include M. G. Waldbaum Company, Crystal Farms Refrigerated Distribution Company, Northern Star Co. and Kohler Mix Specialties, Inc. 6 North Star's direct and indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries include Americable, Inc. and Transition Networks, Inc. Americable is a provider of connectivity and networking products and services. Transition Networks designs, manufactures and markets connectivity devices used in local area network ("LAN") applications. North Star also owns a 38% interest in Michael Foods, Inc. and a 26% interest in CorVel Corporation. # # # 12-23-96 7 -----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----