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): July 3, 2012
Ryerson Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware | 001-09117 | 36-3425828 | ||
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) |
(Commission File Number) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
227 W. Monroe, 27th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606
(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)
(312) 292-5000
(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:
¨ | 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 5.02 | Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers |
Ryerson Inc. (the Company) entered into an offer letter (the Offer Letter) effective June 29, 2012 with Edward J. Lehner, pursuant to which he was appointed to the position of Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, effective August 1, 2012. Mr. Lehner, 46, will replace William S. Johnson, 55, who has been acting as interim Ryerson CFO since April 12, 2012.
Prior to joining us, Mr. Lehner was employed as the Chief Financial Officer for PSC Metals, Inc. From 2004 to 2008, Mr. Lehner was the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for SeverCorr and, prior to that, he held several general management roles.
Pursuant to the terms of the Offer Letter, which is subject to Mr. Lehners execution of a confidentiality and trade secret agreement, Mr. Lehner will be entitled to an annual base salary of $450,000 per year and will have a target annual bonus opportunity equal to 75% of his base salary, based on the achievement of targets established pursuant to its Annual Incentive Plan. Additionally, Mr. Lehner will receive a one-time $200,000 gross payment that will be repayable in the event Mr. Lehner voluntarily leaves the Company within two years of August 1, 2012. Mr. Lehner will be eligible to receive an allocation of a number of performance units under the Amended and Restated Rhombus Holding Corporation 2009 Participation Plan that represents one percent (1%) of the management allocation. The Company will also be compensating Mr. Lehner for relocation expenses.
In the event that Mr. Lehners employment is terminated by the Company without cause, he will, subject to his execution of a general release in favor of the Company and its affiliates, be entitled to continue to receive his base salary for the lesser of (i) fifty-two (52) weeks following such termination, and (ii) the date on which Mr. Lehner secures employment, either as an employee or independent contractor, with Platinum Equity, LLC or any of its affiliates.
A copy of Mr. Lehners offer letter is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1 and is incorporated by reference herein. A copy of the Companys press release announcing Mr. Lehners appointment is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated by reference herein.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
d) Exhibits
The following exhibit is being filed with this Current Report on Form 8-K:
10.1 | Offer Letter Agreement, effective June 29, 2012, by and between Ryerson Inc. and Edward J. Lehner | |
99.1 | Press Release |
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.
Dated: July 3, 2012
RYERSON INC. | ||
By: | /s/ William S. Johnson | |
| ||
Name: | William S. Johnson | |
Title: | Interim Chief Financial Officer |
Exhibit 10.1
June 18, 2012
Mr. Edward J. Lehner [REDACTED]
Dear Eddie: | ||
Roger W. Lindsay Sr. VP Human Resources roger.lindsay@ryerson.com 312.292.5040 Direct 312.292.5320 Fax
227 W. Monroe, 27th Floor Chicago, Illinois 60606 |
We are pleased to offer you the position of Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Ryerson Inc. (the Company) reporting to the Chief Executive Officer.
| |
Below are the general terms and conditions of our offer. The Effective Date of this Agreement will be the date you are notified by me of the successful completion of a background investigation and your start date will be 1st August, 2012. This offer is contingent upon verification of your eligibility to work in the United States and execution by you of the Companys standard application form and employee confidentiality and trade secret agreements. | ||
COMPENSATION | ||
Your base annual salary will be $450,000, to be paid periodically in accordance with the Companys regular payroll process and procedures during your employment and will be subject to all required withholdings. Additionally, you will be eligible to participate in the Companys Annual Incentive Plan (AIP) program, commencing with the year 2012. Any 2012 payout will be prorated for the time you are employed by Ryerson. The AIP is 75% of base salary for on-target performance. | ||
On joining the company you will receive a one-time $200,000 gross payment. This payment will be repayable in the event that you voluntarily leave the company without Good Reason within two years of your start date. Any repayment obligation will be due within 90 days of your resignation without Good Reason. For purposes of this Agreement, you shall have Good Reason to resign from the Company if, without your prior written agreement: (i) your base salary is reduced; (2) your duties and responsibilities with the Company are materially changed; (3) your participation in the AIP is discontinued; and/or (4) you are assigned duties inconsistent with your status or position. | ||
You will be eligible to participate in the Companys Participation Plan (the Plan) subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, with an allocation of performance units equal to 1.0 percentage point of the management allocation. |
Mr. Edward Lehner | ||
Page 2 |
VACATION
You will be entitled to two (2) weeks of paid vacation for the balance of 2012 and four (4) weeks of paid vacation annually thereafter.
BENEFITS
You and your qualified dependents will be eligible for coverage under the Companys health insurance programs, which provide medical, dental and vision benefits under the terms of those plans. In addition, the Company provides life insurance, short-term and long-term disability benefits and voluntary life and accidental death and dismemberment insurance. You will also be eligible to enroll in the Companys 401(k) plan.
TEMPORARY LIVING
The company will, for a maximum period of twelve months from your start date (the Temporary Living Period), provide you with financial support to cover your temporary living expenses in Chicago. This financial support will be at a level sufficient to cover the following: (1) the rent of a studio apartment in the loop area of Chicago; (2) reasonable household living expenses including utilities, telephone, cable, rental furniture and internet access; and (3) one round trip economy ticket per week to Cleveland. All other expenses will be a cost to you.
RELOCATION ASSISTANCE
After your Temporary Living Period ends, the Company will provide relocation assistance, including home sale closing costs and real estate agent fees, home purchase closing costs, packing and transportation of household goods, two house hunting trips, final move expenses, and tax gross up per Ryerson policy, which provides a payment equal to the tax on the taxable reimbursements. Moving arrangements would be handled by Ryersons relocation management provider.
AT WILL EMPLOYMENT
Except as otherwise provided herein, your employment with the Company is at will, and either you or the Company may terminate your employment at any time, with or without cause. We ask that you give us at least 30 days notice if you wish to terminate your employment. |
Mr. Edward Lehner | ||
Page 3 |
SEVERANCE
In the event that the Company terminates your employment without Cause, then the Company shall pay you fifty-two (52) weeks (the Severance Period) of your then current base salary, which payment shall (a) be subject to and reduced by all necessary and required withholdings and deductions, (b) be paid to you in periodic installments in accordance with the Companys regular payroll schedule, and (c) be contingent upon your execution of a mutual release acceptable to you and the Company, through which you will release the Company and its affiliates from any and all claims and the Company and its affiliates shall similarly release you from any and all claims, as well as a non-compete agreement which shall limit you from competing with the Company during the Severance Period to the extent allowed by applicable law.
For purposes of this Agreement, the term Cause shall mean: (1) your repeated failure or refusal to perform your material duties and responsibilities provided such failure or refusal is not cured within 30 days of your receipt of the Companys written notice thereof; (2) the willful misappropriation of the funds or property of the Company; and (3) indictment, arrest or conviction in a court of law for, or the entering of a plea of guilty or no contest to, a felony.
This Agreement is intended to comply with Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code, to the extent applicable. Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, this Agreement shall be interpreted and administered consistent with this intent. If this Agreement provides for multiple severance payments, each separate payment provided pursuant to its terms shall be treated as a separate payment for purposes of Section 409A. In addition, if you are properly deemed a specified employee within the meaning of Section 409A, as determined by the Company under its Section 409A administrative policies, any severance payment made to you under this Agreement shall not be made earlier than six (6) months after the Termination Date to the extent necessary not to incur additional tax under Section 409(a)
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Companys obligation to make severance payments to you, if any, pursuant to this paragraph shall terminate in the event you secure employment, either as an employee or an independent contractor, with Platinum Equity LLC or one of its affiliates. Upon the expiration of the Companys obligation to make severance payments, any non-compete agreement will likewise terminate. |
Mr. Edward Lehner | ||
Page 4 |
NO EXISTING AGREEMENT VIOLATION
You warrant to the Company that you are not aware of any existing agreement between you and any third party that prohibits your employment by the Company. Further, to the extent that you are party to any confidentiality or nondisclosure agreement, you agree to comply with all such agreements and to not use any confidential trade secret information of any third party while employed by the Company.
GENERAL
You agree that the provisions of this letter are severable; and if any portion thereof shall be declared unenforceable, the same shall not affect the enforceability of all other provisions hereof. It is the intent of the parties to this letter that if any portion of this letter contains provisions which are held to be unreasonable then, in such event, a court shall fix the terms of this agreement or shall enforce the terms and provisions hereof to the extent deemed reasonable by the court.
This letter and the terms and conditions hereof are to be construed, governed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the state of Illinois, without giving effect to its conflict of law principles.
Should you have any questions about this letter, please contact Roger Lindsay at 312-292-5040. Two copies of this letter are enclosed. Please sign both copies and return one to me. | ||
Very truly yours, |
/s/ Roger W. Lindsay | ||
Roger W. Lindsay Senior Vice President, Human Resources | ||
AGREED TO AND ACCEPTED: | ||
/s/ Edward J. Lehner | ||
Edward J. Lehner Date 6/22/2012 | ||
On behalf of Ryerson Inc. | ||
/s/ Roger W. Lindsay | ||
Roger W. Lindsay Senior Vice President, Human Resources |
Exhibit 99.1
Ryerson 227 W. Monroe St. 27th Floor Chicago, Illinois 60606 312 292 5000 www.ryerson.com |
PRESS RELEASE
|
For additional information contact:
Roger Lindsay
Ryerson Inc.
312-292-5040
roger.lindsay@ryerson.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RYERSON NAMES EDWARD J. LEHNER AS CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
CHICAGO, IL July 2, 2012 Ryerson, a leading processor and distributor of metals in North America, today announced the appointment of Edward J. Lehner to the position of Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (CFO), effective August 1, 2012. Mr. Lehner, 46, was most recently CFO at PSC Metals. He replaces William S. Johnson, 55, who has been acting as interim Ryerson CFO since April 12, 2012.
We conducted an extensive search to find the best candidate who could help accelerate both our strategic imperatives and the continued transformation of our financial performance, said Ryerson Chief Executive Officer Mike Arnold. Eddie brings 20 years of experience in general management, strong financial controls, supply chain development and management, as well as a deep understanding of the operational side of the metals industry. We welcome him to the Ryerson team.
In recent months we have been fortunate to have the services of industry veteran Bill Johnson who has been serving as CFO on an interim basis. After Eddies appointment as CFO, Bill will stay onboard, in a consultative role, for a period long enough to ensure a smooth and seamless transition, said Mr. Arnold.
Mr. Lehners career began in 1989 with Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Ltd. in the audit, tax and IT practice in New York. In 1992 he joined Nucor and spent 10 years in various financial and operational roles including Group Controller and Director of Supply Chain and Logistics.
Ryerson 227 W. Monroe St. 27th Floor Chicago, Illinois 60606 312 292 5000 www.ryerson.com |
PRESS RELEASE
|
After leaving Nucor Mr. Lehner held several senior financial and general management roles for Birmingham Steel, Inc., Laurel Steel, SeverCorr and Greenseed Holdings, LLC.
Mr. Lehner holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Accounting from the University of Cincinnati and is a Certified Public Accountant. Memberships include Financial Executives International, Association for Corporate Growth and the Turnaround Management Association. Mr. Lehner will be based at Ryersons Chicago Headquarters.
About Ryerson Inc.
Ryerson Inc., a Platinum Equity company, is a leading North American processor and distributor of metals, with operations in the United States, Mexico, Canada, China and Brazil. The Company distributes and processes various kinds of metals, including stainless and carbon steel and aluminum products.
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