-----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, EpbFqI6iGm88bwcojS0cGAR6ZSyTAns3QO8nyyUvx/PzNPlwhbeBgxDDWVavbq2w AQOKoatRZ0DSOUFxFZuq4w== 0001047469-97-007341.txt : 19971211 0001047469-97-007341.hdr.sgml : 19971211 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001047469-97-007341 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 8-K PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 3 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 19971125 ITEM INFORMATION: ITEM INFORMATION: ITEM INFORMATION: FILED AS OF DATE: 19971210 SROS: NYSE FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: SUIZA FOODS CORP CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000931336 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: ICE CREAM & FROZEN DESSERTS [2024] IRS NUMBER: 752559681 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 8-K SEC ACT: SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-12755 FILM NUMBER: 97735839 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 3811 TURTLE CREEK BLVD STREET 2: STE 1300 CITY: DALLAS STATE: TX ZIP: 75219 BUSINESS PHONE: 2145289922 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 3811 TURTLE CREEK BLVD STREET 2: SUITE 1300 CITY: DALLAS STATE: TX ZIP: 75219 8-K 1 FORM 8-K SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, DC 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 10, 1997 (NOVEMBER 25, 1997) SUIZA FOODS CORPORATION ------------------------------------------------------ (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER) DELAWARE 1-12755 75-2559681 -------- ------- ----------- (STATE OR OTHER (COMMISSION FILE (IRS EMPLOYER JURISDICTION OF NUMBER) IDENTIFICATION NO.) INCORPORATION) 3811 TURTLE CREEK BLVD., SUITE 1300 DALLAS, TEXAS 75219 ---------------------------------------------------- (ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES) (ZIP CODE) REGISTRANT'S TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE: (214) 528-0939 1 Item 2. ACQUISITION OR DISPOSITION OF ASSETS. (a) On November 25, 1997, Suiza Foods Corporation (the "Registrant") completed the acquisition of Country Fresh, Inc. ("Country Fresh"). The acquisition was effected through the merger (the "Country Fresh Merger") of CF Acquisition Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Registrant ("CFAC"), with and into Country Fresh pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the "Country Fresh Agreement"), dated as of September 18, 1997, by and among the Registrant, CFAC, and Country Fresh. Pursuant to the Country Fresh Agreement, each former holder of common stock, no par value, of Country Fresh ("Country Fresh Common Stock") has the right to receive, in exchange for each such share, 0.5454 shares of the common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Registrant ("Suiza Common Stock"), along with an amount in cash (without interest) in lieu of fractional shares of Suiza Common Stock at the rate of $40.00 per share of Suiza Common Stock. Each former holder of preferred stock, no par value, of Country Fresh has the right to receive, in exchange for each such share, one share of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Registrant. To the extent that cash was required in order to discharge indebtedness of Country Fresh at the closing of the Country Fresh Merger, the Registrant borrowed the necessary funds under its senior credit facility with a group of banks led by First Union National Bank and First National Bank of Chicago (the "Facility"). The consideration for the Country Fresh Merger was determined by arm's-length negotiations between representatives of the Registrant and Country Fresh based on a number of factors, as more fully disclosed in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus of Country Fresh dated October 24, 1997. Country Fresh's shareholders approved the Country Fresh Agreement and the Country Fresh Merger at a special meeting held on November 25, 1997. The approval of the Registrant's stockholders was not required with respect to the Country Fresh Merger. At the time of the Country Fresh Merger, Country Fresh and its subsidiaries owned certain plant, equipment, and other physical property devoted principally to the production of dairy products. The Registrant intends to continue to devote such acquired assets to these purposes. (b) On November 26, 1997, the Registrant completed the acquisition of The Morningstar Group Inc. ("Morningstar"). The acquisition was effected through the merger (the "Morningstar Merger") of SF Acquisition Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Registrant ("SFAC"), with and into Morningstar pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the "Morningstar Agreement"), dated as of September 28, 1997, by and among the Registrant, SFAC, and Morningstar. 2 Pursuant to the Morningstar Agreement, each former holder of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Morningstar ("Morningstar Common Stock") has the right to receive, in exchange for each such share, 0.85 shares of Suiza Common Stock, along with an amount in cash in lieu of fractional shares of Suiza Common Stock at the rate of $53.20 per share of Suiza Common Stock. To the extent that cash was required in order to discharge indebtedness of Morningstar at the closing of the Morningstar Merger, the Registrant borrowed the necessary funds under the Facility. The consideration for the Morningstar Merger was determined by arm's-length negotiations between representatives of the Registrant and Morningstar based on a number of factors, as more fully disclosed in the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus of the Registrant and Morningstar dated October 28, 1997. The Registrant's stockholders approved the issuance of shares of Suiza Common Stock pursuant to the Morningstar Agreement at a special meeting held on November 26, 1997. Such approval was required by the Registrant's listing agreement with the New York Stock Exchange. Morningstar's stockholders also approved the Morningstar Agreement and the Morningstar Merger at a special meeting held on November 26, 1997. At the time of the Morningstar Merger, Morningstar and its subsidiaries owned certain plant, equipment, and other physical property devoted principally to the production of dairy and related non-dairy products. The Registrant intends to continue to devote such acquired assets to these purposes. ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS. On December 1, 1997, the Registrant issued a press release announcing the closings of the Country Fresh Merger and the Morningstar Merger, a copy of which is filed herewith as Exhibit 99.1. ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS. (a) FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF BUSINESSES ACQUIRED. Pursuant to General Instruction B.3. of Form 8-K, no financial statements are required in this filing because substantially the same information as that required has been previously reported by the Registrant in Form S-4 registration statements related to the Country Fresh Merger and the Morningstar Merger, which were declared effective on October 24, 1997 and October 28, 1997, respectively. 3 (b) PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION. Pursuant to General Instruction B.3. of Form 8-K, no PRO FORMA financial information is required in this filing because substantially the same information as that required has been previously reported by the Registrant in Form S-4 registration statements related to the Country Fresh Merger and the Morningstar Merger, which were declared effective on October 24, 1997 and October 28, 1997, respectively. (c) EXHIBITS. See "Index to Exhibits." 4 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. Dated: December 10, 1997 SUIZA FOODS CORPORATION By: /s/ Tracy L. Noll ---------------------------------- Tracy L. Noll VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER 5 INDEX TO EXHIBITS Exhibit Number Description - ------- ----------- 2.1 Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of September 18, 1997, by and among the Registrant, CFAC, and Country Fresh (incorporated by reference to Appendix A to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-4 (Registration No. 333-37861)). 2.2 Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of September 28, 1997, by and among the Registrant, SFAC, and Morningstar (incorporated by reference to Appendix A to the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-4 (Registration No. 333-37869)). 4.1 Suiza Foods Corporation Certificate of Designation of Preferences of Series A Preferred Stock. 99.1 Press Release dated December 1, 1997. 6 EX-4.1 2 CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION OF PREFERENCES EXHIBIT 4.1 SUIZA FOODS CORPORATION CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION OF PREFERENCES OF SERIES A PREFERRED STOCK The undersigned, Gregg L. Engles, does hereby certify: (a) that he is, and at all times mentioned herein was, the duly elected and acting Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Suiza Foods Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Corporation"); (b) that the Corporation's Certificate of Incorporation filed on September 19, 1994, as amended (the "Certificate of Incorporation") authorizes the directors to adopt resolutions fixing the voting powers, designations, preferences, rights and qualifications, limitations or restrictions of any series of Preferred Stock; and (c) the Board of Directors adopted the following resolution by unanimous written consent dated October 20, 1997: WHEREAS, the Certificate of Incorporation authorizes a class of stock designated Preferred Stock (the "Preferred Stock"), comprising 1,000,000 shares, par value $0.01 per share, and provides that such Preferred Stock may be issued from time to time in one or more series, and vests authority in the Board of Directors of the Corporation, within the limitations and restrictions stated in Article IV of the Certificate of Incorporation, to fix or alter the voting powers, designations, preferences and relative participating, optional or other special rights, rights and terms of redemption, the redemption price or prices and the liquidation preferences of any wholly unissued series of Preferred Stock within the limitations set forth in the Delaware General Corporation Law; WHEREAS, the Corporation has not previously filed with the Secretary of the State of Delaware a "Certificate of Designation of Preferences of Preferred Stock" with respect to any shares of the Corporation's authorized but unissued Preferred Stock; WHEREAS, based on the foregoing, there remains the full 1,000,000 shares of the Corporation's authorized but unissued Preferred Stock eligible for designation by the Corporation with respect to new series thereof; WHEREAS, the Corporation proposes to make an offering of up to 11,691 shares of a new series of Preferred Stock (the "Offering"); and WHEREAS, it is the desire of the Board of Directors to designate a series of Preferred Stock and to fix the powers, preferences and rights, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof in connection with the Offering; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Corporation, does hereby designate 11,691 shares of authorized but unissued Preferred Stock as Series A Preferred Stock (the "Series A Preferred Stock"), and does hereby fix the voting powers, preferences, and relative participation, optional, or other special rights and qualifications, limitations, or restrictions thereof as follows: 1. STATED VALUE. The Series A Preferred Stock shall have a stated value of $320 per share. 2. DIVIDENDS. The holders of Series A Preferred Stock, in preference to the holders of the Common Stock, shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors, out of funds legally available to distribution to stockholders, cumulative dividends of $25.60 per share per annum, and no more. Dividends shall accumulate and (if declared) be payable semiannually on the first day of March and September in each year (each a "Dividend Payment Date" or collectively, "Dividend Payment Dates"), commencing March 1, 1998, except that if any Dividend Payment Date is not a business day in Dallas, Texas, then such semi-annual dividend shall be payable on the next succeeding business day and such next succeeding business day shall be the Dividend Payment Date. Dividends on the shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall accrue and be cumulative from the date of their original issue and (if declared) will be payable on each Dividend Payment Date to stockholders of record on the record date, which shall be not more than 45 days nor less than 10 days preceding such Dividend Payment Date, fixed for such purpose by Board of Directors in advance of such Dividend Payment Date. If no date is fixed by the Board of Directors, the record date shall be 10 days preceding the Dividend Payment Date. The amount of dividends payable on shares of Series A Preferred Stock for each full semiannual dividend period shall be computed by dividing $25.60 by two. Dividends payable on the Series A Preferred Stock for any period less than a full semiannual period shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months; provided, however, that the dividends payable on the Series A Preferred Stock for the initial dividend period shall be $12.80. Notwithstanding the foregoing, and except as provided below in Section 4 with respect to certain redemptions, dividends on the Series A Preferred Stock do not accrue until the applicable Dividend Payment Date, at which time they accrue in full. Dividends paid on shares of Series A Preferred Stock in an amount less than the total amount of the dividends at the time, accumulated and payable on such shares shall be allocated PRO RATA on a share-by-share basis among all such shares at the time outstanding. No interest shall be payable on any dividends paid after the applicable Dividend Payment Date. So long as any shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be outstanding, no dividend shall be paid or declared, no funds shall be set aside for payment of dividends, and no distribution shall be made on the Common Stock or other Preferred Stock of the Corporation ranking junior to the Series A Preferred Stock until all dividends accrued on the Series A Preferred Stock have been paid for the current and all prior dividend periods. 3. LIQUIDATION PREFERENCE. Upon the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary, the holders of Series A Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive in full out of the assets of the Corporation available for distribution to stockholders, including its capital, before any amount shall be paid to, or distributed among, the holders of Common Stock or other Preferred Stock ranking junior to the Series A Preferred Stock, the sum of $320 per share, plus all accrued and unpaid dividends to the time of payment. 4. REDEMPTION. 4.01 OPTION TO REDEEM. Outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock may be redeemed, as a whole or in part, at the option of the Corporation by vote of its Board of Directors at any time or from time to time, upon no less than 30 or more than 120 days' notice. If less than all the outstanding shares of the Series A Preferred Stock are to be redeemed, the shares to be redeemed shall be determined by lot or pro rata, in the manner that the Board of Directors prescribes. The redemption price for shares of the Series A Preferred Stock shall be $320 per share plus accrued and unpaid dividends to the date fixed for redemption. For purposes of redemptions made under this Section 4.01 only, pro rata dividends on any shares of Series A Preferred Stock to be redeemed shall be deemed to accrue as of the date fixed for redemption upon satisfaction of the requirements set forth in Section 4.03 below. 4.02 NOTICE. Written notice of redemption shall be given to each holder of record of the shares of Series A Preferred Stock to be redeemed, by mailing a notice of redemption to the holder by first class mail, at the holder's address as it shall appear on the stock record books of the Corporation, at least 30 days and not more than 120 days before the date fixed for redemption. Each notice shall specify the shares of stock to be redeemed, the redemption price, the date fixed for redemption, the place for payment of the redemption price and for surrender of the certificate representing the shares to be redeemed, and if less than the total number of shares held by the holder are to be redeemed, the number of shares of the holder to be redeemed. 4.03 SET ASIDE OF REDEMPTION FUNDS. If notice of redemption shall have been given as provided in Section 4.02 and if, on or before the date fixed for redemption, the redemption price shall have been provided and set aside by the Corporation (with a bank with trust powers or in a separate account of the Corporation) for the pro rata benefit of the holders of the shares called for redemption, then, from and after the date fixed for redemption, the shares of Series A Preferred Stock called for redemption shall no longer be deemed outstanding, the dividends on the shares shall cease to accumulate, and all rights with respect to the shares shall cease and terminate, except only the right of the holders of the shares to receive the redemption price of the shares called for redemption, but without interest. The Board of Directors may designate a bank with trust powers as a depositary of the funds to be used for redemption of the shares and as agent of the Corporation for the giving of the notices of redemption, the receipt of the shares called for redemption and the payment of the redemption price, the acts of the designated agent on behalf of the Corporation to be as effective and to have the same results as if the acts were done by the Corporation. Any monies deposited by the Corporation with a designated bank and unclaimed at the end of six years from the date fixed for redemption shall be repaid to the Corporation upon its request, after which repayment the holders of the shares called for redemption shall look only to the Corporation for the payment of those monies. 4.04 NO SINKING FUND. The Corporation shall not be obligated to make payments into or to maintain any sinking fund for the Series A Preferred Stock. 5. VOTING. Each share of Series A Preferred Stock shall have one vote on all matters upon which holders of Common Stock are entitled to vote. Shares of Series A Preferred Stock and shares of Common Stock shall be treated as one class or series of shares for all voting purposes except to the extent a class or series vote is provided by law. 6. PREEMPTIVE RIGHTS. No holders of any shares of Series A Preferred Stock, as such, shall have any preemptive or preferential right to subscribe for or purchase any shares of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation, now or later authorized, or any securities convertible into, or carrying options or warrants to purchase, shares of any class or series, now or later authorized, whether issued for cash, property, services, by way of dividends or otherwise. 7. LIMITATIONS. In addition to other rights as may be provided under applicable law, without the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding Series A Preferred Stock, the Corporation may not authorize or create any class or series of stock ranking prior to the Series A Preferred Stock with respect to dividends or the distribution of assets in liquidation. The undersigned further certifies that the authorized number of shares of Preferred Stock is 1,000,000 and that the number of shares of this series of Preferred Stock, the Series A Preferred Stock, none of which has been issued, is 11,691. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Suiza has caused this Certificate to be executed by its duly authorized representative as of November 17, 1997. SUIZA FOODS CORPORATION By: /s/ Gregg L. Engles ----------------------------------- Name: Gregg L. Engles Title: Chairman and Chief Executive Officer ATTEST: By: /s/ Tracy L. Noll --------------------------- Name: Tracy L. Noll Title: Secretary EX-99.1 3 COMPANY PRESS RELEASE EXHIBIT 99.1 7:32 am Eastern Time Company Press Release Suiza Foods Completes Mergers With The Morningstar Group and Country Fresh DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--December 1, 1997--Suiza Foods Corporation (NYSE:SZA) today announced that it has completed the previously announced mergers with The Morningstar Group, Inc. and Country Fresh, Inc. following approval of the transactions by shareholders of all three Companies. The Morningstar Group (NASDAQ:MSTR) based in Dallas, Texas is a leading manufacturer and distributor of dairy and non-dairy specialty foods. During its 1996 fiscal year, Morningstar reported net sales of $394 million. Country Fresh, headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan reported revenues of $353 million in its most recent fiscal year. Gregg L. Engles, Suiza's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "With the completion of these mergers Suiza has become the largest dairy company in the nation with more than $2 billion in revenues and the widest selection of dairy case products available. Our combination with Morningstar creates a national manufacturing and distribution network that broadens the audience for our combined products as well as improves our efficiency. Country Fresh provides us entry into the southern Michigan, Indiana and Ohio markets as the leading manufacturer and distributor of a broad line of products and serving supermarkets, institutions, convenience and specialty stores. The benefits of these mergers are expected to make future acquisitions more accretive and substantially improve our ability to expand our business on a national platform." Suiza Foods is a Dallas-based consolidator of distribution oriented food businesses. Its principal holdings are in the dairy processing, refrigerated, shelf-stable and frozen food products, packaged ice and plastic container industries and include Suiza Dairy and the Garrido Coffee Company in Puerto Rico, The Morningstar Group, Inc., Country Fresh, Inc. in Michigan, Velda Farms Dairy in Florida, Swiss Dairy in California, Model Dairy in Nevada, Dairy Fresh in North Carolina, Country Delite Farms in Tennessee, Garelick Farms in New England, Franklin Plastics, and Reddy Ice, the largest packaged ice company in the United States. Statements in this press release other than statements of historical fact may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements, as well as Suiza's future financial condition and results, are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially from the results discussed in these forward looking statements. Factors that might cause such a difference include, but are not limited to: (i) a lack of suitable acquisition candidates at acceptable prices and other limitations on Suiza's ability to pursue its acquisition strategy, (ii) significant competition, (iii) fluctuating raw material costs, (iv) limitations arising from Suiza's substantial indebtedness, (v) government regulation, and (vi) various risks related to the proposed Morningstar and Country Fresh acquisitions, including the risk that expected cost savings cannot be fully realized, that revenues following the mergers are lower than expected, and that costs or difficulties related to integrating the merged businesses are greater than expected. Additional information concerning these and other risk factors are contained in Suiza's latest Annual Report on Form 10-K and in each of Suiza's other recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), copies of which are available from the SEC and can be obtained from Suiza upon request. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Contact: SUIZA FOODS CORPORATION Tracy Noll, 214/528-0939 or Morgen-Walke Associates: June Filingeri, John Blackwell Media contact: Miriam Adler, Erika Brown 212/850-5600 -----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----