Diversified
industrial manufacturer Eaton Corporation and electrical equipment supplier
Cooper Industries plc today announced they have entered into a definitive
agreement under which Eaton will acquire Cooper in a transaction that will
significantly increase the capabilities and geographic breadth of the combined
company’s power management portfolio and electrical business.
The announcement required under the Irish Takeover Rules has been made (the
“Rule 2.5 Announcement”) and is available at www.eaton.com.
Founded in 1833, Cooper is a leading supplier of electrical equipment with a
wide range of electrical products including electrical protection, power
transmission and distribution, lighting and wiring components. This suite of
electrical products enhances customer energy efficiency and safety across a
number of end markets globally.
Founded in 1911, Eaton is a global power management company. Its electrical
business is a global leader in power distribution, power quality, control and
automation, power monitoring, and energy management products and services.
Eaton is positioned to answer today’s most critical power management challenges
through its electrical, aerospace, hydraulics and vehicle businesses.
At the close of the transaction, which is expected in the second half of 2012,
Eaton and Cooper will be combined under a new company incorporated in Ireland,
where Cooper is incorporated today. The newly created company, which is
expected to be called Eaton Global Corporation Plc or a variant thereof (“New
Eaton”), will be led by Alexander M. Cutler, Eaton’s current chairman and chief
executive officer.
“This compelling combination of Eaton’s power distribution and power quality
equipment and systems with Cooper’s diversified component brands, global reach
and international distribution creates a game changer to serve the electrical
industry,” said Cutler. “We’re excited about bringing together two great
companies to create shareholder value and continue our global growth. This
combination significantly expands our ability to better serve our customers
with their demands for critical energy saving technologies as they address the
impact of the world’s growing energy needs.”
“We are extremely pleased to become part of Eaton’s global electrical
business,” said Kirk Hachigian, chairman and chief executive officer of Cooper.
“This combination creates endless opportunities to accelerate growth and serve
our global customers through combining technology, distribution, penetrating
important vertical industries and entering new emerging markets. The two
companies are a perfect fit in every respect.”
The combined company would have had historical 2011 revenues of $21.5 billion
and EBITDA of $3.1 billion, and it is expected to enhance shareholder value by:
- Leveraging complementary product
offerings between Eaton and Cooper’s electrical businesses. - Accelerating long-term growth
potential by increasing exposure to attractive end markets and service
opportunities. - Better satisfying customer global
demands for energy efficiency and electrical safety. - Generating approximately $535
million in expected annual synergies by 2016 .
The Acquisition is expected to be accretive to operating earnings per share by
$0.35 in 2014 and by $0.45 in 2015. Excluding the non-cash expense related to
the amortization of intangibles arising from purchase accounting, the
Acquisition is expected to be accretive to operating earnings per share by
$0.65 in 2014 and by $0.75 in 2015. The Acquisition will be financed with a
mixture of cash, debt, and equity.
Under the terms of the Transaction Agreement, Cooper Shareholders will receive
$39.15 in cash and 0.77479 shares of New Eaton for each Cooper share. Based on
the Closing Price for Eaton common stock on Friday May 18, 2012, Cooper
Shareholders will receive cash and shares valued at $72.00 per share,
representing a premium of 29 percent and a total transaction equity value of
approximately $11.8 billion . Eaton Shareholders will receive one share of the
new company for each share of Eaton that they own upon closing. The transaction
will be taxable, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, to both the Eaton
Shareholders and the Cooper Shareholders.
Eaton Shareholders are expected to own approximately 73 percent of the combined
company while legacy Cooper Shareholders are expected to own approximately 27
percent. Shares of New Eaton will be registered with the U.S. SEC and are
expected to trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol ETN.
Eaton has secured a $6.75 billion fully underwritten bridge financing
commitment from Morgan Stanley Bank, N.A., Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc.
and Citibank, N.A. to finance the cash portion of the Acquisition. Eaton plans
to later refinance these bridge borrowings through a new term debt issuance,
use of cash on hand, and the possible sale of assets.
APPROVALS
The combination is subject to the terms of a Transaction Agreement among Eaton,
Cooper, New Eaton and certain other parties. The acquisition of Cooper by New
Eaton will be effected by means of a “scheme of arrangement” under Irish law
pursuant to which New Eaton will acquire all of the outstanding shares of
Cooper from Cooper Shareholders for cash and shares (the “Acquisition”). The
Acquisition will be subject to the terms and conditions to be set forth in the
scheme of arrangement document to be delivered to Cooper Shareholders. To
become effective, the scheme of arrangement will require, among other things,
the approval of a majority in number of Cooper Shareholders, present and voting
either in person or by proxy at a special Cooper Shareholder meeting,
representing 75 percent or more in value of the Cooper shares held by such
holders. Following the requisite Cooper Shareholder approval being obtained,
the sanction of the Irish High court is also required. In addition, the
Transaction Agreement must be adopted by shareholders holding two-thirds of the
outstanding voting shares of Eaton in a special shareholder meeting. The
Acquisition, which is unanimously recommended by the Boards of Directors of
both companies, also is subject to receipt of certain regulatory approvals and
certain other conditions, as more particularly set out in Appendix III to the
Rule 2.5 Announcement.
Conference call with Eaton and Cooper management
Eaton’s
and Cooper’s conference call to discuss this transaction is available to all
interested parties as a live teleconference today at 10 a.m., Eastern time, in
the U.S. at the following phone numbers: U.S.: 800 288 8960; international: +1
612 288 0340. The confirmation number is 249387. This news release can be
accessed under its headline on the Eaton home page at www.eaton.com. Also
available on the website prior to the call will be a presentation on this
transaction that will be covered during the call.
Information from Eaton news release
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