Diversified industrial manufacturer Eaton Corporation (NYSE:ETN) today
announced that it has completed several financing transactions in
advance of the Cooper Industries plc acquisition announced May 21, 2012.
These transactions both enhance the company’s liquidity position and
capitalize on favorable market conditions for investment grade corporate
debt. With these actions, Eaton has begun to establish the permanent
capital structure of the company associated with the closing of the
Cooper acquisition expected this fall.
The completed transactions include:
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Refinancing two revolving credit facilities that were to expire within
a year
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Two new $750 million facilities have been put in place to replace
two expiring $500 million facilities
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The new facilities will expire in June 2015, and June 2017
-
Additionally, Eaton’s $500 million facility expiring in June 2016
was amended to contemplate the Cooper transaction
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Total committed credit in Eaton’s revolving credit facilities is
now $2.0 billion, up from $1.5 billion
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Increasing the capacity of Eaton’s commercial paper program to $2.0
billion from $1.5 billion
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Issuing $300 million of 9-year notes and $300 million of 11-year notes
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Achieved historically low coupons of 3.47% on the 9-year notes and
3.68% on the 11-year notes
The additional credit capacity, liquidity and low-cost debt actions were
taken to enhance the company’s capital structure ahead of the Cooper
acquisition. All three credit facilities will remain effective and in
place under the new Irish parent company.
Eaton Corporation is a diversified power management company with more
than 100 years of experience providing energy-efficient solutions that
help our customers effectively manage electrical, hydraulic and
mechanical power. With 2011 sales of $16.0 billion, Eaton is a global
technology leader in electrical components, systems and services for
power quality, distribution and control; hydraulics components, systems
and services for industrial and mobile equipment; aerospace fuel,
hydraulics and pneumatic systems for commercial and military use; and
truck and automotive drivetrain and powertrain systems for performance,
fuel economy and safety. Eaton has approximately 72,000 employees and
sells products to customers in more than 150 countries. For more
information, visit www.eaton.com.
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 preliminary Joint Proxy Statement of Eaton Corporation
(“Eaton”) and Cooper Industries plc (“Cooper”) that also constitutes a
preliminary Prospectus of Eaton Corporation plc1. The
registration statement has not yet become effective. Eaton and Cooper
plan to mail 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 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 will be able to 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.
In addition, investors and shareholders will be able to 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, OH 44114 or by calling
(888) 328-6647, and will be able to 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 4446, 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, will be set forth
in the definitive Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus when it is filed with
the SEC. Information regarding Cooper’s directors and executive officers
is contained in Cooper’s 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 Eaton’s
directors and executive officers is contained in Eaton’s 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 presentation 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.
No statement in this presentation is intended to constitute a profit
forecast for any period, nor should any statements be interpreted to
mean that earnings or earnings per share will necessarily be greater or
lesser than those for the relevant preceding financial periods for Eaton.
Statement Required by the Takeover Rules
The directors of Eaton Corporation accept responsibility for the
information contained in this communication. To the best knowledge and
belief of the directors of Eaton Corporation (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).
1 Currently named Eaton Corporation Limited but expected to
be re-registered as Eaton Corporation plc prior to the consummation of
the transaction.
