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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
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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): January 29, 2001
UNIVERSAL COMPRESSION HOLDINGS, INC.
UNIVERSAL COMPRESSION, INC.
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(Exact names of registrants as specified in their charters)
DELAWARE 001-15843 13-3989167
TEXAS 333-48279 74-1282680
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(States or other (Commission File (IRS Employer
jurisdictions of Numbers) Identification
incorporation) Nos.)
4440 BRITTMOORE ROAD, HOUSTON, TEXAS 77041
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(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
(713) 335-7000
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(Registrants' telephone number, including area code)
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Item 5. Other Events.
Earnings Release and Public Conference Call. Universal Compression
Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), issued a press release
on January 17, 2001 announcing earnings for the third quarter of fiscal year
2001, which quarter ended on December 31, 2000. A copy of the press release is
filed herewith as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference.
During a public conference call on January 17, 2001 to discuss third
quarter earnings and other corporate matters, which was broadcast live over the
Internet, the Company indicated that the rental revenue growth during the third
quarter reflected an increase in the Company's available horsepower as well as
increase in the overall utilization of its fleet. Available horsepower at
December 31, 2000 was 846,000. The Company's average horsepower utilization rate
had improved from an average rate of 88.6% during the third fiscal quarter of
2001 to 90% at December 31, 2000 and had continued slightly above the 90% level
as of the date of the call. The Company stated that it has fully integrated Gas
Compression Services Inc. ("GCSI") during the quarter, which it acquired on
September 15, 2000, and the acquisition has achieved its synergy target of
approximately $2 million of annual cost savings. Based upon GCSI's contribution
to EBITDA during the current quarter, the Company expects the GCSI acquisition
to contribute approximately $15 million to EBITDA on an annual basis, including
the achieved synergies. Not taking into account the pending acquisition of
Weatherford Global Compression Services, L.P. ("Weatherford Global"), during the
quarter ending March 31, 2001, the Company expects (1) to add 40,000 horsepower
to its fleet, (2) to spend approximately $22 million to $26 million on capital
expenditures and (3) that revenues for the Company's engineered products segment
will be approximately $14 million to $18 million with gross margins of
approximately 11% to 13%. The Company discussed two new pending projects: 4,000
horsepower to be added in Argentina during the quarter ending on June 30, 2001,
and an additional 6,000 horsepower under a sales and maintenance contract in
Mexico, to be operational in April or possibly March of 2001. The new Mexico
project is expected to generate a one-time increase to revenues associated with
the sale of equipment at approximately $7 million, with a gross margin of
approximately 10%. The Company's criteria for fabricating or acquiring domestic
compressor equipment for the fleet is to obtain an EBITDA return on its capital
investment of about 20% to 21%. In its international markets, the Company
targets a premium to the domestic return for an overall EBITDA return on its
international investments of at least 25%. Over the past 18 months, the Company
has experienced these levels of return on its investments. EBITDA is defined
as net income plus income taxes, interest expense, leasing expense, management
fees, depreciation and amortization, excluding non-recurring items and
extraordinary gains or losses.
During the January 17, 2001 conference call, the Company addressed the
pending acquisition of Weatherford Global, which is currently expected to close
in the first half of February 2001. The Company disclosed that it expects to
eliminate 250 to 300 positions as well as 17 domestic field services offices,
which, along with other factors, is expected to result in approximately $20
million of annual cost savings by the end of fiscal 2002. Based upon the current
levels of activity at the time of the WGC acquisition, the combined company is
expected to generate approximately $460 million to $485 million in annual
revenues and the corresponding EBITDA, including the full amount of the
estimated $20 million of annual cost savings, is expected to be approximately
$165 million to $185 million. Approximately 45% to 50% of revenues at the outset
of the combination is expected to result from domestic rentals, with
international rentals accounting for 12% to 14%, engineered products accounting
for 20% to 25% and parts and service revenues at 15%. The expected gross margins
after the cost savings are realized are 62% to 65% for the domestic rental
business, 66% to 70% for the international rental business, 10% to 13% for
engineered products and 23% to 27% for parts and service. The Company
anticipates that capital expenditures of the combined company during fiscal 2002
will be approximately $170 million to $220 million,
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including approximately $25 million of maintenance capital expenditures.
Following the Weatherford Global acquisition, the Company anticipates that
average horsepower utilization rates for the domestic fleet and the
international fleet will drop initially to the mid 80% range and the low 90%
range, respectively. As a result of the WGC acquisition, the Company expects to
add approximately $75 million to $150 million to Universal's current goodwill,
net of amortization.
Consent Solicitation. On January 21, 2001 and January 26, 2001,
Universal Compression, Inc., a Texas corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of
the Company, issued press releases announcing the extension, and subsequent
termination, of its tender offer and consent solicitation for its 9 7/8% Senior
Discount Notes due 2008. Copies of such releases are filed as Exhibits 99.2 and
99.3, respectively, and incorporated herein by reference.
Acquisition Related Financings. In the financing transactions related
to the pending Weatherford Global acquisition, the Company intends to raise at
least $427 million through a new operating lease facility to be funded primarily
through an offering of $350 million in senior secured notes by an unaffiliated
entity. The Company also intends to enter into a new secured revolving credit
facility of up to $125 million and a new asset-backed securitization operating
lease facility of up to $200 million (the "ABS Operating Lease Facility"). The
Company initially expects to fund approximately $75 million under the ABS
Operating Lease Facility and expects to have no amounts outstanding under the
new revolving credit facility. The proceeds from the two operating lease
facilities will be used to refinance certain existing indebtedness and
restructure existing operating lease obligations of Weatherford Global and the
Company. Completion of these proposed financing transactions is subject to the
closing of the Weatherford Global acquisition, market conditions and other
customary closing conditions. The Company filed a press release regarding the
proposed financing transactions, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.4 and
incorporated herein by reference.
The securities have not been and will not be registered under the
Securities Act or applicable state securities laws and may not be offered or
sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from
registration requirements. This communication shall not constitute an offer to
sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the securities.
Definitive Proxy Statement Supplement Filed. On January 29, 2001, the
Company filed a supplement dated January 26, 2001 to the definitive Proxy
Statement dated December 27, 2000 with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(the "Proxy Statement Supplement"). The Proxy Statement Supplement updates the
proposed financing transactions in connection with the Weatherford Global
acquisition and informs shareholders that the special meeting will be convened
on February 6, 2001 and then adjourned until Friday, February 9, 2001. The Proxy
Statement Supplement is incorporated herein by reference as Exhibit 99.5.
The Proxy Statement Supplement includes revised unaudited pro forma
combined condensed financial information to illustrate the effect of the
proposed Weatherford Global acquisition and related financing transactions. Such
pro forma information is based on the historical financial statements of the
Company and Enterra Compression Company, which have been previously filed by the
Company, and has been prepared to illustrate the effect of the
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proposed acquisition and related financing transactions described herein. The
unaudited pro forma combined condensed information is provided for informational
purposes only and does not purport to represent what the Company's financial
position or results of operations would actually have been had the acquisition
occurred on such dates or to project its results of operations or financial
position for any future period.
General. The Weatherford Global acquisition is subject to various
conditions, including the approval by the Company's shareholders of the issuance
of shares as consideration for the acquisition, financing conditions and other
customary closing conditions. There can be no assurance that the acquisition
will be consummated, or that any or all of the proposed financing transactions
will be obtained or, if obtained, will be on terms favorable to the Company.
Statements about the Company's outlook and all other statements contained
herein other than historical facts are forward-looking statements made pursuant
to the Safe Harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995. These forward-looking statements rely on a number of assumptions
concerning future performance and events and are subject to a number of
uncertainties and factors, many of which are outside the Company's control,
which could cause actual results to differ materially from such statements.
While the Company believes that the assumptions concerning future events are
reasonable, it cautions that there are inherent difficulties in predicting
certain important factors that could impact the future performance or results of
its business. Among the important factors that could cause actual results to
differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements are
successful completion of growth and service projects, the proposed Weatherford
Global acquisition and the proposed financing transactions, integration of
recent acquisitions, future sales and profits, unfavorable financing terms and
conditions, competition, the impact of general economic factors and other
factors. These risk factors, when applicable, are discussed in the Company's
filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, copies of which are
available to the public. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to
revise or update any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new
information, future events, or otherwise.
Item 7. Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits.
(c) Exhibits
Exhibit No. Description
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99.1 Press Release of Universal Compression Holdings, Inc. dated
January 17, 2001.
99.2 Press Release of Universal Compression, Inc. dated January
21, 2001.
99.3 Press Release of Universal Compression, Inc. dated January
26, 2001.
99.4 Press Release of Universal Compression Holdings, Inc. dated
January 26, 2001.
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99.5 Supplement dated January 26, 2001 to the definitive Proxy
Statement of Universal Compression Holdings, Inc. dated
December 27, 2000 as filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (Commission File No. 001-15843) (incorporated
herein by reference).
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SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the registrants have duly caused this report to be signed on their behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
UNIVERSAL COMPRESSION HOLDINGS, INC.
UNIVERSAL COMPRESSION, INC.
(Registrants)
Date: January 29, 2001 By: /s/ RICHARD W. FITZGERALD
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Richard W. FitzGerald
Senior Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer
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EXHIBIT INDEX
EXHIBIT
NUMBER DESCRIPTION
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99.1 Press Release of Universal Compression Holdings, Inc. dated
January 17, 2001.
99.2 Press Release of Universal Compression, Inc. dated January
21, 2001.
99.3 Press Release of Universal Compression, Inc. dated January
26, 2001.
99.4 Press Release of Universal Compression Holdings, Inc. dated
January 26, 2001.
99.5 Supplement dated January 29, 2001 to the definitive Proxy
Statement of Universal Compression Holdings, Inc. dated
December 27, 2000 as filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (Commission File No. 001-15843) (incorporated
herein by reference).