FORM 8-K
 

 
 
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): March 10, 2008
 
Cogdell Spencer Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
         
Maryland
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation)
  001-32649
(Commission File
Number)
  20-3126457
(IRS Employer
Identification Number)
     
4401 Barclay Downs Drive, Suite 300    
Charlotte, North Carolina
(Address of principal executive offices)
  28209
(Zip Code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (704) 940-2900
N/A
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)
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 (see General Instruction A.2. below):
o   Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
o   Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o   Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
o   Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
 
 

 


 

ITEM 2.01   Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets
Merger Agreement
On March 10, 2008, Cogdell Spencer Inc. (the “Company”) and its operating partnership, Cogdell Spencer LP (the “Operating Partnership”) completed a merger transaction through which they acquired MEA Holdings, Inc. (“MEA”). The transaction was effected pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) dated as of January 23, 2008, as amended, by and among the Company, the Operating Partnership, Goldenboy Acquisition Corp. (a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Operating Partnership), MEA, Marshall Erdman & Associates, Inc., Marshall Erdman Development, LLC, and David Pelisek, David Lubar and Scott Ransom, in their capacity as the Seller Representative.
The consideration payable in the merger transaction and in the contribution transactions described below consists of cash and limited partnership interests issued by the Operating Partnership (the “OP Units”). The Operating Partnership entered into contribution agreements with 40 of MEA’s stockholders (the “Contributors”) pursuant to which the Contributors agreed to “roll over” an aggregate of 1,265,393 shares of MEA (representing in the aggregate approximately 41% of MEA’s outstanding shares on a fully diluted basis) by exchanging those shares for OP Units. The exchange of those shares for OP Units was completed immediately before the completion of the merger provided for in the Merger Agreement (the “Merger”). In the Merger, all the shares of MEA (other than the shares acquired by the Operating Partnership) were converted into the right to receive an amount of cash to be calculated in accordance with the provisions of the Merger Agreement.
The cash consideration per share of MEA common shares payable in the Merger (the “cash consideration”) was calculated pursuant to a formula based on an “enterprise value” for 100% of MEA of $247 million, subject to certain adjustments. The aggregate cash consideration payable is reduced in proportion to the percentage of shares acquired for OP Units rather than cash. The number of OP Units per share of MEA issuable pursuant to the contribution agreements is the same value per share payable in cash under the Merger Agreement, based on a value of $17.01 per OP Unit. The OP Units issued in the transaction are of two types - “regular units” and “alternative units”. The regular units are exchangeable, after a one-year lock-up period, on a one-for-one basis, for shares of the Company’s common stock. The alternative units are substantially the same as the regular units except that they will not be exchangeable for shares of the Company’s common stock until the exchange feature is approved by the Company’s stockholders. If the Company’s stockholders do not approve the issuance of common stock upon an exchange of alternative units by the time of the Company’s third annual stockholder meeting following the date of issuance (i.e., the 2010 annual meeting), distributions payable per alternative unit will increase to an amount 5% per annum higher than the distributions payable per regular unit.
In connection with these transactions, the Company has entered into a registration rights agreement with the Contributors pursuant to which the Company has agreed to use commercially reasonable efforts to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) a shelf registration statement providing for the resale of the shares of common stock that may be acquired by holders of the OP units in connection with the exercise by such holders of the exchange rights associated with OP units. The registration rights agreement also provides that the Company will use commercially reasonable efforts to cause such shelf registration statement to be declared effective by the SEC, on the terms and conditions specified in the registration rights agreement.
The Merger Agreement provides that certain adjustments to the aggregate cash consideration paid will be made following the delivery of the final closing statement to the Seller Representative. A portion of the aggregate cash consideration has been deposited in an escrow account pending such adjustments. In the

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event that additional cash payments are owed to the former holders of MEA shares, the escrow agent shall pay to the former holders of MEA shares that were not exchanged for OP Units the pro rata cash amount owed to each such holder and the Operating Partnership will issue to the Contributors additional OP units in the same amount per share, based on $17.01 per OP Unit. The Merger Agreement also provides that a portion of the aggregate cash consideration to be paid to the former holders of shares of MEA will be held in escrow as security for certain indemnification obligations owed by such holders to the Operating Partnership and Goldenboy Acquisition Corp. under the Merger Agreement. Releases from this escrow will be treated in the same way.
In connection with the Merger, one of the former MEA shareholders, Lubar Capital LLC (“Lubar”), received the right to nominate one individual for election to the Company’s board of directors. Accordingly, the Company’s board of directors increased the size of the board of directors and elected David Lubar as a director on January 22, 2008. Lubar will continue to retain its right to nominate one individual for so long as Lubar and its affiliates continue to maintain at least 75% of their aggregate initial ownership measured in number of equity securities of the Company and its affiliates.
Marshall Erdman & Associates, Inc. and certain of its affiliates (the “Merging Companies”) and the former holders of MEA shares have agreed to indemnify the Company, the Operating Partnership and their respective affiliates against certain liabilities and losses resulting from the breach of any representation and warranty made by the Merging Companies in the Merger Agreement or other transaction documents and/or any breach or non-fulfillment of any agreement or covenant of the Merging Companies contained in the Merger Agreement. The Merging Companies also have agreed to indemnify the Company, the Operating Partnership and their respective affiliates against certain pre-closing tax and other liabilities.
The Operating Partnership and Goldenboy Acquisition Corp. have agreed to indemnify the Merging Companies and the former holders of MEA shares against certain liabilities and losses resulting from the breach of any representation or warranty made by the Operating Partnership and Goldenboy Acquisition Corp. in the Merger Agreement or other transaction documents and/or any breach or non-fulfillment of any of the Company’s agreements or covenants contained in the Merger Agreement. In addition, the Operating Partnership and Goldenboy Acquisition Corp. will pay to the former stockholders of MEA any refund received upon final resolution or settlement of certain tax issues relating to any pre-closing tax period.
Revolving Credit Facility
On March 10, 2008, the Company amended and restated its existing revolving credit facility, dated November 1, 2005, among the Company, the Operating Partnership, Bank of America, N.A., Citicorp North America, Inc., Branch Banking and Trust Company, Banc of America Securities LLC, Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and other lenders (the amended and restated revolving credit facility hereinafter referred to as the “Amended Revolving Facility”). Banc of America Securities LLC is acting as sole lead arranger and sole book manager of the Amended Revolving Facility. KeyBank National Association is acting as syndication agent. Branch Banking and Trust Company and Wachovia Bank, N.A are acting as co-documentation agents. Bank of America, N.A., KeyBank National Association, Branch Banking and Trust Company, Wachovia Bank, National Association , M&I Marshall and Ilsley Bank, and Citicorp North America, Inc. are lenders thereunder. The Amended Revolving Facility is secured by certain of the Company’s properties and is guaranteed by the Company and certain of its subsidiaries. The Amended Revolving Facility matures on the third anniversary of its closing, subject to a one-year extension at the Company’s option conditioned upon the lenders being satisfied with the Company and its subsidiaries’ financial condition and liquidity, and taking into consideration any payment, extension or refinancing of

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the Term Loan (as described below). The Amended Revolving Facility is cross defaulted against the Term Loan. The Company is subject to customary covenants including, but not limited to, (1) affirmative covenants relating to the Company’s corporate structure and ownership, maintenance of insurance, compliance with environmental laws and preparation of environmental reports, maintenance of the Company’s REIT qualification and listing on the NYSE, (2) negative covenants relating to restrictions on liens, indebtedness, certain investments (including loans and certain advances), mergers and other fundamental changes, sales and other dispositions of property or assets and transactions with affiliates, and (3) financial covenants to be met by the Company at all times including a maximum total leverage ratio (70%), maximum real estate leverage ratio (70%), minimum fixed charge coverage ratio (1.50 to 1.00), maximum total debt to real estate value ratio (90%) and minimum consolidated tangible net worth ($65 million plus 85% of the net proceeds of equity issuances issued after the closing date).
Term Loan
Goldenboy Acquisition Corp., as borrower, has $100 million available under a new senior secured term facility (the “Term Loan”) to finance the cash portion of the MEA transaction. Keybanc Capital Markets is acting as sole lead arranger and sole book manager of the Term Loan. Bank of America, N.A. is acting as syndication agent. Branch Banking and Trust Company and Wachovia Bank, N.A are acting as co-documentation agents. KeyBank National Association, Bank of America, N.A., Branch Banking and Trust Company, Wachovia Bank, National Association, M&I Marshall and Ilsley Bank, and Citicorp North America, Inc. are lenders thereunder. The Term Loan is secured by the stock and certain accounts receivables of MEA and its subsidiaries and is guaranteed by the Company. The Term Loan matures on the third anniversary of its closing and will be subject to a one-year extension at the Company’s option. The Term Loan contains customary covenants including, but not limited to, (1) affirmative covenants relating to the Company’s corporate structure and ownership, maintenance of insurance, compliance with environmental laws and preparation of environmental reports, maintenance of the Company’s REIT status and listing on the NYSE, (2) negative covenants relating to restrictions on liens, indebtedness, certain investments (including loans and certain advances), mergers and other fundamental changes, sales and other dispositions of property or assets and transactions with affiliates, and (3) financial covenants to be met by the Company at all times under the guaranty including a maximum total leverage ratio (70%), maximum real estate leverage ratio (70%), minimum fixed charge coverage ratio (1.50 to 1.00), maximum total debt to real estate value ratio (90%) and minimum consolidated tangible net worth ($65 million plus 85% of the net proceeds of equity issuances), as well as being cross defaulted to the Company’s Revolving Facility. In addition, there will be financial covenants relating only to MEA and its subsidiaries.
ITEM 2.03   Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant
Please see Item 2.01 above.
ITEM 3.02   Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities.
In connection with the Merger, the Operating Partnership issued 4,331,336 OP units pursuant to an exemption from registration under
Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Regulation D promulgated thereunder. Please see Item 2.01 above.
ITEM 5.02   Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
Please see Item 2.01 above.

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ITEM 9.01   Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(a) Financial Statements of Business Acquired
Audited financial statements for MEA will be filed under cover of a Form 8-K/A as soon as practicable, but no later than 71 days after the date on which this initial Form 8-K is required to be filed.
(b) Pro Forma Financial Information
Pro forma financial information for MEA will be filed under cover of a Form 8-K/A as soon as practicable, but no later than 71 days after the date on which this initial Form 8-K is required to be filed.

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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.
         
  COGDELL SPENCER INC.
 
 
  By:   /s/ Frank C. Spencer    
    Name:   Frank C. Spencer   
Date: March 14, 2008    Title:   Chief Executive Officer and President   
 

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