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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
Commission file number 1-10308
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October 14, 1998 (October 13, 1998)
(Date of Report (date of earliest event reported))
Cendant Corporation
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware 06-0918165
(State or Other Jurisdiction of (IRS Employer
Incorporation or Organization) Identification No.)
6 Sylvan Way,
Parsippany, New Jersey 07054
(Address of Principal Executive Office) (Zip Code)
(973) 428-9700
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
None
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if applicable)
Item 5. Other
Cendant and American Bankers Terminate Merger Agreement; Cendant
Terminates Tender Offer for American Bankers' Shares. On October 13, 1998,
Cendant Corporation (the "Company"), Season Acquisition Corp. ("Sub") and
American Bankers Insurance Group, Inc. ("American Bankers") entered into a
settlement agreement (the "Settlement Agreement"), pursuant to which they have
terminated their Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated March 23, 1998 (the "Merger
Agreement") which provided for the Company's acquisition of American Bankers.
Pursuant to the Settlement Agreement, the Company and American Bankers
have released each other from any claims relating to the Company's proposed
acquisition of American Bankers and the Company has made a $400 million cash
payment to American Bankers. In addition, Cendant has agreed to withdraw any
applications it has pending with insurance regulatory authorities in order to
obtain control of American Bankers and to withdraw from any proceedings or
hearings in connection with such applications. Cendant has also agreed to
refrain from taking any actions or making any statements intended to frustrate
or delay any business combination between American Bankers and any other party.
Pursuant to the Settlement Agreement and as a result of the termination of
the Merger Agreement, the Company also has terminated its pending tender offer
for American Bankers shares.
A copy of the Settlement Agreement is included as Exhibit 99.2 hereto and
is incorporated herein by reference.
Cendant Announces $1 Billion Share Repurchase Program. On October 13, 1998,
the Company announced that its Board of Directors has authorized a $1 billion
common share repurchase program. The Company expects to execute the program
through open-market purchases.
With the termination of its proposed acquisition of American Bankers, the
Company's principal financial goals will be to retire its outstanding $3.25
billion bank term loan, a portion of which was raised in contemplation of the
American Bankers transaction, and to execute its share repurchase program.
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Item 7. Exhibits
Exhibit
No. Description
- ------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
99.1 Press Release: Cendant Corporation and American Bankers Insurance
Group Make Announcement, dated October 13, 1998.
99.2 Settlement Agreement, dated October 13, 1998, by and among American
Bankers Insurance Group, Inc. Cendant Corporation and Season
Acquisition Corp.
99.3 Press Release: Cendant Announces $1 Billion Share Repurchase Program,
dated October 13, 1998.
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SIGNATURE
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.
CENDANT CORPORATION
By: /s/ James E. Buckman
James E. Buckman
Senior Executive Vice President
and General Counsel
Date: October 14, 1998
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CENDANT CORPORATION
CURRENT REPORT ON FORM 8-K
Report Dated October 14, 1998 (October 13, 1998)
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit No. Description
- ----------- --------------------------------------------------------------
99.1 Press Release: Cendant Corporation and American Bankers
Insurance Group Make Announcement, dated October 13, 1998.
99.2 Settlement Agreement, dated October 13, 1998, by and among
American Bankers Insurance Group, Inc. Cendant Corporation
and Season Acquisition Corp.
99.3 Press Release: Cendant Announces $1 Billion Share Repurchase
Program, dated October 13, 1998.
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EXHIBIT 99.1
CENDANT CORPORATION AND AMERICAN BANKERS INSURANCE GROUP
MAKE ANNOUNCEMENT
Parsippany, NJ and Miami, FL, October 13, 1998 - Cendant Corporation (NYSE:
CENDANT CORPORATION) and American Bankers Insurance Group, Inc. (NYSE: ABI)
announced today their mutual decision to terminate their merger agreement which
provided for the Company's acquisition of ABI.
In connection with the termination, the Company and ABI have released each other
from any claims relating to the Company's proposed acquisition of ABI and the
Company has made a $400 million cash payment to ABI. As a result of the
termination of the Merger Agreement, the Company has terminated its pending
tender offer for ABI shares.
Media Contact: Investor Contact:
Elliot Bloom Denise L. Gillen
973-496-8414 973-496-7303
Kekst and Company ABI
Jim Fingeroth P. Bruce Camacho
Tom Davies 305-252-7060
212-521-4800
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EXHIBIT 99.2
SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT
SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT, dated as of October 13, 1998 (the
"Agreement"), by and among American Bankers Insurance Group, Inc., a Florida
corporation ("ABIG"), Cendant Corporation, a Delaware corporation ("Cendant"),
and Season Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned
subsidiary of Cendant ("Season").
WHEREAS, ABIG, Cendant and Season have entered into the
Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of March 23, 1998 (the "Merger
Agreement"), pursuant to which, among other things, Season has offered to
purchase (the "Tender Offer") 23,501,260 shares of Common Stock, par value $1.00
per share, of ABIG ("ABIG Common Share") at a price of $67.00 per ABIG Common
Share, and following consummation of the Tender Offer, ABIG will be merged (the
"Merger") into Season and each ABIG Common Share issued and outstanding
immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger (other than ABIG Common
Shares held by Cendant or Season) will be converted into, and become
exchangeable for, that number of shares of Common Stock, par value $.01 per
share, of Cendant with a value of $67.00;
WHEREAS, requests have been made by certain regulators whose
approval is required prior to consummation of the Tender Offer and the Merger
for commitments from Cendant regarding ABIG that exceed statutory requirements
and any commitment made by Cendant in the Merger Agreement, which requests have
created uncertainty with respect to Cendant's possible acquisition of ABIG; and
WHEREAS, ABIG and Cendant believe it is in their respective
best interests, and in the best interests of their respective stockholders, that
the uncertainty with respect to Cendant's possible acquisition of ABIG be
resolved as promptly as possible.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the
mutual covenants and agreements set forth herein, the parties hereto agree as
follows:
1. Each of the parties hereto expressly agrees that (i) the
Merger Agreement shall be terminated pursuant to Section 8.1 thereof immediately
upon the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the receipt by ABIG of the
Termination Fee (as hereinafter defined) and (ii) as a result of such
termination, the Merger Agreement shall be null and void and of no further
effect, and no obligations or provisions thereunder shall survive such
termination. In addition, each of the parties hereto agrees that,
notwithstanding Section 8.5(a) of the Merger Agreement, none of the parties
thereto shall have any liabilities or damages to the other parties thereto for
any breach or alleged breach of the Merger Agreement, including any willful
breach. As promptly as practicable after the execution hereof, as a result of
the termination of the Merger Agreement Cendant and
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Season agree to either terminate the Tender Offer or permit the Tender Offer to
expire by its terms without any ABIG Common Shares being purchased pursuant
thereto.
2. Simultaneously with the execution of this Agreement, Cendant
shall pay to ABIG $400 million (the "Termination Fee") by wire transfer of same
day funds to an account designated by ABIG.
3. Cendant agrees that upon execution of this Agreement, it will
take all necessary steps to withdraw any Form A applications that it has pending
with insurance regulatory authorities in order to obtain approval to acquire
control of ABIG and to withdraw from any proceedings or hearings in connection
therewith. Cendant further agrees that neither it nor any of its officers,
directors, employees, affiliates, agents or other representatives or advisors,
including, without limitation, legal, investment banking and accounting advisors
(all such persons, collectively, "Representatives") shall take, directly or
indirectly, any actions or make any statements intended to frustrate or delay
any merger or other business combination between ABIG and any other party or to
object to the acceptability of any other party as a controlling person of ABIG.
4. Each of the parties hereto absolutely, fully and forever
releases the other parties and their respective affiliates, their respective
Representatives and stockholders, and their respective successors and assigns
(the "Released Parties") from any and all claims relating to the proposed
acquisition of ABIG by Cendant that any party hereto ever had, now has or
hereafter can, shall or may have against the Released Parties, from the
beginning of the world to the day of the date of this release, including,
without limitation, any claims asserted or that could have been asserted in
connection with the Merger Agreement, any Company Report or Parent Report (as
such terms are defined in the Merger Agreement) or any accounting issues at
former CUC International Inc. businesses; provided, however, that this Section 4
shall not include a release or discharge from any claim to enforce the
provisions of this Agreement.
5. Cendant hereby agrees to continue to be bound by the
confidentiality undertak ings and agreements of the Confidentiality Agreement
(as such term is defined in the Merger Agreement) in accordance with the terms
thereof. ABIG hereby agrees to be bound by the confidentiality undertakings and
agreements of the Confidentiality Agreement with respect to information
furnished to ABIG by Cendant and, for this purpose, references in the
Confidentiality Agreement to the "Company" shall also be deemed to be references
to Cendant and references in the Confidentiality Agreement to "Evaluation
Material" shall also be deemed to be references to any information concerning
Cendant (whether prepared by Cendant, its advisors or otherwise) which has been
furnished to ABIG by or on behalf of Cendant in connection with the Merger.
6. Each of the parties hereto agrees that it shall not (i) make
or publish any statement which is, or may reasonably be considered to be,
disparaging of the other parties or their respective subsidiaries, affiliates,
directors, employees, products or services or (ii) take any action or encourage
the taking of any action by others which is, or may reasonably be considered to
be, adverse to the interests of the other parties in respect of the subject
matter of this Agreement.
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7. Each of the parties hereby represents and warrants to the
others that (i) it is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good
standing under the laws of its state of organization and has the requisite
corporate power and authority to enter into and perform this Agreement; (ii) the
execution and delivery of this Agreement by it and the consummation by it of the
transactions contemplated hereby have been duly executed and delivered by its
duly authorized officer and constitutes a valid and binding obligation of it;
and (iii) the execution and delivery of this Agreement by it and the
consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby do not require the
consent, waiver, approval or authorization of or any filing with any
governmental or regulatory authority, agency, commission, body, court or other
governmental entity or any other person and will not violate, result in a breach
of or the acceleration of any obligation under, or constitute a default under,
any provision of such party's charter or by-laws, or any material indenture,
mortgage, lien, lease, agreement, contract, instrument, order, law, rule,
regulation, ordinance, judgment, decree or restriction by which it or any of its
subsidiaries or any of their respective properties or assets is bound.
8. This Agreement, together with the Merger Agreement and the
other documents referred to therein, contains the entire agreement among the
parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all
prior and contemporaneous agreements and understand ings, oral or written, with
respect to such transactions. This Agreement may not be changed, amended or
modified orally, but may be changed only by an agreement in writing signed by
each of the parties hereto. This Agreement, and all of the parties' respective
rights and obligations hereunder, shall survive indefinitely and shall not be
affected, altered, abridged or terminated by virtue of the termination of the
Merger Agreement.
9. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts,
each of which, when executed, shall be deemed to be an original and all of which
together shall constitute one and the same document, provided that this
Agreement shall not become effective until executed by all of the parties
hereto.
10. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware (regardless of the laws that
might otherwise govern under applicable Delaware principles of conflicts of
law).
EACH PARTY HERETO AGREES THAT, IN CONNECTION WITH ANY LEGAL SUIT
OR PROCEEDING ARISING WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT, IT SHALL SUBMIT TO THE
JURISDICTION OF THE CHANCERY COURT OF DELAWARE AND AGREES TO VENUE IN SUCH
COURT. EACH PARTY HEREBY APPOINTS THE SECRETARY OF SUCH PARTY AS ITS AGENT FOR
SERVICE OF PROCESS FOR PUR POSES OF THE FOREGOING SENTENCE ONLY.
11. Each party hereto will consult with the other parties hereto
before issuing any press release with respect to the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement; and no party shall
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issue any such press release prior to such consultation except as may be
required by law or the applicable rules and regulations of the New York Stock
Exchange.
12. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of this
Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void or
unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and
restrictions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and shall
in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated.
13. The parties hereto agree that any breach of the provisions
of this Agreement would irreparably injure the other parties hereto and that
money damages would be an inadequate remedy therefor. Accordingly, each party
hereto shall be entitled to one or more injunctions enjoining any such breach
and requiring specific performance of this Agreement and consent to the entry
thereof, in addition to any other remedy to which that party is entitled at law
or in equity.
14. This Agreement is for settlement purposes only and will not
be used by the parties hereto in any litigation as an admission of any liability
or wrongdoing on the part of any party hereto or its Representatives, other than
litigation arising out of this Agreement.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been duly executed and
delivered by the duly authorized officers of the parties hereto as of the date
first written above.
AMERICAN BANKERS INSURANCE GROUP, INC.
By: /s/ Gerald N. Gaston
Name: Gerald N. Gaston
Title: President and Chief Executive
Officer
CENDANT CORPORATION
By: /s/ James E. Buckman
Name: James E. Buckman
Title: Senior Executive Vice President
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been duly executed and
delivered by the duly authorized officers of the parties hereto as of the date
first written above.
SEASON ACQUISITION CORP.
By: /s/ James E. Buckman
Name: James E. Buckman
Title: Executive Vice President
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EXHIBIT 99.3
CENDANT ANNOUNCES $1 BILLION SHARE REPURCHASE PROGRAM
Termination of ABI Transaction Facilitates Debt Retirement and Share Repurchase
Cendant to Record $280 Million After-Tax ABI Termination Charge
Parsippany, NJ October 13, 1998 - Cendant Corporation (NYSE: CD) today announced
that its Board of Directors has authorized a $1 billion common share repurchase
program. The Company expects to execute the program through open-market
purchases.
With the termination of its proposed acquisition of ABI, the Company's principal
financial goals will be to retire its outstanding $3.25 billion bank term loan,
a portion of which was raised in contempla tion of the ABI transaction, and to
execute its share repurchase program.
In connection with termination of the ABI transaction, Cendant has paid ABI $400
million and will record a $280 million after-tax charge in the fourth quarter
for this payment and associated transac tion expenses. The Company expects to
use the substantial majority of its available cash to make the ABI payment and
to retire a portion of the bank term loan. The Company expects to retire the re
mainder of the term loan with proceeds from intermediate- and long-term debt
issues and to finance the share repurchase through a combination of internally
generated cash and proceeds from previ ously announced asset sales. The timing
and amounts of these transactions will be governed by mar ket conditions,
Cendant's goal of maintaining appropriate credit ratings, and the terms of
Cendant's bank lending agreements.
"We are pleased to resolve the uncertainty created in the market regarding the
potential impact of the ABI transaction on our capital structure," said Henry R.
Silverman, Chairman, President and CEO of Cendant. "After today, our only
material uncompleted acquisition is our $750 million acquisition of RAC Motor
Services of the UK, which we plan to complete in 1999. Otherwise, all our excess
financial resources for the foreseeable future will be devoted to retiring both
debt and equity, to build shareholder value and maintain appropriate credit
protection." With the termination of the ABI transaction, Cendant has
approximately $1.8 billion in undrawn bank credit facilities, approxi mately $1
billion in cash ( net of the payment to ABI) and significant internally
generated annual free cash flow.
Certain matters discussed in the news release are forward-looking statements, as
defined in the Pri vate Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such
forward-looking statements are subject to a number of known and unknown risks
and uncertainties including, but not limited to, the outcome of the pending
litigation relating to the previously announced accounting irregularities;
uncertainty as to the Company's future profitability; the Company's ability to
develop and implement operational and financial systems to manage rapidly
growing operations; competition in the Company's existing and potential future
lines of business; the Company's ability to integrate and operate successfully
acquired businesses and the risks associated with such businesses; the Company's
ability to obtain financing on acceptable terms to finance the Company's growth
strategy and for the Company to
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operate within the limitations imposed by financing arrangements; uncertainty as
to the future profit ability of acquired businesses; the ability of the Company
and its vendors to complete the necessary actions to achieve a Year 2000
conversion for its computer systems and applications and other fac tors. Other
factors and assumptions not identified above were also involved in the
derivation of these forward-looking statements, and the failure of such other
assumptions to be realized as well as other factors may also cause actual
results to differ materially from those projected. The Company assumes no
obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect actual results,
changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting such
forward-looking statements.
Cendant (NYSE: CD) is the world's premier provider of consumer and business
services. The Com pany operates in three principal segments: Travel Services,
Real Estate Services and Alliance Mar keting. In Travel Services, Cendant is the
leading franchisor of hotels and rental car agencies world wide; the largest
provider of vacation exchange services; a leading fleet management company, the
UK's largest private car park operator, and a leading motorist assistance group
in the UK. In Real Estate Services, Cendant is the world's largest franchisor of
residential real estate brokerage offices, a major provider of mortgage services
to consumers and a global leader in corporate employee relo cation. In Alliance
Marketing, Cendant provides access to insurance, travel, shopping, auto, and
other services, primarily through direct marketing to customers of its affinity
partners. Headquar tered in Parsippany, NJ, the company has more than 40,000
employees and operates in over 100 countries.
Media Contact: Investor Contact:
Elliot Bloom Denise L. Gillen
973-496-8414 973-496-7303
Kekst and Company
Jim Fingeroth
Tom Davies
212-521-4800
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