sctovtza
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE TO
Tender Offer Statement under Section 14(d)(1) or 13(e)(1)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No. 3)
PORTEC RAIL PRODUCTS, INC.
(Name of Subject Company (issuer))
FOSTER THOMAS COMPANY
(offeror)
a wholly-owned subsidiary of
L.B. FOSTER COMPANY
(parent of offeror)
(Names of Filing Persons (identifying status as offeror, issuer or other person))
Common Stock, $1.00 par value per share
(Title of Class of Securities)
736212101
(CUSIP Number of Class of Securities)
David Voltz
L.B. Foster Company
415 Holiday Drive
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15220
(412)-928-3417
(Name, address, and telephone numbers of person authorized
to receive notices and communications on behalf of filing persons)
with a copy to:
Lewis U. Davis, Jr., Esq.
Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC
One Oxford Centre
301 Grant Street, 20th Floor
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
(412) 562-8800
Calculation of Filing Fee
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Transaction valuation* |
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Amount of Filing Fee** |
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$114,067,450 |
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$ |
8,133 |
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* Estimated for purposes of calculating the amount of the filing fee only, in accordance with Rule
0-11 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act). The calculation of
the transaction valuation assumes a purchase price of $11.71 per share and the purchase of
9,741,029 shares of Portec common stock, which is represented by (i) 9,602,029 outstanding shares
of common stock; and (ii) 139,000 shares of common stock that
were issuable with respect to all outstanding options, in each case as provided by Portec, as of
the most recent practicable date.
** The amount of the filing fee was calculated in accordance with Section 14(g)(3) of the Exchange
Act, and equals $71.30 per million dollars of the transaction valuation amount.
þ Check the box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the
filing with which the offsetting fee was previously paid. Identify the previous filing by registration
statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
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Amount Previously Paid: $8,133
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Filing Party: L.B. Foster Company and Foster Thomas Company |
Form or Registration No.: Schedule TO-T
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Date Filed: February 26, 2010 |
o Check the box if the filing relates solely to preliminary communications made before the
commencement of a tender offer.
Check the appropriate boxes below to designate any transactions to which the statement relates:
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third-party tender offer subject to Rule 14d-1. |
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issuer tender offer subject to Rule 13e-4. |
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going-private transaction subject to Rule 13e-3. |
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amendment to Schedule 13D under Rule 13d-2. |
Check the following box if the filing is a final amendment reporting the results of the tender
offer: o
This Amendment No. 3 (Amendment No. 3) amends and supplements the Tender Offer Statement on
Schedule TO, as amended (as originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
February 26, 2010 and as amended by Amendment No. 1 thereto filed with the SEC on March 1, 2010,
and as further amended by Amendment No. 2 thereto filed with the
SEC on March 3, 2010, the
Schedule TO) by (i) Foster Thomas Company, a West Virginia corporation (the Purchaser) and a
wholly-owned subsidiary of L.B. Foster Company, a Pennsylvania corporation (Parent), and
(ii) Parent. The Schedule TO relates to the offer by the Purchaser to purchase all of the
outstanding shares of common stock, par value $1.00 per share (the Shares), of Portec Rail
Products, Inc., a West Virginia corporation (Portec), at a purchase price of $11.71 per Share,
net to the seller in cash, without interest thereon and less any applicable withholding or stock
transfer taxes, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase
dated February 26, 2010 (which, together with any amendments and supplements thereto, collectively
constitute the Offer to Purchase) and in the related Letter of Transmittal, copies of which are
filed with the Schedule TO as Exhibits (a)(1)(A) and (a)(1)(B), respectively. Capitalized terms
used and not otherwise defined in this Amendment No. 3 have the meanings assigned to such terms in
the Schedule TO or the Offer to Purchase. This Amendment No. 3 is being filed on behalf of the
Purchaser and Parent. Pursuant to General Instruction F to Schedule TO, the information contained
in the Offer to Purchase, including all schedules and annexes thereto, is hereby expressly
incorporated by reference in answers to Items 1 through 11 of the Schedule TO and is supplemented
by the information specifically provided for herein.
Item 11. Additional Information.
Items 5 and 11 of the Schedule TO are amended and supplemented to include the following:
The following paragraph is added to the end of Section 10 Background of the Offer; Past
Contacts or Negotiations with Portec of the Offer to Purchase:
Effective March 5, 2010, L.B. Foster voluntarily
withdrew and re-filed its HSR Act filing. This withdrawal and re-filing is being undertaken in
order to provide the Antitrust Division with additional time to review the information submitted by L.B. Foster
and Portec.
Item 11 of the Schedule TO is further amended and supplemented to include the following:
The following paragraph replaces the former second paragraph of Section 15 Legal Matters;
Required Regulatory Approvals Federal Antitrust Laws of the Offer to Purchase:
Under the HSR Act, the purchase of Shares in the Offer may not be completed until the
expiration of a 15-calendar-day waiting period following the filing of certain required information
and documentary material concerning the Offer with the FTC and the Antitrust Division, unless the
waiting period is earlier terminated by the FTC and the Antitrust Division. The Company filed a
Premerger Notification and Report Form with respect to the Offer and the Merger on February 19,
2010, pursuant to the requirements of the HSR Act. L.B. Foster filed a Premerger Notification and
Report Form with respect to the Offer and the Merger with the FTC and
the Antitrust Division on
February 19, 2010, pursuant to the requirements of the HSR Act. L.B. Foster voluntarily withdrew and re-filed its Notification and Report Form effective
March 5, 2010 in order to provide the Antitrust Division with additional time to review the information submitted
by L.B. Foster and the Company. As a result, the waiting period applicable to the purchase of Shares
pursuant to the Offer and Merger is scheduled to expire at 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on
March 22, 2010 unless earlier terminated by the FTC and the
Antitrust Division, or the Antitrust Division makes a request for additional information or documentary material prior to that
time. If, within the 15-calendar-day waiting period, the Antitrust Division makes
such a request for additional information or documentary material, the waiting period with respect
to the Offer and the Merger would be extended for an additional period of ten calendar days
following the date of L.B. Fosters substantial compliance with that request. Only one extension of
the waiting period pursuant to a request for additional information is authorized by the HSR Act
rules. After that time, the waiting period could be extended only by court order or with L.B.
Fosters consent. The Antitrust Division may terminate the additional ten calendar-day
waiting period before its expiration. In practice, complying with a request for additional
information or documentary material can take a significant period of time.
Item 11 (a)(5) of the Schedule TO is hereby amended and supplemented by adding the following
paragraphs:
On March 3, 2010, L.B. Foster and Purchaser were served with a lawsuit related to the Offer
and the Merger which was filed on March 2, 2010 in the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County,
Pennsylvania, and captioned Scott Phillips v. Portec Rail Products, Inc., et al. The action is
brought by Scott Phillips, who claims to be a stockholder of Portec, on his own behalf and on
behalf of all others similarly situated, and seeks certification as a class action on behalf of all
public stockholders of Portec. The lawsuit names Portec, each of Portecs directors, L.B. Foster
and Purchaser as defendants. The lawsuit alleges, among other things, that Portecs directors
breached their fiduciary duties and that L.B. Foster and Purchaser aided and abetted such alleged
breaches of fiduciary duties. Based on these allegations, the lawsuit seeks, among other relief,
injunctive relief enjoining the defendants from consummating the Offer and the Merger. It also
purports to seek recovery of the costs of the action, including reasonable attorneys fees. A copy
of the Complaint is filed as Exhibit (a)(5)(E) to the Schedule TO and is incorporated herein by
reference.
On March 4, 2010, Portec was served with a lawsuit related to the Offer and the Merger which
was filed on March 3, 2010 in the Circuit Court of Kanawha County, West Virginia, and captioned
Josh Furman v. Marshall Reynolds, et al., against Portec, each of Portecs directors, L.B. Foster
and Purchaser on behalf of a purported class of public stockholders of Portec. L.B. Foster and
Purchaser have not yet been served in connection with the lawsuit. The complaint alleges that the
director defendants breached their fiduciary duties in connection with the Offer and the Merger and
that L.B. Foster and Purchaser aided and abetted such alleged breaches of fiduciary duties. Based
on these allegations, the plaintiffs seek, among other relief, certification as a class action on
behalf of all public Portec stockholders, preliminary and permanent injunctive relief against the
Offer and the Merger, and the costs and expenses of the action, including reasonable allowance for
attorneys and experts fees and expenses. A copy of the
complaint is filed as Exhibit (a)(5)(F)
hereto, and is incorporated herein by reference.
Also on March 4, 2010, Portec was served with a lawsuit related to the Offer and the Merger
which was filed on February 24, 2010 in the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County,
Pennsylvania, and captioned Richard S. Gesoff v. Marshall T. Reynolds, et al. The action is
brought by Richard S. Gesoff, who claims to be a stockholder of Portec, on his own behalf and on
behalf of all others similarly situated, and seeks certification as a class action on behalf of all
public Portec stockholders, except the defendants and their affiliates. The lawsuit names Portec,
each of Portecs directors, L.B. Foster and Purchaser as defendants. L.B. Foster and Purchaser
have not yet been served in connection with the lawsuit. The lawsuit alleges, among other things,
that Portecs directors breached their fiduciary duties and that L.B. Foster and Purchaser aided
and abetted such alleged breaches of fiduciary duties. Based on these allegations, the lawsuit
seeks, among other relief, injunctive relief enjoining the defendants from consummating the Offer
and the Merger. It also purports to seek recovery of the costs of the action, including reasonable
attorneys fees. A copy of the Complaint is filed as Exhibit
(a)(5)(G) to the Schedule TO and is
incorporated herein by reference.
Item 12. Exhibits.
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Exhibit |
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(a)(5)(E)
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Complaint captioned Scott Phillips v. Portec Rail Products, Inc., et al., filed in the
Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania |
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(a)(5)(F)
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Complaint captioned Josh Furman v. Marshall Reynolds, et al., filed in the Circuit Court
of Kanawha County, West Virginia |
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(a)(5)(G)
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Complaint captioned Richard S. Gesoff v. Marshall T. Reynolds, et al., filed in the
Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania |
SIGNATURE
After due inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set
forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.
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L.B. FOSTER COMPANY |
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Date: March 5, 2010
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By:
Name:
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/s/ Stan L. Hasselbusch
Stan L. Hasselbusch
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Title:
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President and CEO |
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FOSTER THOMAS COMPANY |
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Date: March 5, 2010
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By:
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/s/ Stan L. Hasselbusch |
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Name:
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Stan L. Hasselbusch |
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Title:
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President & CEO |
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Exhibit |
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Exhibit Name |
(a)(5)(E)
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Complaint captioned Scott Phillips v. Portec Rail Products, Inc., et al., filed in the
Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania |
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(a)(5)(F)
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Complaint captioned Josh Furman v. Marshall Reynolds, et al., filed in the Circuit Court
of Kanawha County, West Virginia |
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(a)(5)(G)
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Complaint captioned Richard S. Gesoff v. Marshall T. Reynolds, et al., filed in the
Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania |
exv99waw5we
Exhibit
(a)(5)(E)
IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF
ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
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SCOTT PHILLIPS, individually and on
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behalf of all others similarly situated,
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CIVIL DIVISION |
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Plaintiffs,
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Case No.GD 10-3982 |
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vs.
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Code: |
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PORTEC RAIL PRODUCTS, INC.,
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TYPE OF PLEADING |
MARSHALL T. REYNOLDS, JOHN
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S. COOPER, KIRBY J. TAYLOR,
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CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT |
DOUGLAS V. REYNOLDS, A.
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MICHAEL PERRY, NEAL W.
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JURY TRIAL DEMANDED |
SCAGGS, PHILIP SHELL, DANIEL
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P. HARRINGTON, PHILIP E. CLINE,
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Counsel of Record for this Party: |
THOMAS W. WRIGHT, LOUIS J.
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AKERS, L.B. FOSTER CO., and
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Alfred G. Yates Jr., Esquire |
FOSTER THOMAS CO.,
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Pa. ID No. 17419 |
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Gerald L. Rutledge, Esquire |
Defendants
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Pa. ID No. 62027 |
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LAW OFFICE OF ALFRED G. YATES JR.
429 Forbes Avenue
519 Allegheny Building
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Telephone: (412) 391-5164
Facsimile: (412) 471-1033
yateslaw@aol. com
[additional counsel appear on signature page] |
(STAMP)
IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF
ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
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SCOTT PHILLIPS, individually and on behalf
of
all others similarly situated,
Plaintiffs,
vs.
PORTEC RAIL PRODUCTS, INC.,
MARSHALL T. REYNOLDS, JOHN S. COOPER, KIRBY J.
TAYLOR, DOUGLAS V. REYNOLDS, A. MICHAEL PERRY,
NEAL W. SCAGGS, PHILIP SHELL, DANIEL P.
HARRINGTON, PHILIP E. CLINE, THOMAS W. WRIGHT,
LOUIS J. AKERS, L.B. FOSTER CO., and FOSTER
THOMAS CO.,
Defendants
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CIVIL DIVISION
Case No. GD 10-3982
CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT
JURY TRIAL DEMANDED |
NOTICE TO DEFEND
You have been sued in court. If you wish to defend against the claims set forth in the
following pages, you must take action within twenty (20) days after this complaint and notice are
served, by entering a written appearance personally or by attorney and filing in writing with the
court your defenses or objections to the claims set forth against you. You are warned that if you
fail to do so the case may proceed without you and a judgment may be entered against you by the
court without further notice for any money claimed in the complaint or for any other claim or
relief requested by the plaintiff. You may lose money or property or other rights important to you.
YOU SHOULD TAKE THIS PAPER TO YOUR LAWYER AT ONCE. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A LAWYER, GO TO OR
TELEPHON THE OFFICE SET FORTH BELOW. THIS OFFICE CAN PROVIDE YOU WITH INFORMATION ABOUT HIRING A
LAWYER.
IF YOU CANNOT AFFORD TO HIRE A LAWYER, THIS OFFICE MAY BE ABLE TO PROVIDE YOU WITH
INFORMATION ABOUT AGENCIES THAT MAY OFFER LEGAL SERVICE TO ELIGIBLE PERSONS AT A REDUCED FEE
OR NO FEE.
Lawyer Referral Service
Allegheny County Bar Association
11th Floor Koppers Building
436 Seventh Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Telephone: (412) 261-5555
(STAMP)
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(STAMP)
IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF
ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
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SCOTT PHILLIPS, individually and on behalf
of all others similarly situated,
Plaintiffs,
vs.
PORTEC RAIL PRODUCTS, INC.,
MARSHALL T. REYNOLDS, JOHN S.
COOPER, KIRBY J. TAYLOR, DOUGLAS
V. REYNOLDS, A. MICHAEL PERRY,
NEAL W. SCAGGS, PHILIP SHELL,
DANIEL P. HARRINGTON, PHILIP E.
CLINE, THOMAS W. WRIGHT, LOUIS J.
AKERS, L.B. FOSTER CO., and FOSTER
THOMAS CO.,
Defendants
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CIVIL DIVISION
Case No. GD 10-3982
CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT
JURY TRIAL DEMANDED |
Plaintiff, Scott Phillips, by his attorneys, alleges upon information and belief,
except for his own acts, which are alleged on knowledge, as follows:
INTRODUCTION
1. Plaintiff brings this action on behalf of the public stockholders of
Portec Rail Products, Inc. (Portec or the Company) against Defendants, Portec and
its Board of Directors (the Board) seeking equitable relief for their breaches of
fiduciary duty and other violations of state law arising out of their attempt to sell
the Company to Defendants L.B. Foster Co. and its wholly owned acquisition subsidiary
Foster Thomas Co. (collectively L.B. Foster). Under the terms of the merger agreement,
L.B. Foster will commence a tender offer in which the Companys stockholders will
receive $11.71 in cash for each share of common stock owned, implying a total value of
approximately
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$112 million (the Proposed Transaction). This tender offer will remain open for only twenty (20)
business days after its commencement, and may be followed by a short-form cash out merger without a
shareholder vote.
JURISDICTION AND VENUE
2. This court has jurisdiction over this action as Defendant Portec
headquartered in this state.
3. Venue is proper in this District because many of the acts and practices
complained of herein occurred in substantial part in this District. In addition, Portec
maintains its headquarters in this District.
PARTIES
4. Plaintiff, Scott Phillips, is and has been at all relevant times, the owner of shares of common stock of Portec.
5. Defendant Portec is an international company that manufactures, supplies
and distributes a broad range of rail products, rail anchors, rail spikes, railway friction
management products and systems, rail joins, railway wayside data collection and data
management systems and freight car securement systems. Portec is incorporated in West
Virginia but is headquartered at 900 Old Freeport Road, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
15238.
6. Defendant Marshall T. Reynolds (Reynolds) has served as the Chairman
of the Board since 1997.
7. Defendant John S. Cooper (Cooper) has served as a director since
December 1997.
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8. Defendant Kirby J. Taylor (Taylor) has served as a director since
December 1997.
9. Defendant Douglas V. Reynolds (Reynolds) has served as a director
since January 1998.
10. Defendant A. Michael Perry (Perry) has served as a director since April
2004.
11. Defendant Neal W. Scaggs (Scaggs) has served as a director since
January 1998.
12. Defendant Philip (Todd) Shell (Shell) has served as a director since
September 2005.
13. Defendant Daniel P. Harrington (Harrington) has served as a director
since January 1998.
14. Defendant Philip E. Cline (Cline) has served as a director since January
1998.
15. Defendant Thomas W. Wright (Wright) has served as a director since
April 2004.
16. Defendant Louis J. Akers (Akers) has served as a director since June
2008.
17. Defendants referenced in 6 through 16 are collectively referred to as
Individual Defendants and/or the Portec Board. The Individual Defendants as
officers and/or directors of Portec, have a fiduciary relationship with Plaintiff and other
public shareholders of Portec and owe them the highest obligations of good faith, fair
dealing, loyalty and due care.
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18. Defendant L.B. Foster is a manufacturer, fabricator and distributor of
products and services for the rail, construction, energy, utility and recreation markets.
The company is incorporated in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and headquartered
at 415 Holiday Drive, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15220.
19. Defendant Foster Thomas Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of L.B.
Foster, incorporated in West Virginia.
INDIVIDUAL DEFENDANTS FIDUCIARY DUTIES
20. By reason of Individual Defendants positions with the Company as
officers and/or directors, they are in a fiduciary relationship with Plaintiffs and the other
public shareholders of Portec and owe them, as well as the Company, a duty of highest
good faith, fair dealing, loyalty and full, candid and adequate disclosure.
21. Where the officers and/or Directors of a publicly traded corporation
undertake a transaction that will result in either: (i) a change in corporate control; (ii) a
break up of the corporations assets; or (iii) sale of the corporation, the Directors have an
affirmative fiduciary obligation to obtain the highest value reasonably available for the
corporations shareholders, and if such transaction will result in a change of corporate
control, the shareholders are entitled to receive a significant premium. To diligently
comply with their fiduciary duties, the Directors and/or officers may not take any action
that:
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adversely affects the value provided to the corporations shareholders; |
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favors themselves or will discourage or inhibit alternative offers to
purchase control of the corporation or its assets; |
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contractually prohibits them from complying with their fiduciary duties; |
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will otherwise adversely affect their duty to search and secure the best
value reasonably available under the circumstances for the corporations
shareholders; and/or |
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will provide the Directors and/or officers with preferential
treatment at the
expense of, or separate from, the public shareholders. |
22. In accordance with their duties of loyalty and good faith, the Individual
Defendants, as Directors and/or officers of Portec, are obligated to refrain from:
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participating in any transaction where the directors or officers
loyalties
are divided; |
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participating in any transaction where the directors or officers
receive, or
are entitled to receive, a personal financial benefit not equally shared by
the public shareholders of the corporation; and/or |
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unjustly enriching themselves at the expense or to the detriment of
the
public shareholders. |
23. Plaintiffs allege herein that the Individual Defendants, separately and
together, in connection with the Proposed Transaction are knowingly or recklessly
violating their fiduciary duties, including their duties of loyalty, good faith and
independence owed to Plaintiffs and other public shareholders of Portec, or are aiding
and abetting others in violating those duties.
CONSPIRACY, AIDING AND ABETTING AND CONCERTED ACTION
24. In committing the wrongful acts alleged herein, each of the Defendants
has pursued, or joined in the pursuit of, a common course of conduct, and acted in
concert with and conspired with one another, in furtherance of their common plan or
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design. In addition to the wrongful conduct herein alleged as giving rise to primary
liability, the Defendants further aided, abetted and/or assisted each other in breach of their
respective duties as herein alleged.
25. During all relevant times hereto, the Defendants, and each of them, initiated a course of
conduct which was designed to and did: (i) permit L.B. Foster to attempt to eliminate the public
shareholders equity interest in Portec pursuant to a defective sales process, and (ii) permit L.B.
Foster to buy the Company for an unfair price. In furtherance of this plan, conspiracy and course
of conduct, Defendants, and each of them, took the actions as set forth herein.
26. Each of the Defendants herein aided and abetted and rendered substantial assistance in the
wrongs complained of herein. In taking such actions, as particularized herein, to substantially
assist the commission of the wrongdoing complained of, each Defendant acted with knowledge of the
primary wrongdoing, substantially assisted the accomplishment of that wrongdoing, and was aware of
his or her overall contribution to, and furtherance of, the wrongdoing. The Defendants acts of
aiding and abetting included, inter alia, the acts each of them are alleged to have committed in
furtherance of the conspiracy, common enterprise and common course of conduct complained of herein.
CLASS ACTION ALLEGATIONS
27. Plaintiffs bring this action on their own behalf and as a class action on behalf of all
owners of Portec common stock and their successors in interest, except Defendants and their
affiliates (the Class).
28. This action is properly maintainable as a class action for the following reasons:
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the Class is so numerous that joinder of all members is impracticable. As of October 31,
2009, Portec had approximately 9.6 million shares outstanding. |
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questions of law and fact are common to the Class, including, inter alia, the following: |
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Have the Individual Defendants breached their fiduciary duties
owed by them to Plaintiffs and the others members of the Class; |
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Are the
Individual Defendants, in connection with the Proposed
Transaction, pursuing a course of conduct that is in violation of
their fiduciary duties; |
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Have Portec and L.B. Foster aided and abetted the
Individual
Defendants breaches of fiduciary duty; and |
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Is the Class entitled to injunctive
relief or damages as a result of
Defendants wrongful conduct. |
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Plaintiff is committed to prosecuting this action and has retained competent
counsel experienced in litigation of this nature. |
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Plaintiffs claims are typical of those of the other members of the Class. |
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Plaintiff has no interests that are adverse to the Class. |
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The prosecution of separate actions by individual members of the Class would create the risk
of inconsistent or varying adjudications for individual members of the Class and of
establishing incompatible standards of conduct for Defendants. |
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Conflicting adjudications for individual members of the Class might as a
practical matter be dispositive of the interests of the other members not parties
to the adjudications or substantially impair or impede their ability to protect
their interests |
SUBSTANTIVE ALLEGATIONS
29. On February 17, 2010, Portec and L.B. Foster announced that they had entered into an
agreement whereby L.B. Foster would acquire all of Portecs outstanding shares of common stock for
$11.71, in a deal valued at approximately $112 million. The Proposed Transaction, expected to close
before the end of the second quarter 2010, is subject to satisfaction of certain conditions,
including antitrust clearance and least 65% of Portecs outstanding shares being tendered.
30. The consideration being offered to Portec shareholders in the Proposed Transaction is
unfair and does not provide adequate consideration based on the Companys current and future
prospects. On October 29, 2009, the Company announced its 2009 Third Quarter and Nine Month
Operating Results. The Company had net income of $2,023,000 million for the three months ended
September 30, 2009 and over $5,362,000 for the nine months ended September 30, 2009. Additionally,
the Company announced net sales for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009 or $24.3
million and $73 million respectively. The Company also showed a strong balance sheet, with current
assets exceeding total liabilities, and strong cash flow from operations.
31. Discussing the Companys positive financial results, C.E.O. and President Richard J.
Jarosinski, stated:
10
We are pleased with our financial performance in what continues to be a very challenging economic
climate for our industry. We believe that the overall diversification in our markets and product
groups continue to help soften the impact on our business from the global economic downturn. Lower
traffic volumes continue to be reported by the North American Class 1 heavy-haul railroads. These
customers continue to represent a large portion of our sales, and they continue to invest in our
products and services. We have also achieved sales levels from new markets for some of our products
due to our efforts to continue global expansion of our products and services.
Mr. Jarosinski continued, Our friction management product group, which has the most significant
worldwide product exposure and offers multiple operational savings for both heavy-haul freight and
passenger service, continues to grow despite the economic downturn. Sales of North American Class 1
gage face and top of rail friction control solutions were the catalyst for this growth while the
remainder of our diversified friction management markets and solutions continue to expand into new
markets. Our efforts have resulted in a second North American Class 1 customer making a major
expansion in the use of our top of rail friction control solutions. Our wayside data management
systems, provided by Salient Systems, have also had growth for the quarter and year to date
periods. We began the year with a healthy backlog for our wayside data management systems and
received a substantial number of new orders early this year, which helped to pave the way for the
financial results posted thus far for Salient Systems.
Similar to our friction management product group, the North American Class 1 heavy-haul railroads
invested in our wayside data management systems in preparation for higher traffic volumes when
economic conditions improve. Additionally, product sales from areas outside the North American
market have contributed to Salient Systems results. Our track component product group continues
to be challenged by lower traffic volume and fewer railcar loadings in North America. We are
pleased that some of our past efforts within this product group have positioned us for better
financial performance, which has yielded a lower cost structure on some products. Our load
securement product group has had a challenging year, as the market for new railcars being built
has declined considerably in 2009. We are encouraged by the products within this product group,
which was strengthened by the Vulcan Chain product line acquisition and now offers a platform for
future growth. Our non-core material handling business in the United Kingdom has had a difficult
year with very challenging economic conditions. We are optimistic, however, that our product line
and engineering talent in this product group will allow us to capitalize on new order
opportunities.
11
Mr. Jarosinski concluded, Despite the economic challenges we continue to face, we
still believe that there are opportunities for our products and services in our
established markets and in new markets. We have some product groups such as friction
management and wayside data management systems that have demonstrated their ability to
assist our customers in reducing operating expenses by extending asset life and
reducing fuel costs. Our global customer base recognizes this and we believe that they
will continue to invest in this technology. We will continue to focus on global
expansion of our products and services by organic growth and strategic and accretive
acquisitions. We are pleased with our balance sheet, favorable debt to equity ratio and
operating cash flow. We believe that we are well-positioned to achieve higher levels of
operating performance when favorable economic conditions return to our industry.
32. Despite the general performance of rail stocks in general during 2009, Portecs
results demonstrated the Companys strength and value going forward.
33. The inadequacy of the offer price is also demonstrated by the fact that Portec stock
was trading at $11.24 as recently as February 1, 2010, and at least one analyst set a target price
for Portec stock at $12 per share.
34. During 2009 Portec expanded substantially and successfully into the Chinese rail market.
The Friction Management product group increased its market presence through a significant increase
in Chinese market sales in 2009 from the prior year for the train-mounted Kelsan LCF(TM)
Solid-Stick lubrication products and HPF(TM) Solid -Stick tread friction modifier while new orders
were also received for friction management wayside application systems that included both gage face
lubrication and the KELTRACK(R) top of rail friction control product.
35. Another 2009 milestone achievement for Portec is Salient Systems entrance into the
Chinese market by receiving orders from Shenhua Energy Company Limited for new WILD systems that
include optional Weigh-in-Motion (WIM) and
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Hunting Truck Detection (HTD) capabilities as well as orders for the Rail Stress Monitor (RSM)
product. These systems are to be installed on a coal carrying heavy-haul rail line
36. Portecs expansion in the Chinese market has continued this year. On January 11, 2010, the
Company announced that it had increased its expansion into China, having received new customer
orders for its Fault Detection and Friction Management Product Groups. The Company already had a
steadily growing presence in Chine for its Friction Management products and now has penetrated the
Chinese market with its Fault Detection product group.
37. Mr. Jarosinski recognized the potential for Portecs increased presence in the Chinese
rail market this January 11, 2010 press release, stating:
These orders for a variety of our products reflect the success of our efforts to
enter the expanding Chinese rail infrastructure system. Our dedicated employees,
along with our sales agents in China, have worked diligently to understand this
unique customer base of our Chinese business partners. We have focused our efforts
on participating in key industry forums and in-country tradeshows and in the
publication of research papers and promotion of customer visits to North America.
All of these activities have resulted in significant progress towards making Portec
Rail Products, Inc. a meaningful brand name in the Chinese rail system marketplace,
which we hope will continue to grow in stature as our products and services become
more widely used. Mr. Jarosinski continued, The Chinese rail service market
offers significant growth potential in both heavy-haul freight and passenger
service. It has been recently announced that the Chinese will be spending a new
record of $120.6 billion in rail expansion efforts this year. It also has been
reported that the period from 2010 to 2012 will be a key period for the rail
modernization effort in China according to the Ministry of Railways. Rail
transportation investment includes major capacity expansions for some of the
countrys existing coal railways as well as the planned construction of several new
coal railways by companies such as Shenhua Energy Company Limited. In addition,
major expansion is also set for high speed passenger rail service lines. Our
growth in Chinas rail industry should position us well as China continues to
expand and modernize its railways. We are focused and dedicated to increasing
the use of both our friction management and wayside data collection systems in
China and other key international markets.
13
(emphasis added).
38. Thus, it is essential to note that the Portec has continued to perform well and has
continued to grow in spite of the global recession and its impact on the rail market. Clearly,
Portecs value as an ongoing business is greater than the consideration to be paid in the Proposed
Transaction. As such, the Proposed Transaction is inadequate to Portecs shareholders and
represents a significant discount to the Companys actual and intrinsic value.
39. Moreover, the Company agreed to enter into the Proposed Transaction without conducting a
formal market check to seek other potential acquirers. The Company provided shareholders with no
information indicating that it was considering a potential strategic transaction such as this and
gives no indication that it sought other bidders.
40. The Proposed Transaction is wrought with onerous and preclusive deal protection devices
that operate conjunctively to make the Proposed Transaction a fait daccompli and ensure that no
competing offers will emerge for the Company.
41. By way of example, §5.3 of the Merger Agreement includes a no solicitation provision
barring the Board and any Company personnel from seeking out any other strategic alternatives.
Despite the fact that they have locked up the Company and bound it to not solicit alternative bids,
the Merger Agreement provides other ways that guarantee the only suitor will be L.B. Foster.
42. Pursuant to §5.3(c) of the Merger Agreement, should an unsolicited bidder arrive on the
scene, the Company must notify L.B. Foster of the bidders offer. Thereafter, should the Board
determine that the unsolicited offer is superior, under
14
§5.3(d), Portec must notify L.B. Foster of the offer within 24 hours and give L.B. Foster the
identity of the party making the superior offer.
43. In addition, the Merger Agreement provides that a termination fee of $3,373,000 million
must be paid to L.B. Foster if the Company decides to pursue said other offer, thereby essentially
requiring that the alternate bidder agree to pay a naked premium for the right to provide the
shareholders with a superior offer.
44. Ultimately, the preclusive deal protection provisions illegally restrain the Companys
ability to solicit or engage in negotiations with any third party regarding a proposal to acquire
all or a significant interest in the Company. The circumstances under which the Board may respond
to an unsolicited written bona fide proposal for an alternative acquisition that constitutes or
would reasonably be expected to constitute a superior proposal are too narrowly circumscribed to
provide an effective fiduciary out under the circumstances. Likewise, these provisions also
foreclose any likely alternate bidder from providing the needed market check of L.B. Fosters
inadequate offer price.
45. Portec has also granted L.B. Foster a top-up option to bring L.B. Fosters
ownership of the Companys stock up to one share more than 90%.
46. Accordingly, Plaintiffs seek injunctive and other equitable relief to prevent the
irreparable injury that Company shareholders will continue to suffer absent judicial intervention.
CLAIM FOR RELIEF
COUNT I
Breach of Fiduciary Duty
(Against All Individual Defendants)
47. Plaintiffs repeat all previous allegations as if set forth in full herein.
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48. As Directors of Portec, the Individual Defendants stand in a fiduciary relationship to
Plaintiffs and the other public stockholders of the Company and owe them the highest fiduciary
obligations of loyalty and care.
49. As discussed herein, the Individual Defendants have breached their fiduciary duties
to Portec shareholders by failing to engage in an honest and fair sale process.
50. As a result of the Individual Defendants breaches of their fiduciary duties, Plaintiffs
and the Class will suffer irreparable injury in that they have not and will not receive their fair
portion of the value of Portecs assets.
51. Unless enjoined by this Court, the Individual Defendants will continue to breach their
fiduciary duties owed to Plaintiffs and the Class, and may consummate the Proposed Transaction, to
the irreparable harm of the Class.
52. Plaintiffs and the Class have no adequate remedy at law.
COUNT II
Aiding and Abetting
(Against Portec and L.B. Foster)
53. Plaintiffs repeat all previous allegations as if set forth in full herein.
54. As alleged in more detail above, Portec and L.B. Foster are well aware that the Individual
Defendants have breached their fiduciary duties. Defendants Portec and L.B. Foster aided and
abetted the Individual Defendants breaches of fiduciary duties.
55. As a result, Plaintiffs and the Class members are being harmed.
56. Plaintiffs and the Class have no adequate remedy at law.
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WHEREFORE, Plaintiffs demand judgment against Defendants jointly and severally,
as follows:
(A) declaring this action to be a class action and certifying Plaintiffs as Class
representatives and their counsel as Class counsel;
(B) enjoining, preliminarily and permanently, the Proposed
Transaction;
(C) in the event that the transaction is consummated prior to the entry of this
Courts final judgment, rescinding it or awarding Plaintiffs and the Class rescissory
damages;
(D) directing that Defendants account to Plaintiffs and the other members of the
Class for all damages caused by them and account for all profits and any special benefits
obtained as a result of their breaches of their fiduciary duties;
(E) awarding Plaintiffs the costs of this action, including a reasonable allowance
for the fees and expenses of Plaintiffs attorneys and experts; and
(F) granting Plaintiffs and the other members of the Class such further relief as
the Court deems just and proper.
JURY DEMAND
Plaintiff demands a trial by
jury.
The amount in controversy is in excess of the jurisdiction of the Board of Arbitrators.
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Dated: March 2, 2010
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Respectfully submitted,
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LAW OFFICE OF ALFRED G. YATES, JR., P.C. |
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/s/ ALFRED G. YATES, JR. |
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Alfred G. Yates, Jr. (PA I.D. No. 17419) |
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Gerald L. Rutledge (PA I.D. No. 62027)
519 Allegheny Building
429 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Tel.: (412)391-5164
Fax. (412) 471-1033
FINKELSTEIN THOMPSON LLP
Donald J. Enright
Elizabeth K. Tripodi
1050 30th Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20007
Telephone: (202) 337-8000
Facsimile: (202) 337-8090
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VERIFICATION
I, Scott Phillips, the undersigned, certify and declare that I have read the foregoing complaint
and know its contents. I am a party to this action. The matters stated in the document described
above are true to my own knowledge and belief except as to those matters stated on information and
belief, and as to those matters I believe them to be true. I hereby declare under penalty of
perjury that the foregoing is true and
correct.
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DATE: 3/1/10
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/s/ SCOTT PHILLIPS
Scott Phillips
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exv99waw5wf
Exhibit
(a)(5)(F)
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF KANWAHA COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA
FILED
2010 MAR -3 PM 2:41
CATHY S. GATSON, CLERK
KANAWHA COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT
JOSH FURMAN, individually,
and on behalf of all
others similarly situated,
Plaintiff,
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V.
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CIVIL ACTION NO.
10-C-400 Webster |
MARSHALL REYNOLDS, JOHN COOPER,
PHILIP CLINE, DANIEL HARRINGTON,
DOUGLAS REYNOLDS, NEAL SCAGGS,
A. MICHAEL PERRY, THOMAS WRIGHT,
PHILLIP SHELL, LOUIS AKERS, KIRBY TAYLOR,
PORTEC RAIL PRODUCTS, INC., L. B. FOSTER COMPANY,
and FOSTER THOMAS COMPANY,
Defendants.
CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT
Plaintiff Josh Furman, by his attorneys, alleges upon information and belief, except for
his own acts, which are alleged on knowledge, as follows:
1. Plaintiff brings this action on behalf of the public stockholders of Portec Rail Products,
Inc. (Portec or the Company) against Defendants, Portec and its Board of Directors seeking
equitable relief for their breaches of fiduciary duty and other violations of state law arising out
a proposed transaction in which Defendants L. B. Foster Company and Foster Thomas Company
(collectively L. B. Foster) seek to acquire all the outstanding shares of the Company through a
cash tender offer by means of an unfair process and for an unfair price of $11.71 for each share of
Portec common stock (the Proposed Transaction). The Proposed Transaction is valued at
approximately $112 million.
JURISDICTION AND VENUE
2. Jurisdiction and venue of this action are proper with this Court because Portec is a
corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of West Virginia with its principal
corporate offices in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, with no office or place of business in this
State, and this Court is the circuit court of the county in which the seat of state government is
located, where the cause of action grows out of the rights of stockholders with respect to
corporate management.
PARTIES
3. Plaintiff is, and has been at all relevant times, the owner of shares of common stock of
Portec.
4. Portec is a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of West
Virginia. It maintains its principal corporate offices at 900 Old Freeport Road, Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania 15238, and engages in the manufacture, supply, and distribution of various rail
products in the United States and internationally.
5. Defendant Marshall Reynolds (M. Reynolds) has been the Chairman of the Board of the
Company since 1997.
6. Defendant John Cooper (Cooper) has been the Vice Chairman of the Board of the Company
since 2006.
7. Defendant Philip Cline (Cline) has been a director of the Company since 1998.
8. Defendant Daniel Harrington (Harrington) has been a director of the Company since
1998.
2
9. Defendant Douglas Reynolds (D. Reynolds) has been a director of the Company since 1998.
10. Defendant Neal Scaggs (Scaggs) has been a director of the Company since 1998.
11. Defendant A. Michael Perry (Perry) has been a director of the Company since 2004.
12. Defendant Thomas Wright (Wright) has been a director of the Company since 2004.
13. Defendant Phillip Shell (Shell) has been a director of the Company since 2005.
14. Defendant Louis Akers (Akers) has been a director of the Company since 2008.
15. Defendant Kirby Taylor (Taylor) has been a director of the Company since 1997.
16. Defendants
referenced in ¶¶ 4 through 14 are collectively referred to as Individual
Defendants and/or the Portec Board. The Individual Defendants as officers and/or directors of
Portec, have a fiduciary relationship with Plaintiff and other public shareholders of Portec and
owe them the highest obligations of good faith, fair dealing, loyalty and due care.
17. Defendant L. B. Foster Company is a Pennsylvania corporation with its headquarters
located in Pennsylvania that engages in the manufacture, fabrication, and distribution of
products and services for the rail, construction, energy, and utility markets in the United States.
18. Defendant Foster Thomas Company is a West Virginia corporation wholly owned by L. B.
Foster Company that was created for the purposes of effectuating the Proposed Transaction.
3
INDIVIDUAL DEFENDANTS FIDUCIARY DUTIES
19. As provided by Article 8 of the West Virginia Business Corporation Act (effective
in October 1, 2002) by reason of Individual Defendants positions with the Company as officers
and/or directors, they are in a fiduciary relationship with Plaintiff and the other public
shareholders of Portec and owe them, as well as the Company, a duty of highest good faith, fair
dealing, loyalty and full, candid and adequate disclosure, as well as a duty to maximize
shareholder value.
20. Where the officers and/or Directors of a publicly traded corporation undertake a
transaction that will result in either: (i) a change in corporate control; (ii) a break up of the
corporations assets; or (iii) sale of the corporation, the Directors have an affirmative fiduciary
obligation to obtain the highest value reasonably available for the corporations shareholders, and
if such transaction will result in a change of corporate control, the shareholders are entitled to
receive a significant premium. To diligently comply with their fiduciary duties, the Directors
and/or officers may not take any action that:
(a) adversely affects the value provided to the corporations shareholders;
(b) favors themselves or will discourage or inhibit alternative offers to purchase control of
the corporation or its assets;
(c) contractually prohibits them from complying with their fiduciary duties;
(d) will otherwise adversely affect their duty to search and secure the best value reasonably
available under the circumstances for the corporations shareholders; and/or
(e) will provide the Directors and/or officers with preferential treatment at the expense of,
or separate from, the public shareholders.
4
21. In accordance with their duties of loyalty and good faith, the Individual Defendants, as
Directors and/or officers of Portec, are obligated to refrain from:
(a) participating in any transaction where the directors or officers loyalties are divided;
(b) participating in any transaction where the directors or officers receive, or are entitled
to receive, a personal financial benefit not equally shared by the public shareholders of the
corporation; and/or
(c) unjustly enriching themselves at the expense or to the detriment of the public
shareholders.
22. Plaintiff alleges herein that the Individual Defendants, separately and together, in
connection with the Proposed Transaction are knowingly or recklessly violating their fiduciary
duties, including their duties of loyalty, good faith and independence owed to Plaintiff and other
public shareholders of Portec, or are aiding and abetting others in violating those duties.
23. Defendants also owe the Companys stockholders a duty of candor, which includes the
disclosure of all material facts concerning the Proposed Transaction and, particularly, the
fairness of the price offered for the stockholders equity interest. Defendants are knowingly or
recklessly breaching their fiduciary duties of candor by failing to disclose all material
information concerning the Proposed Transaction, and/or aiding and abetting other Defendants
breaches.
CONSPIRACY, AIDING AND ABETTING AND CONCERTED ACTION
24. In committing the wrongful acts alleged herein, each of the Defendants has pursued, or
joined in the pursuit of, a common course of conduct, and acted in concert with and conspired with
one another, in furtherance of their common plan or design. In addition to the
5
wrongful conduct herein alleged as giving rise to primary liability, the Defendants further aided
and abetted and/or assisted each other in breach of their respective duties as herein alleged.
25. During
all relevant times hereto, the Defendants, and each of them, initiated a course of
conduct which was designed to and did: (i) permit L. B. Foster to attempt to eliminate the public
shareholders equity interest in Portec pursuant to a defective sales process, and (ii) permit L.
B. Foster to buy the Company for an unfair price. In furtherance of this plan, conspiracy and
course of conduct, Defendants, and each of them, took the actions as set forth herein.
26. Each of the Defendants herein aided and abetted and rendered substantial assistance in the
wrongs complained of herein. In taking such actions, as particularized herein, to substantially
assist the commission of the wrongdoing complained of, each Defendant acted with knowledge of the
primary wrongdoing, substantially assisted the accomplishment of that wrongdoing, and was aware of
his or her overall contribution to, and furtherance of, the wrongdoing. The Defendants acts of
aiding and abetting included, inter alia, the acts each of them are alleged to have committed in
furtherance of the conspiracy, common enterprise and common course of conduct complained of herein.
CLASS ACTION ALLEGATIONS
27. Plaintiff brings this action on its own behalf and as a class action on behalf of all
owners of Portec common stock and their successors in interest, except Defendants and their
affiliates (the Class).
28. This action is properly maintainable as a class action for the following reasons:
6
(a) the Class is so numerous that joinder of all members is impracticable. As of February
22, 2010, Portec has approximately 9.60 million shares outstanding.
(b) questions of law and fact are common to the Class, including, inter alia, the following:
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Have the Individual Defendants breached their
fiduciary duties owed by them to Plaintiff and the others members of
the Class; |
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(ii) |
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Are the Individual Defendants, in connection
with the Proposed Transaction of Portec by L. B. Foster, pursuing a
course of conduct that does not maximize Portecs value in violation
of their fiduciary duties; |
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(iii) |
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Have the Individual Defendants misrepresented
and omitted material facts in violation of their fiduciary duties owed
by them to Plaintiff and the other members of the Class; |
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(iv) |
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Have Portec and L. B. Foster aided and abetted
the Individual Defendants breaches of fiduciary duty; and |
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(v) |
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Is the Class entitled to injunctive relief or
damages as a result of Defendants wrongful conduct. |
(c) Plaintiff is committed to prosecuting this action and have retained competent counsel
experienced in litigation of this nature.
(d) Plaintiffs claims are typical of those of the other members of the Class.
(e) Plaintiff has no interests that are adverse to the Class.
7
(f) The prosecution of separate actions by individual members of the Class would create the
risk of inconsistent or varying adjudications for individual members of the Class and of
establishing incompatible standards of conduct for Defendants.
(g) Conflicting adjudications for individual members of the Class might as a practical matter
be dispositive of the interests of the other members not parties to the adjudications or
substantially impair or impede their ability to protect then- interests.
SUBSTANTIVE ALLEGATIONS
29. The rail products market in which Portec operates is poised for substantial growth. On
April 16, 2009, President Obama called for spending at least $13 billion to launch a new era of
high-speed passenger rail transportation. As stated in a Wall Street Journal article,
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123989461947625407.html?mod=djempersonal. this
will provide a potentially rich new market for rail equipment makers. Besides allocating $8
billion in stimulus funds for high-speed rail, Mr. Obama said he would seek to budget $5 billion
more over the next five years. As described in the Wall Street Journal article,
Analyst Jim Lucas of Janney Montgomery Scott said higher U.S. spending on
passenger rail could benefit a wide range of U.S. companies. Among them:
Harsco Corp., which makes rail right-of-way equipment; Portec Rail Products
Inc., which makes rail spikes and joints; and Wabtec Corp., which makes
passenger-train locomotives and other transit-related parts.
30. On November 16, 2009, Forbes magazine listed the Company as one of the 200 Best Small
Companies. In the press release announcing the achievement, Richard Jarosinski, the Companys
President and Chief Executive Officer, commented on the Companys current
8
success and how the Company is well positioned to achieve even higher levels of operating
performance when favorable economic conditions return to the rail industry:
PITTSBURGH, Nov. 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ Portec Rail Products, Inc.
(Nasdaq: PRPX) was recently named to the Forbes magazine listing of the 200
Best Small Companies. Forbes states that candidates must have annual
revenue between $5 million and $750 million, be publicly-traded for at
least one year and have a stock price no lower than $5. Rankings are based
on earnings growth, sales growth and return on equity in the past 12 months
and over the last five years.
Mr. Richard Jarosinski, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, We
are pleased to once again be part of this list of exceptional performers,
especially in what continues to be a very challenging economic climate for
our industry. We believe that the overall diversification in our markets and
product groups as well as providing quality products and solutions have been
keys to our success. Our dedication to developing and applying new
technology and innovation to the offerings that we provide the rail industry
is driving the results that allow this type of recognition. Our friction
management product group, and in particular our Total Friction
Management(TM) program, which offers multiple operational savings for both
heavy-haul freight and passenger service, are examples of the new technology
and innovation that we are providing to increase asset life, operating ratio
and bottom-line performance for our customers. Friction management continues
to grow despite the economic downturn, and our efforts have resulted in a
second North American Class 1 customer making a major expansion in the use
of our top of rail friction control solutions. Additionally, our wayside
data management and health monitoring products provided by Salient Systems,
which are improving customer metrics such as train velocity, asset life and
safety are further examples of our commitment to technology and innovation.
We believe that our commitment to the development of multiple solutions for
the success of the rail industry will position Portec Rail to achieve higher
levels of operating performance when favorable economic conditions return to
our industry.
31. On January 11, 2010, the Company announced that it entered into a significant contract
with China that expands its presence in the Chinese rail market. As stated in the press release
announcing the contract:
Portec Rail Products, Inc. Announces Significant Breakthrough in
China for Strategic Product Groups
9
PITTSBURGH, Jan 11, 2010 (GlobeNewswire via COMTEX) Portec Rail
Products, Inc. (Nasdaq:PRPX) today announced that it has increased its
expansion into China, as the company recently received new customer orders
for its Fault Detection and Friction Management product groups from China.
Portec Rail has had a steadily-growing presence in China for its Friction
Management products, and has now penetrated the Chinese market with its
Fault Detection product group.
32. As further stated in the press release, the Chinese market provides tremendous growth
opportunity for Portec, as China has recently announced that it will be spending $120.6 billion in
rail expansion efforts this year.
Portec Rail is a leader in the North American heavy-haul rail freight
markets for friction management with its Total Friction Management(TM)
program and Salient Systems Class I dominance in Wheel Impact Load Detector
(WILD) systems. The company is focused on matching this expertise to the
Chinese market, which provides tremendous growth opportunity for Portec
Rail.
* * *
Mr. Richard Jarosinski, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated,
These orders for a variety of our products reflect the success of our
efforts to enter the expanding Chinese rail infrastructure system. Our
dedicated employees, along with our sales agents in China, have worked
diligently to understand this unique customer base of our Chinese business
partners. We have focused our efforts on participating in key industry forums
and in-country tradeshows and in the publication of research papers and
promotion of customer visits to North America. All of these activities have
resulted in significant progress towards making Portec Rail Products, Inc. a
meaningful brand name in the Chinese rail system marketplace, which we hope
will continue to grow in stature as our products and services become more
widely used. Mr. Jarosinski continued, The Chinese rail service market
offers significant growth potential in both heavy-haul freight and passenger
service. It has been recently announced that the Chinese will be spending a
new record of $120.6 billion in rail expansion efforts this year. It also has
been reported that the period from 2010 to 2012 will be a key period for the
rail modernization effort in China according to the Ministry of Railways.
Rail transportation investment includes major capacity expansions for some of
the countrys existing coal railways as well as the planned construction of
several new coal railways by companies such as Shenhua Energy Company
Limited. In addition, major expansion is also set for high speed passenger
rail service lines. Our growth in Chinas rail industry should
10
position us well as China continues to expand and modernize its railways.
We are focused and dedicated to increasing the use of both our friction
management and wayside data collection systems in China and other key
international markets.
33. Despite its promise and poise for growth, the Company agreed to enter into the Proposed
Transaction. In a press release dated February 17, 2010, the Company announced that it had entered
into a merger agreement with L. B. Foster, stating:
PITTSBURGH,
PA, -February 17, 2010 - L. B. Foster Company (L. B.
Foster, NASDAQ: FSTR) and Portec Rail Products, Inc. (Portec,
NASDAQ: PRPX), both headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA, today jointly
announced the signing of an Agreement and Plan of Merger (Merger
Agreement), under which L. B. Foster will make, through its wholly
owned acquisition subsidiary, a cash tender offer to acquire all of
Portecs outstanding shares of common stock for $11.71 per share.
34. The Proposed Transaction price is a mere 4% premium over the price the Companys shares
traded at the day before the announcement of the Proposed Transaction. This is a paltry amount to
offer for the entire equity stake of any company, but is doubly offensive because it fails to
account for Portecs burgeoning prospects.
35. Given the Companys recent performance and future prospects, the consideration
shareholders are to receive is inadequate. Further, at least one Wall Street analyst had a price
target of $12.00 per share before the Proposed Transaction was announced. Accordingly, L. B. Foster
is picking up Portec at the most opportune time, at a time when Portec is poised for
growth and its stock price is trading at a huge discount to its intrinsic value.
36. In addition, of February 17, 2010, the Company filed a Form 8-K with the United States
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) wherein it disclosed the operating Agreement and Plan of
Merger for the Proposed Transaction (the Merger Agreement). As part of the Merger Agreement,
Defendants agreed to certain onerous and preclusive deal protection
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devices that operate conjunctively to make the Proposed Transaction a fait daccompli and ensure
that no competing offers will emerge for the Company.
37. By way of example, §5.3 of the Merger Agreement includes a no solicitation provision
barring the Board and any Company personnel from attempting to procure a price in excess of the
amount offered by L. B. Foster. Despite the fact that they have locked up the Company and bound
it to not solicit alternative bids, the Merger Agreement provides other ways that guarantee the
only suitor will be L. B. Foster.
38. Pursuant to §5.3 of the Merger Agreement, should an unsolicited bidder arrive on the
scene, the Company must notify L. B. Foster of the bidders offer. Thereafter, pursuant to section
§8.1(g) of the Merger Agreement, should the Board determine that the unsolicited offer is superior,
L. B. Foster is granted five days to amend the terms of the Merger Agreement to make a
counter-offer that only needs to be at least as favorable to the Companys shareholders as the
unsolicited offer. L. B. Foster is able to match the unsolicited offer because it is granted
unfettered access to the unsolicited offer, in its entirety, eliminating any leverage that the
Company has in receiving the unsolicited offer.
39. In other words, the Merger Agreement gives L. B. Foster access to any rival bidders
information and allows L. B. Foster a free right to top any superior offer. Accordingly, no rival
bidder is likely to emerge and act as a stalking horse for L. B. Foster, because the Merger
Agreement unfairly assures that any auction will favor L. B. Foster and piggy-back upon the due
diligence of the foreclosed second bidder.
40. In addition, should the other bidder come unsolicited and overcome the last look, the
Merger Agreement provides that a termination fee of $3,373,000 must be paid to L. B. Foster by
Portec if the Company decides to pursue said other offer, thereby essentially requiring
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that the alternate bidder agree to pay a naked premium for the right to provide the shareholders
with a superior offer.
41. Finally, L. B. Foster is also the beneficiary of a Top-Up provision that ensures that L.
B. Foster gains the shares necessary to effectuate a short-form merger. Pursuant to the Merger
Agreement, if L. B. Foster receives 90% of the shares outstanding through its tender offer, it can
effect a short-form merger. In the event L. B. Foster fails to acquire the 90% required, the
Merger Agreement also contains a Top-Up provision that grants L. B. Foster an option to purchase
additional shares from the Company in order to reach the 90% threshold required to effectuate a
short-form merger. The Top-Up provision essentially renders the tender offer a fait accompli
and eliminates the possibility that any alternate bidder can mount a serious challenge to L. B.
Fosters first-in position.
42. Ultimately, these preclusive deal protection provisions illegally restrain the Companys
ability to solicit or engage in negotiations with any third party regarding a proposal to acquire
all or a significant interest in the Company. The circumstances under which the Board may respond
to an unsolicited written bona fide proposal for an alternative acquisition that constitutes or
would reasonably be expected to constitute a superior proposal are too narrowly circumscribed to
provide an effective fiduciary out under the circumstances. Likewise, these provisions, coupled
with the Top-Up provision, also foreclose any likely alternate bidder from providing the needed
market check of L. B. Fosters inadequate offer price.
43. In connection with the Proposed Transaction, certain members of Portecs directors and
executive officers, who collectively own approximately 30.47% of Portecs common stock, have
entered into voting agreements to vote in favor of the Proposed Transaction
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with L. B. Foster. Accordingly, 30.47% of Portecs common stock is already locked up in favor of
the Proposed Transaction.
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Accordingly, Plaintiff seeks injunctive and other equitable relief to prevent the
irreparable injury that Company shareholders will continue to suffer absent judicial intervention. |
CLAIM FOR RELIEF
COUNT I
Breach of Fiduciary Duty Failure to Maximize Shareholder Value
(Against All Individual Defendants)
45. Plaintiff repeats all previous allegations as if set forth in full herein.
46. As Directors of Portec, the Individual Defendants stand in a fiduciary relationship to
Plaintiff and the other public stockholders of the Company and owe them the highest fiduciary
obligations of loyalty and care. The Individual Defendants recommendation of the Proposed
Transaction will result in change of control of the Company which imposes heightened fiduciary
responsibilities to maximize Portecs value for the benefit of the stockholders and requires
enhanced scrutiny by the Court.
47. As discussed herein, the Individual Defendants have breached their fiduciary duties to
Portec shareholders by failing to engage in an honest and fair sale process.
48. As a result of the Individual Defendants breaches of their fiduciary duties, Plaintiff
and the Class will suffer irreparable injury in that they have not and will not receive their fair
portion of the value of Portecs assets and will be prevented from benefiting from a
value-maximizing transaction.
49. Unless enjoined by this Court, the Individual Defendants will continue to breach their
fiduciary duties owed to Plaintiff and the Class, and may consummate the Proposed Transaction, to
the irreparable harm of the Class.
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50. Plaintiff and the Class have no adequate remedy at law.
COUNT II
Aiding and Abetting
(Against Portec and L. B. Foster)
51. Plaintiff repeats all previous allegations as if set forth in full herein.
52. As alleged in more detail above, Portec and L. B. Foster are well aware that the
Individual Defendants have not sought to obtain the best available transaction for the Companys
public shareholders. Defendants Portec and L. B. Foster aided and abetted the Individual
Defendants breaches of fiduciary duties.
53. As a result, Plaintiff and the Class members are being harmed.
54. Plaintiff and the Class have no adequate remedy at law.
WHEREFORE, Plaintiff demands judgment against Defendants jointly and severally, as follows:
(A) declaring this action to be a class action and certifying Plaintiff as the Class
representatives and his counsel as Class counsel;
(B) enjoining, preliminarily and permanently, the Proposed Transaction;
(C) in the event that the transaction is consummated prior to the entry of this Courts final
judgment, rescinding it or awarding Plaintiff and the Class rescissory damages;
(D) directing that Defendants account to Plaintiff and the other members of the Class for all
damages caused by them and account for all profits and any special benefits obtained as a result of
their breaches of their fiduciary duties;
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(E) awarding Plaintiff the costs of this action, including a reasonable allowance for the
fees and expenses of Plaintiffs attorneys and experts; and
(F) granting Plaintiff and the other members of the Class such further relief as the Court
deems just and proper.
PLAINTIFF JOSH FURMAN REQUESTS A TRIAL BY JURY.
JOSH FURMAN
By Counsel
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Jeffrey V. Mehalic (WV State Bar No. 2519) |
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LAW OFFICES OF JEFFREY V. MEHALIC |
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2011 Quarrier Street |
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P.O. Box 11133 |
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Charleston, WV 25339-1133 |
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Tel: (304) 346-3462 |
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Fax: (304) 346-3469 |
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Eduard Korsinsky |
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Eric M. Andersen |
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LEVI & KORSINSKY, LLP |
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30 Broad Street, 15th Floor |
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New York, New York 10004 |
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Tel: (212) 363-7500 |
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Fax: (212) 363-7171 |
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exv99waw5wg
Exhibit
(a)(5)(G)
IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
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RICHARD S. GESOFF,
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Plaintiff,
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CIVIL DIVISION |
V.
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No. GD-10-3562 |
MARSHALL T. REYNOLDS, JOHN S.
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COOPER, LOUIS J. AKERS, PHILIP E.
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CLINE, DANIEL P. HARRINGTON, A.
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MICHAEL PERRY, DOUGLAS V.
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JURY TRIAL DEMANDED |
REYNOLDS, NEAL W. SCAGGS, PHILIP
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TODD SHELL, KIRBY J. TAYLOR, THOMAS
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W. WRIGHT, L.B. FOSTER COMPANY,
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FOSTER THOMAS COMPANY and
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PORTEC RAIL PRODUCTS, INC.
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CLASS ACTION |
Defendants.
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NOTICE TO DEFEND
You have been sued in court. If you wish to defend against the claims set forth in the
following pages, you must take action within twenty (20) days after this complaint and notice are
served, by entering a written appearance personally or by attorney and filing in writing with the
court your defenses or objections to the claims set forth against you. You are warned that if you
fail to do so the case may proceed without you and a judgment may be entered against you by the
court without further notice for any money claimed in the complaint or for any claim or relief
requested by the plaintiff. You may lose money or property or other rights important to you.
YOU SHOULD TAKE THIS PAPER TO YOUR LAWYER AT ONCE. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE OR KNOW A LAWYER,
THEN YOU SHOULD GO TO OR TELEPHONE THE OFFICE SET FORTH BELOW TO FIND OUT WHERE YOU CAN GET LEGAL
HELP:
Lawyer Referral Service
The Allegheny County Bar Association
400 Koppers Building
436 Seventh Avenue
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15219
Telephone: 412-261-0518
IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
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RICHARD S. GESOFF,
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Plaintiff,
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CIVIL ACTION |
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V.
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No. GD-10-3562 |
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MARSHALL T. REYNOLDS, JOHN S.
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COOPER, LOUIS J. AKERS, PHILIP E.
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CLINE, DANIEL P. HARRINGTON, A.
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MICHAEL PERRY, DOUGLAS V.
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REYNOLDS, NEAL W. SCAGGS, PHILIP
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TODD SHELL, KIRBY J. TAYLOR,
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CLASS ACTION |
THOMAS W. WRIGHT, L.B. FOSTER
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COMPANY. FOSTER THOMAS COMPANY
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JURY TRIAL DEMANDED |
and PORTEC RAIL PRODUCTS, INC.
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Defendants.
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CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT
Plaintiff, for his complaint against Defendants, alleges upon personal knowledge as to
himself, and upon information and belief as to all other allegations herein, as follows:
NATURE OF THE ACTION
1. This is a class action on behalf of the shareholders of Portec Rail Products Inc.
(Portec or the Company) against members of the Companys Board of Directors (the Board) for
breaches of fiduciary duty arising out of the Boards decision to sell the Company to Foster
Thomas Company (Foster Thomas), a wholly owned subsidiary of L.B. Foster Company (L.B.
Foster), pursuant to a definitive Agreement and Plan of Merger (the Merger Agreement), dated
as of February 16, 2010, and approved by the Board. Foster Thomas and L.B. Foster are also sued
as aiders and abettors. Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, Foster Thomas will make a cash tender
offer to acquire all of the
Companys outstanding shares of common stock for $11.71 per share (Tender Offer) followed by a
merger (Merger) in which shares held by non-tendering shareholders will be converted into the
right to obtain $11.71 per share. The Merger transaction was announced in a press release issued
before the market opened on February 17, 2010. This action seeks to enjoin both the Tender Offer
and the Merger.
2. The Merger is at an inadequate price and is the result of Defendants
failure to maximize shareholder value in the transaction.
3. Portec is a recognized leader in providing rail freight and transit operators
with innovative engineering, products, services, and solutions. Through its Portec Rail
Group, comprised of Coronet Rail, Ltd., Kelsan Technologies Corporation, and Salient
Systems, Portec has several manufacturing and distribution facilities in North America
and the United Kingdom, supplying rail customers around the world.
4. Portec was incorporated in West Virginia in 1997, and, through its
predecessors, has served the railroad industry since 1906 by manufacturing, supplying
and distributing a broad range of rail products, including rail joints, rail anchors, rail
spikes, railway friction management products and systems, railway wayside data
collection and data management systems and freight car securemen systems. The
Company also manufactures material handling equipment for industries outside the rail
transportation sector at its United Kingdom operation.
5. Portec operates through four global business segments, consisting of
Railway Maintenance Products Division (RMP), Shipping Systems Division, Portec
Rail Nova Scotia Company, and Portec Rail Products (UK) Ltd.
2
6. RMP, the Companys largest business segment, provides track component
and friction management products and services to railroad transit systems and railroad
contractors. RMP is a major supplier of rail joints in the North American market. With
respect to friction management products, the Company is the North American market
leader.
7. Portec has enjoyed very significant recent success and can expect to
continue to do so. Thus, Portec has expended substantial resources in successfully
developing its business and expanding its operations overseas. For example, on January
11, 2010, the Company announced a significant breakthrough into the Chinese market
with respect to its Fault Detection and Friction Management product groups. Portec has
had a steadily growing presence in the burgeoning Chinese market, and newly received
customer orders for its Fault Detection and Friction Management product groups have
enhanced that position. The Press Release quoted Mr. Richard Jarosinski, President and
CEO of Portec, as stating:
We have focused our efforts on participating in key industry
forums and in-country tradeshows and in the publication of
research papers and promotion of customer visits to North America.
All of these activities have resulted in significant progress
towards making Portec Rail Products, Inc. a meaningful brand name
in the Chinese rail system marketplace, which we hope will
continue to grow in stature as our products and services become
more widely used.... The Chinese rail service market offers
significant growth potential in both heavy-haul freight and
passenger service. It has recently been announced that the Chinese
will be spending a record $120.6 billion in rail expansion efforts
this year. It has also been reported that the period from 2010 to
2012 will be a key period for the rail modernization effort in
China according to the Ministry of Railways. Rail transportation
investment includes major capacity expansions for some of the
countrys existing coal railways as well as the planned
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construction of several new coal railways by companies such as
Shenhua Energy Company Limited. In addition, major expansion is
also set for high speed passenger rail service lines. Our growth
in Chinas rail industry should position us well as China
continues to expand and modernize its railways. We are focused and
dedicated to increasing the use of both our friction management
and wayside data collection systems in China and other key
international markets. (emphasis added)
8. Further, President Barack Obama has said that railroad investment will be
a cornerstone of his transportation policies, given the environmental benefits and
improved mobility that would come from reducing the number of motor vehicles
traveling the nations roads. The sum of $8 billion has been earmarked in the economic-
recovery act to improve passenger railroads.
9. Another $1.5 billion in discretionary spending is expected to finance many
future rail projects. President Obama has also said that he would seek to budget $5
billion over the next five years for high-speed rail projects and to set up a national
infrastructure bank to finance regional projects such as rail improvements.
10. According to Robert Szabo, who is the Executive Director and Counsel
for 7 Consumers United for Rail Equity: All the trend lines point toward more freight
on the freight railroads. Thus, the immediate future holds unprecedented levels of rail
expenditures in America and China (at least). As a recognized leader in the rail industry
in North America and Europe, and with a profitable and growing presence in the
exploding Chinese market, the Company is poised to make significant profits in the
future.
11. Stan Hasselbusch, L.B. Fosters President and CEO, recognized the
importance of Portec to the future of L.B. Fosters business during a conference call (the
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Conference Call) with securities analysts held the day after the announcement of the Merger
transaction. In his opening remarks, Mr. Hasselbusch stated that the Portec acquisition will give
us a solid entry into the service sector, which is imperative to the future in the future of
rail products supply.
12. The market responded to the Merger by pushing the share price of L.B.
Foster from $26.55 to $30.08, or over 13%, during the six trading days following the
announcement of the Merger transaction, resulting in an increase in its market
capitalization of about $38 million. On the other hand, Portecs shares increased by only
about $.47, or about 4%, and its capitalization increased by only $4 million, about 11% of
L.B. Fosters capitalization increase. This substantial increase in the share price and
capitalization of the acquiring company suggests that the market believes that L.B. Foster
got the better of the bargain and that Portec shares were undervalued in the Merger
transaction. Indeed, on the Conference Call, James Bank, an analyst representing Sidoti
& Company, stated L.B. Foster probably got the better deal.
13. This increase in the L.B. Fosters market price reflects the fact that, if the
Merger is consummated, L.B. Fosters projected 2010 earnings will increase by the $8
million of 2010 earnings currently projected for the Company by an analyst that is posted
on marketwatch.com, less interest that L. B. Foster would have earned on the cash it is
paying for Portec. In addition, David Sauder, L. B. Fosters Vice President of Global
Business Development, said during the Conference Call that L.B. Foster ... looked at a
lot of efficiencies and synergies from...combining two public companies. In response to
a question at the Conference Call as to the scope of efficiencies and synergies resulting
from the transaction, Mr. Hasselbusch stated that we think that theres opportunities
5
across the board. Multiplying just the $8 million projected earnings figure by L.B. Fosters
current 15x price earnings ratio results in an increase in L.B. Fosters market capitalization of
$120 million.
14. The Board should have known that when the market assessed the
valuation of the merged company that it would apply at least the same current 15X
estimated price earnings multiple that L.B. Fosters trades for today, which would result
in L.B. Fosters market capitalization increasing by $120 million, more than the entire
cost of the acquisition of Portec.
15. Plaintiff alleges that he and the other public shareholders of Portec are
entitled to seek to enjoin the Merger or, alternatively, to rescind the transaction and/or
recover damages in the event that the transaction is consummated.
THE PARTIES
16. Plaintiff Richard S. Gesoff has been, at all times relevant to the action, and
continues to be, the owner of shares of Portec common stock. He currently owns 22,162
Portec shares in an IRA account held for his benefit. Mr. Gesoffs address is 39
Cohawney Road, Scarsdale, New York.
17. Defendant Portec is a West Virginia corporation with principal executive
offices located at 900 Old Freeport Road, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It has about
9,600,000 shares of common stock issued and outstanding.
18. Defendant L.B. Foster is a Pennsylvania corporation with its principal
executive office located at 415 Holiday Drive, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
19. Defendant Foster Thomas is a West Virginia corporation and wholly
owned subsidiary of Defendant L.B. Foster.
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20. Defendant Marshall T. Reynolds (Reynolds) has been chairman of the
board of Portec since 1997.
21. Defendant John S. Cooper (Cooper) has been vice chairman of the
Board of Directors of Portec since 1997.
22. Defendant Louis J. Akers (Akers) has been a director of Portec since
2008.
23. Defendant Philip E. Cline (Cline) has been a director of Portec since
1998.
24. Defendant Daniel P. Harrington (Harrington) has been a director of
Portec since 1998.
25. Defendant A. Michael Perry (Perry) has been a director of Portec since
2004.
26. Defendant Douglas V. Reynolds (D. Reynolds) has been a director of
Portec since 1998.
27. Defendant Neal W. Scaggs (Scaggs) has been a director of Portec since
1998.
28. Defendant Philip Todd Shell (Shell) has been a director of Portec since
2005.
29. Defendant Kirby J. Taylor (Taylor) has been a director of Portec since
1997. He also serves as the corporate secretary.
30. Defendant Thomas W. Wright (Wright) has been a director of Portec
since 2004.
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31. Defendants M. T. Reynolds, Cooper, Akers, Cline, Harrington, D.
Reynolds, Scaggs, Shell, Taylor and Wright are collectively referred to as the Individual
Defendants.
32. As directors of Portec, each of the Individual Defendants has the highest
fiduciary duties of good faith, loyalty, fair dealing, due care, and candor to Plaintiff and
the other members of the class.
33. The Individual Defendants, by reason of their corporate directorships, are
fiduciaries to and for the Companys shareholders, which fiduciary relationship requires
them to exercise their best judgment, and to act in a prudent manner and in the best
interests of the Companys shareholders.
34. Each of the Individual Defendants herein is sued individually, as a
conspirator and aider and abettor, as well as in his capacity as director of the Company,
and the liability of each arises from the fact that he has engaged in all or part of the
unlawful acts, plans, schemes, or transactions complained of herein.
CLASS ACTION ALLEGATIONS
35. Plaintiff brings this action on his own behalf and as a class action, on
behalf of all shareholders of the Company (except the Defendants herein and any person,
firm, trust, corporation, or other entity related to or affiliated with any of the Defendants)
and their successors in interest, who are or will be threatened with injury arising from
Defendants actions as more fully described herein (the Class).
36. This action is properly maintainable as a class action.
37. The Class is so numerous that joinder of all members is impracticable.
Members of the Class have owned, in the aggregate, material amounts of the Companys
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stock. While the exact number of Class members is unknown to Plaintiff at this time, and can be
ascertained only through appropriate discovery, Plaintiff believes that the Class is comprised of
hundreds of members. Class members own millions of shares of Portec common stock.
38. There are questions of law and fact which are common to the Class and
which predominate over any questions affecting only individual members of the Class,
including the following: (a) whether Defendants have engaged in a scheme or course of
conduct constituting a breach of their fiduciary and other common law duties owed by
them to Plaintiff and the other members of the Class, including the duties of good faith,
loyalty, fair dealing, and due care; (b) whether the Individual Defendants have
maximized shareholder value in connection with the Merger; and (c) whether the Class is
entitled to injunctive relief or damages as a result of Defendants wrongful conduct, and
if the Class is entitled to damages, the proper measure of their damages.
39. Defendants have acted in a manner that affects Plaintiff and all members
of the Class, alike, thereby making appropriate injunctive relief and/or corresponding
declaratory relief with respect to the Class as a whole.
40. Plaintiff has no conflict of interest in the maintenance of this action as a
class action. Accordingly, Plaintiff is an adequate representative of the Class and will
fairly and adequately protect and represent the interests of the Class. Plaintiff is
committed to prosecuting this action and has retained competent counsel experienced in
litigation of this nature. The claims of Plaintiff are typical of the claims of the other
members of the Class, and Plaintiff has the same interests as the other members of the
Class.
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41. The prosecution of separate actions by individual members of the Class
would create a risk of inconsistent or varying adjudications with respect to individual
members of the Class, which would establish incompatible standards of conduct for
Defendants, or adjudications with respect to individual members of the Class which
would, as a practical matter, be dispositive of the interests of other members or
substantially impair or impede their ability to protect their interests.
SUBSTANTIVE ALLEGATIONS
42. The Individual Defendants have breached their fiduciary duties by reason
of the acts and transactions complained of herein, including their decision to sell the
Company before the market fully realized the benefits to the Company of their expansion
plan described above and their decision allow the Company to be acquired by L.B. Foster
and Foster Thomas without making the requisite effort to obtain the best offer possible.
43. Plaintiff and other members of the Class have been and will be damaged
in that they have not and will not receive their fair proportion of the value of Portec assets
and business and have been and will be prevented from obtaining a fair and adequate
price for their shares of Portec common stock.
44. The terms of the Merger are wrongful, unfair, and harmful to the Class.
The Individual Defendants, realizing the enormous benefit to L.B. Foster of its
acquisition of the Company described above, should have insisted on a substantial
premium to the Companys market price. Moreover, the Individual Defendants should
have insisted that the Companys public shareholders be given the option of exchanging
their Company shares for cash or for L.B. Foster stock, thereby allowing the Class to
share in the benefits inuring to L.B. Foster by reason of the proposed Merger.
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45. By virtue of the foregoing actions of the Individual Defendants, Plaintiff
and the Class have been damaged in that they have been prevented from obtaining a fair
price for their shares.
COUNT
I
For Breach of Fiduciary Duties By the Individual Defendants
46. Plaintiff incorporates each and every allegation set forth above as if fully
set forth herein.
47. The Individual Defendants have thus violated their fiduciary duties by
entering into a transaction with L.B. Foster and Foster Thomas without regard to the
fairness of the transaction to Portec shareholders or the maximization of shareholder
value.
48. As alleged herein, the Individual Defendants have breached their duties of
loyalty and care owed to the shareholders of Portec in failing to obtain the highest
possible price for Portec in the transaction.
49. Unless enjoined by this Court, the Individual Defendants will continue to
breach their fiduciary duties owed to Plaintiff and the members of the Class and may
consummate the Merger, to the irreparable harm of the members of the Class.
50. Plaintiff and the members of the Class have no adequate remedy at law.
COUNT II
For Aiding and Abetting by Defendants Foster Thomas and L.B. Foster
51. Plaintiff incorporates each and every allegation set forth above as if fully
set forth herein.
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52. Foster Thomas and L.B. Foster are sued herein as aiders and abettors of
the breaches of fiduciary duty as alleged above.
53. As direct participants in the Merger, Foster Thomas and L.B. Foster knew,
or should have known of, and in fact actively encouraged and participated in the breach
of fiduciary duties alleged herein. Foster Thomas and L.B. Foster aided and abetted the
breaches of fiduciary duty committed by the Individual Defendants to the detriment of
Portecs shareholders. Indeed, the Merger could not take place without the active
participation of Foster Thomas and L.B. Foster. Furthermore, L.B. Foster and its
shareholders are the intended beneficiaries of the wrongs complained of and would be
unjustly enriched absent relief in this action.
54. Plaintiff and members of the Class have no adequate remedy at law.
WHEREFORE, Plaintiff and members of the Class demand judgment against
Defendants, jointly and severally, as follows;
A. Declaring that this action is properly maintainable as a class action and
certifying Plaintiff as the representative of the Class;
B. Declaring that Defendants have committed a gross abuse of trust and have
breached (or aided and abetted such breach of) their fiduciary and other duties owed to
Plaintiff and members of the Class;
C. Preliminarily and permanently enjoining Defendants and their agents,
employees and all persons acting under, in concert with, or for them, from proceeding
with, consummating, or closing the Merger;
D. In the event that the Merger is consummated, rescinding it and setting it
aside;
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E. Awarding compensatory damages against Defendants, individually and
severally, in an amount to be determined at trial, together with pre-judgment and post-judgment interest at the maximum rate allowable by law, arising from the Merger;
F. Awarding Plaintiff his costs and disbursements and reasonable allowances
for fees of Plaintiffs counsel and experts; and
G. Granting Plaintiff and the Class such other and further relief as the Court
may deem just and proper.
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JURY TRIAL DEMANDED. |
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Dated: February 24, 2010
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/s/ John C. Evans /DJM
John C. Evans, Pa. ID #49351
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David J. Manogue, Pa. ID #42119 |
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SPECTER SPECTER EVANS & MANOGUE, P.C. |
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The 26th Floor Koppers Building |
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436 Seventh Avenue |
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Pittsburgh, PA 15219 |
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Telephone: (412) 642-2300 |
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Todd S. Collins, Pa. ID #29405 |
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Neil F. Mara, Pa. ID #64895 |
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BERGER & MONTAGUE, P.C. |
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1622 Locust Street |
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Philadelphia, PA 19103 |
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Telephone: (215) 875-3000 |
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Harold B. Obstfeld |
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HAROLD B. OBSTFELD, P.C. |
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100 Park Avenue, 20th Floor |
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New York, NY 10017 |
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Telephone: (212) 696-1212 |
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Counsel for Plaintiffs |
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13
IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS
OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY
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RICHARD
S. GESOFF,
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) |
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Plaintiff,
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) |
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) |
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v.
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C.A. No. |
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MARSHALL T. REYNOLDS, JOHN S.
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COOPER, LOUIS I. AKERS, PHILIP E.
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CLINE, DANIEL P. HARRINGTON, A.
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MICHAEL PERRY, DOUGLAS V.
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REYNOLDS, NEAL W. SCAGGS, PHILIP
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TODD SHELL, KIRBY J. TAYLOR,
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THOMAS W. WRIGHT, L.B. FOSTER
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COMPANY, FOSTER THOMAS COMPANY
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and PORTEC RAIL PRODUCTS, INC.
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Defendants.
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VERIFICATION
The facts set forth in this Complaint are true based upon my own personal knowledge
with respect to allegations concerning me and, with respect to all other allegations, based on
information and belief and my attorneys investigation. I make this Verification subject to the
penalties of 1B Pa. C.S. §4904 (relating to unsworn falsification to
authorities).
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/s/ Richard S. Geoff
Richard S. Gesoff
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