Introductory Note
On October 17, 2023 (the “Closing Date”), the acquisition of Heritage-Crystal Clean, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), was completed pursuant to the terms of the previously announced Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of July 19, 2023 (the “Merger Agreement”), by and among the Company, JFL-Tiger Acquisition Co., Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Parent”), and JFL-Tiger Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent (“Merger Sub”). Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, Merger Sub merged with and into the Company (the “Merger”), with the Company surviving the Merger as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent.
At the effective time of the Merger (the “Effective Time”), subject to the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement, each share of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (“Company Common Stock”) outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time was converted into the right to receive $45.50 in cash, without interest, less any applicable withholding taxes, other than any shares as to which dissenters’ rights had been perfected (and not withdrawn or lost) in accordance with applicable law (which were cancelled and converted into the right to receive a payment determined in accordance with Section 262 of the Delaware General Corporation Law). Additionally, pursuant to the Merger Agreement, immediately prior to the Effective Time, (1) each Company restricted stock award granted under the Company’s 2019 Incentive Award Plan (the “Company Equity Plan”) became fully vested and the restrictions with respect to such restricted stock awards lapsed, and all Company restricted stock awards were treated in the Merger in the same manner as the other shares of Company Common Stock, and (2) each award of Company restricted stock units (“RSUs”) granted under the Company Equity Plan outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time was automatically cancelled and converted into the right to receive a cash payment in an amount, without interest and subject to applicable withholding taxes, equal to the product of (x) the per share merger consideration (as defined in the Merger Agreement) and (y) the total number of shares of Company Common Stock subject to such award of RSUs as of immediately prior to the Effective Time.
Item 1.02 |
Termination of a Material Definitive Agreement. |
On the Closing Date, the Company prepaid in full all amounts, and terminated all commitments, outstanding under its Credit Agreement, dated as of March 18, 2021, among the Company, Heritage-Crystal Clean, LLC (“Borrower”), each subsidiary of Borrower party thereto from time to time, the lenders party thereto from time to time and Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent, swing line lender and L/C issuer (as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified, the “Credit Agreement”). Following the prepayment and termination, the Company was released from all obligations and liabilities under the Credit Agreement, including all guarantees and collateral provided thereunder. No early termination penalties were incurred by the Company as a result of such prepayment and termination.
Additionally, as a result of the completion of the Merger, the Participation Rights Agreement, dated as of March 17, 2008, by and between the Company and The Heritage Group automatically terminated pursuant to its terms.
Item 2.01 |
Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets. |
The description contained under the Introductory Note above is hereby incorporated by reference into this Item 2.01.
The description of the effects of the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, the full text of the Merger Agreement, which was filed as Exhibit 2.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on July 20, 2023 and which is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 3.01 |
Notice of Delisting or Failure to Satisfy a Continued Listing Rule or Standard; Transfer of Listing. |
The descriptions contained under the Introductory Note, Item 2.01, Item 3.03, Item 5.01 and Item 5.03 of this Current Report on Form 8-K are incorporated by reference into this Item 3.01.
In connection with the consummation of the Merger, on October 17, 2023, the Company notified the NASDAQ Global Select Market (the “NASDAQ”) that the Merger had closed and requested that the Nasdaq (1) suspend trading of Company Common Stock, (2) remove Company Common Stock from listing on the NASDAQ prior to the open of trading on October 17, 2023 and (3) file with the SEC a notification of delisting of Company Common Stock under Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). As a result, Company Common Stock will no longer be listed on the NASDAQ. Trading of the Company Common Stock on NASDAQ was halted prior to the opening of trading on the Closing Date.
Additionally, the Company intends to file with the SEC certifications on Form 15 under the Exchange Act requesting the deregistration of Company Common Stock under Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act and the suspension of the Company’s reporting obligations under Sections 13 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act as promptly as practicable.
Item 3.03 |
Material Modification of Rights of Security Holders. |
The descriptions contained under the Introductory Note, Item 2.01, Item 3.01, Item 5.01 and Item 5.03 of this Current Report on Form 8-K are incorporated by reference into this Item 3.03.