Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.
On September 12, 2008, Energy West, Incorporated ("Energy West") entered into a
Stock Purchase Agreement (the "Agreement") with Richard M. Osborne, Trustee,
Rebecca Howell, Stephen G. Rigo, Marty Whelan and Thomas J. Smith (collectively,
the "Sellers") whereby Energy West agreed to purchase all of the common stock of
Lightning Pipeline Co. ("Lightning Pipeline"), Great Plains Natural Gas Company
("Great Plains"), Brainard Gas Corp. ("Brainard") and all of the membership
units of Great Plains Land Development Co., Ltd. ("GPL"), which companies are
primarily owned by an entity controlled by Mr. Osborne and wholly-owned by the
Sellers, for a purchase price of $34.3 million. Pursuant to the Agreement,
Energy West will acquire Orwell Natural Gas Company ("Orwell"), a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Lightening Pipeline and Northeast Ohio Natural Gas Corp. ("NEO"),
a wholly-owned subsidiary of Great Plains. Orwell, NEO and Brainard are natural
gas distribution companies that serve approximately 21,000 customers in
Northeastern Ohio and Western Pennsylvania. This acquisition will increase
Energy West's customers by more than 50%.
Mr. Osborne is chairman, chief executive officer and a director, Mr. Smith is
vice president, chief financial officer and a director, and Ms. Howell is
secretary of Energy West. The Agreement was negotiated on behalf of Energy West
by a special committee comprised solely of independent directors with the
assistance of independent financial and legal advisors. The special committee
received a fairness opinion from Houlihan Smith & Company, Inc. The Agreement
was approved by the board of directors of Energy West, upon unanimous
recommendation of the special committee.
The $34.3 million purchase price consists of Energy West's assumption of
approximately $20.9 million in debt with the remainder of the purchase price to
be paid in unregistered shares of common stock of Energy West based on a price
of $10.00 per share. The stock portion of the purchase price may be increased or
decreased within three business days prior to closing of the transaction
depending on the number of active customers of Orwell, Brainard and NEO. The
Sellers have the right to elect to terminate the transaction, upon the payment
of a $100,000 fee, if the average closing price of Energy West's common stock
for the twenty consecutive trading days ending seven calendar days prior to
closing is below $9.49 and if Energy West's common stock underperforms the
American Gas Stock Index (as maintained by the American Gas Association) by more
than 20%, as described in the Agreement. However, Energy West may prevent
termination of the transaction in this instance by increasing the number of
shares of its common stock paid to the Sellers as part of the purchase price.
The Agreement also contains customary representations, warranties, covenants and
indemnification provisions.
The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2009 but there can
be no assurances that the transaction will be completed on the proposed terms or
at all. The closing is subject to customary closing conditions, including the
approval of applicable regulators. In addition, the transaction is subject to
the approval of Energy West's shareholders for the issuance of shares of Energy
West as part of the purchase price. Energy West plans to delay its 2008 annual
meeting of shareholders from its regularly scheduled November date so that the
shareholders may vote on the transaction at the annual meeting. The date of the
annual meeting will be announced later.
The foregoing description of the Agreement is not complete and is qualified in
its entirety to the full and complete terms of such agreement, which is attached
as Exhibit 10.1 to this current report and incorporated herein by reference.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits.
10.1 Stock Purchase Agreement dated September 12, 2008 between Energy West.
Incorporated and Richard M. Osborne, Trustee, Rebecca Howell, Stephen
G. Rigo, Marty Whelan and Thomas J. Smith
99.1 Press Release of Energy West Incorporated dated September 12, 2008