Item 8.01. Other Events.
On March 5, 2009, Richard M. Osborne, the Chairman of the Board and Chief
Executive Officer of Energy West, Incorporated ("Energy West"), sent a letter in
his individual capacity to the Board of Directors of Corning Natural Gas
Company, a publicly-held natural gas company in Corning, New York ("Corning"),
in which he resigned from Corning's Board and referenced a non-binding offer by
Energy West to purchase Corning. Mr. Osborne is Energy West's largest
shareholder and also owns 15.5% of the outstanding shares of Corning common
stock. Prior to his resignation from the Board of Corning, Mr. Osborne was also
Chairman of the Board of Corning.
A copy of Mr. Osborne's letter is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1. On March 10,
2009, Corning filed a Form 8-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission
disclosing Mr. Osborne's letter and attaching Corning's response which is
attached hereto as Exhibit 99.2.
As described in the exhibits, Energy West and Corning have been in discussions
for the past several months regarding a possible acquisition of Corning by
Energy West. Most recently, on February 12, 2009, Energy West submitted a
non-binding offer to acquire Corning for $21.35 per share on a fully-diluted
basis assuming conversion or exercise of all outstanding warrants or options.
Corning shareholders would have received 2.50 shares of common stock of Energy
West for each share of Corning. This non-binding offer followed two other
non-binding offers made by Energy West in 2008. Energy West's offers were
subject to the completion of due diligence and other customary terms and
conditions including approval by the shareholders of Corning and Energy West. On
February 20, 2009, Corning's special committee informed Energy West that it had
rejected Energy West's offer.
Energy West and Corning are not currently in discussions regarding a possible
acquisition and have not been since Corning's rejection of the offer on February
20, 2009. Energy West is currently reviewing its options with respect to a
possible acquisition of Corning and may choose in its discretion to make another
offer under the same or different terms and in the same manner or a different
manner as its most recent offer. There can be no assurances that the companies
will resume discussions, that a potential transaction will occur or if a
transaction does occur, what the terms of the transaction would be.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits
99.1 Letter dated March 5, 2009 to Corning Natural Gas Company from Richard
M. Osborne
99.2 Letter dated March 10, 2009 to Richard M. Osborne from Corning Natural
Gas Company
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