Filed by Willbros Group, Inc. (a Delaware corporation)
pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act of 1933
and deemed filed pursuant to Rule 14a-12
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Subject Company: Willbros Group, Inc. (a Republic of Panama corporation)
Registration No. 333-155281
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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CONTACT: |
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Michael W. Collier
Vice President, Investor Relations
Willbros USA, Inc.
(713) 403-8016
Connie Dever
Director, Strategic Planning
Willbros USA, Inc.
(713) 403-8035 |
WILLBROS BOARD APPROVES CHANGE IN
CORPORATE DOMICILE TO DELAWARE
Proposed Structure Should Assist in Executing Global Business Strategy
HOUSTON,
TX November 12, 2008, Willbros Group, Inc. (NYSE: WG) today announced that its Board of
Directors has approved a plan to reorganize the Company by changing its corporate domicile from
Panama to Delaware and to complete other internal restructuring transactions. Under the plan,
Willbros Group, Inc., a newly-formed Delaware corporation, will become the parent holding company
of Willbros Group, Inc. (Panama). Willbros Group, Inc. (Panama) will continue to own the foreign
operations and will spin-off the U.S. operations to the new parent company, Willbros Group, Inc.
(Delaware). The reorganization, other than the internal spin-off, is subject to the approval of
the holders of a majority of Willbros outstanding common shares.
Randy Harl, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented on the plan of reorganization, Our
markets are global in reach, and Willbros will always serve clients in international locations.
However, as a result of the Companys recent acquisitions and its many profitable work awards in
North America, our focus has changed to include North America as a principal market. Now in our
one hundredth year, we believe moving our corporate headquarters to the United States is the right
thing to do, and we expect our new corporate structure to assist in the execution of our global
business strategy by: (i) enhancing our ability to access capital in order to fund future business
growth whether organically or by acquisition, (ii) increasing our opportunities in the government
sector, (iii) attracting the best talent globally, and (iv) allowing us to focus better on each
U.S. and international operation. We expect each of these benefits to generate increased value and
returns for our stockholders.
It is anticipated that the reorganization will be complete by year-end, subject to receiving
stockholder approval and any other necessary third-party consents or approvals. The reorganization
should have no material impact on the Companys employees, suppliers or customers worldwide.
The plan approved by the Board will provide that, upon completion of the reorganization, each share
of Willbros Group, Inc. (Panama) common stock will automatically convert into the right to receive
one common share of Willbros Group, Inc. (Delaware). Holders of our warrants and notes will be
entitled to the right to acquire or convert into, as the case may be, shares of Willbros Group,
Inc. (Delaware). The new shares will have substantially the same attributes as a share of Willbros
Group, Inc. (Panama), common stock, with material differences to be described in more detail in the
final proxy statement/prospectus discussed below. Generally, for
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U.S. federal income tax purposes, Willbros stockholders, note holders, and warrant holders that are
U.S. persons will not recognize gain or loss on the exchange of Willbros Group, Inc. (Panama)
shares of common stock, notes, or warrants for Willbros Group, Inc. (Delaware), common stock, notes
or warrants. Since no gain or loss should generally be recognized on the exchange of common stock,
notes or warrants, the holding period will not start over upon consummation of the reorganization.
Willbros Group, Inc. (Delaware) common shares will be listed and traded on the New York Stock
Exchange under the symbol WG, the same symbol under which the Companys common stock currently
trades.
A special meeting of stockholders of Willbros Group, Inc. (Panama) will be called shortly to vote
on the proposed reorganization. Notice of the special meeting and a proxy statement/prospectus
describing the reorganization will be mailed to Willbros stockholders on the record date selected
by Willbros board of directors. A registration statement on Form S-4 for Willbros Group, Inc.
(Delaware) containing the proposed proxy statement/prospectus will be filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission and will be available for free at the SEC website, www.sec.gov. When
finalized, these documents will be available free of charge at the SEC website and at the Company
website, www.willbros.com.
This announcement does not constitute an offer of any securities for sale, or an offer or an
invitation to purchase any securities. AS SOON AS THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND THE RELATED PROXY
STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS ARE FINALIZED, INVESTORS SHOULD READ THESE DOCUMENTS BEFORE MAKING A DECISION
CONCERNING THE REORGANIZATION. These documents will contain important information that investors
should consider.
Willbros Group, Inc. (Panama), and its respective executive officers and directors may be deemed to
be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the stockholders of Willbros in favor of the
reorganization. Information about the executive officers and directors of Willbros and their
ownership of Willbros common stock is set forth in the proxy statement for Willbros 2008 Annual
Meeting of Stockholders, which was filed with the SEC on April 23, 2008. Investors may obtain more
detailed information regarding the direct and indirect interests of such participants in the
reorganization by reading the proxy statement/prospectus regarding the reorganization once it is
finalized.
Willbros Group, Inc. is an independent contractor serving the oil, gas, power, refining and
petrochemical industries, providing engineering, construction, turnaround, maintenance, life cycle
extension services and facilities development and operations services to industry and government
entities worldwide.
This announcement contains forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of
historical facts, which address activities, events or developments the Company expects or
anticipates will or may occur in the future, are forward-looking statements. A number of risks and
uncertainties could cause actual results to differ materially from these statements, including
those discussed above and such things as the failure to satisfy conditions to closing the
reorganization; the potential for additional investigations; the disruptions to the global credit
markets; the possible losses arising from the discontinuation of operations and the sale of the
Nigeria assets; fines and penalties by government agencies; the identification of one or more other
issues that require restatement of one or more prior period financial statements; the existence of
material weaknesses in internal controls over financial reporting; availability of quality
management; availability and terms of capital; changes in, or the failure to comply with,
government regulations; ability to remain in compliance with, or obtain waivers under, the
Companys loan agreements and indentures; the promulgation, application, and interpretation of
environmental laws and regulations; future E&P capital expenditures; oil, gas, gas liquids, and
power prices and demand, the amount and location of planned pipelines, the refinery crack spread
and planned refinery outages and upgrades, the effective tax rate of the different countries where
the work is being conducted, development trends of the oil, gas, power, refining and petrochemical
industries; changes in the political and economic environment of the countries in which the Company
has operations, as well as other risk factors described from time to time in the Companys
documents and reports filed with the SEC. The Company assumes no obligation to update publicly
such forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or
otherwise.
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