SEC Company Response from AGCO (AGCO) — Jun 28, 2005
AGCO CORP /DE (AGCO) (CIK 0000880266)
Date: June 28, 2005 · CIK: 0000880266 · Accession: 0000950144-05-006873
AI Filing Summary & Sentiment
File numbers found in text: 333-125233
Show Raw Text
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>CORRESP
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>filename1.txt
<TEXT>
<PAGE>
TROUTMAN SANDERS LLP
ATTORNEYS AT LAW
BANK OF AMERICA PLAZA
600 PEACHTREE STREET, N.E. - SUITE 5200
ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30308-2216
www.troutmansanders.com
TELEPHONE: 404-885-3000
FACSIMILE: 404-885-3900
Thomas J. Schramkowski Direct Dial: 404-885-3386
tom.schramkowski@troutmansanders.com Direct Fax: 404-962-6782
June 28, 2005
VIA EDGAR AND FACSIMILE (202-772-9218)
United States Securities and Exchange Commission
100 F. Street, N.E.
Washington, D.C. 20549
Attn: Eduardo Aleman
Staff Attorney
Re: Further SEC Comments to AGCO Corporation Form S-4, Filed May 26, 2005,
File No. 333-125233, and Schedule TO-I, Filed May 26, 2005,
File No. 005-43776
Dear Mr. Aleman:
On June 24, 2005, we held several telephone conference calls with you
and other members of the Staff regarding further comments that the Staff had to
the above referenced documents. One of the Staff's requests was for AGCO
Corporation to provide its analysis that the amendments made to its exchange
offer prospectus are not material, such that AGCO would not need to extend the
offer for five business days following re-circulation of a final prospectus. The
purpose of this letter is to provide the requested analysis.
Rule 14d-4(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 states that a
material change made to information (other than to price or share levels)
provided in a prospectus sent or given to security holders shall be promptly
disseminated to holders, and, in a registered offer in which the consideration
consists solely or partially of registered securities, the offer must remain
open for five business days from the date that such material changes are
disseminated to holders. AGCO disseminated a prospectus to holders of original
notes on May 26, 2005 in an exchange offer registered on Form S-4, which
prospectus has been amended three times in response to comments received from
the Staff regarding terms other than price or share levels. The holders consist
of approximately 65 sophisticated, Rule 144A purchasers.
Under federal securities laws, information is considered material only
if it is important to investors in making a securities-related decision (TSC
Industries, Inc. v. Northway, Inc., 426 U.S. 438 (1976)). The comments provided
by the Staff, while helpful to clarifying certain sections of the prospectus,
did not change the substance of the information provided to the extent that
ATLANTA - HONG KONG - LONDON - NEW YORK - NORFOLK - RALEIGH
RICHMOND - TYSONS CORNER - VIRGINIA BEACH - WASHINGTON, D.C.
<PAGE>
TROUTMAN SANDERS LLP
ATTORNEYS AT LAW
June 28, 2005
Page 2
note holders would view the changes made as important to their understanding of
the exchange offer. Most of the Staff's comments were targeted at strengthening
the disclosures made by AGCO in the prospectus, which, when viewed by holders,
would actually further bolster their decision to participate in the offer. In
particular, the Staff's comments to the "United States Federal Tax
Considerations" section of the prospectus did not add any negative tax
consequences for holders participating in the offer, but rather reinforced the
discussion with greater detail regarding the effects of the exchange offer. The
balance of the Staff's comments were made on technical points which, while
important to AGCO's compliance with federal securities laws, would be less
helpful to investors focused on making a decision to participate in the offer.
In support of the foregoing, we note that based on the less positive
disclosures made by AGCO in the initial prospectus over 99% of the holders had
tendered their securities for exchange as of June 23, 2005.
Therefore, given the level of sophistication of the holders of the
original notes in the exchange offer and the fact that no substantive term of
the prospectus changed as a result of the Staff's comments, the changes made to
AGCO's prospectus since the date of its original dissemination do not rise to
the level of materiality that is required by Rule 14d-4(d) to extend the
exchange offer. As a result, while AGCO will disseminate a final prospectus to
all holders of original notes, it is not required to further extend the exchange
offer following the dissemination.
We would be happy to further discuss this issue with you should you
require any additional information. Please do not hesitate to contact me at
(404) 885-3386 or Brink Dickerson at (404) 885-3822.
Best regards,
/s/ Thomas J. Schramkowski
Thomas J. Schramkowski
cc: Brink Dickerson, Troutman Sanders LLP
Andy Beck, AGCO Corporation
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>