SEC Company Response from NORTHEAST INDIANA BANCORP INC (CIK 0000942898) — Apr 18, 2005
NORTHEAST INDIANA BANCORP INC (CIK 0000942898)
Date: April 18, 2005 · CIK: 0000942898 · Accession: 0000914317-05-001315
AI Filing Summary & Sentiment
File numbers found in text: 000-26012
Referenced dates: April 8, 2005
Show Raw Text
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>CORRESP
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>filename1.txt
<TEXT>
[BARNES & THORNBURG LLP LETTERHEAD]
April 15, 2005
VIA EDGAR and FEDERAL EXPRESS
-----------------------------
Ms. Celeste Murphy
Special Counsel
Office of Mergers and Acquisitions
Mail Stop 03-03
Securities and Exchange Commission
Washington, DC 20549-0404
Re: Northeast Indiana Bancorp
Preliminary Schedule 14A
Filed March 16, 2005
File No. 000-26012
Schedule 13E-3
Filed March 16, 2005
File No. 005- 48437
Dear Ms. Murphy:
On behalf of Northeast Indiana Bancorp, Inc. (the "Company"), we are
providing in this letter responses to the comments in your letter dated April 8,
2005, regarding the above-referenced filings. Each of the responses to the
comments is keyed to the pages in the accompanying amended preliminary Schedule
14A, which includes the changes made to address your comments. All defined terms
have the same meaning as in the amended preliminary Schedule 14A.
General
-------
1. In your supplemental response, confirm to us that your proxy statement
will be provided to your shareholders at least 20 calendar days prior to the
vote on the proposals in accordance with Rule 13e-3(f)(i).
We intend to provide the definitive proxy statement to NEIB's
stockholders at least 20 calendar days prior to the vote on the proposals
in accordance with Rule 13e-3(f)(i).
Fairness of the Split Transaction, page 3
-----------------------------------------
Please state whether the subject company filing the statement reasonably
believes that the Rule I3e-3 transaction is fair or unfair to unaffiliated
security holders, as required by Item 1014 of Regulation M-A. Further, because
the board relied on the opinion of Keefe Bruyette & Woods, Inc. in this matter,
please state whether KBW believes that the Rule 13e-3 transaction is fair or
unfair to unaffiliated security holders. Please address fairness to both the
continuing and non-continuing
<PAGE>
Ms. Celeste Murphy
April 15, 2005
Page 2
unaffiliated shareholders. We note the determination of fairness as to
stockholders, including stockholders that are continuing stockholders and
non-continuing, as stated by your board and KBW.
We have revised the section "Fairness of the Split Transaction" on
page 3 of the Proxy Statement to make clear that the directors made the
fairness determination with respect to unaffiliated stockholders. We have
also revised the Section entitled "PROPOSAL 1-THE SPLIT TRANSACTION-SPECIAL
FACTORS-Fairness of the Split Transaction" beginning on page 22 in several
places to make it clear that the Board's fairness determination relates to
unaffiliated as well as affiliated stockholders. We revised the section
"Fairness Opinion of Financial Advisor" on page 3 to make it clear that KBW
believes the cash consideration to be paid to non-continuing stockholders
is fair to unaffiliated stockholders. We have also revised the section
"SUMMARY TERM SHEET-Effects of the Split Transaction" on page 4 to refer to
affiliated and unaffiliated stockholders.
Proposal 1, page 13
-------------------
2. Please describe the circumstances under which the board may abandon the
transaction even if it is approved by the stockholders. Further, clarify whether
there is a date by which the transaction must occur. Finally, state whether the
board may determine to consummate the reverse split but not the forward.
In "Proposal 1-THE SPLIT TRANSACTION-SPECIAL FACTORS-Overview of the
Split Transaction" on page 14, the Company describes the circumstances
under which it might abandon the transaction even if approved by the
stockholders. It also discloses that there is no date by which the
transaction must close, but it is anticipated to close no later than three
business days after the stockholder meeting. A statement is made that under
no circumstances would the Company proceed with the reverse split and not
the forward split.
Background of the Split Transaction, page 14
--------------------------------------------
3. Please describe the strategic direction of the bank on which the
directors focused at the October 26, 2004 meeting. In addition, describe the
board's consideration of a possible merger in more detail. We note that KBW
discussed such a merger.
In "Background of the Split Transaction" on pages 15-16, we have
provided more information about the merger discussed at the October 26,
2004 meeting and why the Board did not pursue that merger. More details
about the directors' opinions on the strategic direction of the Bank have
also been added.
4. Please describe the time requirements that would be required from at
least three employees at the bank, as discussed at the November 30, 2004 board
meeting. Who estimated the time that would be required? Who found such time
requirements to be at an unacceptable level and why?
In "Background of the Split Transaction" on page 16, information has
been added about who made the estimates of additional employee time that
would be required under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, and the decision
that such estimated time was
<PAGE>
Ms. Celeste Murphy
April 15, 2005
Page 3
unacceptable. More details about the employees involved and the increased
time requirements anticipated have also been added.
5. Please describe the liability discussed by the directors at the November
30, 2004 meeting. Explain the board's consideration of such liability regarding
management and anyone else, including but not limited to directors, in the case
of the company continuing as a public company. Explain why the elimination of
such liability, by way of the going private transaction, is in the best
interests of you and your stockholders. We note your discussion on page 14 that
your officers will not be required to certify the accuracy of your financial
statements under SEC rules when you go private pursuant to this transaction.
We have added a description of the risks of management liability
arising from public company status, and the reasons why such increased
risks may not be in the best interests of stockholders, to the description
of the October 26, 2004 meeting (see pages 15-16 in the "Background of the
Split Transaction"). This meeting focused more on this issue than the
November 30, 2004 meeting.
6. Please describe the strategic alternatives and the strategic business
plans discussed at the February 4, 2005 and February 10, 2005 board meetings,
respectively. For example, describe the pros and cons of the potential merger
considered by the board. Did the board consider whether a merger would address
any of the concerns which prompted the board to consider a going-private
transaction?
More information about the pros and cons of the possible merger
transaction discussed at the February 4th and February 10th meetings has
been added to pages 16-17 of "Background of the Split Transaction." In
addition more elaboration about why the timing of a merger was not in the
best interests of stockholders and with respect to the other business
strategies, such as new branches and new products, being considered by the
Board has been provided. The Board did not believe the merger would address
the concerns prompting its "going private" decision for the reasons set
forth on page 17 of the section "Background of the Split Transaction."
7. Please clarify, if true, that at the February 10, 2005 board meeting the
directors discussed their view that the timing of the potential merger would not
be in the best interests of those security holders who would not be cashed out
in the going private transaction. Were the interests of the unaffiliated
security holders being cashed out in the transaction considered regarding this
matter?
In the section "Background of the Split Transaction" on page 17 we
have clarified that the directors did not believe the timing of the
potential merger would be in the best interests of stockholders who would
remain as continuing stockholders after the split transaction, since
earnings were expected to improve if the Company achieved the cost savings
anticipated from the going private transaction. We have also added a
sentence on the reasons why the directors believed that stockholders who
might be cashed out in the split transaction could benefit from a future
improvement in earnings if they so desired by transferring their shares
into nominee name or purchasing more shares on the market following the
split transaction.
8. Was any representation made by the prospective merger partner, that the
tentative pricing discussions were flexible, open to discussion and change, or
could rise? Was this matter
<PAGE>
Ms. Celeste Murphy
April 15, 2005
Page 4
considered by the board when it determined to reject such offer because the
pricing discussions were on the low end of the pricing ranges discussed at the
October 26, 2005 meeting? Were there any factors that distinguished this offer
from the pricing information for mergers of comparable financial institutions
that had been presented by KBW at the October 26 meeting? Was this discussed by
the board?
In the section "Background of the Split Transaction" on page 17, we
have added a sentence to the effect that the officers of the Bank involved
in the discussions did not believe that the prospective merger partner was
likely to offer a price that would be acceptable to the Board. The
directors were not aware of factors distinguishing the potential offer from
the merger information presented by KBW at the October 26, 2004 meeting and
a sentence has been added to that effect.
9. Please identify the other matters considered in the "lengthy discussion"
that preceded the conclusion that the board would not proceed with discussions
with the prospective merger partner and should instead implement the going
private transaction.
A more complete description of the deliberations of the directors
prior to their decision not to proceed with the merger has been added to
page 17 of the section "Background of the Split Transaction."
10. We note that the special committee was empowered to seek legal
assistance from Barnes & Thornburg on the legal standards applicable to and
steps required for the going private transaction. Was the authority to retain
legal counsel limited to the retention of Barnes & Thornburg? How was authority
given and by whom? Was there any discussion about a possible conflict of
interest in Barnes & Thornburg representing both the special committee,
representing the unaffiliated security holders, and NEIB?
The section "Background of the Split Transaction" on page 17 has been
revised to clarify that the Special Committee was authorized to seek legal
counsel of its choice to the extent needed in considering the legal
standards and steps required for the going private transaction. The
authority was given by a resolution adopted by the full Board. The members
of that Committee concluded that because Barnes & Thornburg was not prior
company counsel and was first hired in connection with the Company's
consideration of the "going private" transaction, that any conflict that
might exist because the Special Committee used Company counsel as a
resource in its deliberations should not preclude the Special Committee
from seeking advice from Barnes & Thornburg. This disclosure has been added
to the proxy statement at pages 17-18.
11. We note that on February 11, 2005, a representative of the Special
Committee contacted KBW to discuss its possible engagement as financial advisor
to NEIB in the going private transaction. Was the special committee seeking
services from KBW as well? Were these separate from the services sought by NEIB?
Was there any discussion about a possible conflict of interest in KBW providing
services to both the special committee, representing the unaffiliated security
holders, and NEIB? Was the KBW engagement letter presented to the special
committee at the March 3, 2005 meeting representing NEIB, the special committee,
or both?
We have corrected the first full paragraph on page 18 of the proxy
statement to reflect that KBW's engagement was by the Special Committee.
That in fact was the case
<PAGE>
Ms. Celeste Murphy
April 15, 2005
Page 5
and as previously filed with the SEC, KBW's fairness opinion was addressed
to the Special Committee, not to NEIB.
12. What was the basis for the determination that $23.50 would be an
appropriate amount to pay unaffiliated security holders in the split
transaction? What other bases were considered? What prices did the other bases
support?
In the description of the March 3, 2005 meeting of the Special
Committee on page 18, the factors considered by the members of that
Committee in setting the $23.50 per share price, subject to the receipt of
KBW's fairness opinion, are set forth.
Fairness of the Split Transaction, page 20
------------------------------------------
13. Your discussion of the board's determination of fairness must include
an analysis of the extent, if any, to which the filing person's beliefs are
based on the factors described in Instruction 2 and paragraph (e) of Item 1014
of Regulation M-A and Item 1015 of Regulation M-A. Please discuss these factors
in reasonable detail and, to the extent practicable, the weight assigned to each
factor. Does the board expressly adopt the fairness opinion of KBW as its own to
satisfy its requirements under Item 1014?
In the section "Reasons for the Split Transaction" on pages 20-21, an
analysis of the extent to which the directors' determination of fairness
was based on current and historical market prices, the premium over such
market prices, net book value, going concern value, liquidation value, and
prices paid by NEIB for its repurchased shares is set forth. Individual
directors may have given differing weights to different factors. The Board
generally placed more emphasis on the fairness opinion and ultimately
relied on KBW's determination that the $23.50 price per share is fair to
unaffiliated stockholders.
Fairness Opinion of Financial Advisor, page 25
----------------------------------------------
14. We note the reference to internal financial analysis and forecasts
provided to the financial advisor for use in its fairness determination. These
projections should be disclosed. You should also describe the material
assumptions underlying them.
The earnings projections and their underlying assumptions have been
added to page 28 of the section "Fairness Opinion of Financial Advisor."
Other Going Private Transactions, page 27
-----------------------------------------
15. Please state the percentage premium to