SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report: December 18, 2000
W.R. CARPENTER NORTH AMERICA, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
STATE OF DELAWARE 333-31187 54-1049647
(State or other (Commission (IRS Employer
jurisdiction of File Number) Identification No.)
incorporation)
7433 North First Street,
Fresno, CA 93720
(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)
(559) 353-3950
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
Item 5. Other Events.
On December 15, 2000, W.R. Carpenter North America, Inc. (the "Company")
announced the signing and court approval of a Settlement Agreement with Roy V.
Woodle, settling a lawsuit against the Company and Horizon High Reach, Inc.
("Horizon"), formerly a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, for damages
arising out of a traffic accident involving a Horizon employee. As a part of
the terms of the Settlement Agreement, the Company will pay Mr. Woodle $4.0
million in cash and issue a $4.8 million secured promissory note to Mr.
Woodle. Attached as Exhibit 99.c, and incorporated herein by this reference,
is a copy of the Company's press release dated December 15, 2000 entitled
"W.R. Carpenter Announces the Settlement of Lawsuit."
Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits
(c) Exhibits.
99.c Press Release of W.R. Carpenter North America, Inc. dated December 15,
2000
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this Current Report on Form 8-K to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
Dated: December 18, 2000
W.R. CARPENTER NORTH AMERICA, INC.
By /s/ Graham D. Croot, Chief Financial Officer
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit No. Title
99.c W.R. Carpenter North America, Inc. press release dated
December 15, 2000 entitled
"W.R. Carpenter Announces Settlement of Lawsuit".
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 99.C
News Release
December 15, 2000
Source: W. R. Carpenter North America, Inc.
Contact: Graham D. Croot, W.R. Carpenter North America, Inc. (559) 353-3953
W.R. CARPENTER ANNOUNCES SETTLEMENT OF LAWSUIT
FRESNO, CA., DECEMBER 15, 2000 -- W.R. Carpenter North America, Inc.
(the "Company") announced today the signing of a Settlement Agreement with Roy
V. Woodle, settling a lawsuit filed in the United States District Court for
the Eastern District of Virginia in July 1999 against the Company and Horizon
High Reach, Inc. ("Horizon"), formerly a wholly owned subsidiary of the
Company, for damages arising out of a traffic accident involving a Horizon
employee. The court approved the Settlement Agreement today. As a part of
the terms of the Settlement Agreement, the Company will pay Mr. Woodle $4.0
million in cash and issue a $4.8 million, one-year promissory note to Mr.
Woodle, secured by certain real property and other collateral.
On September 29, 2000, the Company sold Horizon to a wholly owned
subsidiary of United Rentals, Inc. Pursuant to that transaction, the Company
agreed to indemnify United Rentals, Inc. for amounts paid by Horizon under the
Settlement Agreement.
The Company is a holding company for its wholly owned subsidiary,
UpRight, Inc., a leading manufacturer of aerial work platforms.
Forward-looking statements in this release are made pursuant to the
"safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995. Investors are cautioned that such forward-looking statements involve
risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, continued acceptance
of the Company's products, increased levels of competition, new products and
technological changes, the Company's dependence upon third-party suppliers,
intellectual property rights, and other risks detailed from time to time in
the Company's periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
