JPE INC
8-K, 1999-04-15
MOTOR VEHICLE SUPPLIES & NEW PARTS
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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549


                                    FORM 8-K

                 Current Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
                   of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934



       Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): February 8, 1999


                                    JPE, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


                                    MICHIGAN
                 (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)


      0-22580                                            38-2958730
(Commission File No.)                         (IRS Employer Identification No.)


    775 Technology Drive, Suite 200
         Ann Arbor, Michigan                                    48108
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)                      (Zip Code)


                                 (734) 662-2323
              (Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)



================================================================================

<PAGE>

ITEM 2   ACQUISITION AND DISPOSITION OF ASSETS

     JPE Canada Inc. ("JPEC"), an Ontario, Canada corporation and a wholly-owned
subsidiary of JPE, Inc., a Michigan  corporation  ("Registrant"),  was under the
control  of an  Interim  Receiver  appointed  pursuant  to  Section  47  of  the
Bankruptcy  and  Insolvency  Act of Canada.  The duties of the Interim  Receiver
included commencing the process of realizing value of the assets of JPEC for the
benefit of The Bank of Nova Scotia (the "Secured Lender").  On December 8, 1998,
the Secured Lender, the Interim Receiver, General Motors Corporation and General
Motors of Canada  Limited  entered into an agreement  (the "JPEC  Agreement") to
sell substantially all the assets of JPEC to the Ventra Group, Inc., an Ontario,
Canada corporation (the "Buyer").  The JPEC Agreement required that JPEC make an
assignment in bankruptcy  prior to closing.  On February 8, 1999,  JPEC filed an
assignment in bankruptcy  with the Ontario Court (General  Division)  Commercial
List and  substantially  all of the  assets  of JPEC  were sold to the Buyer for
approximately  $13.7 million.  This amount was paid to the Secured  Lender.  The
Registrant has a guarantee in the amount of  approximately  Cdn.  $820,000.  The
Registrant is negotiating with JPEC's Secured Lender to settle amounts due under
the guarantee.

     In the JPEC  Agreement,  JPEC made no  representations  or warranties as to
itself.

     Prior to the disposition,  there were no relationships  between  Registrant
and  Buyer,  any  of  Registrant's  affiliates,   any  director  or  officer  of
Registrant, or an associates of any of Registrant's officers or directors.

     On March 26, 1999,  MacLean  Acquisition  Company,  a Delaware  corporation
("IAF Buyer") entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement (the "IAF Agreement") with
the  Registrant  and  its  wholly-owned  subsidiary,   Industrial  &  Automotive
Fasteners,  Inc. ("IAF"),  a Michigan  corporation,  pursuant to which IAF Buyer
agreed to purchase 100% of the issued and outstanding  shares of common stock of
IAF. IAF is a manufacturer of wheel nuts and other fasteners.

     Pursuant to the terms of the IAF Agreement,  Registrant agreed to indemnify
IAF Buyer  against all taxes  incurred or payable by IAF on or before  March 26,
1999 (the  "Closing  Date").  Registrant  believes  that the taxes  incurred  in
connection  with the  business  of IAF on or before the  Closing  Date have been
properly  accrued on  Registrant's  balance  sheet.  Registrant  also  agreed to
indemnify IAF Buyer against any losses,  damages or expenses for claims  brought
or incurred by IAF's  employees prior to the Closing Date.  Notwithstanding  the
express terms of the IAF Agreement,  Registrant is responsible for any liability
arising  out  of  fraud  or  gross  negligence  of IAF in  connection  with  the
transaction.

     The proceeds of the sale of approximately $19.2 million were used to reduce
the  Registrant's  borrowings  under the Forbearance  Agreement dated August 10,
1998,  as amended,  among the  Registrant  and  Comerica  Bank,  and other banks
participant thereto.

     In connection  with this  transaction,  certain vendors  compromised  their
accounts  receivable  from  IAF  to 30% of the  outstanding  balance  and  union
employees of IAF  accepted  annuity  contracts  in lieu of their  postretirement
health care and life insurance benefits.

     Prior to the disposition,  there were no relationships  between  Registrant
and IAF  Buyer,  any of  Registrant's  affiliates,  any  director  or officer of
Registrant, or any associates of any of Registrant's officers or directors.


ITEM 7(b)   PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION

     The following  unaudited pro forma consolidated  financial  statements give
effect to the sales of Allparts, Incorporated which occurred on October 28, 1998
(as reported in Registrant's Report on Form 8-K filed on November 12, 1998), JPE
Canada  Inc.,  and  Industrial  &  Automotive  Fasteners,  Inc.  The  Pro  Forma
Consolidated  Balance  Sheet  as of  December  31,  1998  and the  Statement  of
Operations for the year ended December 31, 1998 reflect the  divestitures  as if
they had been  completed  as of  January  1,  1998.  The pro forma data does not
purport to be indicative of the results which would  actually have been reported
if these transactions had occurred on January 1, 1998.


<PAGE>


                                    JPE, INC.
<TABLE>
                 Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet
                             as of December 31, 1998
                            (Unaudited in thousands)

<CAPTION>
                                                                                                                        Pro Forma
                                               JPE           JPE Canada                         Pro Forma                 JPE
                                           Consolidated         Inc.           IAF, Inc.        Adjustment            Consolidated
                                           ------------      ----------        ---------        ----------            ------------
<S>                                          <C>              <C>               <C>              <C>                     <C>
Cash and cash equivalents                    $   394              --                --               --                  $   394
Accounts receivable trade, net                12,151              --            $ 5,291              --                    6,860
Inventory, net                                18,572              --              4,729              --                   13,843
Other current assets                           1,413              --                363              --                    1,050
                                             -------                            -------          -------                 -------
Total current assets                          32,530              --             10,383              --                   22,147
Investment in affiliated companies            14,661          $(2,860)              --               --                   17,521
Net fixed assets                              20,963              --             10,272              --                   10,691
Goodwill                                       7,458              --              1,979              --                    5,479
Other assets, long-term                        1,362              --                722              --                      640
                                             -------          -------           -------          -------                 -------
Total assets                                 $76,974          $(2,860)          $23,356              --                  $56,478
                                             =======          =======           =======          =======                 =======

Current portion long-term debt               $84,492              --                --           $29,046 (a)(e)          $55,446
Accounts payable trade                         8,273              --            $ 3,349              --                    4,924
Accrued liabilities                            1,931              --                272              --                    1,659
Other current liabilities                        649              --                --               --                      649
                                             -------          -------           -------          -------                 -------
Total current liabilities                     95,345              --              3,621           29,046                  62,678

Other long-term accrued liabilities            1,720              --              1,400              --                      320
Long-term debt                                    50              --                --               --                       50

Foreign currency translation                    (336)            (238)              --               (98)(b)                 --
Common stock and paid-in capital              28,051            7,223            24,095          (31,318)(c)              28,051
Retained earnings                            (47,856)          (9,845)           (5,760)           2,370 (d)             (34,621)
                                             -------          -------           -------          -------                 -------
Total stockholders' equity                   (20,141)          (2,860)           18,335          (29,046)                 (6,590)
                                             -------          -------           -------          -------                 -------
Total liabilities and equity                 $76,974          $(2,860)          $23,356          $   --                  $56,478
                                             =======          =======           =======          =======                 =======

<FN>

(a)  To reduce debt for net proceeds of $9,891 received for Allparts and $19,155
     received for IAF.

(b)  To eliminate foreign currency translation  reflected on JPE, Inc. corporate
     accounts.

(c)  To eliminate the investment account.

(d)  To adjust  earnings  for the impact of the above  transactions  on retained
     earnings.

(e)  Proceeds of $13.7 million from sale of JPE Canada Inc. applied to reduction
     of Bank of Nova Scotia debt which is reflected  through the  Investment  in
     Affiliate Companies caption.
</FN>
</TABLE>


<PAGE>


                                    JPE, INC.
<TABLE>
            Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations
                      for the Year Ended December 31, 1998
                            (Unaudited in thousands)


<CAPTION>
                                                                                                                  Pro Forma
                                    JPE           Allparts,     JPE Canada                       Pro Forma           JPE
                                Consolidated        Inc.           Inc.        IAF, Inc.         Adjustment      Consolidated
                                ------------      ---------     ----------     ---------         ----------      ------------
<S>                               <C>             <C>            <C>            <C>             <C>                <C>
Net sales                         $210,122        $15,379        $26,789        $38,342              --            $129,612

Cost of sales                      186,657         11,391         30,063         34,855              --             110,348
                                  --------        -------        -------        -------         --------           --------

Gross profit (loss)                 23,465          3,988         (3,274)         3,487              --              19,264

Selling expenses                    27,609          2,705          1,444          2,026              --              21,434

Other expenses                      37,376          5,190          1,587             97              --              30,502
                                  --------        -------        -------        -------         --------           --------

Income (loss) before
 interest and taxes                (41,520)        (3,907)        (6,305)         1,364              --             (32,672)

Interest expense, net               13,085            --             973            --          $ 2,863 (a)           9,249
                                  --------        -------        -------        -------         -------            --------

Income (loss) before taxes         (54,605)        (3,907)        (7,278)         1,364          (2,863)            (41,921)

Tax expense (benefit)               (1,035)          (878)           829          2,437           1,532 (b)          (1,891)
                                  --------        -------        -------        -------         -------            --------

Net loss                          $(53,570)       $(3,029)       $(8,107)       $(1,073)        $(1,331)           $(40,030)
                                  ========        =======        =======        =======         =======            ========

Weighted average shares              4,602                                                                            4,602
                                     =====                                                                            =====

Loss per share                     $(11.64)                                                                          $(8.70)
                                   =======                                                                           ======


<FN>
(a)  Interest expense adjusted for the net cash proceeds paid to the bank

            Net cash proceeds                    $29,046
            Average interest                       9.86%
            Annual interest expense              $ 2,863

(b)  Tax provision  adjusted for foreign  taxes and state and local taxes.  JPE,
     Inc. has a net operating loss carryforward that has 100% valuation reserve.
     The tax benefit reflects the elimination of deferred tax credits.
</FN>
</TABLE>


<PAGE>


                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


                                       JPE, INC.


Date:  April 15, 1999                  /s/  James J. Fahrner
                                       ------------------------------------
                                       James J. Fahrner
                                       Executive Vice President and
                                        Chief Financial Officer


<PAGE>


                                 Exhibits Index
                                 --------------

Exhibit
Number    Description
- -------   -----------

2.1       Agreement  dated  December 8, 1998  between  The Bank of Nova  Scotia,
          Ventra Group,  Inc.,  General  Motors  Corporation,  General Motors of
          Canada Limited and Grant Thornton  Limited,  incorporated by reference
          to Exhibit 2.9 to Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
          ended December 31, 1998.

2.2       Stock Purchase  Agreement dated as of March 26, 1999 by and among JPE,
          Inc., Industrial & Automotive Fasteners,  Inc. and MacLean Acquisition
          Company,  incorporated  by reference  to Exhibit 2.10 to  Registrant's
          Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998.



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