MECKLERMEDIA CORP
8-K, 1998-11-24
PERIODICALS: PUBLISHING OR PUBLISHING & PRINTING
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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 EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934



Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): November 24, 1998


                            Mecklermedia Corporation
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact Name of Registrant as specified in its Charter)




          Delaware                     0-23364               06-138-5519
- ------------------------------ ----------------------- ------------------------
(State or other jurisdiction    (Commission File No.)      (I.R.S. Employer
       of corporation)                                    Identification No.)




20 Ketchum Street
Westport, Connecticut                                        06880
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(Address of Principal                                      (Zip Code)
  Executive Offices)


Registrant's telephone number, including area code:          (203) 341-2800
                                                     --------------------------



                                       N/A
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)







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Item 1.  Changes in Control of Registrant.

                  This report is qualified in its entirety by reference to the
         documents described herein.

                  On October 15, 1998, Internet World Media, Inc. (the
         "Purchaser"), a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of
         Penton Media, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Parent"), commenced a
         tender offer (the "Offer") to purchase all outstanding shares of Common
         Stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Shares"), of Mecklermedia
         Corporation (the "Company") at $29.00 per share in cash. The Offer, as
         extended, expired at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on November 23,
         1998 (the "Expiration Date"). There were validly tendered 8,989,114
         Shares pursuant to the Offer, representing in the aggregate
         approximately 98.6% of the Shares outstanding as of the Expiration
         Date. Pursuant to a Tender, Voting and Option Agreement, dated as of
         October 7, 1998, between Alan M. Meckler, the Company, Parent and
         Purchaser, Mr.Meckler tendered all Shares beneficially owned by him, or
         approximately 26% of the outstanding Shares. Promptly after the
         Expiration Date, on November 24, 1998, the Purchaser accepted for
         payment those Shares validly tendered according to the terms of the
         Offer.

                  The Offer was made pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of
         Merger, dated as of October 7, 1998, by and among the Company, the
         Purchaser, the Parent and Mr. Meckler (the "Merger Agreement").
         Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, following the Expiration Date the
         Purchaser was merged with and into the Company (the "Merger"), with the
         Company continuing as the surviving corporation (the "Surviving
         Corporation"). Because the Purchaser owned in excess of 90% of the
         Shares outstanding, it consummated the Merger without a meeting of
         stockholders of the Company pursuant to Section 253 of the General
         Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. Under the terms of the
         Merger, each Share issued and outstanding (other than such Shares owned
         by Parent, any direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Parent, or
         held in the treasury of the Company) will, following the Merger,
         represent solely (i) the right to receive $29.00 per Share in cash,
         without interest, upon surrender of the certificate formerly
         representing such Share or (ii) a right to dissent from the Merger and
         obtain an appraisal of such Shares under applicable Delaware law.

                  The total amount of funds required by the Purchaser to
         consummate the Offer and the Merger and for the settlement of
         outstanding options and warrants to purchase Shares is approximately
         $286.0 million, which funds were obtained by Purchaser and Parent under
         a Credit Agreement, dated as of November 24, 1998, among Parent, as
         borrower, the lenders listed therein, as lenders, DLJ Capital Funding,
         Inc., as syndication agent, The Bank of New York and Key Corporate
         Capital, Inc., as co- documentation agents, and First Union National
         Bank, as administrative agent. Such Credit Agreement is secured by a
         pledge of all the shares of common stock of the Surviving Corporation
         owned by Parent.



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                  Certain arrangements with respect to the election of directors
         of the registrant are described (i) in the Offer to Purchase under the
         heading "10. THE MERGER AGREEMENT; TENDER, VOTING AND OPTION AGREEMENT;
         STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS; APPRAISAL RIGHTS; PLANS FOR THE COMPANY--The
         Merger Agreement," filed as Exhibit 99(a)(1) to the Schedule 14D-1,
         filed by Parent with the Commission on October 15, 1998 (the "Schedule
         14D-1"), and (ii) in Schedule II to the registrant's
         Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 (the "Schedule
         14D-9"), filed by the Registrant with the Commission on October 15,
         1998, under the heading "ACQUISITION DESIGNEES, BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND
         EXECUTIVE OFFICERS," which descriptions are incorporated herein by
         reference. Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, the directors of Purchaser
         immediately prior to the Effective Time will be the initial directors
         of the Surviving Corporation.

ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

         (c)      Exhibits:

                  Exhibit 2         Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of 
                                    October 7, 1998, among Parent, Purchaser, 
                                    the Company and Alan M. Meckler
                                    (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1 to
                                    the Schedule 14D-9).

                  Exhibit 99.1      Tender, Voting and Option Agreement, dated 
                                    as of October 7, 1998, among Parent,
                                    Purchaser, the Company and Alan M. Meckler
                                    (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2 to
                                    the Schedule 14D-9).

                  Exhibit 99.2      Offer to Purchase of Parent and Purchaser 
                                    (incorporated by reference to Exhibit
                                    99(a)(1) to the Schedule 14D-1).

                  Exhibit 99.3      Schedule II to the Schedule 14D-9 
                                    (incorporated by reference to the Schedule
                                    14D-9).







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                                    SIGNATURE

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act, of 1934,
as amended, the registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.





Date:  November 24, 1998                       By:   /s/ Preston L. Vice
                                                     -------------------
                                                     Preston L. Vice
                                                     Secretary





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                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit
No.
- ---

2        Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of October 7, 1998, among
         Parent, Purchaser, the Company and Alan M. Meckler (incorporated by
         reference to Exhibit 1 to the Schedule 14D-9).

99.1     Tender, Voting and Option Agreement, dated as of October 7, 1998, among
         Parent, Purchaser, the Company and Alan M. Meckler (incorporated by
         reference to Exhibit 2 to the Schedule 14D-9).

99.2     Offer to Purchase of Parent and Purchaser (incorporated by reference to
         Exhibit 99(a)(1) to the Schedule 14D-1).

99.3     Schedule II to the Schedule 14D-9 (incorporated by reference to the
         Schedule 14D-9).







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