MIDCOM COMMUNICATIONS INC
8-K, 1997-09-12
TELEPHONE COMMUNICATIONS (NO RADIOTELEPHONE)
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<PAGE>   1
 
                      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

                                August 13, 1997
               ------------------------------------------------
               Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)


                          MIDCOM Communications Inc.
            ------------------------------------------------------
            (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

  Washington                                                91-1438806  
  ----------                       -------                   ----------
(State or other                  (Commission             (I.R.S. Employer
jurisdiction of                  File Number)           Identification No.)
incorporation)


            26899 Northwestern Hwy, Suite 418, Southfield, MI 48034
            ------------------------------------------------------
                   (Address of principal executive offices)

                                (248) 304-1780
             ----------------------------------------------------
             (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
<PAGE>    2
 

ITEM 5.         OTHER EVENTS.

                On August 13, 1997, MIDCOM Communications Inc. ("MIDCOM")
announced that it had entered into a definitive agreement (the "Merger
Agreement") with Phoenix Network, Inc. ("Phoenix"), providing for the merger
(the "Merger") of Phoenix with and into MIDCOM. The announcement was made in a
news release, a copy of which is filed herewith as Exhibit 99.1. In the Merger,
stockholders of Phoenix will receive approximately 9.1 million shares of MIDCOM
common stock in exchange for all of the outstanding shares of Phoenix capital
stock or approximately 0.28 shares of MIDCOM common stock per share of Phoenix
common stock on an as-if-converted to common stock basis. In addition, all
outstanding options and warrants to purchase shares of Phoenix common stock will
be converted into options and warrants to purchase shares of MIDCOM common
stock.

                It was also announced on August 13, 1997, that Phoenix had
entered into definitive agreements (the "TNC Agreements") to purchase
substantially all of the assets of Trans National Communications, Inc. ("TNC")
and to acquire, pursuant to a plan of reorganization, substantially all of the
assets of Trans National Communications International, Inc. ("TNCI") in exchange
for approximately 5,164,000 shares of Phoenix common stock and the issuance of a
promissory note in the amount of approximately $15.7 million to Sprint
Corporation ("Sprint") and Sprint Communication Company LP ("SLP") (the "TNC
Transactions"). If Phoenix proceeds with the TNC Transactions, such transactions
will be consummated immediately prior to the consummation of the Merger. In that
event, stockholders of Phoenix will receive approximately 10.6 million shares of
MIDCOM common stock for all of the outstanding shares of Phoenix capital stock
or approximately 0.28 shares of MIDCOM common stock per share of Phoenix common
stock on an as-if-converted to common stock basis.

                The Merger is subject to numerous conditions, including the
following:

                1.        MIDCOM shall have raised and received at or before
the closing of the Merger at least $20 million of debt and/or equity capital on
terms reasonably acceptable to MIDCOM and Phoenix;

                2.        The average closing bid price per share of MIDCOM
common stock for the ten trading days prior to the closing shall not be less
than $5.75 nor more than $11.75;

                3.        Each of the parties shall have obtained fairness
opinions prior to the closing of the Merger concluding that the Merger is fair
from a financial point of view to such party and its stockholders; and

                4.        Regulatory and stockholder approvals, and other
conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement.

                The TNC Transactions are subject to numerous conditions,
including the following:

                1.        TNC's accounts payable, short-term payables and
accrued expenses owed to Sprint and SLP shall not exceed $5.5 million;
<PAGE>    3
 

                2.        Satisfactory due diligence review of TNC and TNCI by
MIDCOM;

                3.        All conditions precedent to the obligations of 
Phoenix and MIDCOM to consummate the Merger on the terms contemplated by the
Merger Agreement shall have been satisfied; and

                4.        Regulatory approval, receipt of required third party
consents, and other conditions set forth in the TNC Agreements.

                MIDCOM currently is targeting the Fourth Quarter of 1997
to consummate the Merger.

ITEM 7.         FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.

                (c)       Exhibits.

                          99.1    News Release, released on August 13, 1997,
announcing the Merger and the TNC Transactions.

                          99.2    News Release, released on August 20, 1997,
providing details of the Merger and the TNC Transactions.

                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.


Date: September 12, 1997               Phoenix Network, Inc.



                                       By:   /s/ William H. Oberlin
                                           ---------------------------------
                                             William H. Oberlin, President
                                              and Chief Executive Officer
<PAGE>    4
 


                                 Exhibit Index
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
  Exhibit No.                     Description
  -----------                     -----------
      <S>         <C>
      99.1        News Release, released on August 13, 1997, announcing the
                  Merger and the TNC Transactions.

      99.2        News Release, released on August 20, 1997, providing details
                  of the Merger and the TNC Transactions.
</TABLE>

<PAGE>  1
 


                                                                    EXHIBIT 99.1


News Release                                        For Immediate Release
                                                    August 13, 1997

Contact:  Teresa C. Stackpole                       Monica Williamson
Director, Corporate Communications                  Director, Investor Relations
MIDCOM Communications, Inc.                         Phoenix Network, Inc.
(206) 628-6115                                      (800) 448-0804


             MIDCOM AND PHOENIX NETWORK ANNOUNCE MERGER AGREEMENT

AUGUST 13, 1997--SOUTHFIELD, MI; GOLDEN, CO:--MIDCOM Communications Inc.
(NASDAQ:MCCI) and Phoenix Network, Inc. (AMEX:PHX) today announced that they
have signed a definitive agreement to merge the two companies. The merger is
expected to close by year-end, subject to the approvals of the shareholders of
both companies, the receipt of governmental approvals and subject to MIDCOM
raising at least $20.0 million in financing prior to closing.  On August 13,
1997 the companies executed a definitive agreement to merge Phoenix Network
into MIDCOM.

"We believe this merger will create a number of synergies which should result
in significant savings and thereby enable us to reach profitability earlier
than previously projected," said MIDCOM president and chief executive officer,
William H. Oberlin. "We expect this merger to be accretive to earnings in both
the short and long term. The addition of Phoenix Network's minutes will result
in lower unit costs on our network and provide a broader base support for our
overhead, as well as a larger pool of customers to cross- sell."

For the six months ended June 30, 1997, Phoenix Network reported revenues of
$41.3 million and MIDCOM reported revenue of $49.4 million, resulting in an
annualized revenue run rate of over $180.0 million for the combined company.

"We are very pleased about the merger and believe we have joined forces with an
innovative, fast-growing company," said Wallace M.  Hammond, president and
chief executive officer for Phoenix Network. "From our perspective, the merger
also provides us with an impressive national switched network and a more
diverse sales strategy."

Phoenix Network currently has three DMS 250 long distance switches located in
Minneapolis, Colorado Springs and Phoenix, adding three new
facilities-supported markets to MIDCOM's current network which includes six DMS
250/500 local/long distance switching systems located in Seattle, Los Angeles,
Dallas, Chicago, New York and Atlanta. Phoenix also announced on August 13,
1997 that it has reached an agreement to purchase Trans National Communications
(TNC), a leading provider of long distance affinity marketing programs with
$22.2 million in revenue for the six months ended June 30, 1997. The TNC
acquisition is subject to MIDCOM's due diligence.

                                   --more--
<PAGE>   2  


News Release
MIDCOM/Phoenix Merger, August 13, 1997
Page two

The merger of MIDCOM and Phoenix should be accounted for as a pooling of
interests, while the Phoenix acquisition of TNC will be accounted for as a
purchase. Under the terms of the agreement, MIDCOM will acquire all outstanding
shares of Phoenix common stock for 9.1 million shares of MIDCOM common stock.
The agreement also specifies that, if the TNC acquisition is completed, MIDCOM
will provide approximately 1.5 million additional shares of its common stock to
Phoenix as well as assume approximately $15.7 million of debt. In addition,
Wallace Hammond and Phoenix board member, Charles C. McGettigan, will be
appointed to MIDCOM's board of directors. Hammond will also join the MIDCOM
management team.

Statements in this news release concerning future results or expectations,
including growth in sales, improving margins, cost savings and other benefits
resulting from the merger with Phoenix Network, completion of the merger and
return to profitability are forward-looking statements. Actual results,
performance, cost-savings, or developments could differ materially from those
expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements as a result of known and
unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors including those identified in the
company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and those described from time to time in
the company's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, press
releases and other communications.

Founded in 1989, MIDCOM Communications Inc. provides a broad range of
telecommunications services to small and medium-sized businesses nationwide. The
company has regional offices located throughout the nation and currently
invoices approximately 100,000 customer locations per month.

Phoenix Network, Inc. is an interexchange carrier (IXC) which, in addition to
its core long distance, offers Internet access, enhanced fax broadcast services,
international call-back, conference calling, travel cards, debit cards, custom
invoices, management reports and a variety of other products and services.
Phoenix Network's World Wide Web address is http://www.phoenixnet.com.

                                      ###

<PAGE>   1
  

                                                                    EXHIBIT 99.2

News Release
For Immediate Release
August 20, 1997

Contact:  Monica Williamson
Phoenix Network Investor Relations
(800) 448-0804


              PHOENIX NETWORK REPORTS DETAILS OF MIDCOM MERGER

AUGUST 20, 1997--GOLDEN, CO--Phoenix Network, Inc. (AMEX: PHX) announced today
additional details relating to its pending merger with MIDCOM Communications,
Inc., (NASDAQ:MCCI), which was previously announced on August 13, 1997. Phoenix
also announced on August 13, 1997 that it has reached a definitive agreement to
purchase Trans National Communications (TNC), a leading provider of long
distance affinity marketing programs with $22.2 million in revenues for the six
months ended June 30, 1997.

Upon completion of the Phoenix/MIDCOM transaction, MIDCOM will acquire all of
the outstanding shares of Phoenix Network common stock (currently approximately
32.0 million shares on a diluted basis, excluding options and warrants) for
approximately 9.1 million shares of MIDCOM common stock. If Phoenix consummates
its acquisition of TNC prior to the closing of the Phoenix/MIDCOM merger, MIDCOM
will acquire currently approximately 37.0 million shares of Phoenix common stock
for approximately 10.6 million shares of MIDCOM common stock. MIDCOM will assume
Phoenix's outstanding stock options and warrants at closing.

Phoenix's and MIDCOM's respective obligations to consummate the merger are
subject to conditions that MIDCOM's average stock price prior to the closing
shall not be less than $5.75 or greater than $11.75.

Phoenix Network, Inc. is an inter-exchange carrier (IXC) which, in addition to
its core long distance, offers Internet access, enhanced fax broadcast services,
international call-back, conference calling, travel cards, debit cards, custom
invoices, management reports, and a variety of other products and services.
Phoenix Network's World Wide Web address is http://www.phoenixnet.com.

Founded in 1989, MIDCOM Communications Inc. provides a broad range of
telecommunications services to small and medium-sized businesses nationwide. The
company has regional offices located throughout the nation and currently
invoices approximately 100,000 customer locations per month.

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