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UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

ý   QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES

EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the quarterly period ended February 28, 2005

 

OR

 

o   TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES

EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the transition period from            to            .

 

Commission File Number: 000-27863

 

NORTEM N.V.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

The Netherlands

 

98-0180010

(State or other jurisdiction of

 

(I.R.S. Employer

incorporation or organization)

 

Identification Number)

 

 

 

Ind. Terrein Bijsterhuizen (Noord) 21-01

POB 250

NL-6600 AG Wijchen

The Netherlands

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

 

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:  +31 (0)6 2742 0248

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Former Name, Former Address and Former Fiscal Year, if Changed Since Last Report)

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. 

Yes

ý

 

No

o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). 

Yes

o

 

No

ý

 

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

 

Title of Each Class

 

Outstanding at March 31, 2005

 

Common shares, par value EURO 0.44 per share

 

12,883,979

 

 

 



 

NORTEM N.V. in Liquidation

 

INDEX

 

Part I.

Financial Information

 

 

 

 

Item 1.

Financial Statements

 

 

 

 

 

Statement of Net Assets in Liquidation (Unaudited)
as of February 28, 2005

 

 

 

 

 

Statement of Changes in Net Assets in Liquidation (Unaudited)
for the period from December 15, 2004 (start of liquidation) through February 28, 2005

 

 

 

 

 

Statement of Receipts and Disbursements (Unaudited)
for the period from December 15, 2004 (start of liquidation) through February 28, 2005

 

 

 

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited)
for the period from December 1 - 14, 2004,
the period from June 1, 2004 to December 14, 2004 and
the three and nine-month periods ended February 29, 2004

 

 

 

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)
as of December 14, 2004 and May 31, 2004

 

 

 

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)
for the period from June 1, 2004 to December 14, 2004 and
the nine-month period ended February 29, 2004

 

 

 

 

 

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

Item 2.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

 

 

 

Item 3.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

 

 

 

 

Item 4

Controls and Procedures

 

 

 

 

Part II.  Other Information

 

 

 

 

Item 1.

Legal Proceedings

 

 

 

 

Item 2.

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

 

 

 

 

Item 3.

Defaults Upon Senior Securities

 

 

 

 

Item 4.

Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

 

 

 

 

Item 5.

Other Information

 

 

 

 

Item 6.

Exhibits

 

 

 

 

Signature

 

 

2



 

PART I.  FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

NORTEM N.V. in Liquidation

STATEMENT OF NET ASSETS IN LIQUIDATION (Unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

February 28,

 

 

 

2005

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

87,893

 

Due from Applied Materials, Inc. for reimbursement of liquidation costs

 

1,810

 

Loan to shareholder

 

110

 

Interest receivable

 

153

 

Total assets

 

$

89,966

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES

 

 

 

Payable to convertible debentures and warrant holders

 

$

18,017

 

Advances due to warrant holders

 

5,556

 

Liquidation liabilities

 

970

 

Due to Applied Materials, Inc

 

159

 

Accrued interest payable to convertible debentures holders

 

83

 

Total liabilities

 

24,785

 

 

 

 

 

Net assets in liquidation

 

$

65,181

 

 

The accompanying Notes are an integral part of the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

3



 

NORTEM N.V. in Liquidation

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS IN LIQUIDATION (Unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

For the period
December 15,
2004 (start of
liquidation) to
February 28, 2005

 

 

 

 

 

Gain on sale of subsidiaries and substantially all assets to Applied Materials, Inc.

 

$

36,568

 

Acceleration of interest accretion, and amortization of discount and placement agent fees for convertible debentures

 

(6,664

)

Incremental cost of cash settlement to convertible debenture and warrant holders

 

(5,017

)

Liquidation expenses net of expected recoveries

 

(1,203

)

Interest income

 

399

 

Interest expense

 

(125

)

Changes in net assets

 

23,958

 

Net assets in liquidation at December 14, 2004

 

41,223

 

Net assets in liquidation at February 28, 2005

 

$

65,181

 

 

The accompanying Notes are an integral part of the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

4



 

NORTEM N.V. in Liquidation

STATEMENT OF RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS (Unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

For the period
December 15,
2004 (start of
liquidation) to
February 28, 2005

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents as of December 14, 2004

 

$

2,027

 

 

 

 

 

RECEIPTS

 

 

 

Proceeds on sale of subsidiaries and substantially all assets to Applied Materials, Inc

 

84,567

 

Advances from warrant holders

 

5,556

 

Refunded value added tax

 

373

 

Interest income

 

246

 

Total receipts

 

90,742

 

 

 

 

 

DISBURSEMENTS

 

 

 

Legal services

 

2,787

 

Directors & officers insurance premium

 

833

 

Financial advisory services

 

425

 

Accounting and tax services

 

412

 

Directors & officers salary, fees & expenses

 

118

 

Other

 

301

 

Total disbursements

 

4,876

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents as of February 28, 2005

 

$

87,893

 

 

The accompanying Notes are an integral part of the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

5



 

NORTEM N.V.

CONDSENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands except per share data)

 

 

 

For the
fourteen days
ended
December
14, 2004

 

For the three
months
ended
February 29,
2004

 

For the
period from
June 1, 2004
to December
14, 2004

 

For the nine
months
ended
February
29, 2004

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net revenue

 

$

5,680

 

$

52,739

 

$

119,474

 

$

143,699

 

Cost of revenue

 

4,594

 

41,202

 

93,472

 

113,458

 

Gross profit

 

1,086

 

11,537

 

26,002

 

30,241

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses

 

2,356

 

13,260

 

27,434

 

39,365

 

Research, development and engineering expenses

 

119

 

705

 

1,194

 

1,808

 

Transaction costs for sale of subsidiaries and substantially all assets to Applied Materials, Inc.

 

221

 

 

2,635

 

 

Stock based compensation resulting from acceleration of options

 

2,523

 

 

2,523

 

 

Restructuring costs

 

82

 

724

 

1,385

 

3,256

 

Operating loss

 

(4,215

)

(3,152

)

(9,169

)

(14,188

)

Other expense, net

 

(619

)

(776

)

(1,772

)

(1,919

)

Loss before income taxes

 

(4,834

)

(3,928

)

(10,941

)

(16,107

)

Income tax provision

 

213

 

211

 

832

 

682

 

Net loss

 

$

(5,047

)

$

(4,139

)

$

(11,773

)

$

(16,789

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic and diluted loss per common share

 

$

(0.39

)

$

(0.33

)

$

(0.92

)

$

(1.33

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average number of shares for basic and diluted

 

12,881

 

12,662

 

12,841

 

12,639

 

 

The accompanying Notes are an integral part of the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

6



 

NORTEM N.V.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands except share and per share data)

 

 

 

December 14,

 

May 31,

 

 

 

2004

 

2004

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

2,027

 

$

12,107

 

Accounts receivable, net of allowances for doubtful accounts of $0 and $1,251, respectively

 

 

43,937

 

Amounts due from affiliates

 

 

2,050

 

Loan to officer/shareholder

 

110

 

110

 

Inventories

 

 

46,719

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

 

12,384

 

Assets held for sale to Applied Materials, Inc.

 

116,318

 

 

Total current assets

 

118,455

 

117,307

 

Property, plant and equipment, net

 

 

20,035

 

Intangibles and other assets, net

 

496

 

8,171

 

Total assets

 

$

118,951

 

$

145,513

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

$

 

$

34,847

 

Amounts due to affiliates

 

 

3,044

 

Accrued wages and employee-related expenses

 

 

4,716

 

Deferred revenue

 

 

11,187

 

Short term borrowings and current portion of long-term debt

 

 

13,882

 

Accrued transaction costs for sale of assets to Applied Materials, Inc.

 

2,414

 

 

Amounts payable to shareholders

 

 

149

 

Other current liabilities

 

163

 

13,423

 

Liabilities held for sale to Applied Materials, Inc.

 

68,319

 

 

Total current liabilities

 

70,896

 

81,248

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-term debt, excluding current portion

 

 

7,745

 

Convertible debentures

 

6,832

 

1,531

 

Other long-term liabilities

 

 

7,321

 

Total liabilities

 

77,728

 

97,845

 

Commitments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shareholders’ equity:

 

 

 

 

 

Preferred shares, par value EUR 0.44; Authorized: 10,000,000 shares; Issued and outstanding: none

 

 

 

Common shares and additional paid-in capital, par value EUR 0.44;
Authorized: 40,000,000 shares
Issued: 14,278,880 and 14,179,036 shares, respectively
Outstanding: 12,883,979 and 12,784,135 shares, respectively

 

51,191

 

47,459

 

Retained earnings (accumulated deficit)

 

(11,074

)

699

 

Cumulative other comprehensive income

 

1,719

 

123

 

Treasury shares: 1,394,901 shares

 

(613

)

(613

)

Total shareholders’ equity

 

41,223

 

47,668

 

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

 

$

118,951

 

$

145,513

 

 

The accompanying Notes are an integral part of the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

7



 

NORTEM N.V.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands)

 

 

 

For the period
from June 1,
2004 to
December 14,
2004

 

For the nine
months ended
February 29,
2004

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss

 

$

(11,773

)

$

(16,789

)

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used by operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

3,499

 

4,845

 

Stock based compensation resulting from acceleration of options

 

2,523

 

 

 

Non-cash interest for accretion of convertible debenture discount and amortization of debt issuance costs

 

555

 

172

 

Restructuring costs, non-cash portion

 

24

 

469

 

Other

 

14

 

25

 

Changes in assets and liabilities, exclusive of sale to Applied:

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts receivable

 

10,091

 

2,031

 

Amounts due from affiliates

 

1,852

 

(59

)

Inventories

 

6,864

 

3,193

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

3,068

 

461

 

Accounts payable

 

(16,876

)

805

 

Amounts due to affiliates

 

(2,565

)

(3,545

)

Accrued wages and employee-related expenses

 

1,492

 

(344

)

Deferred revenue

 

(5,429

)

936

 

Other current liabilities

 

(2,875

)

(228

)

Other non-current assets and liabilities

 

114

 

(515

)

Net cash flows used in operating activities

 

(9,422

)

(8,543

)

Cash flows used in investing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Additions to property, plant and equipment

 

(1,000

)

(1,794

)

Purchase of Eclipse product line inventories and license agreement

 

 

(13,677

)

Proceeds from the sale of property, plant and equipment

 

126

 

68

 

Accrued transaction costs for sale of assets to Applied Materials, Inc.

 

2,414

 

 

Cash transferred to Applied Materials, Inc upon sale

 

(7,161

)

 

Net cash flows used in investing activities

 

(5,621

)

(15,403

)

Cash flows provided by financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in short-term borrowings

 

1,130

 

(1,537

)

Proceeds from issuance of notes payable and license obligation for the Eclipse product line

 

 

13,677

 

Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt

 

 

156

 

Proceeds from issuance of convertible debentures

 

6,000

 

7,000

 

Issuance costs of convertible debentures

 

(364

)

(287

)

Principal payments on long-term debt

 

(2,775

)

(155

)

Principal payments on indebtedness to officer and shareholder

 

(95

)

(128

)

Proceeds from issuance of common shares

 

253

 

357

 

Net cash flows provided by financing activities

 

4,149

 

19,083

 

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

 

814

 

(269

)

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents

 

(10,080

)

(5,132

)

Beginning cash and cash equivalents

 

12,107

 

12,179

 

Ending cash and cash equivalents

 

$

2,027

 

$

7,047

 

 

The accompanying Notes are an integral part of the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

8



 

NORTEM N.V. in Liquidation

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

 

1.                                      UNAUDITED INTERIM FINANCIAL INFORMATION – BASIS OF PRESENTATION

 

On December 10, 2004, the shareholders of Nortem N.V. (“Nortem” or the “Company,” formerly Metron Technology N.V.) approved both the Stock and Asset Purchase Agreement (“Purchase Agreement”), dated August 16, 2004, with Applied Materials Inc (“Applied”) and the proposal for the dissolution and liquidation of Nortem immediately following the closing of the above mentioned sale to Applied. Concurrently with the close of the transaction on December 14, 2004, the Company changed its name from Metron Technology N.V. to Nortem N.V., the Managing Board of Directors of the Company resigned, the liquidators approved by the shareholders assumed control of the Company and the process of liquidation began.  On December 16, 2004, the Company filed for liquidation in the Netherlands.  The financial statements in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q as of February 28, 2005 and for the period from December 15, 2004 (date of liquidation) to February 28, 2005 are presented on the liquidation basis of accounting.  Under the liquidation basis of accounting, assets are stated at their estimated net realizable values and liabilities are stated at their anticipated settlement amount, if reasonably estimable. The liquidation financial statements and the condensed consolidated financial statements (including notes to condensed consolidated financial statements) of Nortem included herein have been prepared by the Company, without audit, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).

 

In the opinion of management, the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for their fair statement. This report should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2004 included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended, as filed with the SEC.

 

The financial statements as of and for periods prior to December 14, 2004 are presented on a going concern basis and are not comparable with the financial statements subsequent to December 14, 2004 which are prepared on a liquidation basis.

 

2.                                      SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

Revenue Recognition

 

Prior to the sale of substantially all of the Company’s assets to Applied, the Company’s revenue consisted primarily of product revenues generated from the sale of equipment and materials and revenues associated with the provision of services. Revenue was recognized in accordance with Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 104, Revenue Recognition (SAB104), which superceded Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 101, Revenue Recognition in Financial Statements (SAB101).  SAB 104 incorporates Emerging Issues Task Force 00-21 (EITF 00-21), Multiple-Deliverable Revenue Arrangements, which was implemented by the company during its second quarter of fiscal 2004. EITF 00-21 addresses accounting for arrangements that may involve the delivery or performance of multiple products, services and/or rights to use assets.  The effect of implementing EITF 00-21 on the Company’s consolidated financial position and results of operations was not significant.

 

The Company bought equipment made by original equipment manufacturers (“OEMs”) for resale where it acted as principal, which included the taking title to the equipment and assumption of all responsibility for installation and warranty. These equipment sales were recorded as “multiple element” transactions in which the portion of the sale represented by future installation was deferred, and only the residual amount of the sale that represented the equipment itself was recognized upon shipment to the customer. When the specific terms of the transaction, such as when the customer’s retainage exceeded the amount of deferred installation revenue, all or a portion of the residual equipment revenue was deferred.  Installation revenue and deferred equipment revenue, if any, were recognized upon completion of the installation and the customer’s acknowledgement that the equipment is available for production use. Occasionally, the Company sold equipment as agent for OEMs and recognized commission income, rather than revenue from an equipment sale, upon shipment.  Additionally, the Company manufactured and rebuilt certain legacy equipment as it acquired the rights to do so from OEMs.  Revenues from the sale of legacy equipment where the Company does not have a manufacturing history were recognized upon customer acceptance.

 

9



 

Revenues from the sale of materials and other products other than equipment were generally recognized on the shipment of goods to customers. Revenue from service agreements was recognized ratably over the agreement period, while revenue from service without a service agreement was recognized in the periods in which the services were rendered to customers when all of the other criteria for revenue recognition were met.

 

Loss Per Share

 

Basic and diluted loss per common share are based on the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding in each period and were as follows:

 

 

 

For the
fourteen days
ended
December
14, 2004

 

For the three
months
ended
February 29,
2004

 

For the
period from
June 1, 2004
to December
14, 2004

 

For the nine
months
ended
February
29, 2004

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average shares

 

12,881,000

 

12,662,000

 

12,841,000

 

12,639,000

 

 

The following share equivalents excluded from diluted loss per share for the quarterly and year-to date periods of fiscal 2005 and 2004 because their effect was anti-dilutive:

 

 

 

For the
fourteen days
ended
December
14, 2004

 

For the three
months
ended
February 29,
2004

 

For the
period from
June 1, 2004
to December
14, 2004

 

For the nine
months
ended
February
29, 2004

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Share equivalents for stock options

 

3,673,000

 

4,251,000

 

3,673,000

 

4,251,000

 

Shares issuable upon conversion of convertible debentures (excluding shares that may be issued in payment of interest)

 

3,611,000

 

1,847,000

 

3,611,000

 

1,847,000

 

Shares issuable upon exercise of warrants (issued in conjunction with convertible debentures)

 

1,634,000

 

867,000

 

1,634,000

 

867,000

 

 

Accounting for Stock-based Compensation

 

The Company accounts for employee stock-based compensation arrangements in accordance with the provisions of Accounting Principles Board Opinion (“APB”) No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees,” and Financial Accounting Standards Board Interpretation (“FIN”) No. 44, “Accounting for Certain Transactions Involving Stock Compensation, an Interpretation of APB Opinion No. 25”.  Under APB No. 25, compensation expense is based on the difference, if any, between the estimated fair value of our common stock on the date of grant and the exercise price.

 

The Purchase Agreement signed on August 16, 2004 provided that options and other awards under the Company Stock Plans would accelerate and become fully vested on or before the completion of the transaction with Applied, which took place on December 14, 2004.  On November 22, 2004, the Company offered all vested and unvested option holders under the Company Stock Option Plans an opportunity to have their options “cashed out” at a price that reflects the amount that would be distributed to the holders of common shares, less the exercise price of the options. The majority of the option holders elected the “cash-out” offer.  Simultaneous with the close of the transaction with Applied on December 14, 2004, unvested options exercisable into approximately 1,332,000 shares were vested.  As this is considered a stock option modification under FIN No. 44, the Company recorded an expense of approximately $2,523,000 based on the difference between the minimum expected liquidation distribution per share and the option exercise price.  Payments are being made either directly to the entitled option holders or to Applied for distribution to the entitled option holders through Applied’s

 

10



 

payroll system.  When the Company makes the Final Distribution to its shareholders, it will, at the same time, make the final cash-out payments to the option holders.

 

3.                                      ACQUISITION OF NORTEM N.V. BY APPLIED

 

On December 10, 2004, the shareholders of the Company approved the Purchase Agreement with Applied and completed the transaction on December 14, 2004. Under the Purchase Agreement, the Company sold to Applied the outstanding shares of its worldwide operating subsidiaries and substantially all of the other assets of the Company, including, but not limited to, the Company’s intellectual property and technology and all cash and cash equivalents other than an amount equal to approximately $2.0 million plus cash received prior to closing upon exercise of warrants and options. Under the Purchase Agreement, Applied (a) paid the Company the sum of $84.6 million; (b) assumed certain of the Company’s liabilities; (c) will pay the Company amounts related to certain Netherlands surtax liabilities and withholding obligations; and (d) will reimburse the Company for up to $2.75 million of certain costs after the close of the transaction.  The Company’s shareholders will not receive any payments directly from Applied.

 

With the close of the transaction, the Company’s recorded a gain on the sale of substantially all of its assets to Applied, accelerated the interest on its convertible debentures and wrote off the related unamortized placement agent fees – See Note 5.  The gain on the sale of its assets to Applied consisted of the following:

 

 

 

(Dollars in
thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

Cash received from Applied

 

$

84,567

 

Net assets of Nortem N.V. acquired by Applied at December 14, 2004

 

47,999

 

Gain on sale of subsidiaries and certain assets to Applied (exclusive of impact of required redemption of convertible debentures)

 

$

36,568

 

 

The sale of subsidiaries and certain assets to Applied constituted a Change of Control Transaction as defined in the two convertible debenture agreements.  As described in the debenture agreements, a Change of Control Transaction triggers both an acceleration of the principal amounts under the convertible debenture agreements and the redemption of the convertible debentures for the full principal amount of the convertible debentures, together with interest and other amounts dueThe impact of this acceleration and redemption are reflected in the Statement of Changes in Net Assets in Liquidation for the period December 15, 2004 to February 28, 2005.  Refer to Note 5 for further information.

 

11



 

The pro forma net assets of the Company at December 14, 2004 after the closing of the transaction with Applied, but prior to the start of liquidation, consisted of the following estimates:

 

 

 

Condensed
Consolidated
Net Assets
Prior to Sale
to Applied

 

Reclassifications
(e)

 

Reclassified
Balance
Sheet at
December
14, 2004

 

Net Assets
Acquired by
Applied

 

Adjustment

 

Pro Forma
Net Assets
Prior to
Liquidation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

9,188

 

$

(7,161

)

$

2,027

 

$

 

$

84,567

(a)

$

86,594

 

Loan to officer/shareholder

 

110

 

 

110

 

 

 

110

 

All other current assets

 

83,351

 

(83,351

)

 

 

 

 

Assets held for sale to Applied

 

 

116,318

 

116,318

 

(116,318

)

 

 

Total current assets

 

92,649

 

25,806

 

118,455

 

(116,318

)

84,567

 

86,704

 

Property, plant and equipment, net

 

18,722

 

(18,722

)

 

 

 

 

Intangibles and other assets, net

 

7,580

 

(7,084

)

496

 

 

(496

)(b)

 

Total assets

 

$

118,951

 

$

 

$

118,951

 

$

(116,318

)

$

84,071

 

$

86,704

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accrued transaction costs for sale of assets to Applied

 

2,414

 

 

2,414

 

 

 

2,414

 

All other Current liabilities

 

56,388

 

(56,225

)

163

 

 

 

163

 

Liabilities held for sale to Applied

 

 

68,319

 

68,319

 

(68,319

)

 

 

Convertible debentures

 

 

 

 

 

13,000

(c), (d)

13,000

 

Total current liabilities

 

58,802

 

12,094

 

70,896

 

(68,319

)

13,000

 

15,577

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-term debt, excluding current portion

 

5,916

 

(5,916

)

 

 

 

 

Convertible debentures

 

6,832

 

 

6,832

 

 

(6,832

)(d)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other long-term liabilities

 

6,178

 

(6,178

)

 

 

 

 

Total liabilities

 

77,728

 

 

77,728

 

(68,319

)

6,168

 

15,577

 

Net Assets

 

$

41,223

 

$

 

$

41,223

 

$

(47,999

)

$

77,903

 

$

71,127

 

 


(a)          Cash received from Applied

(b)         Write-off of unamortized placement agent fees – See Note 5

(c)          Acceleration of interest on convertible debentures to record the debentures at the principal amount due to debenture holders and reclassification of all amounts as a current liability

(d)         Reclassification of the principal amount of the convertible debentures to a current liability.

(e)          Reclassifications from the balance sheet historical line items to Assets and Liabilities held for sale, respectively.

 

Following the closing of the transaction with Applied and the satisfaction of the Company’s liabilities, including the settlement of convertible debentures and the related warrants, the Company made an initial liquidating distribution of $3.75 per share on March 11, 2005 to shareholders of record as of March 4, 2005. On March 11, 2005, the Company paid approximately $48.3 million to Computershare Trust Company, Inc., as payment agent, for the initial distribution to the Company’s shareholders of record.  After the initial liquidating distribution, Nortem retained a reserve of approximately $17.5 million for liquidation expenses, Dutch corporate taxes and for any unforeseen liabilities.  At the conclusion of the liquidation process, which the Company expects will be completed by June 2005, any cash of the Company remaining after the satisfaction of its liabilities will be distributed to its shareholders.  The Company estimates that the final liquidating distribution will be in the range of approximately $1.01 to $1.09 per share, prior to the effect of Dutch tax withholding requirements that apply differently to each shareholder.  This range considers stock options and the settlement of convertible debentures and the related warrants with the debenture holders as described in Note 5.

 

The amount and timing of the final distribution is dependent upon a variety of factors, including the timing and costs of winding up the Company’s business and dissolving and other factors.  In the event that the Company’s liabilities

 

12



 

exceed current estimates or unanticipated issues arise in connection with the satisfaction of the Company’s liabilities, the liquidating distribution to the Company’s shareholders will be less than currently estimated and may be made later than currently anticipated.

 

4.                                      LIQUIDATION LIABILITIES

 

Liquidation liabilities include estimates of all liabilities expected to be paid during the liquidation and dissolving period, subsequent to the close of the sale to Applied.  Applied will reimburse the Company for up to $2.75 million of certain liquidation costs.  Expected but unpaid liquidation liabilities have been accrued.  Liquidation liabilities at February 28, 2005 were as follows:

 

 

 

Total Estimated
Liquidation Liabilities

 

Amounts Paid
by Nortem N.V.

 

Liquidation
Liabilities

 

 

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Insurance including director and officer insurance

 

$

891

 

$

833

 

$

58

 

Legal fees

 

693

 

222

 

471

 

Completion fee

 

425

 

425

 

 

Accounting fees

 

200

 

23

 

177

 

Liquidators fee

 

220

 

90

 

130

 

Supervisory director fees

 

46

 

10

 

36

 

Other

 

135

 

37

 

98

 

 

 

$

2,610

 

$

1,640

 

$

970

 

 

At February 28, 2005, due from Applied for reimbursement of liquidation costs were approximately $1.8 million of which $0.2 million of expenses had been incurred but not yet paid by the Company.

 

13



 

5.                                      CONVERTIBLE DEBENTURES

 

Convertible debentures at February 28, 2005 are stated at fair value, and were as follows:

 

 

 

8%
Debentures

 

6.5%
Debentures

 

Total

 

 

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Debentures principal

 

$

7,000

 

$

6,000

 

$

13,000

 

Less: Discount included in shareholders’ equity:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fair value of warrants

 

2,348

 

1,162

 

3,510

 

Deemed dividend

 

3,364

 

 

3,364

 

 

 

1,288

 

4,838

 

6,126

 

Interest accretion

 

624

 

82

 

706

 

Acceleration of discount amortization

 

5,088

 

1,080

 

6,168

 

Total convertible debentures

 

7,000

 

6,000

 

13,000

 

Cash-out settlement to record liability at fair value

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Convertible debentures

 

2,042

 

1,750

 

3,792

 

Warrants, net

 

615

 

610

 

1,225

 

 

 

2,657

 

2,360

 

5,017

 

Balances, February 28, 2005

 

$

9,657

 

$

8,360

 

$

18,017

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balances, May 31, 2004

 

$

1,531

 

$

 

$

1,531

 

 

In December 2004, the Company sold substantially all of its subsidiaries and assets to Applied and commenced liquidation (See Note 1). The convertible debentures and warrants remained obligations of the Company.  Section 3 of both convertible debenture agreements require that upon a Change of Control Transaction, such as the transaction with Applied, both an acceleration of the principal amounts under the convertible debenture agreements and the redemption of the convertible debentures for the full principal amount of the convertible debentures, together with interest and other amounts accrued must occur.  As a result, immediately subsequent to the closing of the transaction with Applied, the Company recorded additional interest expense for $6.2 million that represents the write-off of the remaining unamortized debt discount to record the convertible debentures at their principal amount of $13.0 million.  Additionally, the Company wrote-off $0.5 million as interest expense for the unamortized placement agent fees that remained at December 14, 2004.

 

During the Company’s third quarter of fiscal 2005, certain debenture holders advanced approximately $5.6 million in cash to the Company in anticipation of exercising their warrants to purchase common stock.  On February 11, 2005, the Company offered all convertible debenture holders, including those debenture holders who remitted funds in anticipation of exercising their warrants, a cash payment upon surrender of their debentures and/or warrants equal to $4.65 per common share equivalent that would have been issuable under the debenture and warrant agreement absent the transaction with Applied, reduced by the amount of the aggregate price payable with respect to the warrants. On March 7, 2005, all convertible debenture holders accepted the Company’s offer, and surrendered their debentures and/or warrants, which were then cancelled.  In March 2005, the Company returned to convertible debenture holders their advance of $5.6 million, and paid approximately $18.0 million to settle the cash-out offer. The amounts noted as “cash out settlement to record liability at fair value” in the above table represent the true-up amount required to record the debentures at the $18.0 million settlement amount.

 

In June 2004, the Company issued $6.0 million principal amount of convertible debentures for $5.6 million of proceeds, net of $0.4 million of issuance costs, with an annual interest rate of 6.5%, payable quarterly beginning September 1, 2004.  Before the convertible debentures were surrendered and cancelled in March 2005 (as described above), the 6.5% convertible debentures were convertible into approximately 1,667,000 common shares of the Company at any time after the closing date based on a per-share price equal to $3.60. The closing per share price of the transaction was equal to the volume-weighted average of the closing price for the common shares of the Company as listed on NASDAQ for ten days

 

14



 

prior to and including May 21, 2004. Before the convertible debentures were surrendered and cancelled in March 2005 (as described above), the quarterly interest was payable at the Company’s option with either cash or, subject to certain conditions, registered common shares of the Company, and the Company, at its option, could have required the holders to convert the 6.5% convertible debentures into common shares of the Company in the event the volume-weighted average of the closing price for the common shares of the Company for any 20 consecutive trading days exceeded $11.00, subject to certain conditions.

 

The Company issued the purchasers of the 6.5% convertible debentures warrants to purchase an aggregate of approximately 767,000 common shares of the Company. Before the warrants were surrendered and cancelled in March 2005 (as described above), one-half of the warrants are exercisable at $3.79 per share, with the remaining warrants exercisable at $3.92 per share and all warrants were exercisable for a five-year period after June 2004.  Additionally, the Company paid a fee of $0.4 million to the placement agent.

 

The 6.5% convertible debentures and warrants were recorded at their relative fair values in accordance with Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 21 Interest on Receivables and Payables. The relative fair value allocated to the debt was determined to be approximately $4.8 million. The relative fair value assigned to the warrants was determined using the Black Scholes option pricing model, and approximately $1.2 million was recorded as a discount of the debt and as an increase in shareholders’ equity. Before the warrants were surrendered and cancelled in March 2005 (as described above), the debt discount attributable to the warrants was being accreted as additional non-cash interest expense over the life of the debt using the effective interest method.

 

In August 2003, the Company issued convertible debentures with a  $7.0 million face value (resulting in $6.7 million of proceeds, net of issuance costs) with an annual interest rate of 8% (“8% convertible debentures”), payable quarterly beginning December 1, 2003. The issuance of the 6.5% convertible debentures required certain anti-dilution adjustments for both the conversion price per share and warrants price per share for the 8% convertible debentures.  Before the convertible debentures were surrendered and cancelled in March 2005 (as described above), the as a result of the issuance of the 6.5% convertible debentures, the 8% convertible debentures were convertible into approximately 1,944,000 common shares of the Company based on a per share price equal to $3.60 (previously $3.79), and the quarterly interest was payable at the Company’s option with either cash or, subject to certain conditions, registered common shares of the Company. Prior to the cancellation of the convertible debentures in March 2005 (as described above), the Company, at its option, could have required the holders to convert the 8% convertible debentures into common shares of the Company in the event the volume-weighted average of the closing price for the common shares of the Company for any 20 consecutive trading days exceeded $10.34, subject to certain conditions, and  after February 25, 2007, the remaining balance of the 8% convertible debentures not converted into common shares would have had to have been repaid to the holders in cash, including any accrued interest.

 

The Company issued the purchasers and the placement agent of the 8% convertible debentures warrants to purchase an aggregate of approximately 867,000 common shares of the Company. Before the warrants were surrendered and cancelled in March 2005 (as described above), one-half of the warrants were exercisable at $3.79 per share (previously $3.97 per share), with the remaining warrants exercisable at $4.09 per share (previously $4.31 per share), and all warrants are exercisable for a four-year period after August 2003.  The debt issuance cost associated with the 8% convertible debentures was approximately $0.4 million.  Approximately $0.2 million of this cost pertains to the allocation of the fair value of the warrants issued to the placement agent, and was an offset in shareholders’ equity.  Additionally, a fee of approximately $0.3 million was paid to the placement agent

 

The 8% convertible debentures and warrants were recorded at their relative fair values. The fair value of the debt was determined to be $4.7 million. The fair value assigned to the warrants was determined using the Black Scholes option pricing model and approximately $2.3 million was recorded as a discount of the debt and as an increase in shareholders’ equity. In addition, in accordance with EITF 00-27, Application of Issue No. 98-5 to Certain Convertible Instruments, and EITF 98-5 Accounting for Convertible Securities with Beneficial Conversion Features or Contingently Adjustable Conversion Ratios, the Company recorded a deemed dividend because the conversion price of the 8% convertible debentures, after taking into account the fair value of the warrants, was less than the closing price of the Company’s common shares, which was $4.34 per share on the closing date.  The deemed dividend of approximately $3.4 million was recorded as a further discount to the 8% convertible debentures and an increase to shareholders’ equity.  Before the warrants were surrendered and cancelled in March 2005 (as described above), the deemed dividend and debt discount

 

15



 

attributable to the warrants was accreted as additional non-cash interest expense over the life of the debt using the effective interest method.

 

6.                                      RESTRUCTURING COSTS

 

During the six-month and 14 day period ending December 14, 2004, the Company terminated 15 employees as follows: the equipment solutions group terminated 7 employees, the fab solutions group terminated 2 employees, and 6 terminated employees were part of finance and administration. Of the $1.4 million of personnel costs accrued during the initial six-month and 14 day period of fiscal 2005, approximately $0.8 million pertained to personnel terminated during fiscal year 2004. Remaining accrued personnel costs as of December 14, 2004 were assumed by Applied. The Company incurred approximately $0.7 million of restructuring costs in the equipment solutions segment primarily for personnel terminations. The fab solutions group incurred approximately $0.3 million of restructuring costs for personnel terminations, while finance and administration incurred approximately $0.4 million. In estimating the accrual for abandoned leased facilities, the Company made assumptions regarding the future sublease income of these facilities.

 

For the nine-month period ended February 29, 2004, the Company terminated 73 employees as follows: the equipment solutions group terminated 35 employees, the fab solutions group terminated 28 employees and 10 terminated employees were part of finance and administration. Remaining accrued personnel costs as of February 29, 2004 were paid by May 2004.  The Company incurred approximately $1.9 million of restructuring costs in the equipment solutions segment, of which $1.1 million was for personnel terminations and $0.8 million pertained to the cost of the abandonment of leased facilities, leasehold improvements and fixed assets.  The fab solutions group incurred approximately $0.8 million of restructuring costs, of which $0.3 million was for personnel terminations and $0.5 million pertained to the abandonment of leased facilities. Other groups incurred approximately $0.6 million of restructuring costs, of which $0.5 million was for personnel terminations and $0.1 million pertained to the abandonment of leased facilities.  In estimating the accrual for abandoned leased facilities, the Company made assumptions regarding the future sublease income of these facilities. .

 

7.                                      COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

 

No claims or actions have been filed against the Company as of the filing of this 10-Q.

 

ITEM 2.  MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

The information in this Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, except for the historical information, contains forward-looking statements. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our, or our industry’s, actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including the factors described under Part II, Item 5—Other Information—Risk Factors and elsewhere in this Report on Form 10-Q. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements as actual results could differ materially. We do not assume any obligation to publicly release the results of any revision or updates to these forward-looking statements to reflect future events or unanticipated occurrences. This discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with our Consolidated Financial Statements and the related Notes, which are included on our Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended, for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2004, filed with the SEC. This discussion of the third quarter of fiscal 2005 and 2004 refers to the fiscal quarters that ended on February 28, 2005 and 2004.

 

Overview

 

On December 10, 2004, the shareholders of the Company approved the Stock and Asset Purchase Agreement (“Purchase Agreement”), dated August 16, 2004, with Applied. Concurrently with the close of the transaction on December 14, 2004, the Company changed its name from Metron Technology N.V. to Nortem N.V., the Managing Board of Directors

 

16



 

resigned and the liquidators approved by the shareholders assumed control of the Company to begin the liquidation process.  On December 16, 2004, we filed our liquidation in The Netherlands.  On March 11, 2005, we made our initial distribution to our shareholders, in the amount of $3.75 per share.  On March 24, 2005, we filed our liquidation accounts and plan of distribution for public inspection with the Dutch Commercial Registry in Arnhem, The Netherlands.

 

Under the Purchase Agreement, the Company sold to Applied the outstanding shares of its worldwide operating subsidiaries and substantially all of the other assets of the Company, including, but not limited to, our intellectual property and technology and all cash and cash equivalents other than an amount equal to $2.0 million plus cash received prior to closing upon exercise of warrants and options. Under the Purchase Agreement, Applied (a) paid the Company the sum of $84.6 million; (b) assumed certain of the Company’s liabilities; (c) agreed to pay the Company amounts related to certain Netherlands surtax liabilities and withholding obligations; and (d) agreed to reimburse the Company for up to $2.75 million of certain costs incurred after the close of the transaction.  The Company’s shareholders will not receive any payments directly from Applied. The Company recorded a gain of approximately $36.6 million from the sale of the subsidiaries and substantially all of its assets to Applied.

 

With the consummation of the transaction with Applied, we no longer have continuing operations, and have no sources of revenue. We believe that we have sufficient liquidity to wind down the affairs and dissolve the Company according the Company’s liquidation plan.  We do not expect to incur financing or borrowing facilities. The Company entered liquidation on December 15, 2004 and is in the process of winding down the business and liquidating assets. Consequently, the following discussion for the results of operations is for the six months and fourteen day period ended December 14, 2004.

 

Nortem N.V., prior to the transaction with Applied, was a holding company organized under the laws of The Netherlands. Through our various operating subsidiaries, we were a global provider of marketing, sales, service and support solutions to semiconductor materials and equipment suppliers and semiconductor manufacturers. We operated in all areas of the world where there was a significant semiconductor industry.

 

We derived our revenue from sales of materials, equipment, service and spare parts to the semiconductor industry, as well as from commissions on sales of equipment and materials. For products from our suppliers, we generally recognized revenue upon the shipment of goods to customers. We deferred the portion of our equipment revenue associated with our installation. In certain circumstances, depending on the specific terms of the transaction, such as when the amount the customer retainage exceeded the deferred installation revenue, all or a portion of the residual equipment revenue was deferred. We recognized installation revenue, and any deferred equipment revenue, upon technical acceptance of the equipment by the customer. Revenue was deferred until we received technical acceptance for the sales of legacy equipment where we had no manufacturing history.  We recognized service revenue in the periods the services were rendered to customers.

 

We were organized in two worldwide operating groups: equipment solutions and fab solutions. Equipment solutions were focused on two distinct areas of the semiconductor capital equipment market: advanced technology equipment and previous generation equipment. Over the last several years, under license from OEMs, we had begun to market, sell, manufacture and support previous generation semiconductor equipment.  We referred to the previous generation equipment as the Legends Product Line.  We provided the continued availability of service, spares and manufacturing capability for mature capital equipment.

 

To facilitate the transition to the Legends Product Line, we acquired previous generation product lines from OEMs. In March 2002, we purchased the AG Associates RTP product line from Mattson Technology. In September 2003, we acquired inventory and certain assets related to the Eclipse PVD equipment product line from TEL. The Company also operated as an authorized re-manufacturer of PVD equipment for a well-known supplier of automated systems for chemical vapor deposition (CVD).

 

Our fab solutions focused on the needs of the semiconductor fab and offered our customers a comprehensive portfolio to address the critical, non-core functions of the fab.  Our fab solutions group derived the majority of its revenue from sales of materials and components. The remainder of the group’s revenue came from parts cleaning services, other outsourcing services and commissions. The materials and components we sold were used both in the production of semiconductors and in the building and maintenance of semiconductor equipment and manufacturing facilities. Materials included products such as wafer surface preparation materials, fluid-handling components such as fittings, valves and

 

17



 

tubing and disposable cleanroom clothing. Sales of these products tended to be less cyclical than sales of semiconductor equipment and generally offer higher gross margins than externally sourced equipment.

 

During our first fiscal quarter of 2005, Pall Corporation notified the Company it would terminate its distribution agreement with the Company as of August 31, 2004. Revenue from the sale of products manufactured by Pall Corporation for the six month and fourteen day period ended December 14, 2004 and the nine-month period ended February 29, 2004 was approximately $4.7 million and $10.3 million, respectively.  Additionally, on August 30, 2004, Entegris notified the Company of its intent to terminate its existing distribution agreement with the Company effective August 31, 2005.  Prior to the closing of the transaction with Applied, Entegris and the Company were in discussion regarding a new distribution agreement. Revenue from the sale of products manufactured by Entegris for the six month and fourteen day period ended December 14, 2004 and the nine-month period ended February 29, 2004 was approximately $28.2 million and $24.5 million, respectively.

 

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

 

Critical accounting policies are those that require significant judgment and/or estimates by management at the time that the financial statements are prepared such that materially different results might have been reported if other assumptions had been made. We considered certain accounting policies related to revenue recognition, valuation of accounts receivable and inventory, evaluation of long-lived assets and income taxes to be critical policies. The basis of our current estimates or assumptions has not changed since we filed our 2004 Annual Report on Form 10-K with the SEC on August 12, 2004 and, in the past, there have not been significant adjustments to the actual results of our estimates.

 

Activities While in Liquidation

 

The changes in net assets in liquidation for the period from December 15, 2004 to February 28, 2005 of  approximately $24.0 million was primarily due to the $36.6 million gain resulting from the sale of subsidiaries and certain assets to Applied and interest income.  This gain was offset by the acceleration of interest and amortization of the debt discount and placement agent fees for convertible debentures of $6.7 million, the adjustment to record the debt at its fair value based on the incremental cash settlement with the convertible debenture and warrant holders of $5.0 million, and the liquidation expenses, net of recoveries, of $1.2 million and interest income, net of interest expense of $0.3 million.  Liquidation expenses consist primarily of costs incurred on the sale to Applied described in Note 3 to the condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report.

 

The Company made an initial liquidating distribution of $3.75 per share on March 11, 2005 to shareholders of record as of March 4, 2005. On March 11, 2005 the Company paid approximately $48.3 million to Computershare Trust Company, Inc., as payment agent, for the initial distribution to the Company’s shareholders of record.  After the initial liquidating distribution, Nortem retained a reserve of approximately $17.5 million for liquidation expenses, Dutch corporate taxes and for any unforeseen liabilities.  At the conclusion of the liquidation process, which the Company expects will be completed by June 2005, any cash of the Company remaining after the satisfaction of its liabilities will be distributed to its shareholders.  The Company estimates that the final liquidating distribution will be in the range of approximately $1.01 to $1.09 per share, prior to the effect of Dutch tax withholding requirements that apply differently to each shareholder.

 

We expect to incur certain administrative, legal and other costs associated with winding up our affairs. These costs have been accrued (See Note 4, to the condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report).

 

Results of Operations - Six-months and Fourteen Days ended December 14, 2004

 

Net Revenue

 

Equipment solutions group.  The equipment group net revenue in our six-month and fourteen-day period of fiscal 2005 was $38.0 million, down $8.3 million or 17.9% from the first nine-month period of fiscal 2004. The decrease between the comparable nine-month periods reflects that there were only fourteen days of operations in the third quarter of fiscal 2005.

 

18



 

Fab solutions group.  In our six-month and fourteen-day period of fiscal 2005, the fab solutions group revenue was $81.5 million, down $15.9 million or 16.3% from the group’s revenue the nine-month period of fiscal 2004. The decrease between the comparable periods reflects that there were only fourteen days of operations in the third quarter of fiscal 2005.

 

Gross Margins

 

Equipment solutions group. The group’s gross margin of 24.2% for six month and fourteen day period of fiscal 2005 increased 180 basis points from 22.4% when compared to the nine-month period of fiscal 2004.  Of the improvement in gross margins, approximately 30 and 70 basis points pertained to the sale of products where inventory had been previously written down during the same periods of fiscal 2005 and 2004, respectively.  Increased margins are primarily due to a change in mix where legacy product for six-month and fourteen period of fiscal 2005 represented 22.4% of Equipment solutions group sales compared to 7.7% for the nine months of fiscal 2004.  Legacy product sales achieved 39% gross margin for the first six-month and fourteen-day period of fiscal 2005 compared to 18.6% for the nine-month period in fiscal 2004.  The Eclipse line was acquired in September 2003, accordingly the nine-month period ending on February 29, 2004 had only six months of the of the Eclipse operations.  The gross margin of all other product lines fell, except Specialty equipment – spare parts.

 

Fab solutions group.  The gross margin of 19.6% for the fab solutions group decreased 80 basis points for the six-month and fourteen-day period of fiscal 2005 when compared to the nine-month period in fiscal 2004.  Margins for both parts cleaning improved while margins for the repair center component declined dramatically.

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses (SG&A).   SG&A expenses for the six-month and fourteen-day period of fiscal 2005 were $27.4 million, down $12.0 million from the $39.4 million incurred for the nine-month period of 2004. SG&A expenses consist principally of salaries and other employment-related costs, occupancy costs, travel and entertainment, communications and computer-related expense, trade show and professional services and depreciation. Our SG&A expenses are a function principally of our total headcount. The decline in expense is primarily due to the third quarter of fiscal 2005 having only fourteen days of operations.

 

Restructuring costs. During the six-month and fourteen-day period of fiscal 2005, the Company terminated 15 employees as follows: the equipment solutions group terminated 7 employees, the fab solutions group terminated 2 employees and 6 terminated employees were part of finance and administration.

 

During the nine-month period of fiscal 2004, the Company terminated 73 employees as follows: the equipment solutions group terminated 35 employees, the fab solutions group terminated 28 employees and 10 terminated employees were part of finance and administration. The Company incurred approximately $1.9 million of restructuring costs in the equipment solutions segment, of which $1.1 million was for personnel terminations and $0.8 million pertained to the cost of the abandonment of leased facilities, leasehold improvements and fixed assets.  The fab solutions group incurred approximately $0.8 million of restructuring costs, of which $0.3 million was for personnel terminations and $0.5 million pertained to the abandonment of leased facilities. Other groups incurred approximately $0.6 million of restructuring costs, of which $0.5 million was for personnel terminations and $0.1 million pertained to the abandonment of leased facilities.  In estimating the accrual for abandoned leased facilities, the Company made assumptions regarding the future sublease income of these facilities

 

Transaction costs for sale of subsidiaries and substantially all assets to Applied Materials, Inc. During our six-month and fourteen-day period of fiscal 2005, we incurred legal, accounting and other professional fees of $2.6 million that pertained to the Applied transaction.

 

Research, development and engineering. The expenses for research, development and engineering for the six-month and fourteen-day period of fiscal 2005 were $1.2 million compared to $1.8 million for the nine-month period of 2004. The decrease in expense is primarily due to the third quarter of fiscal 2005 having only fourteen days of operations.

 

Other expense, net.  The following table summarizes the components of other income (expense).

 

19



 

 

 

For the period
from June 1,
2004 to
December 14,
2004

 

For the nine
months ended
February 29,
2004

 

 

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Foreign exchange gain (loss)

 

$

107

 

$

(460

)

Interest income

 

65

 

45

 

Interest expense

 

(1,782

)

(1,546

)

Other income (expense)

 

(162

)

42

 

Other expense, net

 

$

(1,772

)

$

(1,919

)

 

We engaged in limited hedging activities to reduce our exposure to exchange risks arising from fluctuations in foreign currency, but because hedging activities can be costly, we did not attempt to cover all potential foreign currency exposures. During each of our six-month and fourteen-day period for fiscal 2005 and nine-month period for 2004, we entered into contracts to hedge firm purchase commitments, to hedge the maturities of foreign currency denominated liabilities with foreign currency denominated assets and to hedge differences existing between foreign currency assets and liabilities. The currencies in which we purchased forward exchange contracts had numerous market makers to provide ample depth and liquidity for our hedging activities.

 

Interest income represented primarily earnings on our available cash balances. The decrease in our interest income for each of the fiscal quarters was a result of lower average cash balances and of lower interest rates.

 

Interest expense reflects interest on our borrowings as well as the accretion of non-cash interest discount related to our convertible debentures, which resulted from the $3.5 million for the fair value of the warrants, and $3.4 million from the deemed dividend relating to the issuing of our $13.0 million of convertible debentures.  Interest accretion from the non-cash deemed dividend for the beneficial conversion feature and the amortization of the placement agent fees for the six-month and fourteen day period of fiscal 2005 was approximately $0.5 million. We recorded an additional interest expense of $6.2 million that represents the write-off of the remaining unamortized debt discount to record the principal amount of its convertible debentures of $13.0 million with the closing of the transaction with Applied, and wrote-off $0.5 million as interest expense for the unamortized placement agent fees that remained at December 14, 2004.  See - Note 5.

 

Other income for our year-to-date periods of fiscal 2005 and 2004 consisted of various miscellaneous non-operating income and expense.

 

Provision for Income Taxes. For our year-to-date periods of fiscal 2005 and 2004, our tax provision represented income tax on taxable income in foreign jurisdictions primarily in Asia. We established a valuation allowance for all of our net deferred tax assets during fiscal 2003, due to the uncertainty of our ability to generate sufficient taxable income to realize these net deferred tax assets. This allowance has been maintained due to recurring losses.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

We defined liquidity as our ability to generate resources to pay our current obligations and to finance our growth during periods of business expansion. Our principal requirement for capital was for working capital to finance receivables and inventories. Our principal sources of liquidity were positive cash flows from operations, bank borrowings and the private placement of debt. We issued convertible debentures in August 2003 and June 2004 and obtained a total of $12.3 million of proceeds, net of the aggregate $0.7 million of cash issuance costs for both issues.  Our working capital, current assets less current liabilities, was $47.6 million and $36.1 million at December 14, 2004 and May 31, 2004, respectively.  Our current ratio, current assets divided by current liabilities, was 1.7 and 1.4 at December 14, 2004 and May 31, 2004, respectively.

 

Operating Activities.

 

During the six-month and fourteen-day period for fiscal 2005, we used cash totaling $9.4 million in our operating activities.   Nortem reduced non-cash current assets, generating $21.9 million of operating cash flow, which was more than offset by reducing current liabilities by $26.3 million. The cash usage primarily pertained to cash payments for accounts payable, amounts due to affiliates and the decrease in deferred revenue.

 

20



 

Subsequent to December 16, 2004 we have been in liquidation and have substantially reduced our working capital requirements. As of February 28, 2005, Nortem had approximately $88.0 million in cash and cash equivalents.  Our working capital requirements are now minimal. We believe that existing cash and cash equivalents will be sufficient to meet our remaining operating and capital requirements for at least the next twelve months or until a final liquidation occurs.   We believe we have sufficient assets to satisfy currently identified creditors and make a final distribution to shareholders. As soon as practicable under The Netherlands law and dissolution procedures we intend to make a final distribution to our shareholders and dissolve the Company.

 

Investing Activities

 

Our capital expenditures for property, plant and equipment for the six-month and fourteen-day period of fiscal 2005 and the nine-month period of 2004 totaled $1.0 million and $1.8 million, respectively.  During the same periods of fiscal 2005 and 2004, we invested $0.1 million and $0.6 million, respectively, in our management information system. To date, we have invested $8.9 million in the new system.  During our six-month and fourteen-day period of fiscal 2005, we incurred legal, accounting and other professional fees of $2.6 million that pertained to the Applied transaction, of which approximately $0.2 million has been paid as of December 14, 2004.  Upon sale of substantially all of our subsidiaries and assets to Applied, we transferred approximately $7.2 million of cash to Applied.  Subsequent to entering liquidation, there have been no investments.

 

Financing Activities.

 

Debt.  In June 2004, the Company issued convertible debentures and warrants due in June 2008, in the principal amount of $6.0 million with an annual interest rate of 6.5%, payable quarterly beginning September 2004. In August 2003, the Company issued convertible debentures and warrants due in February 2007, in the principal amount of $7.0 million with an annual interest rate of 8%, payable quarterly beginning December 1, 2003. On February 11, 2005, the Company offered all convertible debenture holders, including those debenture holders who remitted funds to exercise their warrants, a cash payment upon surrender of their debentures and/or warrants equal to $4.65 per common share equivalent that would have been issuable under the debenture and warrant agreement absent the transaction with Applied, reduced by the amount of the aggregate price payable with respect to the warrants. On March 7, 2005, all convertible debenture holders accepted the Company’s offer, and surrendered their debentures and/or warrants, which were then cancelled.  In March 2005, the Company returned to convertible debenture holders their deposit of $5.6 million, and paid approximately $18.0 million to settle the cash-out offer.

 

Equity.  During the six-month and fourteen day period of fiscal 2005, we received $0.3 million from our employees for the exercise of 15,000 common shares from stock option plans and the purchase of 85,000 common shares through our employee stock purchase plan.

 

Current and future liquidity position.

 

On December 10, 2004, the shareholders of the Company approved the Purchase Agreement with Applied.  With the close of the transaction on December 14, 2004, the Company received $84.6 million from Applied, and commenced liquidation of the Company. Due to the consummation of the transaction with Applied we no longer have continuing operations, and have no sources for revenue. We believe that we have sufficient liquidity to handle current commitments, and we do not expect to need further financing or borrowing facilities. We are in the process of winding down the business and liquidating our assets.  We expect to complete the liquidation process by June 2005, at which time we will distribute the remainder of the cash held by the Company after the settling of the Company’s liabilities, to the shareholders of the Company. The forecast of our financial resources from the closing of the Applied transaction through the liquidation of the Company are expected to be adequate to support our liquidation is a forward-looking statement. This statement involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results to be materially different from any future results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These risk factors are discussed under Risk Factors—Risks Related to Nortem and elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

 

The following table summarizes our contractual cash obligations as of February 28, 2005.  Settlement with the debenture holders was reached by March 7, 2005.

 

21



 

Payments Due By Period

Contractual Obligations and Commercial Commitments

 

 

 

Total

 

Less than 1
Year

 

1 – 3 Years

 

3 – 5 Years

 

After 5
Years

 

 

 

(Dollars in thousands)

 

Convertible debentures

 

$

18,017

 

$

18,017

 

 

 

 

Total contractual obligations and commercial commitments for cash

 

$

18,017

 

$

18,017

 

 

 

 

 

Transactions with related parties:

 

FSI, an affiliate, owned approximately 11.6% of the outstanding shares of the Company as of December 14, 2004. The Company purchased goods from FSI for resale in the normal course of business under terms and conditions similar to those with unrelated vendors. Such purchases totaled approximately less than $0.1 million and $1.0 million for the period from June 1, 2004 through December 14, 2004 and for the nine-month period ended February 29, 2004, respectively. Sales to FSI for the same comparable periods were approximately $1.5 million and $1.2 million, respectively. At December 14, 2004 and May 31, 2004, amounts receivable from FSI were $0.2 million and $0.4 million, respectively while payables FSI were $0.5 million and $3.0 million, respectively.

 

As of December 14, 2004, the Company had accounts receivable from Applied of approximately $0.3 million.  We sold approximately $1.9 million of products to Applied for the six-month and fourteen-day period ended December 14, 2004.  Additionally, we accrued approximately $2.4 million for Applied transaction closing costs we incurred at December 14, 2004.

 

In July 1995, an officer/Managing Director of the Company entered into a Tax Indemnification Agreement (“TIA”) with the Company as part of its acquisition of Transpacific Technology Corporation.  At the time of the acquisition and until it completed its initial public offering in November 1999, The Company was a “controlled foreign corporation” under Subpart F of the US Internal Revenue Code (“Subpart F”), and as a “US person” the officer/director was liable for personal income tax on income imputed to him under Subpart F.  Under the agreement, the Company has provided cash advances for taxes due for Subpart F income that totaled $270,000 as of February 28, 2004. Under the TIA, the now former officer/Managing Director is required to repay these advances only to the extent that he benefits from the increase in the tax basis of his holding of stock of the Company. Accordingly, in fiscal 2001, the Company recorded an allowance of $160,000 against these advances.  Repayment of a portion of the advances is required beginning with the first sale of shares owned by the former officer/director.  The advances were to be repaid when the former officer/shareholder received the initial distribution from the liquidation of Nortem.  To date, the former officer/shareholder has not repaid the advance.

 

Effect of Currency Exchange Rate Fluctuations and Exchange Rate Risk Management
 

A significant portion of our business was conducted outside of the United States through our foreign subsidiaries. While most of our international sales were denominated in United States dollars, some were denominated in various foreign currencies. To the extent that our sales and operating expenses were denominated in foreign currencies, our operating results may have been adversely affected by changes in exchange rates. Although we engaged in foreign currency hedging transactions from time to time, these hedging transactions can be costly, and therefore, we did not attempt to cover all potential foreign currency exposures. These hedging techniques did not eliminate all of the effects of foreign currency fluctuations on anticipated revenue.

 

We entered liquidation with no outstanding foreign exchange contracts and have done no foreign currency hedging while in liquidation.

 

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

See “Effect of Currency Exchange Rate and Exchange Rate Risk Management” and “Market Risk” under Part I, Item 2 of this report.

 

22



 

ITEM 4.   CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

Based on their evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and
15d-15(e)) as of the end of the period covered by this quarterly report, the Company’s Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer, Charles Roffey, concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (1) were adequate and effective to ensure that material information relating to the Company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, was made known to him by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this quarterly report was being prepared and (2) provide that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act, including information regarding its consolidated subsidiaries, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms.

 

Changes in Internal Controls

 

As previously disclosed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, as filed with the SEC on August 12, 2004, our independent registered public accounting firm, in connection with the completion of their audit of, and the issuance of their report on the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended May 31, 2004, identified deficiencies that existed in the design or operation of the Company’s internal controls that they considered to be a material weakness in the effectiveness of the Company’s internal controls pursuant to standards established by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). A significant deficiency is defined as a control deficiency, or combination of deficiencies, that adversely affects the company’s ability to initiate, authorize, record, process or report external financial data reliably in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles such that there is more than a remote likelihood that a misstatement of the company’s financial statements that is more than inconsequential will not be prevented or detected.  A material weakness is a significant deficiency, or combination of significant deficiencies, that results in more than a remote likelihood that a material misstatement of the financial statements will not be prevented or detected. Our independent registered public accounting firm advised the Audit Committee of the Company’s Supervisory Board of the following matter, in July 2004, which they considered to be a material weakness: the Company’s internal controls over revenue recognition were not sufficient to ensure transactions were properly recorded in accordance with management’s criteria and generally accepted accounting principles.

 

Our independent registered public accounting firm discussed the areas of weakness described above with the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee took an active role in responding to the deficiencies identified by our independent registered public accountants, including overseeing management’s implementation of the remedial measures described below. To this end, management of the Company worked with the Audit Committee to identify and implement any and all corrective actions that were required to improve the effectiveness of the Company’s internal controls, including the enhancement of the Company’s systems and procedures. The Company implemented the following measures:

 

                                    reviewed financial controls and procedures for revenue recognition;

 

                                    assigned an individual in the Company’s equipment solutions group to be the revenue recognition manager;

 

                                    conducted revenue recognition training of personnel responsible for authorizing and recording revenue transactions throughout the Company;

 

                                    required the review and approval by certain officers of the Company for revenue transactions above a specified level;

 

                                    engaged an independent internal controls consultant who assisted the Company in documenting and developing current and expanded internal controls and procedures; and

 

                                    assigned Company employees to directly assist the independent internal controls consultant.

 

23



 

Management believes the above measures have addressed the matter identified by our independent registered public accounting firm as a material weakness. The Audit Committee and the liquidators will continue to monitor the effectiveness of the Company’s internal controls and procedures including those pertaining to revenue recognition on an ongoing basis and will take further action, as appropriate.

 

Limitations on the Effectiveness of Controls.

 

The Company’s liquidators do not expect that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures or the Company’s internal controls will prevent all error and all fraud. A control system, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. Further, the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. The inherent limitations in all control systems include the realities that judgments in decision-making can be faulty and that breakdowns can occur because of simple error or mistake. Additionally, controls can be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusion of two or more people, or by management override of the control. Because of the inherent limitations in a cost-effective control system, misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected.

 

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1.  LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

Not applicable.

 

ITEM 2.     UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

 

(a)                                  Not applicable.

 

(b)                                 Not applicable.

 

(c)                                  Not applicable.

 

ITEM 3.     DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

 

Not applicable.

 

ITEM 4.     SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

 

The Company held its annual general meeting of shareholders on December 10, 2004.  The following actions were voted upon at such meeting:

 

24



 

 

 

Affirmative
Votes

 

Negative
Votes

 

Withheld
Votes

 

Abstentions

 

Broker
Non-Votes

 

1. Approval of the sale and transfer of substantially all of the Company’s stock and assets to Applied Materials, Inc.

 

9,650,290

 

7,148

 

 

7,700

 

2,349,939

 

2. Approval to dissolve and liquidate the Company following the closing of the asset sale and the appointment of Peter Verloop and Charles Roffey as liquidators, their authorization to select a custodial of the books and record and their - and the supervisory board’s remuneration

 

9,643,910

 

13,528

 

 

7,700

 

2,349,939

 

3. Approval to amend the Company’s articles of association and to designate each of the Company’s managing directors and each junior civil law notary working with NautaDutilh N.V. to apply for the declaration referred to in Article 2:125 of the Netherlands Civil Code, and to have the deed of amendment executed

 

9,589,059

 

39,324

 

 

36,755

 

2,349,939

 

4. Election of five supervisory directors to hold office until 2005:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robert R. Anderson

 

11,985,125

 

 

29,952

 

 

 

Dana C. Ditmore

 

11,971,125

 

 

43,952

 

 

 

Joel A. Elftmann

 

11,971,125

 

 

38,952

 

 

 

William L. George

 

11,971,125

 

 

43,952

 

 

 

Bruce M. Jaffe

 

11,968,075

 

 

47,002

 

 

 

5. To approve the Company’s ability to issue common shares in an aggregate amount exceeding 19.999% of the Company’s outstanding shares pursuant to convertible debentures and warrants issued in June 2004

 

9,496,729

 

141,513

 

 

26,896

 

2,349,939

 

6. Adoption of the Company’s Annual Accounts for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2004

 

11,986,618

 

5,324

 

 

23,135

 

 

7. Ratification of the selection of:a) PricewaterhouseCoopers N.V. as statutory auditors of the annual accounts, and b) PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the Company’s independent accountants for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2005

 

11,978,143

 

12,882

 

 

24,052

 

 

8. Authorization of the preparation of the Company’s Annual Reports for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2003 in the English language

 

11,971,661

 

7,324

 

 

36,092

 

 

9. To extend the authority of the Supervisory Board to issue shares and exclude pre-emptive rights

 

6,230,226

 

3,401,306

 

 

33,606

 

2,349,939

 

10. Approval of the compensation of the Supervisory Board for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2005

 

9,515,773

 

68,108

 

 

81,257

 

2,349,939

 

11. To adopt the compensation policy for the Company’s Managing Board

 

10,062,802

 

1,874,984

 

 

77,291

 

 

12. To grant a discharge from liability to the Company’s Managing and Supervisory Board members relating to the fiscal year ending May 31, 2004

 

11,274,883

 

679,183

 

 

61,011

 

 

 

25



 

ITEM 5.     OTHER INFORMATION

 

RISK FACTORS

 

Our business faces significant risks. These risks include those described below and may include additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently believe are immaterial. If any of the events or circumstances described in the following risks occurs, our business, operating results or financial condition could be materially adversely affected. These risks should be read in conjunction with the other information set forth in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

 

Risks related to the transaction with Applied.

 

The timing and amounts of distributions to shareholders cannot be assured.

 

On December 10, 2004 the shareholders of the Company approved the Purchase Agreement with Applied, whereby we would sell to Applied the outstanding shares of our worldwide operating subsidiaries and substantially all of the other assets held at the Nortem N.V. (formerly Metron Technology N.V.) level. The transaction with Applied closed on December 14, 2004.

 

On March 11, 2005 we made our initial distribution to our shareholders, in the amount of $3.75 per share. We cannot guarantee the amount or timing of any distributions to our shareholders because those determinations depend on a variety of factors, including, but not limited to, the possibility that the costs, expenses and time involved in satisfying our liabilities and obligations and incurred following the closing of the proposed transaction, including costs and expenses of winding up our business and dissolving, may exceed current expectations.  For the foregoing reasons, there can be no assurance as to the amount of any additional distributions to our shareholders.

 

Risks related to our internal controls.

 

Our internal controls may not be sufficient to ensure timely and reliable financial information.

 

In response to a letter the Audit Committee of our Supervisory Board received from our independent registered public accounting firm regarding a material weakness in the effectiveness of our internal controls, we believe we took the necessary measures to correct the deficiencies in our internal controls and procedures for financial reporting. The deficiency identified related to insufficient internal controls over revenue recognition to ensure transactions were properly recorded in accordance with management’s criteria and generally accepted accounted principles.

 

Working with our Audit Committee, we are continuing the process of identifying and implementing corrective actions where required to improve the design and effectiveness of our internal controls, including the enhancement of systems and procedures. Significant additional resources will be required to establish and maintain appropriate controls and procedures and to prepare the required financial and other information during this process.

 

Even after corrective actions had been implemented, the effectiveness of our controls and procedures may be limited by a variety of risks including:

 

                                          faulty human judgment and simple errors, omissions or mistakes;

 

                                          collusion of two or more people;

 

                                          inappropriate management override of procedures; and

 

                                          risk that enhanced controls and procedures may still not be adequate to assure timely and reliable financial information.

 

If we fail to have effective internal controls and procedures for financial reporting in place, we could be unable to provide timely and reliable financial information.

 

26



 

Risks related to our business.

 

We currently do not have any on-going operations, and no sources of revenue.

 

Upon the completion of the transaction with Applied, we no longer have on-going operations and no source of revenue.  We are in the process of winding down the business and liquidating the assets.  The only assets we have are the cash and cash equivalents we are holding.  These assets will be distributed to our shareholders, and upon such distribution we will cease to be in existence.  We cannot guarantee the amount of the assets that will be distributed, nor can we specify when such distribution will occur.

 

Risks related to investing in our common shares.

 

Our shares have been delisted from The Nasdaq Stock Market.

 

On April 5, 2005 our common stock was delisted from The Nasdaq Stock Market (“Nasdaq”).  Accordingly, there is no public market for the trading of our shares.

 

Risks related to being a Dutch company.

 

It may not be possible to enforce United States judgments against Netherlands corporations, directors and others.

 

Our articles provide that the Company has two separate boards of directors, a Managing Board and a Supervisory Board. A significant percentage of our assets are located outside the United States. Furthermore, judgments of United States courts, including judgments against us, our directors or our officers predicated on the civil liability provisions of the federal securities laws of the United States, are not directly enforceable in The Netherlands.

 

There may me claims against the Company which are not currently known.

 

On March 24, 2005, the Company filed its liquidation accounts and plan of distribution for public inspection with the Dutch Commercial Registry in Arnhem, The Netherlands.  Within two months after the date of the filing of the liquidation accounts and plan of distribution, Nortem’s creditors or other entitled parties may file with the court an opposition to Nortem’s liquidation. Nortem may not make the final liquidating distribution until such two months have passed and there is no opposition to Nortem’s liquidation. The amount of the final liquidating distribution will depend on a number of factors, including the final amount of its liabilities, costs of operations during the liquidation period, other related costs involved in the wind down and liquidation of Nortem. The timing and amount of the final liquidating distribution will be determined by Nortem’s liquidators in accordance with the plan of distribution.

 

ITEM 6. EXHIBITS

 

Exhibits

 

2.1(i)

 

Agreement and Plan of Merger and Reorganization among Metron Technology B.V., Metron Acquisition Sub, Inc. and T.A. Kyser Co., dated June 12, 1998

 

 

 

2.2(ii)

 

Agreement for the acquisition of the whole of the issued share capital of Shieldcare Limited

 

 

 

2.3(i)

 

Amendment to Agreement and Plan of Merger and Reorganization among Metron Technology B.V., Metron Acquisition Sub, Inc. and T.A. Kyser Co., dated July 13, 1998

 

 

 

2.4(i)

 

Joinder Agreement among certain stockholders of T.A. Kyser Co, Metron Technology B.V. and Metron Acquisition Sub, Inc. dated July 13, 1998

 

 

 

2.5(v)

 

Stock and Asset Purchase Agreement by and between Applied Materials, Inc. and Metron Technology N.V., dated August 16, 2004.

 

 

 

3.1(vi)

 

Articles of Association of the Registrant and translation thereof.

 

 

 

4.1(i)

 

Specimen Common Share Certificate

 

27



 

4.2(iii)

 

Form of 8% Convertible Debenture

 

 

 

4.3(iii)

 

Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of August 25, 2003, by and between Metron Technology N.V. and the Purchasers

 

 

 

4.4(iii)

 

Form of Common Share Warrant issued to the Purchasers

 

 

 

4.5(iv)

 

Form of 6.5% Convertible Debenture issued to the purchasers identified in the Subscription Agreement dated May 26, 2004.

 

 

 

4.6(iv)

 

Registration Rights Agreement, dated June 16, 2004, by and between Metron Technology N.V. and the purchasers identified in the Subscription Agreement dated May 26, 2004.

 

 

 

4.7(iv)

 

Form of Common Share Warrant issued to the purchasers identified in the Subscription Agreement dated May 26, 2004.

 

 

 

31.1

 

Certification required by Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a).

 

 

 

32.1

 

Certification required by Rule 13a-14(b) or Rule 15d-14(b) and Section 1350 of Chapter 63 of Title 18 of the United States Code (18 U.S.C. §1350).

 


(i)

 

Incorporated by reference from the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No. 333-87665), filed with the Commission on September 23, 1999, as amended through the date hereof.

 

 

 

(ii)

 

Filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on March 17, 2000, and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

 

(iii)

 

Filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on August 27, 2003, and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

 

(iv)

 

Filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Form 10-K, filed with the Commission on August 11, 2004, and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

 

(v)

 

Filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on August 17, 2004, and incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

 

(vi)

 

Filed as an exhibit to the Company's Form 10-Q, filed with the Commission on January 14, 2005, and incorporated herein by reference. 

 

 

 

 

This certification accompanies the Form 10-Q to which it relates, is not deemed filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and is not to be incorporated by reference into any filing of Nortem N.V. under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (whether made before or after the date of the Form 10-Q), irrespective of any general incorporation language contained in such filing.”

 

28



 

SIGNATURE

 

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 thereunto duly authorized.

 

 

NORTEM N.V.

 

 

 

 

 

Date: May 25, 2005

/s/ CHARLES ROFFEY

 

 

 

Charles Roffey

 

 

Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer

 

 

Signing on behalf of the registrant
and as principal accounting officer

 

29