form8-k.htm




UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

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

_________________

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):  May 8, 2012


USEC Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



Delaware
1-14287
52-2107911
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
(Commission File Number)
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
 
   

2 Democracy Center
6903 Rockledge Drive
Bethesda, MD 20817
(301) 564-3200




Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

   
o
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
   
o
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
   
o
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
   
o
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))









 
 

 

Item 3.01 Notice of Delisting or Failure to Satisfy a Continued Listing Rule or Standard; Transfer of Listing.

On May 8, 2012, USEC Inc. (“USEC”) received notice from the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) that the average closing price of its common stock was below the NYSE’s continued listing criteria relating to minimum share price.  Rule 802.01C of the NYSE’s Listed Company Manual requires that a company’s common stock trade at a minimum average closing price of $1.00 over a consecutive 30 trading-day period.  A copy of USEC’s press release announcing the NYSE’s notification is attached as Exhibit 99.1.

In accordance with the NYSE’s rules, on May 14, 2012, USEC provided written notice to the NYSE of its intent to cure this deficiency.  The Company is evaluating its options to cure the price deficiency, including a reverse stock split, which would require shareholder approval at or prior to the Company’s next annual meeting of shareholders. The Company has six months from receipt of the notice to regain compliance with the NYSE’s price criteria (or by no later than the Company’s next annual meeting of shareholders if shareholder approval is required).  Subject to the NYSE’s rules, during the cure period, the Company’s common stock will continue to be listed and trade on the NYSE, subject to the Company’s continued compliance with the NYSE’s other applicable listing rules.  The Company is currently in compliance with all other NYSE listing rules.

USEC can regain compliance at any time during the six-month cure period if on the last trading day of a calendar month during the cure period, the company has a closing share price of at least $1.00 and an average closing share price of at least $1.00 over the 30 trading-day period ending on the last trading-day of that month or on the last day of the cure period.   If the Company effectuates a reverse stock split vote by no later than its next annual meeting of shareholders to cure the condition, the condition will be deemed cured if the price promptly exceeds $1.00 per share, and the price remains above the level for at least the following 30  trading days.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d)       Exhibits

Exhibit
Number                      Description

 
99.1
Press release dated May 14, 2012, issued by USEC Inc.



 
 

 



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.


 
USEC Inc.
       
       
       
May 14, 2012
By:
/s/ John C. Barpoulis
 
   
John C. Barpoulis
 
 
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
 
(Principal Financial Officer)


 
 


 
 

 


EXHIBIT INDEX


Exhibit
Number                       Description
 
 
99.1
Press release dated May 14, 2012, issued by USEC Inc.


 
ex99_1.htm
EXHIBIT 99.1
 

 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
 
May 14, 2012
 
USEC Receives Continued Listing Standards Notice
 from the New York Stock Exchange
 
BETHESDA, Md. – USEC Inc. (NYSE:USU) today announced that it has received a continued listing standards notice from the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) because the price of its common stock has fallen below the NYSE’s minimum share price rule.  The NYSE requires the average closing price of a listed company’s common stock to be at least $1.00 per share over a consecutive 30 trading-day period.
 
The Company’s common stock continues to trade on the NYSE.  Subject to NYSE rules, the Company has six months from receipt of the notice to regain compliance with the NYSE’s price criteria (or by no later than the Company’s next annual meeting of shareholders if shareholder approval is required, as would be the case to effectuate a reverse stock split to cure the deficiency).  The Company is currently in compliance with all other NYSE listing rules.
 
USEC can regain compliance at any time during the six-month cure period if on the last trading day of a calendar month during the cure period, the company has a closing share price of at least $1.00 and an average closing share price of at least $1.00 over the 30 trading-day period ending on the last trading-day of that month or on the last day of the cure period.   The Company is evaluating its options to cure the price deficiency, including a reverse stock split, which would require shareholder approval at or prior to the Company’s next annual meeting of shareholders.
 
USEC Inc., a global energy company, is a leading supplier of enriched uranium fuel and nuclear industry related services for commercial nuclear power plants.
 
###
 
Forward-Looking Statements:
 
This news release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 – that is, statements related to future events. In this context, forward-looking statements may address our expected future business and financial performance, and often contain words such as “expects”, “anticipates”, “intends”, “plans”, “believes”, “will” and other words of similar meaning. Forward-looking statements by their nature address matters that are, to different degrees, uncertain. For example, references to the Company’s expectations regarding the following are forward looking statements: the future trading price of the Company’s common stock and compliance with or the Company’s ability to cure deficiencies under the NYSE listing standards. For USEC, particular risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual future results to differ materially from those expressed in our forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: risks related to the ongoing transition of our business, including uncertainty regarding the transition of the Paducah gaseous diffusion plant and uncertainty regarding continued funding for the American Centrifuge project and the impact of decisions we may make in the near term on our business and prospects; our success in reaching a multi-party agreement for the enrichment of depleted uranium tails to support continued Paducah enrichment operations through May 2013; the terms of any multi-party agreement we may reach and our dependency on such an agreement; the impact of the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan on the nuclear industry and on our business, results of operations and prospects;  the impact of excess supply in the market and the lack of uncommitted demand for low enriched uranium over the next two to four years; the potential impacts of a decision to cease enrichment operations at Paducah; the outcome of ongoing discussions with the U.S. Department of Energy (“DOE”) regarding the research, development and demonstration (“RD&D”) program, including uncertainty regarding the timing, amount and availability of funding for such RD&D program and the dependency of government funding on Congressional appropriations; restrictions in our credit facility on our spending on the American Centrifuge project after May 31, 2012 and the potential for us to demobilize the project; the ultimate success of efforts to obtain a DOE loan guarantee for the American Centrifuge project, including the ability through the RD&D program or otherwise to address the concerns raised by DOE with respect to the financial and project execution depth of the project, and the timing and terms thereof; restrictions in our credit facility that may impact our operating and financial flexibility and spending on the American Centrifuge project; changes in U.S. government priorities and the availability of government funding, including loan guarantees; the competitive environment for our products and services; changes in the nuclear energy industry; risks related to the underfunding of our defined benefit pension plans and the impact of the potential requirement to accelerate the funding of these obligations on our liquidity; uncertainty regarding the continued capitalization of certain assets related to the American Centrifuge Plant and the impact of a potential impairment of these assets on our results of operations; the impact of a potential de-listing of our common stock on the NYSE; and other risks and uncertainties discussed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, which are available on our website at www.usec.com.   We do not undertake to update our forward-looking statements except as required by law.
 
Contacts:
Investors: Steven Wingfield (301) 564-3354
Media: Paul Jacobson (301) 564-3399