Form 8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 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) August 9, 2006

 

WILLBROS GROUP, INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

Republic of Panama

(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)

 

1-11953   98-0160660
(Commission File Number)   (IRS Employer Identification No.)

Plaza 2000 Building, 50th Street, 8th Floor, P.O. Box 0816-01098, Panama, Republic of Panama

(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

+50-7-213-0947

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

Not Applicable

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

 

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 (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

Item 8.01. Other Events.

Agreement in Principle to Settle Securities Class Action Lawsuit

On May 18, 2005 a securities class-action lawsuit, captioned Legion Partners, LLP v. Willbros Group, Inc. et al., was filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas against Willbros Group, Inc. (the “Company”) and certain of its present and former officers and directors. Thereafter, three nearly identical lawsuits were filed. Plaintiffs purported to represent a class composed of all persons who purchased or otherwise acquired Company common stock and/or other securities between May 6, 2002 and May 16, 2005, inclusive. These complaints generally alleged violations by the defendants of Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”), Rule 10b-5 under the Exchange Act and Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act and alleged, among other things, that defendants made false or misleading statements of material fact about the Company’s financial statements. The plaintiffs sought unspecified monetary damages and other relief. On October 17, 2005, the Court ordered these actions consolidated and appointed ADAR Investments, LLC as Lead Plaintiff and Bernstein, Liebhard & Lifshitz of New York as Lead Plaintiff’s counsel. As ordered by the Court, the plaintiff filed a consolidated amended complaint on January 9, 2006. The Consolidated Amended Complaint alleged that the Company and certain of its present and former officers and directors, including Michael Curran, Warren Williams, and J. Kenneth Tillery, violated the Exchange Act through a series of false and misleading statements and a “scheme to defraud.” The alleged misrepresentations and scheme to defraud related to the activities of Mr. Tillery in Nigeria and Bolivia, certain alleged accounting errors, the restatement of past financial results, and alleged Foreign Corrupt Practices Act violations. The plaintiffs sought to recover damages on behalf of all purchasers of Company common stock during the purported class period.

On August 9, 2006, the Company reached an agreement in principle to settle this consolidated securities class action lawsuit. Under the terms of the agreement in principle, the Company and the plaintiffs will negotiate and seek court approval of the definitive settlement. The settlement will be funded by the Company’s insurance carrier, and will include the dismissal of all claims without any liability or wrongdoing attributed to the Company or any other defendant.

 

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SIGNATURES

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

 

  WILLBROS GROUP, INC.
Date: August 10, 2006   By:  

/s/ John T. Dalton

    John T. Dalton
    Senior Vice President and
    General Counsel

 

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