Edgar Filing: BLACK & DECKER CORP

form425.htm

Filed by The Stanley Works

Pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act of 1933

and deemed filed pursuant to Rule 14a-12

under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Subject Company: The Black & Decker Corporation

Commission File No.: 1-01553

STANLEY WORKS EMPLOYEE VIDEO TRANSCRIPT

John Lundgren, Chairman and CEO of The Stanley Works.

Hello, everyone. I wanted to be sure you heard from me directly about the exciting news we recently announced that we have agreed to combine our Company with Black & Decker.

This combination brings together two great and highly complementary companies with some of the world’s most iconic brands, making us more global and diversified, broadening our offering to customers, creating an even more compelling investment for our shareholders and increasing opportunities that will be available for all employees.

While I know that many of you are probably familiar with Black & Decker, let me say just a few words about them. Black & Decker is a 100 year old global manufacturer and marketer of quality power tools and accessories, hardware and home improvement products, and engineered fastening systems, whose historical legacy is as storied and proud as ours.

Black & Decker has manufacturing operations in 11 different countries, and their products and services are well-known throughout the world.

Black & Decker, like The Stanley Works, has an established track record of product innovation, quality and end-user focus.

Joining our two companies will create a powerful engine for growth both as markets around the world recover and over the long-term.

We will have even greater worldwide recognition and appeal among retailers, commercial customers and individual consumers through the strong brand equity inherent in both companies.

Of course, integrating two companies is a major priority and we’re already hard at work on how to do this to ensure that we leverage the best of both companies.

Overall, we believe that the combined company will provide expanded career and professional development opportunities.

In terms of what happens next, until we close the transaction, which we expect to be some time in the first half of next year, we’ll continue to operate as two independent companies. The most effective thing for all of you to do is proceed with business as usual. All our existing commitments, plans and goals remain in place.

Your work thus far in executing on those commitments, plans and goals has positioned us to be able to capitalize on such an exciting and historic opportunity. Your commitment to the principles of the Stanley Fulfillment System has enabled us to achieve one of the key goals that we set out when we embarked on the SFS journey – creating the foundation to accommodate a Stanley roughly double our current size.

Congratulations, and thank you.

I’ll finish by saying that I’m really excited about this transformational opportunity and I couldn’t be more optimistic about our future. Today’s announcement is part of the continuing journey at Stanley as we advance our transformation and continue to strengthen a truly great company.

Thank you for your time today, and for the commitment that each of you have shown in furthering our mission. It your dedication and hard work that brought us to the position where this transaction was possible.

We’ll do our best to keep all stakeholders as fully informed as we can as we move towards closing the transaction. I look forward to speaking with you again soon.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS

Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

Statements in this document that are not historical, including but not limited to those regarding the consummation of the proposed transaction between Stanley and Black & Decker and the realization of synergies in connection therewith, are “forward looking statements” and, as such, are subject to risk and uncertainty.

Stanley’s and Black & Decker’s ability to deliver the results as described above is based on current expectations and involves inherent risks and uncertainties, including factors listed below and other factors that could delay, divert, or change any of them, and could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from current expectations. In addition to the risks, uncertainties and other factors discussed in this document, the risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause or contribute to actual results differing materially from those expressed or implied in the forward looking statements include, without limitation, those set forth in the “Risk Factors” section, the “Legal Proceedings” section, the “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” section and other sections of Stanley’s and Black & Decker’s Annual Reports on Form 10-K and any material changes thereto set forth in any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, those contained in Stanley’s and Black & Decker’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and those set forth below.

These factors include but are not limited to the risk that regulatory and stockholder approvals of the transaction are not obtained on the proposed terms and schedule; the future business operations of Stanley or Black & Decker will not be successful; the risk that the proposed transaction between Stanley and Black & Decker will not be consummated; the risk that Stanley and Black & Decker will not realize any or all of the anticipated benefits from the transaction; the risk that cost synergy, customer retention and revenue expansion goals for the transaction will not be met and that disruptions from the transaction will harm relationships with customers, employees and suppliers; the risk that unexpected costs will be incurred; the outcome of litigation (including with respect to the transaction) and regulatory proceedings to which Stanley or Black & Decker may be a party; pricing pressure and other changes within competitive markets; the continued consolidation of customers particularly in consumer channels; inventory management pressures on Stanley’s and Black & Decker’s customers; the impact the tightened credit markets may have on Stanley or Black & Decker or customers or suppliers; the extent to which Stanley or Black & Decker has to write off accounts receivable or assets or experiences supply chain disruptions in connection with bankruptcy filings by customers or suppliers; increasing competition; changes in laws, regulations and policies that affect Stanley or Black & Decker, including but not limited to trade, monetary, tax and fiscal policies and laws; the timing and extent of any inflation or deflation in 2009 and beyond; currency exchange fluctuations; the impact of dollar/foreign currency exchange and interest rates on the competitiveness of products and Stanley’s and Black & Decker’s debt programs; the strength of the U.S. and European economies; the extent to which world-wide markets associated with homebuilding and remodeling continue to deteriorate; the impact of events that cause or may cause disruption in Stanley’s or Black & Decker’s manufacturing, distribution and sales networks such as war, terrorist activities, and political unrest; and recessionary or expansive trends in the economies of the world in which Stanley or Black & Decker operates, including but not limited to the extent and duration of the current recession in the US economy.

Neither Stanley nor Black & Decker undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date hereof.

Additional Information

The proposed transaction involving Stanley and Black & Decker will be submitted to the respective stockholders of Stanley and Black & Decker for their consideration. In connection with the proposed transaction, Stanley will file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) a registration statement on Form S-4 that will include a joint proxy statement of Stanley and Black & Decker that will also constitute a prospectus of Stanley. Investors and security holders are urged to read the joint proxy statement/prospectus and any other relevant documents filed with the SEC when they become available, because they will contain important information. Investors and security holders may obtain a free copy of the joint proxy statement/prospectus and other documents (when available) that Stanley and Black & Decker file with the SEC at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and Stanley’s website related to the transaction at www.stanleyblackanddecker.com. In addition, these documents may be obtained from Stanley or Black & Decker free of charge by directing a request to Investor Relations, The Stanley Works, 1000 Stanley Drive, New Britain, CT 06053, or to Investor Relations, The Black & Decker Corporation, 701 E. Joppa Road, Towson, Maryland 21286, respectively.

Certain Information Regarding Participants

Stanley, Black & Decker and certain of their respective directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the proposed transaction under the rules of the SEC. Investors and security holders may obtain information regarding the names, affiliations and interests of Stanley’s directors and executive officers in Stanley’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 3, 2009, which was filed with the SEC on February 26, 2009, and its proxy statement for its 2009 Annual Meeting, which was filed with the SEC on March 20, 2009. Investors and security holders may obtain information regarding the names, affiliations and interests of Black & Decker’s directors and executive officers in Black & Decker’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, which was filed with the SEC on February 17, 2009, and its proxy statement for its 2009 Annual Meeting, which was filed with the SEC on March 16, 2009. These documents can be obtained free of charge from the sources listed above. Additional information regarding the interests of these individuals will also be included in the joint proxy statement/prospectus regarding the proposed transaction when it becomes available.

Non-Solicitation

A registration statement relating to the securities to be issued by Stanley in the proposed transaction will be filed with the SEC, and Stanley will not issue, sell or accept offers to buy such securities prior to the time such registration statement becomes effective. This document shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of such securities, in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to appropriate registration or qualification under the securities laws of such jurisdiction.

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