Subject to certain exceptions described in the Rights Agreement, the Rights will separate from the shares of common stock and become exercisable following (i) the 10th business day (or such later date as may be determined by the Board) after the public announcement that an Acquiring Person has acquired beneficial ownership of 20% or more of the outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock or (ii) the 10th business day (or such later date as may be determined by the Board) after a person or group announces a tender or exchange offer that would result in ownership by a person or group of 20% or more of the outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock. If a shareholder beneficially owns greater than 20% of the Company’s common stock as of the date of the announcement of the Rights Agreement, that shareholder’s existing ownership percentage would be grandfathered in, but the Rights would become exercisable if at any time after the date of the announcement of the Rights Agreement such shareholder increases its ownership percentage by 5% or more.
Certain synthetic interests in securities created by derivative positions — whether or not such interests are considered to be ownership of the underlying common stock or are reportable for purposes of Rule 13d-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 — are treated as beneficial ownership of the number of shares of the Company’s common stock equivalent to the economic exposure created by the derivative position, to the extent actual shares of the Company’s common stock are directly or indirectly held by counterparties to the derivatives contracts. Swaps dealers unassociated with any control intent or intent to evade the purposes of the rights plan are excepted from such imputed beneficial ownership.
The date when the Rights become exercisable is the “Distribution Date.” Until the Distribution Date, the common stock certificates (or notation in book entry form) will evidence the Rights, and any transfer of shares of common stock will constitute a transfer of Rights. After the Distribution Date, the Rights will separate from the shares of common stock and be evidenced by book-entry credits or by Rights certificates that the Company will cause to be mailed to all eligible holders of common stock, and any Rights held by an Acquiring Person will be void and may not be exercised.
After the Distribution Date, each Right will entitle the holder to purchase, for $25.00 (the “Exercise Price”), one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share having economic and other terms similar to that of one share of the Company’s common stock. This portion of a Preferred Share is intended to give the shareholder approximately the same dividend, voting and liquidation rights as would one share of common stock and should approximate the value of one share of common stock.
More specifically, each one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share, if issued, will:
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| • | entitle its holder to a per share payment equal to the payment made on one share of common stock, if the shares of common stock are exchanged via merger, consolidation or a similar transaction. |
Consequences of a Person or Group Becoming an Acquiring Person
Flip-In Trigger
If a person or group of affiliated or associated persons (an “Acquiring Person”) acquires beneficial ownership of 20% or more of the outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock, all holders of Rights may purchase, for the Exercise Price, a number of shares of common stock (or, in certain circumstances, cash, property or other securities of the Company) having a then-current market value equal to twice the Exercise Price, based on the market price of the common stock before such acquisition. However, the Rights are not exercisable following the occurrence of such an event until the Rights are no longer redeemable by the Company, as described below.
Following the occurrence of an event described in the preceding paragraph, all Rights that are or, under certain circumstances specified in the Rights Agreement, were beneficially owned by an Acquiring Person or certain of its transferees will be null and void.
Flip-Over Trigger
If, after an Acquiring Person obtains 20% or more of the outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock, the Company merges into another entity, an acquiring entity merges into the Company, or the Company sells or transfers more than 50% of its assets, cash flow or earning power, then each Right (except for Rights that have previously been voided as set forth above) will entitle its holder to purchase, for the Exercise Price, a number of shares of stock of the acquiring person engaging in the transaction having a then-current market value equal to twice the Exercise Price, based on the market price of the acquiring person’s stock before such transaction.
Redemption of the Rights
The Board may redeem the Rights for $0.001 per Right (payable in cash, shares of the Company’s common stock or other consideration deemed appropriate by the Board) at any time on or before the 10th business day (or such later date as may be determined by the Board) after the public announcement that an Acquiring Person has acquired beneficial ownership of 20% or more of the outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock. When the Board redeems the Rights, the Rights will terminate, and the only right of the holders of the Rights will be to receive the $0.001 redemption price. The redemption price will be adjusted if the Company undertakes a stock dividend or a stock split of its common stock.
Exchange
After a person or group becomes an Acquiring Person, but before an Acquiring Person beneficially owns 50% of the outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock, the Board may extinguish the Rights (except for Rights that have previously been voided as set forth above), in whole or in part, by exchanging one share of common stock or an equivalent security for each Right. In certain circumstances, the Company may elect to exchange the Rights for cash or other securities of the Company having a value approximately equal to one share of common stock.
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Expiration of the Rights
The Rights expire on the earliest of (i) 5:00 p.m., Eastern time, on June 6, 2018 (unless such date is extended) or (ii) the redemption or exchange of the Rights as described above.
Amendment of Terms of Rights Agreement and Rights
The terms of the Rights and the Rights Agreement may be amended in any respect without the consent of the holders of the Rights on or before the Distribution Date. After the Distribution Date, the terms of the Rights and the Rights Agreement may be amended without the consent of the holders of Rights in order to cure any ambiguities, to shorten or lengthen any time period set forth in the Rights Agreement, or to make changes that do not adversely affect the interests of holders of the Rights.
Voting Rights; Other Shareholder Rights
The Rights will not have any voting rights. Until a Right is exercised, the holder of the Right will have no separate rights as a shareholder of the Company.
Anti-Dilution Provisions
The Board may adjust the Exercise Price, the number of Preferred Shares issuable and the number of outstanding Rights to prevent dilution that may occur from a stock dividend, a stock split or a reclassification of the Company’s Preferred Shares or shares of common stock.
With certain exceptions, no adjustments to the Exercise Price will be made until the cumulative adjustments amount to at least 1% of the Exercise Price. No fractional Preferred Shares will be issued and, in lieu thereof, an adjustment in cash will be made based on the current market price of the Preferred Shares.
Taxes
The distribution of Rights should not be taxable for federal income tax purposes. However, following any occurrence of an event that renders the Rights exercisable or upon any redemption of the Rights, shareholders may recognize taxable income.
Section 3 – Securities and Trading Markets
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Item 3.03. | Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders. |
The information included in Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference into this Item 3.03.
Section 5 – Corporate Governance and Management
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Item 5.03. | Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year. |
In connection with the adoption of the Rights Agreement, on June 6, 2013, the Company filed a Certificate of Designation, which amended the Company’s Articles of Incorporation (the “Amendment”), with the Secretary of State of the State of Minnesota. The Amendment sets forth the rights, powers and preferences of the Preferred Shares.
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The summary of the rights, powers and preferences of the Preferred Shares set forth in Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference into this Item 5.03. A copy of the Amendment is attached as Exhibit 3.1 and incorporated herein by reference.
Section 8 – Other Events
On June 6, 2013, the Company issued a press release announcing the adoption of the Rights Agreement and the declaration of the dividend of the Rights. A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference.
Section 9 – Financial Statements and Exhibits
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Item 9.01. | Financial Statements and Exhibits. |
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(d) | Exhibits. | |
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The following exhibits are filed with this Current Report on From 8-K: |
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3.1 | Certificate of Designation amending the Articles of Incorporation of Image Sensing Systems, Inc. as filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Minnesota on June 6, 2013. |
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4.1 | Rights Agreement dated as of June 6, 2013, by and between Image Sensing Systems, Inc. and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as rights agent. |
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99.1 | Press Release of Image Sensing Systems, Inc. dated June 6, 2013. |
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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.
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| IMAGE SENSING SYSTEMS, INC. |
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Dated: June 6, 2013 | By: | /s/ Gregory R. L. Smith |
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| | Name: Gregory R. L. Smith |
| | Title: Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) |
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EXHIBIT INDEX
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Exhibit No. | | | Description | |
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3.1 | | Certificate of Designation amending the Articles of Incorporation of Image Sensing Systems, Inc. as filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Minnesota on June 6, 2013. |
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4.1 | | Rights Agreement dated as of June 6, 2013, by and between Image Sensing Systems, Inc. and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as rights agent. |
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99.1 | | Press Release of Image Sensing Systems, Inc. dated June 6, 2013. |
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