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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) September 4, 1998.
ATMEL CORPORATION.
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(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
California 0-19032 77-0051991
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of incorporation) File Number) Identification No.)
2325 Orchard Parkway, San Jose, CA 95131
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(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code (408) 441-0311
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NONE
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(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
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ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS
On September 4, 1998, pursuant to a Preferred Shares Rights Agreement
(the "Rights Agreement") between Atmel Corporation (the "Company") and
BankBoston, N.A., as Rights Agent (the "Rights Agent"), the Company's Board of
Directors declared a dividend of one right (a "Right") to purchase one
one-thousandth share of the Company's Series A Preferred Stock ("Series A
Preferred") for each outstanding share of Common Stock, no par value per share
("Common Shares"), of the Company. The dividend is payable on September 16, 1998
(the "Record Date") to stockholders of record as of the close of business on
that day. Each Right entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company
one one-thousandth of a share of Series A Preferred at an exercise price of
$75.00 (the "Purchase Price"), subject to adjustment.
The following summary of the principal terms of the Rights Agreement is
a general description only and is subject to the detailed terms and conditions
of the Rights Agreement. A copy of the Rights Agreement is attached as Exhibit
4.1 to this Report.
Rights Evidenced by Common Share Certificates
The Rights will not be exercisable until the Distribution Date (defined
below). Certificates for the Rights ("Rights Certificates") will not be sent to
shareholders and the Rights will attach to and trade only together with the
Common Shares. Accordingly, Common Share certificates outstanding on the Record
Date will evidence the Rights related thereto, and Common Share certificates
issued after the Record Date will contain a notation incorporating the Rights
Agreement by reference. Until the Distribution Date (or earlier redemption or
expiration of the Rights), the surrender or transfer of any certificates for
Common Shares, outstanding as of the Record Date, even without notation or a
copy of the Summary of Rights being attached thereto, will also constitute the
transfer of the Rights associated with the Common Shares represented by such
certificate.
Distribution Date
The Rights will separate from the Common Shares, Rights Certificates
will be issued and the Rights will become exercisable upon the earlier of: (i)
fifteen days following the first date a public announcement by the Company or an
Acquiring Person (as defined below) that an Acquiring Person has become such
(the "Shares Acquisition Date") or (ii) fifteen business days (or such later
date as may be determined by the Board of Directors) following the commencement
of, or announcement of an intention to make, a tender offer or exchange offer,
the consummation of which would result in a person or group becoming an
Acquiring Person. The earlier of such dates is referred to as the "Distribution
Date." A person or group of affiliated or associated persons that beneficially
owns, or has the right to acquire beneficial ownership of, 20% or more of the
outstanding Common Shares is referred to as an "Acquiring Person."
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Issuance of Rights Certificates; Expiration of Rights
As soon as practicable following the Distribution Date, separate Rights
Certificates will be mailed to holders of record of the Common Shares as of the
close of business on the Distribution Date and such separate Rights Certificates
alone will evidence the Rights from and after the Distribution Date. The Rights
will expire on the earliest of (i) September 4, 2008 (the "Final Expiration
Date") or (ii) redemption or exchange of the Rights as described below.
Initial Exercise of the Rights
Following the Distribution Date, and until one of the further events
described below, holders of the Rights will be entitled to receive, upon
exercise and the payment of the Purchase Price, one one-thousandth of a share of
the Series A Preferred, subject to adjustment in the event the Company declares
a dividend on the Common Stock payable in Common Stock, subdivides the number of
outstanding shares of Common Stock into a larger number of such shares or
combines the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock into a smaller number
of such shares, among other circumstances. In addition, under certain
circumstances described more fully below, the Rights may become exercisable for
Common Stock having a value equal to two times the Purchase Price and/or Common
Stock of certain acquiring companies having a value equal to two times the
Purchase Price.
Right to Buy Company Common Shares
Unless the Rights are earlier redeemed, in the event that a person
becomes an Acquiring Person (a "Triggering Event"), then proper provision will
be made so that each holder of a Right which has not theretofore been exercised
(other than Rights beneficially owned by the Acquiring Person or any affiliate
of the Acquiring Person, which will thereafter be void) will thereafter have the
right to receive, upon exercise, Common Shares having a value equal to two times
the Purchase Price. In the event that the Company does not have sufficient
Common Shares available for all Rights to be exercised, or the Board of
Directors of the Company decides that such action is necessary and not contrary
to the interests of Rights holders, the Company may instead substitute cash,
assets or other securities for the Common Shares for which the Rights would have
been exercisable.
Right to Buy Acquiring Company Stock
Similarly, unless the Rights are earlier redeemed, in the event that,
after a Triggering Event, (i) the Company is acquired in a merger or other
business combination transaction, or (ii) 50% or more of the Company's
consolidated assets or earning power are sold (other than in transactions in the
ordinary course of business), proper provision must be made so that each holder
of a Right which has not theretofore been exercised (other than Rights
beneficially owned by the Acquiring Person or any affiliate of the Acquiring
Person, which will thereafter be void) will thereafter have the right to
receive, upon exercise, shares of common stock of the acquiring company having a
value equal to two times the Purchase Price.
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Exchange Provision
At any time after a Triggering Event and prior to the acquisition by any
person or entity of beneficial ownership of 50% or more of the Company's
outstanding Common Shares, the Board of Directors of the Company may exchange
the Rights (other than Rights owned by the Acquiring Person), in whole or in
part, at an exchange ratio of one Common Share per Right.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that a majority of the Board
of Directors of the Company is elected by shareholder action by written consent
or at a special meeting of shareholders ( a meeting other than a regularly
scheduled annual meeting), then until the earlier to occur of (i) the 180th day
following the effectiveness of such election or (ii) the next regular annual
meeting of shareholders of the Company following the effectiveness of such
election (including any postponement or adjournment thereof), the Rights shall
not be exchanged if such exchange is reasonably likely to have the purpose or
effect of facilitating a Transaction (defined as merger, consolidation or sale
of assets or any acquisition of Common Shares which would result in a person
becoming an Acquiring Person) with an Interested Person (defined as a person or
group who (i) is or will become an Acquiring Person if such Transaction were to
be consummated, and (ii) is, or directly or indirectly proposed, nominated or
financially supported, a director of the Company in office at the time of
consideration of such Transaction who was elected by written consent or at a
special meeting of shareholders).
Redemption
At any time on or prior to the close of business on the earlier of (i)
the Shares Acquisition Date and (ii) the Final Expiration Date of the Rights,
the Company may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part, at a price of
$0.001 per Right.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that a majority of the Board
of Directors of the Company is elected by shareholder action by written consent
or at a special meeting of shareholders (a meeting other than a regularly
scheduled annual meeting), then until the earlier to occur of (i) the 180th day
following the effectiveness of such election or (ii) the next regular annual
meeting of shareholders of the Company following the effectiveness of such
election (including any postponement or adjournment thereof), the Rights shall
not be redeemed if such redemption is reasonably likely to have the purpose or
effect of facilitating a Transaction with an Interested Person.
Adjustments to Prevent Dilution
The Purchase Price payable, the number of Rights, and the number of
Series A Preferred or Common Shares or other securities or property issuable
upon exercise of the Rights are subject to adjustment from time to time in
connection with the dilutive issuances by the Company as set forth in the Rights
Agreement. With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the Purchase Price will be
required until cumulative adjustments require an adjustment of at least 1% in
such Purchase Price.
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Cash Paid Instead of Issuing Fractional Shares
No fractional portion less than integral multiples of one Common Share
or one one-thousandth of a share of Series A Preferred will be issued upon
exercise of a Right and in lieu thereof, an adjustment in cash will be made
based on the market price of the security to be so issued on the last trading
date prior to the date of exercise.
No Shareholders' Rights Prior to Exercise
Until a Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will have no
rights as a shareholder of the Company (other than any rights resulting from
such holder's ownership of Common Shares), including, without limitation, the
right to vote or to receive dividends.
Amendment of Rights Agreement
The provisions of the Rights Agreement may be supplemented or amended by
the Board of Directors of the Company in any manner prior to the Distribution
Date. After such date, the provisions of the Rights Agreement may be amended by
the Board of Directors in order to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency,
to make changes which do not adversely affect the interests of holders of Rights
(excluding the interests of any Acquiring Person), or to shorten or lengthen any
time period under the Rights Agreement; provided, however, that no amendment to
adjust the time period governing redemption shall be made at such time as the
Rights are not redeemable.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that a majority of the Board
of Directors of the Company is elected by shareholder action by written consent
or at a special meeting of shareholders (a meeting other than a regularly
scheduled annual meeting), then until the earlier to occur of (i) the 180th day
following the effectiveness of such election or (ii) the next regular annual
meeting of shareholders of the Company following the effectiveness of such
election (including any postponement or adjournment thereof), the Rights
Agreement shall not be supplemented or amended in any manner reasonably likely
to have the purpose or effect of facilitating a Transaction with an Interested
Person.
Rights and Preferences of the Series A Preferred
Series A Preferred purchasable upon exercise of the Rights will not be
redeemable. Each share of Series A Preferred will be entitled to an aggregate
dividend of 1,000 times the dividend declared per Common Share. In the event of
liquidation, the holders of the Series A Preferred will be entitled to 1,000
times the amount paid per Common Share plus an amount equal to accrued and
unpaid dividends and distributions thereon, whether or not declared, to the date
of such payment. Each share of Series A Preferred will have 1,000 votes, voting
together with the Common Shares. These rights are protected by customary
anti-dilution provisions.
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Because of the nature of the dividend, liquidation and voting rights of
the shares of Series A Preferred, the value of the one one-thousandth interest
in a share of Series A Preferred purchasable upon exercise of each Right should
approximate the value of one Common Share.
Certain Anti-takeover Effects
The Rights approved by the Board of Directors of the Company are
designed to protect and maximize the value of the outstanding equity interests
in the Company in the event of an unsolicited attempt by an acquiror to take
over the Company, in a manner or on terms not approved by the Board of
Directors. Takeover attempts frequently include coercive tactics to deprive the
Company's Board of Directors and its shareholders of any real opportunity to
determine the destiny of the Company. The Rights have been declared by the Board
of Directors in order to deter such tactics, including a gradual accumulation of
shares in the open market of a 20% or greater position to be followed by a
merger or a partial or two-tier tender offer that does not treat all
shareholders equally. These tactics unfairly pressure shareholders, squeeze them
out of their investment without giving them any real choice and deprive them of
the full value of their shares.
The Rights are not intended to prevent a takeover of the Company and
will not do so. The Rights may be redeemed by the Company at $0.001 per Right
within fifteen days after the accumulation of 20% or more of the Company's
shares by a single acquiror or group. Accordingly, the Rights should not
interfere with any merger or business combination approved by the Board of
Directors.
Issuance of the Rights does not in any way weaken the financial strength
of the Company or interfere with its business plans. The issuance of the Rights
themselves has no dilutive effect, will not affect reported earnings per share,
should not be taxable to the Company or to its shareholders, and will not change
the way in which the Company's shares are presently traded. The Company's Board
of Directors believes that the Rights represent a sound and reasonable means of
addressing the complex issues of corporate policy created by the current
takeover environment.
However, the Rights may have the effect of rendering more difficult or
discouraging an acquisition of the Company deemed undesirable by the Board of
Directors. The Rights may cause substantial dilution to a person or group that
attempts to acquire the Company on terms or in a manner not approved by the
Company's Board of Directors, except pursuant to an offer conditioned upon the
negation, purchase or redemption of the Rights.
ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS
(a) Not applicable
(b) Not applicable
(c) Exhibits
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Exhibit 4.1 Preferred Shares Rights Agreement dated as of September 4, 1998,
between Atmel Corporation and BankBoston, N.A., including the
Certificate of Determination, the form of Rights Certificate and
the Summary of Rights attached thereto as Exhibits A, B and C,
respectively.
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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 hereunto duly authorized.
ATMEL CORPORATION
Date: September 14, 1998
/s/ GEORGE PERLEGOS
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George Perlegos
President and Chief Executive Officer
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EXHIBIT INDEX
EXHIBIT
NUMBER DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION
4.1 Preferred Shares Rights Agreement dated as of September 4, 1998,
between Atmel Corporation and BankBoston, N.A., including the
Certificate of Determination, the form of Rights Certificate and
the Summary of Rights attached thereto as Exhibits A, B and C,
respectively.