HIGHPOWER INTERNATIONAL, INC. (NASDAQ:HPJ) Files An 8-K Entry into a Material Definitive AgreementItem 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.
On September 12, 2017, Highpower International, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Highpower” or the “Company”), entered into a Rights Agreement (the “Rights Agreement”) with Corporate Stock Transfer, Inc., as rights agent (the “Rights Agent”). In connection with the adoption of the Rights Agreement and to its terms, the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) authorized and declared a dividend distribution of one right (a “Right”) for each outstanding share of the common stock, $0.0001 par value per share (the “Common Stock”), of the Company to stockholders of record at the close of business on September 21, 2017 (the “Record Date”). Each Right entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company one one-thousandth of a share of the Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, $0.0001 par value per share (the “Preferred Shares”), of the Company at an exercise price of $25.00 per one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share, subject to adjustment (the “Exercise Price”). The complete terms of the Rights are set forth in the Rights Agreement (the “Rights Agreement”).
Generally, the Rights Agreement works by imposing a significant penalty upon any person or group (including a group of persons that are acting in concert with each other) that acquires fifteen percent (15%) or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock without the approval of the Board. As a result, the overall effect of the Rights Agreement and the issuance of the Rights may be to render more difficult or discourage a merger, tender or exchange offer or other business combination involving the Company that is not approved by the Board. The Rights Agreement is not intended to interfere with any merger, tender or exchange offer or other business combination approved by the Board. Nor does the Rights Agreement prevent the Board from considering any offer that it considers to be in the best interest of its stockholders.
The following is a summary of the terms of the Rights Agreement. The summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete text of the Rights Agreement, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 4.1 and incorporated herein by reference.
Distribution and Transfer of Rights; Rights Certificates
The Board has declared a dividend of one Right for each outstanding share of Common Stock. Prior to the Distribution Date referred to below:
| • | the Rights will be evidenced by and trade with the certificates for the shares of Common Stock (or, with respect to any uncertificated Common Stock registered in book-entry form, by notation in book-entry), and no separate rights certificates will be distributed; |
| • | new certificates for shares of Common Stock issued after the Record Date will contain a legend incorporating the Rights Agreement by reference (for uncertificated Common Stock registered in book-entry form, this legend will be contained in a notation in book-entry); |
| • | the surrender for transfer of any certificates for shares of Common Stock (or the surrender for transfer of any uncertificated Common Stock registered in book-entry form) will also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with such shares of Common Stock; and |
| • | the Rights will accompany any new shares of Common Stock that are issued after the Record Date. |
Distribution Date
Subject to certain exceptions specified in the Rights Agreement, the Rights will separate from the shares of Common Stock and become exercisable following (i) the tenth (10th) business day (or such later date as may be determined by the Board) after the public announcement that either discloses that a person or a group of related persons has acquired beneficial ownership of fifteen percent (15%) or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock other than as a result of repurchases of Common Stock by the Company or certain inadvertent acquisitions (an “Acquiring Person”) or information which reveals the existence of an Acquiring Person, or (ii) the tenth (10th) business day (or such later date as may be determined by the Board) after a person or a group of related persons announce or commence a tender or exchange offer that would result in a person or a group of related persons becoming an Acquiring Person. For purposes of the Rights Agreement, beneficial ownership is defined to include the ownership of derivative securities.
The date on which the Rights separate from the shares of Common Stock and become exercisable is referred to as the “Distribution Date.”
After the Distribution Date, the Company will mail Rights certificates to the Company’s stockholders as of the close of business on the Distribution Date and the Rights will become transferable apart from the Common Stock. Thereafter, such Rights certificates alone will represent the Rights.
Exempt Persons
The Rights Agreement provides that an Acquiring Person does not include the Company, any subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit plan of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company, or any entity organized to hold Common Stock to any employee benefit plan of the Company or for the purpose of funding any such plan. In addition, certain inadvertent acquisitions will not trigger the occurrence of the Distribution Date. The Rights Agreement also provides that any person that would otherwise be deemed an Acquiring Person as of the date of the adoption of the Rights Agreement will be exempted but only for so long as neither it nor any of its Related Persons (as defined in the Rights Agreement) acquire or are deemed to acquire, without the prior approval of the Board, beneficial ownership of any additional shares of Common Stock following the adoption of the Rights Agreement.
Preferred Shares Purchasable Upon Exercise of Rights
After the Distribution Date, each Right will entitle the holder to purchase, for the Exercise Price, one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock having economic and other terms similar to that of one share of Common Stock. This portion of a Preferred Share is intended to give a stockholder 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.
Flip-In Trigger
If a person or group of related persons becomes an Acquiring Person, then each Right will entitle the holder thereof to purchase, upon payment of the Exercise Price, in accordance with the terms of the Rights Agreement, in lieu of a number of one one-thousandths of a Preferred Share, 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 of twice the Exercise Price. However, the Rights are not exercisable following the occurrence of the foregoing event until such time as the Rights are no longer redeemable by the Company, as further described below.
Following the occurrence of an event set forth 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 fifteen percent (15%) or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, (i) the Company merges into another entity, (ii) an acquiring entity merges into the Company or (iii) the Company sells or transfers more than fifty percent (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 the holder thereof to purchase, upon payment of the Exercise Price, in accordance with the terms of the Rights Agreement, a number of shares of common stock of the person engaging in the transaction having a then-current market value of twice the Exercise Price.
Redemption of the Rights
The Rights will be redeemable at the Company’s option for $0.0001 per Right (payable in cash, Common Stock or other consideration deemed appropriate by the Board) at any time on or prior to the tenth (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 fifteen percent (15%) or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock. Until such time as the Rights are no longer redeemable by the Company, the Rights are not exercisable. Immediately upon the action of the Board ordering redemption, the Rights will terminate and the only right of the holders of the Rights will be to receive the $0.0001 redemption price. The redemption price will be adjusted if the Company undertakes a stock dividend or a stock split.
Exchange Provision
At any time after the date on which an Acquiring Person beneficially owns fifteen percent (15%) or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock and prior to the acquisition by the Acquiring Person of fifty percent (50%) of the Common Stock, the Board may exchange the Rights (other than Rights owned by the Acquiring Person or any Related Person, which would have become void), in whole or in part, for shares of Common Stock at an exchange ratio (subject to adjustment) of one share of Common Stock per Right (or, if insufficient shares are available, the Company may issue preferred stock, cash, debt or equity securities, property or a combination thereof in exchange for the Rights).
Expiration of the Rights
The Rights expire at or prior to the earlier of (i) September 12, 2020 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 prior to the Distribution Date. Thereafter, 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 to the Rights Agreement or to make changes that do not adversely affect the interests of holders of the Rights.
Rights of Holders
Until a Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will have no rights as a stockholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right to vote or to receive dividends.
Anti-Dilution Provisions
The Board may adjust the Exercise Price, the number of shares of Preferred Stock 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 Preferred Shares or Common Stock.
With certain exceptions, no adjustments to the Exercise Price will be made until the cumulative adjustments amount to at least one percent (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 an event that renders the Rights exercisable or upon redemption of the Rights, stockholders may recognize taxable income.
Authority of the Board
When evaluating decisions surrounding the redemption of the Rights or any amendment to the Rights Agreement to delay or prevent the Rights from detaching and becoming exercisable as a result of a particular transaction, to the Rights Agreement, the Board, or any future Board, would not be subject to restrictions such as those commonly known as “dead-hand,” “slow-hand,” “no-hand,” or similar provisions.
Certain Anti-Takeover Effects
The Rights are not intended to prevent a takeover of the Company and should not interfere with any merger or other business combination approved by the Board. However, the Rights may cause substantial dilution to a person or group that acquires beneficial ownership of fifteen percent (15%) or more of the outstanding Common Stock (which includes for this purpose stock referenced in derivative transactions and securities).
SEC Registration
Since the Rights are not exercisable immediately, registration of the preferred stock issuable upon exercise of the Rights with the Securities and Exchange Commission is not required until the Rights become exercisable.
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.
Item 5.03 Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.
In connection with the adoption of the Rights Agreement, on September 12, 2017, the Company filed a Certificate of Designation of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock (the “Certificate of Designation”) with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware. The Certificate of Designation sets forth the rights, powers and preferences of the Preferred Shares.
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 Certificate of Designation is filed as Exhibit 3.1 and incorporated herein by reference.
Item 8.01 Other Events.
On September 13, 2017, 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.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits
| 99.1 | Press Release issued on September 13, 2017. |
Highpower International, Inc. ExhibitEX-3.1 2 v475094_ex3-1.htm EXHIBIT 3.1 Exhibit 3.1 CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION OF SERIES A JUNIOR PARTICIPATING PREFERRED STOCK OF HIGHPOWER INTERNATIONAL,…To view the full exhibit click here
About HIGHPOWER INTERNATIONAL, INC. (NASDAQ:HPJ)
Highpower International, Inc., through its subsidiaries, is engaged in the manufacturing and marketing of nickel metal hydride rechargeable batteries (Ni-MH) and lithium batteries for both consumer and industrial applications. The Company operates through three segments: Lithium Batteries, Ni-MH Batteries and New Material. It has commenced over two production lines of Lithium-ion (Li-ion) and Lithium polymer rechargeable batteries for consumer applications, such as consumer electronic products, mobile devices and wireless communication products. It produces a line of batteries falling into two categories: Consumer Batteries, which are relative to ordinary nickel cadmium (Ni-Cad) rechargeable batteries, as well as their non-rechargeable counterparts, and Industrial Batteries, which are designed for electric bikes, power tools and electric toys. It produces A, AA and AAA sized batteries in blister packing, as well as chargers and battery packs. HIGHPOWER INTERNATIONAL, INC. (NASDAQ:HPJ) Recent Trading Information
HIGHPOWER INTERNATIONAL, INC. (NASDAQ:HPJ) closed its last trading session up +0.05 at 4.50 with 151,073 shares trading hands.