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| ALC > SEC Filings for ALC > Form 8-K on 14-May-2009 | All Recent SEC Filings |
14-May-2009
Other Events
by applicable law, the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the
voting power of all outstanding shares of Class B common stock, voting
separately as a class, is required:
• for the authorization or issuance of shares of Class B common stock or the
authorization or issuance of any securities convertible into or exchangeable
for shares of Class B common stock;
• for the authorization or issuance of shares of any series or class of capital stock (other than Class A common stock or Class B common stock) having more than one vote per share or having any right to elect directors voting as a separate class or any class voting or consent rights, in each case other than as required by applicable law or the rules or regulations of any stock exchange upon which such series or class of capital stock is to be listed for trading (or securities convertible into or exchangeable therefor);
• for any amendment to any provision of our amended and restated articles of incorporation setting forth any of the rights, powers or preferences of the Class A common stock or Class B common stock; and
• for certain amendments to the dividend, subdivision or combination, conversion, transfer restrictions and equivalent consideration provisions of our amended and restated articles of incorporation described below.
Dividends
Holders of Class A common stock and Class B common stock will share equally
in any dividend declared by our Board of Directors, subject to any preferential
rights of any outstanding preferred stock. Dividends consisting of shares of
Class A common stock or Class B common stock or any of our other securities or
the securities of any other legal entity may be paid only as follows subject to
the equivalent consideration provisions described below:
• a share distribution consisting of shares of Class A common stock (or
convertible securities that are convertible into, exchangeable for or
evidence the right to purchase shares of Class A common stock) with respect
to shares of Class A common stock and, on an equal per share basis, shares
of Class B common stock (or convertible securities that are convertible
into, exchangeable for or evidence the right to purchase shares of Class B
common stock) with respect to shares of Class B common stock;
• in the case of a share distribution consisting of shares of any class or series of our securities other than Class A common stock or Class B common stock (and other than convertible securities that are convertible into, exchangeable for or evidence the right to purchase shares of Class A common stock or Class B common stock) or of one of our subsidiaries, on the basis of a distribution of one class or series of securities with respect to shares of our Class A common stock and another class or series of securities with respect to shares of our Class B common stock, and the securities so distributed (and, if applicable, the securities into which the distributed securities are convertible, or for which they are exchangeable, or which the distributed securities evidence the right to purchase) shall differ with respect to, but solely with respect to, their relative voting rights and related differences in conversion and share distribution provisions, and all such differences shall be identical to the corresponding differences in voting rights, conversion and share distribution provisions between our Class A common stock and our Class B common stock, so as to preserve the relative voting rights of each class as in effect immediately prior to such share distribution, and such distribution shall be made on an equal per share basis; and
• in the case of a share distribution consisting of shares of any class or series of securities of any other legal entity other than us or one of our subsidiaries, on the basis of a distribution of identical securities, on an equal per share basis, with respect to shares of Class A common stock and Class B common stock.
Subdivision or Combination
If we in any manner subdivide or combine the outstanding shares of Class A
common stock or Class B common stock, the outstanding shares of other classes of
common stock will be proportionately subdivided or combined in the same manner
and on the same basis as the outstanding shares of Class A common stock or
Class B common stock, as the case may be, that have been subdivided or combined.
Conversion
Each share of Class B common stock is convertible at any time and from time
to time at the option of the holder thereof into 1.075 shares of Class A common
stock. In addition, any shares of Class B common stock transferred to a person
other than an Eligible Transferee (as described below) will automatically
convert into shares of Class A common stock on a 1:1.075 basis upon any such
transfer. Shares of Class A common stock are not convertible into shares of
Class B common stock.
Transfer Restrictions
In general, shares of our Class A common stock are freely transferable by the
holders thereof. Shares of our Class B common stock are not transferable unless
(i) first converted into shares of our Class A common stock or (ii) transferred
pursuant to a Permitted Transfer. A Permitted Transfer is a transfer of Class B
common stock to an Eligible Transferee, which is defined as:
• in the case of an individual, an individual who is a descendant or a spouse,
including a former or surviving spouse, of a descendant of (i) R.A. Jodrey,
(ii) C.F.W. Burns or (iii) an individual that, on the effective date, is
either a registered holder of shares of Class B common stock or a beneficial
owner of shares of Class B common stock and, in each case, the executors,
administrators, trustees or legal representatives of such individual's
estate (the "Family Members");
• (i) in the case of a corporation, a corporation a majority of the voting
common shares of which are beneficially owned directly or indirectly by or
for the benefit of Family Members, (ii) in the case of a trust, a trust in
which a majority in interest of the beneficiaries are Family Members and
(iii) in the case of a partnership, a partnership of which a majority of the
partners are Family Members;
• a person or entity which is a voting common equity security holder of an entity that beneficially owned shares of Class B common stock on the effective date where the person or entity acquires the Class B common stock from the entity; or
• an entity which is majority owned by the beneficial owner of shares of Class B common stock where the entity acquires the Class B common stock from the beneficial owner.
For these purposes, "beneficially owned" has the meaning assigned to it under Rule 13d-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and "effective date" means November 10, 2006, which was the first date on which the shares of Class A common stock were listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Equivalent Consideration in Certain Transactions In the event of any merger, consolidation, share exchange, reclassification of our capital stock or other reorganization to which we are a party, pursuant to which shares of Class A common stock or Class B common stock will be exchanged for or converted into, or will receive a distribution of, cash or other property or our securities or the securities of any other person, each share of common stock will be entitled to receive Equivalent Consideration (as defined below) on a per share basis. As defined in our amended and restated articles of incorporation, the term "Equivalent Consideration" means consideration in the same form, in the same amount and, if applicable, with the same voting rights on a per share basis; provided (i) that holders of Class B common stock will be entitled to receive consideration in excess of that received by holders of Class A common stock in an amount equal to the Class B conversion premium described above under "- Conversion" and (ii) that, in the event that our securities (or securities of any surviving entity or any direct or indirect parent of the surviving entity) are to be issued or paid in a Control Transaction (as defined below), then such securities will be issued or paid in two classes and such classes shall differ with respect to, but solely with respect to, their relative voting rights and related differences in conversion and share distribution provisions, and all such differences will be identical to the corresponding differences in voting rights, conversion and share distribution provisions between the Class A common stock and the Class B common stock, so as to preserve the relative voting rights of each class as in effect immediately prior such transaction. As defined in our amended and restated articles of incorporation, the term "Control Transaction" means any merger, consolidation, share exchange, reclassification of our capital stock or other reorganization to which we are a party in which the holders of our common stock immediately prior to consummation of such transaction continue to hold at least a majority of the equity or voting power in us (or any surviving entity or any direct or indirect parent of the surviving entity) immediately after consummation of such transaction.
Other Rights
Our stockholders have no preemptive or other rights to subscribe for
additional shares. All holders of common stock, regardless of class, are
entitled to share equally on a share-for-share basis in any assets available for
distribution to common stockholders upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding
up. All outstanding shares are validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
Preferred Stock
Subject to the voting rights of the holders of Class B common stock described
above, our Board of Directors is authorized to provide for the issuance of
preferred stock in one or more series and to fix the designation, preferences,
powers and relative, participating, optional and other rights, qualifications,
limitations and restrictions thereof, including the dividend rate, conversion
rights, voting rights, redemption price and liquidation preference and to fix
the number of shares to be included in any such series. Any preferred stock so
issued may rank senior to our common stock with respect to the payment of
dividends or amounts upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, or both. In
addition, any such shares of preferred stock may have class or series voting
rights.
Anti-Takeover Effects of Our Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation and
Amended and Restated Bylaws and Nevada Law
Some provisions of Nevada law and our amended and restated articles of
incorporation and amended and restated bylaws could make the following more
difficult:
• acquisition of us by means of a tender offer or merger;
• acquisition of us by means of a proxy contest or otherwise; or
• removal of our incumbent officers and directors.
These provisions, summarized below, are expected to discourage coercive
takeover practices and inadequate takeover bids. These provisions also are
designed to encourage persons seeking to acquire control of us to first
negotiate with our Board of Directors. We believe that the benefits of the
potential ability to negotiate with the proponent of an unfriendly or
unsolicited proposal to acquire or restructure our company outweigh the
disadvantages of discouraging those proposals because negotiation of them could
result in an improvement of their terms.
Stockholder Action by Written Consent
Our amended and restated articles of incorporation provide that any action
required or permitted to be taken at any annual or special meeting of the
stockholders must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of such
holders and may not be effected by any consent in writing by such holders,
unless such consent is unanimous.
Calling of Special Meeting
Our amended and restated articles of incorporation and bylaws provide that
special meetings of the stockholders, for any purpose or purposes, unless
otherwise prescribed by statute, may be called exclusively upon request by a
majority of our Board of Directors.
Requirements for Advance Notification of Stockholder Nominations and Proposals
Our bylaws establish advance notice procedures with respect to stockholder
proposals and nomination of candidates for election as directors other than
nominations made by or at the direction of our Board of Directors or a committee
of our Board of Directors.
In general, for nominations or other business to be properly brought before
an annual meeting by a stockholder, the stockholder must give notice in writing
to our principal executive office 50 to 75 days before the first anniversary of
the preceding year's annual meeting, and the business must be a proper matter
for stockholder action. The stockholder's notice must include for each proposed
nominee and business, as applicable, (i) the proposed nominee's name, age,
business address, residence and principal occupation, (ii) the class, series and
number of our shares beneficially owned by the nominee, (iii) all required
information under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, (iv) a brief
description of the proposed business and the reasons for conducting
such business at the meeting, (v) the stockholder's name and address that is
making the proposal, (vi) the class, series and number of shares which are
beneficially owned by such stockholder and (vii) such stockholder's material
interest in the business being proposed.
In general, the only business that shall be conducted at a special meeting of
stockholders shall be the matters set forth in the applicable notice of meeting.
Only persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in
our bylaws shall be eligible to serve as directors, and the only business that
shall be conducted at a meeting of stockholders shall be the matters properly
brought before the meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth in our
bylaws. The chairman of the meeting shall have the power and duty to determine
whether a nomination or any business proposed to be brought before the meeting
was made or proposed in accordance with the procedures set forth in our bylaws
and, if any proposed nomination or business is not in compliance with our
bylaws, to declare that such defective proposal or nomination shall be
disregarded.
Amendment of Certain of the Provisions of our Amended and Restated Articles of
Incorporation and Bylaws
The provisions in our amended and restated articles of incorporation and
bylaws relating to amendment of the articles of incorporation and bylaws,
advance notice of director nominations and business at an annual meeting,
stockholder meetings and action by written consent may not be amended, altered,
changed or repealed in any respect unless such amendment, alteration, change or
repeal is approved by the affirmative vote of not less than 80% of the combined
voting power of the outstanding voting stock.
In addition, our amended and restated articles of incorporation and bylaws
provide that the provisions of our bylaws relating to the calling of meetings of
stockholders, notice of meetings of stockholders, required quorum and voting
standards at meetings of stockholders, conduct of meetings of stockholders,
stockholder action by written consent, advance notice of stockholder business or
director nominations, the general powers and authorized number of directors, the
filling of director vacancies or the removal of directors and indemnification of
officers and directors (and any provision relating to the amendment of any of
these provisions) may only be amended by the vote of a majority of our entire
Board of Directors or by the vote of holders of at least 80% of the votes
entitled to be cast by the outstanding capital stock in the election of our
Board of Directors.
Nevada Anti-Takeover Law
Business Combinations Act and Control Share Acquisitions
We have opted out of certain anti-takeover provisions under Nevada law. In
general, Nevada law provides that specified persons who, together with
affiliates and associates, own, or within three years did own, 10% or more of
the outstanding voting stock of a corporation cannot engage in specified
business combinations with the corporation for a period of three years after the
date on which the person became an interested stockholder. The law defines the
term "combination" to encompass a wide variety of transactions with or caused by
an interested stockholder, including mergers, asset sales, and other
transactions in which the interested stockholder receives or could receive a
benefit on other than a pro rata basis with other stockholders. Additionally,
Nevada law prohibits an acquiror, under certain circumstances, from voting
shares of a target corporation's stock after crossing certain threshold
ownership percentages, unless the acquiror obtains the approval of the target
corporation's stockholders. However, as permitted by Nevada law, we have
included provisions in our amended and restated articles of incorporation
pursuant to which we have elected not to be governed by these anti-takeover
laws.
No Cumulative Voting
Our amended and restated articles of incorporation and amended and restated
bylaws do not provide for cumulative voting in the election of directors.
Blank Check Preferred Stock
The authorization of our undesignated preferred stock makes it possible for
our Board of Directors to issue our preferred stock with voting or other rights
or preferences that could impede the success of any attempt to change control of
us. These and other provisions may have the effect of deterring hostile
takeovers or delaying changes of control of our management.
Pre-Separation Transactions with Extendicare
Our amended and restated articles of incorporation provide that neither any
agreement nor any transaction entered into between us or any of our affiliated
companies and our former parent company Extendicare, Inc. (or any successor
thereto) ("Extendicare") and any of its affiliated companies prior to our
separation from Extendicare nor the subsequent performance of any such agreement
will be considered void or voidable or unfair to us because Extendicare or any
of its affiliated companies is a party or because directors or officers of
Extendicare were on our Board of Directors when those agreements or transactions
were approved. In addition, those agreements and transactions and their
performance will not be contrary to any fiduciary duty of any directors or
officers of our company or any affiliated company.
Limitation on Liability of Directors and Indemnification of our Directors and
Officers
Nevada law provides that a corporation may indemnify directors and officers
as well as other employees and individuals against expenses (including
attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement in connection
with any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether
civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, in which such person is made a
party by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer,
employee of or agent to the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of
the corporation in such capacity of another entity (other than an action by or
in the right of the corporation - a "derivative action"), if they are not liable
under Section 78.138 of the Nevada Revised Statutes or if they acted in good
faith and in a manner they reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the
best interests of the corporation and, with respect to any criminal action or
proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. A
similar standard is applicable in the case of derivative actions, except that
indemnification only extends to expenses (including amounts paid in settlement
and attorneys' fees) incurred in connection with the defense or settlement of
such action, and the statute requires court approval before there can be any
indemnification where the person seeking indemnification has been found liable
to the corporation. The statute provides that it is not exclusive of other
indemnification that may be granted by a corporation's articles of
incorporation, bylaws, disinterested director vote, shareholder vote, agreement,
or otherwise.
Our amended and restated articles of incorporation provide that the personal
liability of our directors and officers is eliminated to the fullest extent
permitted by Nevada law.
Section 78.138(7) of the Nevada Revised Statutes provides that, with certain
exceptions, a director or officer is not individually liable to the corporation
or its stockholders or creditors for any damages as a result of any act or
failure to act in his other capacity as a director or officer unless it is
proven that:
(a) his other act or failure to act constituted a breach of his other
fiduciary duties as a director or officer; and
(b) his other breach of those duties involved intentional misconduct, fraud
or a knowing violation of law.
Our amended and restated bylaws provide that, to the fullest extent permitted
by Nevada law, as now in effect or as amended, we will indemnify and hold
harmless any person made or threatened to be made a party to any action by
reason of the fact that he or she, or a person of whom he or she is the legal
representative, is or was our director, officer, employee or agent or while our
director or officer is or was serving, at our request, as a director, officer,
employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture,
trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to employee benefit
plans maintained or sponsored by us, whether the basis of such proceeding is an
alleged action in an official capacity as a director, officer, employee or agent
or in any other capacity while serving as a director or officer, employee or
agent. Any amendment of this provision will not reduce our indemnification
obligations relating to actions taken before an amendment. Our amended and
restated articles of incorporation contain similar provisions.
Our directors and officers (and directors and officers of our subsidiaries)
are also covered by directors' and officers' liability insurance under which
they are insured (subject to certain exceptions and limitations specified in the
policy) against expenses and liabilities arising out of proceedings to which
they are parties by reason of being or having been directors or officers. Under
these policies, the insurer, on our behalf, may also pay amounts for which we
have granted indemnification to our directors or officers.
Transfer Agent and Registrar
The transfer agent and registrar for our Class A common stock is
Computershare Trust Company, Inc.
New York Stock Exchange Listing
Our Class A common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the
symbol "ALC".
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits
3.1(a) Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Assisted Living Concepts, Inc. Quarterly
Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2008, File
No. 001-13498)
3.1(b) Certificate of Change Pursuant to NRS 78.209 For Nevada Profit
Corporations (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Current Report
of Assisted Living Concepts, Inc. on Form 8-K, dated March 16, 2009 and
filed on March 18, 2009, File No. 001-13498)
. . .
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