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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-A
FOR REGISTRATION OF CERTAIN CLASSES OF SECURITIES
PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR 12(g) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Commercial Metals Company
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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Delaware
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75-0725338 |
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(State of incorporation or organization)
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(IRS Employer Identification No.) |
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6565 MacArthur Blvd
Irving, TX
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75039 |
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(Address of principal executive offices)
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(Zip Code) |
Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
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Title of each class
to be so registered
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Name of each exchange on which
each class is to be registered |
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Preferred Stock Purchase Rights
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New York Stock Exchange |
If this form relates to the registration of a class of securities pursuant to Section 12(b) of the
Exchange Act and is effective pursuant to General Instruction A.(c), check the following box.
þ
If this form relates to the registration of a class of securities pursuant to Section 12(g) of the
Exchange Act and is effective pursuant to General Instruction A.(d), check the following box.
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Securities Act registration statement file number to which this form relates: N/A
(if applicable)
Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
None
(Title of class)
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Item 1. Description of Registrants Securities To Be Registered.
On July 30, 2011, the Board of Directors (the Board) of Commercial Metals Company (the
Company) declared a dividend distribution to its stockholders of record at the close of business
on August 11, 2011, of one preferred stock purchase right (a Right) for each outstanding share of
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the Common Stock), that will entitle the registered
holder to purchase from the Company one one-thousandth (1/1,000) of a share of Series B Junior
Participating Preferred Stock, par value $1.00 (the Preferred Stock), at a purchase price of
$70.00 per one one-thousandth (1/1,000) of a share, subject to adjustment. The description and
terms of the Rights are set forth in a Rights Agreement (the Rights Agreement) between the
Company and Broadridge Corporate Issuers Solutions, Inc., as Rights Agent (the Rights Agent).
Initially capitalized terms used but not defined herein have the meanings set forth in the Rights
Agreement.
Separation and Distribution of Rights; Exercisablility. Initially, the Rights will be
evidenced by the certificates representing shares of Common Stock then outstanding, and no separate
Rights certificates will be distributed. Subject to certain exceptions, the Rights will become
exercisable and trade separately from the Common Stock upon the earlier of:
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ten (10) business days following a public announcement that a person or group of
affiliated or associated persons has acquired, or obtained the right to acquire,
beneficial ownership of 10% or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding
(subject to certain exceptions discussed below and as set forth in the Rights
Agreement) (such person is referred to as an Acquiring Person); or |
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ten (10) business days (or some later date as determined by the Board in
accordance with the Rights Agreement) following the commencement of a tender or
exchange offer that would result in a person or group beneficially owning 10% or
more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding (subject to exceptions as set
forth in the Rights Agreement). |
The date the Rights separate from the Common Stock is referred to as the Distribution Date.
Beneficial ownership generally includes ownership of options, warrants, convertible securities,
stock appreciation rights, swap agreements or other securities, contract rights or derivative
positions, whether or not presently exercisable.
Until the Distribution Date, (i) the Rights will be evidenced by and transferred with, and
only with, the Common Stock certificates, (ii) new Common Stock certificates issued after August
11, 2011 will contain a notation incorporating the Rights Agreement by reference, and (iii) the
surrender for transfer of any certificates for Common Stock outstanding will also constitute the
transfer of the Rights associated with the Common Stock represented by those certificates.
Pursuant to the Rights Agreement, the Company reserves the right to require prior to the occurrence
of a Triggering Event (as hereinafter defined) that, upon any exercise of Rights, a number of
Rights be exercised so that only whole shares of Preferred Stock will be issued.
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The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date and will expire at the close of
business on August 1, 2014, unless earlier redeemed by the Company as described below.
As soon as practicable after the Distribution Date, separate Rights certificates will be
mailed to the holders of record of Common Stock as of the close of business on the Distribution
Date and, after that, the separate Rights certificates will represent the Rights. Except as
otherwise provided in the Rights Agreement, only shares of Common Stock issued prior to the
Distribution Date will be issued with Rights.
Flip-in Event. In the event (a Flip-in Event) a person or group becomes an Acquiring
Person, each holder of a Right (other than the Acquiring Person and any associate or affiliate
thereof) will have the right to receive, upon exercise, a number of shares of Common Stock (or, in
some circumstances, cash, property or other securities of the Company) equal to the then current
purchase price of the Right multiplied by the then number of one one-thousandths of a share of
Preferred Stock for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior to the first occurrence of a
Flip-in Event, and dividing that product by 50% of the current market price per share of Common
Stock. If an insufficient number of shares of Common Stock is available for issuance, then the
Board would be required to substitute cash, property or other securities of the Company for the
Common Stock. Notwithstanding the foregoing, following the occurrence of the event described in
this paragraph, all Rights that are, or (under some circumstances specified in the Rights
Agreement) were, beneficially owned by any Acquiring Person will be null and void.
For example, at a purchase price of $70.00 per Right, each Right not owned by an Acquiring
Person (or by some related parties or transferees) following an event set forth in the preceding
paragraph would entitle its holder to purchase $140.00 worth of Common Stock (or other
consideration, as noted above) for $70.00.
Flip-over Events. At any time following a public announcement that a person has become an
Acquiring Person, each holder of a Right (except Rights which previously have been voided as set
forth above) will have the right to receive, upon exercise, a number of shares of common stock of
an acquiring company equal to the then current purchase price of the Right multiplied by the then
number of one one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock for which a Right was exercisable
immediately prior to the first occurrence of a Flip-over Event (or, if a Flip-in Event has occurred
prior to the first occurrence of a Flip-over Event, multiplied by the then number of one
one-thousandths of a share of Preferred Stock for which a Right was exercisable immediately prior
to the first occurrence of such Flip-in Event), and dividing that product by 50% of the current
market price per share of common stock of the acquiring company if any of the following occur:
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the Company enters into a merger in which the Company is not the surviving
corporation; |
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the Company is the surviving corporation in a merger pursuant to which all or
part of the outstanding shares of Common Stock are changed into or exchanged for
stock or other securities of any other person or cash or any other property; or |
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more than 50% of the combined assets, cash flow or earning power of the Company
and its subsidiaries is sold or transferred (in each case other than certain
consolidations with, mergers with and into, or sales of assets, cash flow or
earning power by or to subsidiaries of the Company as specified in the Rights
Agreement). |
The events described in this paragraph are referred to as Flip-over Events. Flip-in Events and
Flip-over Events are referred to collectively as Triggering Events.
Anti-dilution Adjustments; Fractional Shares. The applicable purchase price payable, the
number of shares of Preferred Stock or other securities or property issuable upon the exercise of
the Rights, and the number of applicable Rights outstanding are subject to adjustment from time to
time to prevent dilution:
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in the event of a stock dividend on, or a subdivision, combination or
reclassification of, the Preferred Stock; |
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if the holders of Preferred Stock are granted certain rights, options or
warrants to subscribe for the applicable Preferred Stock or securities convertible
into the applicable Preferred Stock at less than the current market price of the
applicable Preferred Stock; or |
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upon the distribution to holders of Preferred Stock of evidences of
indebtedness, cash (excluding regular quarterly cash dividends), assets (other than
dividends payable in Preferred Stock) or subscription rights or warrants (other
than those referred to in the bullet point immediately above). |
The number of outstanding Rights are also subject to adjustment in the event of a stock dividend
on, or a subdivision or combination of Common Stock. With some exceptions, no adjustment in the
purchase price relating to a Right will be required until cumulative adjustments amount to at least
one percent (1%) of the purchase price relating to the Right.
No fractional shares of Preferred Stock are required to be issued (other than fractions which
are integral multiples of one one-thousandth (1/1,000) of a share of Preferred Stock) and, in lieu
of the issuance of fractional shares, the Company may make an adjustment in cash based on the
market price of the Preferred Stock on the trading date immediately prior to the date of exercise.
Dividend and Liquidation Rights of the Preferred Stock. Each share of Preferred Stock will be
entitled, when, as and if declared, to a minimum preferential quarterly dividend payment equal to
the greater of $1.00 per share and an aggregate amount of 1,000 times the dividend declared per
share of Common Stock (other than stock dividends payable in Common Stock).
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Upon liquidation, the holders of Preferred Stock will be entitled to a minimum preferential
liquidation payment of $1,000 per share (plus any accrued but unpaid dividends). Each share of
Preferred Stock will have 1,000 times the number of votes each share of the Common Stock has on
matters the respective class is entitled to vote on, which will be voted together with Common
Stock. Upon any merger, consolidation or other transaction in which shares of Common Stock are
converted or exchanged, each share of Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive 1,000 times the
amount received per share of Common Stock. These rights are protected by customary antidilution
provisions.
Because of the nature of the dividend, liquidation and voting rights of Preferred Stock, the
value of the one one-thousandth interest in a share of Preferred Stock purchasable upon exercise of
each Right should approximate the value of one share of Common Stock.
Exchange of the Rights. At any time after the occurrence of a Flip-in Event and prior to the
acquisition by a person or group of 50% or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding, the
Board may, without payment of the purchase price by the holder, exchange the Rights, in whole or in
part, at an exchange ratio of one share of Common Stock, or one one-thousandth of a share of
Preferred Stock (or of a share of a class or series of the Companys preferred stock having
equivalent rights, preferences and privileges), per Right (subject to adjustment).
Redemption of the Rights. At any time until the tenth day after a person has become an
Acquiring Person, the Company may redeem all, but not less than all, of the Rights at a price of
$0.001 per Right (payable in cash, shares of Common Stock or other consideration deemed appropriate
by the Board and subject to adjustment). Immediately upon the action of the Board ordering
redemption of the Rights, the Rights will terminate and the only right of the holders of these
Rights will be to receive the $0.001 redemption price.
No Rights as Stockholder. Until a Right is exercised, the holder will have no rights as a
stockholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right to vote or to receive
dividends.
Amendment of the Rights Agreement. Any of the provisions of the Rights Agreement may be
amended by the Board at any time before a person becomes an Acquiring Person. At any time after a
person becomes an Acquiring Person, the provisions of the Rights Agreement may be amended by the
Board only if the amendment does not adversely affect the interest of holders of Rights (excluding
the interest of any Acquiring Person) or cause the Rights to become redeemable again.
Certain Anti-takeover Effects. The Rights may have the effect of rendering more difficult or
discouraging an acquisition of the Company deemed undesirable by the Board. 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 Board, except pursuant to an offer conditioned upon the negation,
purchase or redemption of the Rights.
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The Rights are not intended to prevent all takeovers of the Company and will not do so. Since,
subject to the restrictions described above, the Company may redeem the Rights prior to the
Distribution Date, the Rights should not interfere with any merger or business combination approved
by the Board.
A copy of the Rights Agreement has been filed as an Exhibit to this Registration Statement. A
copy of the Rights Agreement is available free of charge from the Rights Agent. The foregoing
summary description of the Rights does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety
by reference to the Rights Agreement, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 2. Exhibits.
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Exhibit |
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Number |
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Description of Document |
1
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Rights Agreement, dated as of July 30, 2011, between the Company and Broadridge Corporate
Issuers Solutions, Inc., as rights agent, which includes the Form of Rights Certificate as
Exhibit 2. |
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2
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Certificate of Designations of the Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock of the
Company, dated as of August 1, 2011. |
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SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereto duly authorized.
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COMMERCIAL METALS COMPANY
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Date: August 1, 2011 |
By: |
/s/ Ann J. Bruder
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Name: |
Ann J. Bruder |
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Title: |
Senior Vice President of Law, Government
Affairs and Global Compliance, General
Counsel and Corporate Secretary |
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EXHIBIT INDEX
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Exhibit |
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Number |
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Description of Document |
1
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Rights Agreement, dated as of July 30, 2011, between the Company and Broadridge Corporate
Issuers Solutions, Inc., as rights agent, which includes the Form of Rights Certificate as
Exhibit 2. |
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2
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Certificate of Designations of the Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock of the
Company, dated as of August 1, 2011. |
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