UNITED STATES
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): January 14, 2018
Avis Budget Group, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| Delaware | 001-10308 | 06-0918165 | ||
| (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation) |
(Commission File Number) |
(IRS Employer Identification No.) |
6 Sylvan Way
Parsippany, New Jersey 07054
(Address of Principal Executive Offices, including Zip Code)
(973) 496-4700
(Registrant’s Telephone Number, including Area Code)
Not Applicable
(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):
| ☐ | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
| ☐ | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
| ☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
| ☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company ☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.
On January 14, 2018, the Board of Directors of Avis Budget Group, Inc. (the “Company”) declared a dividend of one preferred share purchase right (a “Right”), payable on January 26, 2018, for each share of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Shares”), of the Company outstanding on January 26, 2018 (the “Record Date”) to the stockholders of record on that date. In connection with the distribution of the Rights, the Company entered into a Rights Agreement (the “Rights Agreement”), dated as of January 14, 2018, between the Company and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., as Rights Agent. Each Right entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company one one-thousandth of a share of Series S Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Preferred Shares”), of the Company at a price of $100 per one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share represented by a Right (the “Purchase Price”), subject to adjustment.
The Rights are in all respects subject to and governed by the provisions of the Rights Agreement. The following description of the Rights Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Rights Agreement, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 4.1 and incorporated herein by reference.
Key Features
As further described below, the rights plan contains the following key features:
| • | One-year term |
| • | 15% trigger |
| • | Cash-settled derivatives that do not convey voting rights do not trigger the rights plan |
| • | No aggregation of ownership of stockholders “acting in concert” unless they have formed a group under applicable securities laws |
| • | Qualifying offer provision that exempts tender and exchange offers supported by two-thirds of the unaffiliated stockholders from triggering the rights plan |
| • | No “dead-hand,” “slow-hand,” “no-hand,” or similar feature that limits the ability of a future board of directors to redeem the rights plan |
| • | Grandfathering provision |
Distribution Date; Exercisability; Expiration
Initially, the Rights will be attached to all Common Share certificates and no separate certificates evidencing the Rights (“Right Certificates”) will be issued. Until the Distribution Date (as defined below), the Rights will be transferred with and only with the Common Shares. As long as the Rights are attached to the Common Shares, the Company will issue one Right with each new Common Share so that all such Common Shares will have Rights attached.
The Rights will separate and begin trading separately from the Common Shares, and Right Certificates will be caused to evidence the Rights, on the earlier to occur of (i) the Close of Business (as such term is defined in the Rights Agreement) on the tenth day following a public announcement, or the public disclosure of facts indicating (or the Board of Directors becoming aware), that a Person (as such term is defined in the Rights Agreement) or group of affiliated or associated Persons has acquired Beneficial Ownership (as defined below) of 15% or more of the outstanding Common Shares (an “Acquiring Person”) (or, in the event the Board of Directors determines to effect an exchange in accordance with Section 24 of the Rights Agreement and the Board of Directors determines that a later date is advisable, then such later date) or (ii) the Close of Business on the tenth Business Day (as such term is defined in the Rights Agreement) (or such later date as may be determined by action of the Board of Directors prior to such time as any Person becomes an Acquiring Person) following the commencement of a tender offer or exchange offer the consummation of which would result in the Beneficial Ownership by a Person or group of 15% or more of the outstanding Common Shares (the earlier of such dates, the “Distribution Date”). As soon as practicable after the Distribution Date, unless the Rights are recorded in book-entry or other uncertificated form, the Company will prepare and cause the Right Certificates to be sent to each record holder of Common Shares as of the Distribution Date.
An “Acquiring Person” will not include (i) the Company, (ii) any Subsidiary (as such term is defined in the Rights Agreement) of the Company, (iii) any employee benefit plan of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company, (iv) any entity holding Common Shares for or pursuant to the terms of any such employee benefit plan or (v) any Person who or which, at the time of the first public announcement of the Rights Agreement, is a Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the Common Shares then outstanding (a “Grandfathered Stockholder”). However, if a Grandfathered Stockholder becomes, after such time, the Beneficial Owner of any additional Common Shares (regardless of whether, thereafter or as a result thereof, there is an increase, decrease or no change in the percentage of Common Shares then outstanding Beneficially Owned (as such term is defined in the Rights Agreement) by such Grandfathered Stockholder) then such Grandfathered Stockholder shall be deemed to be an Acquiring Person unless, upon such acquisition of Beneficial Ownership of additional Common Shares, such person is not the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the Common Shares then outstanding. In addition, upon the first decrease of a Grandfathered Stockholder’s Beneficial Ownership below 15%, such Grandfathered Stockholder will no longer be deemed to be a Grandfathered Stockholder. For the avoidance of doubt, any derivative that is not by its express terms capable of being settled directly into Common Shares and does not otherwise directly or indirectly convey any voting rights in Common Shares to any Person will not be included in the calculation of Beneficial Ownership for purposes of determining whether and the extent to which a Person may be deemed to be a Grandfathered Stockholder. In the event that after the time of the first public announcement of the Rights Agreement, any agreement, arrangement or understanding pursuant to which any Grandfathered Stockholder is deemed to be the Beneficial Owner of Common Shares expires, is settled in whole or in part, terminates or no longer confers any benefit to or imposes any obligation on the Grandfathered Stockholder, any direct or indirect replacement, extension or substitution of such agreement, arrangement or understanding with respect to the same or different Common Shares that confers Beneficial Ownership of Common Shares shall be considered the acquisition of Beneficial Ownership of additional Common Shares by the Grandfathered Stockholder and render such Grandfathered Stockholder an Acquiring Person for purposes of the Rights Agreement unless, upon such acquisition of Beneficial Ownership of additional Common Shares, such person is not the Beneficial Owner of 15% or more of the Common Shares then outstanding.
“Beneficial Ownership” is defined in the Rights Agreement to include any securities (i) which a Person or any of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates (as such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, within the meaning of Rules 13d-3 or 13d-5 promulgated under the Exchange Act or has the right or ability to vote, or the right to acquire, pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding (except under limited circumstances), (ii) which are directly or indirectly Beneficially Owned by any other Person with which a Person has any agreement, arrangement or understanding for the purpose of acquiring, holding or voting such securities, or obtaining, changing or influencing control of the Company or (iii) in respect of which a Person or any of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates has a derivative position which is capable of being settled, in whole or in part, through delivery of Common Shares (whether on a required or optional basis, and whether such settlement may occur immediately or only after the passage of time, the occurrence of conditions, the satisfaction of regulatory requirements or otherwise).
The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date. The Rights will expire on the Close of Business on January 13, 2019 (the “Final Expiration Date”).
Exempt Persons and Transactions
The Board of Directors may, in its sole and absolute discretion, determine that a Person is exempt from the Rights Agreement (an “Exempt Person”), so long as such determination is made prior to such time as such Person becomes an Acquiring Person. Any Person will cease to be an Exempt Person if the Board of Directors makes a contrary determination with respect to such Person regardless of the reason therefor. In addition, the Board of Directors may, in its sole and absolute discretion, exempt any transaction from triggering the Rights Agreement, so long as the determination in respect of such exemption is made prior to such time as any Person becomes an Acquiring Person.
Qualifying Offer Exemption
The Rights Agreement includes a “qualifying offer” provision, whereby the Rights will automatically expire concurrently with (but no earlier than 90 Business Days after the commencement of a Qualifying Offer (as defined in the Rights Agreement)) the acceptance, for purchase or exchange, of more than two-thirds of the Common Shares then outstanding on a fully diluted basis (excluding from the calculation of the number of Common Shares purchased or exchanged any Common Shares Beneficially Owned by the offeror or its Affiliates and Associates) pursuant to a tender or exchange offer for all of the Common Shares then outstanding for the same consideration, provided that the offeror irrevocably commits to purchase all remaining untendered Common Shares for the same per share consideration actually paid pursuant to the offer.
Flip-in Event
If a Person or group becomes an Acquiring Person at any time after the date of the Rights Agreement (with certain limited exceptions), the Rights will become exercisable for Common Shares having a value equal to two times the exercise price of the Right. From and after the announcement that any Person has become an Acquiring Person, if the Rights evidenced by a Right Certificate are or were acquired or Beneficially Owned by an Acquiring Person or any Associate or Affiliate of an Acquiring Person, such Rights shall become void, and any holder of such Rights shall thereafter have no right to exercise such Rights. If the Board of Directors so elects, the Company may deliver upon payment of the exercise price of a Right an amount of cash, securities, or other property equivalent in value to the Common Shares issuable upon exercise of a Right.
Exchange
At any time after any Person becomes an Acquiring Person, the Board of Directors may exchange the Rights (other than Rights owned by any Person which have become void), in whole or in part, at an exchange ratio of one Common Share per Right (subject to adjustment). The Company may issue, transfer or deposit such Common Shares (or other property as permitted under the Rights Agreement) to or into a trust or other entity created upon such terms as the Board of Directors may determine and may direct that all holders of Rights receive such Common Shares or other property only from the trust. In the event the Board of Directors determines, before the Distribution Date, to effect an exchange, the Board of Directors may delay the occurrence of the Distribution Date to such time as it deems advisable.
Flip-over Event
If, at any time after a Person becomes an Acquiring Person, (i) the Company consolidates with, or merges with, any other Person (or any Person consolidates with, or merges with, the Company) and, in connection with such consolidation or merger, all or part of the Common Shares are or will be changed into or exchanged for stock or other securities of any other Person or cash or any other property; or (ii) 50% or more of the Company’s consolidated assets or Earning Power (as defined in the Rights Agreement) are sold, then proper provision will be made so that each holder of a Right will thereafter have the right to receive, upon the exercise thereof at the then current exercise price of the Right, that number of shares of common stock of the acquiring company which at the time of such transaction will have a market value of two times the exercise price of the Right.
Redemption
At any time prior to the time any Person becomes an Acquiring Person, the Board of Directors may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part, at a price of $0.001 per Right (the “Redemption Price”). The redemption of the Rights may be made effective at such time, on such basis and with such conditions as the Board of Directors in its sole discretion may establish. Immediately upon any redemption of the Rights, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and the only right of the holders of Rights will be to receive the Redemption Price.
Amendment
The terms of the Rights may be amended by the Board of Directors without the consent of the holders of the Rights, except that from and after such time as any Person becomes an Acquiring Person no such amendment may adversely affect the interests of the holders of the Rights (other than the Acquiring Person and its Affiliates and Associates).
Preferred Stock Rights
Each one-thousandth of a Preferred Share will entitle the holder thereof to the same dividends and liquidation rights as if the holder held one Common Share and will be treated the same as a Common Share in the event of a merger, consolidation or other share exchange.
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.
Item 3.03. Material Modifications to Rights of Security Holders.
The information set forth in Items 1.01 and 5.03 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 5.03. Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.
In connection with the adoption of the Rights Agreement, on January 16, 2018, the Company filed a Certificate of Designations of Series S Preferred Stock with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware. A copy of the Certificate of Designations of Series S Preferred Stock is attached hereto as Exhibit 3.1 and incorporated herein by reference.
Item 8.01. Other Events.
On January 15, 2018, the Company issued a press release, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits.
| Exhibit No. | Description of Exhibit | |
| 3.1 | Certificate of Designations of Series S Preferred Stock of Avis Budget Group, Inc., as filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on January 16, 2018. | |
| 4.1 | Rights Agreement, dated as of January 14, 2018, between Avis Budget Group, Inc. and Computershare Trust Company, N.A., as Rights Agent. | |
| 99.1 | Press Release dated January 15, 2018. | |
EXHIBIT INDEX
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.
| AVIS BUDGET GROUP, INC. | ||||
| Date: January 16, 2018 | By: | /s/ Bryon L. Koepke | ||
| Name: Bryon L. Koepke | ||||
| Title: Senior Vice President and Chief Securities Counsel | ||||