SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON,
D.C. 20549
Form
8-A
For
Registration of Certain Classes of Securities
Pursuant
to Section 12(b) or (g) of the
Securities
Exchange Act of 1934
CLARUS
CORPORATION
(Exact
name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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Delaware
(State
of incorporation or organization)
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58-1972600
(I.R.S
Employer Identification No.)
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One
Landmark Square, 22nd
Floor,
Stamford, CT
(State
of incorporation or organization)
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06901
(Zip
Code)
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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. q
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. x
Securities
Act registration statement file number to which this Form relates: (if
applicable)
Securities
to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title
of
each class to be so registered:
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Securities
to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
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Rights
to Purchase Series A Junior Participating Preferred
Stock
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Item
1.
Description of Registrants Securities to be Registered.
On
February 12, 2008, Clarus Corporation (“Clarus” or the “Company”) entered into a
Rights Agreement (the “Rights Agreement”) with American Stock Transfer &
Trust Company that provides for the terms of a rights plan including a dividend
distribution of one preferred share purchase right (a “Right”) for each
outstanding share of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.0001 (the “Common
Stock”). The dividend is payable to Clarus’ stockholders of record as of the
close of business on February 12, 2008 (the “Record Date”).
The
Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) adopted the Rights Agreement to
protect the Company’s ability to carry forward its net operating losses (the
“NOLs”), which the Company believes are a substantial asset. The Board Rights
Agreement is designed to assist in limiting the number of 5% or more owners
and
thus reduce the risk of a possible “change of ownership” under Section 382 of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 as amended (the “Code”). Any such “change of
ownership” under these rules would limit or eliminate the ability of the Company
to use its existing NOLs for federal income tax purposes. However, there is
no
guaranty that the objective of preserving the value of the NOLs will be
achieved. There is a possibility that certain stock transactions may be
completed by stockholders or prospective stockholders that could trigger a
“change of ownership,” and there are other limitations on the use of NOL’s set
forth in the Internal Revenue Code.
The
Rights Agreement imposes a significant penalty upon any person or group that
acquires 4.9% or more (but less than 50%) of Clarus’ then-outstanding Common
Stock without the prior approval of Clarus’ Board. Stockholders who own 4.9% or
more of Clarus’ then-outstanding Common Stock as of the close of business on the
Record Date, will not trigger the Rights Agreement so long as they do not
increase their ownership of the Company’s Common Stock. Moreover,
Clarus’ Board may exempt any person or group that owns 4.9% or more. A person or
group that acquires a percentage of Clarus’s Common Stock in excess of the
applicable threshold but less than 50% of Clarus then-outstanding Common Stock
is called an “Acquiring Person.” Any rights held by an Acquiring Person are void
and may not be exercised.
Clarus’
Board authorized the issuance of one Right per each share of Clarus’ Common
Stock outstanding on the Record Date. If the Rights become exercisable, each
Right would allow its holder to purchase from Clarus one one-hundredth of a
share of Clarus’ Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, par value
$0.0001 (the “Preferred Stock”), for a purchase price of $12.00. Each fractional
share of Preferred Stock would give the stockholder approximately the same
dividend, voting and liquidation rights as one share of Clarus’ Common Stock.
Prior to exercise, however, a Right will not give its holder any dividend,
voting or liquidation rights.
The
Rights will not be exercisable until 10 days after a public announcement by
Clarus that a person or group has become an Acquiring Person. Until the date
that the Rights become exercisable (the “Distribution Date”), Clarus’ Common
Stock certificates will evidence the Rights and will contain a notation to
that
effect. Any transfer of shares of Common Stock prior to the Distribution Date
will constitute a transfer of the associated Rights. After the Distribution
Date, the Rights will be separated from the Common Stock and be evidenced by
a
rights certificate, which Clarus will mail to all holders of the rights that
are
not void.
If
a
person or group becomes an Acquiring Person after the Distribution Date or
already is an Acquiring Person and acquires more shares after the Distribution
Date, all holders of Rights, except the Acquiring Person, may exercise their
rights to purchase shares of Clarus’ Common Stock with a market value of two
times the purchase price (or other securities or assets as determined by Clarus’
Board of Directors) upon payment of the purchase price (a “Flip-In Event”).
After the Distribution Date, if a Flip-In Event has already occurred and Clarus
is acquired in a merger or similar transaction, all holders of the Rights except
the Acquiring Person may exercise their Rights upon payment of the purchase
price to purchase shares of the acquiring corporation with a market value of
two
times the purchase price of the Rights (a “Flip-Over Event”). Rights may be
exercised to purchase shares of Clarus Preferred Stock only after the occurrence
of the Distribution Date and prior to the occurrence of a Flip-In Event as
described above. A Distribution Date resulting from any occurrence described
above would necessarily follow the occurrence of a Flip-In Event, in which
case
the Rights could be exercised to purchase shares of Common Stock or other
securities as described above.
The
Rights will expire at such time the Company’s Board determines that the NOLs are
fully utilized or no longer available under Section 382 of the Code or the
Rights are earlier redeemed or exchanged by the Company as described below.
Clarus’ Board may redeem all (but not less than all) of the Rights for a
redemption price of $0.0001 per Right at any time prior to the later of the
Distribution Date and the date of the first public announcement or disclosure
by
Clarus that a person or group has become an Acquiring Person. Once the Rights
are redeemed, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate, and the only
right of the holders of the Rights will be to receive the redemption price.
The
redemption price will be adjusted if Clarus declares a stock split or issues
a
stock dividend on its Common Stock. After the later of the Distribution Date
and
the date of the first public announcement by Clarus that a person or group
has
become an Acquiring Person, but before an Acquiring Person owns 50% or more
of
Clarus’ outstanding Common Stock, Clarus’ Board may exchange each Right (other
than the Rights that have become void) for one share of Common Stock or an
equivalent security.
Clarus’
Board may adjust the purchase price of the Preferred Stock, the number of shares
of the preferred shares issuable and the number of outstanding Rights to prevent
dilution that may occur as a result of certain events, including a stock
dividend, a stock split or a reclassification of the Preferred Stock or Common
Stock. No adjustments to the purchase price of less than 1% will be made.
Before
the time the Rights cease to be redeemable, Clarus’ Board may amend or
supplement the Rights Agreement without the consent of the holders of the
Rights, except that no amendment may decrease the redemption price below $0.0001
per right. At any time thereafter, Clarus’ Board may amend or supplement the
Rights Agreement only to cure an ambiguity, to alter time period provisions,
to
correct inconsistent provisions or to make any additional changes to the Rights
Agreement, but only to the extent that those changes do not impair or adversely
affect any Rights holder and do not result in the Rights becoming redeemable.
The
foregoing 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.
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Number
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Description
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1.
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Form
of Certificate of Designation of Series A Junior Participating Preferred
Stock (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.01 of the Company’s
Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on February 13, 2008).
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2.
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Form
of Rights Certificate (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit
4.01 of
the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission on February 13, 2008).
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3.
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Rights
Agreement, dated as of February 12, 2008, by and between Clarus
Corporation and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company (incorporated
herein by reference to Exhibit 4.01 of the Company’s Current Report on
Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February
13,
2008).
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant
to the requirements of Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Company has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf
by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
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Dated:
February 12, 2008
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By:
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/s/
Philip A.
Baratelli
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Name:
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Philip
A. Baratelli
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Title:
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Chief
Financial Officer
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