As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 15, 2017

Registration No. 333-_____      

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM S-8

 

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

BLACK DIAMOND, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

 

Delaware 58-1972600

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation or organization)

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

2084 East 3900 South

Salt Lake City, Utah

84124
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

 

Black Diamond, Inc. 2015 Stock Incentive Plan

 

Clarus Corporation 2005 Stock Incentive Plan

 

Stock Option Agreement between Clarus Corporation

and Warren B. Kanders, dated December 23, 2002

 

(Full title of the plan)

 

Attn.: Warren B. Kanders

Black Diamond, Inc.

2084 East 3900 South

Salt Lake City, Utah 84124

(Name and address of agent for service)

 

Copy to:

 

Robert L. Lawrence, Esq.

Kane Kessler, P.C.

666 Third Avenue

New York, NY 10017

(212) 541-6222

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b- 2 of the Exchange Act.

 

  Large accelerated filer ¨   Accelerated filer x  
             
  Non-accelerated filer ¨   Smaller reporting 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 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act . ¨ 

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

Title of securities to be registered  Amount to be
registered (1)
   Proposed maximum
offering price
per share (2)
  

Proposed maximum
aggregate
offering price

   Amount of
registration fee
 
                     
Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share   7,560,961   $6.63    50,129,171.40   $5,809.97 

 

(1)This Registration Statement covers 7,560,961 shares of common stock (the “Common Stock”), $0.0001 par value per share, of Black Diamond, Inc. (the “Registrant”) issuable pursuant to the Registrant’s 2015 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2015 Incentive Plan”). In addition, pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), this Registration Statement covers an indeterminable number of additional shares of Common Stock as may hereafter be offered or issued pursuant to the Plans, to prevent dilution resulting from stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions effected without receipt of consideration.

 

(2)Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee. Pursuant to Rule 457(c) and 457(h), the proposed maximum offering price per share is based upon a price of $6.63 (the average of the high and low prices of the Registrant’s Common Stock as reported on the Nasdaq Global Select Market on June 12, 2017).

 

 

 

As permitted by Rule 429 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the prospectus filed together with this Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a combined resale prospectus which shall also relate to the registrant’s Registration Statement No. 333-127686 on Form S-8.

 

 

 

 

EXPLANATORY NOTE

 

Black Diamond, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), has prepared this Registration Statement in accordance with the requirements of Form S-8 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), to register 7,560,961 shares of its common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”) that are reserved for issuance pursuant to the Company’s 2015 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2015 Incentive Plan”).

 

The Registration Statement also includes up to 3,800,000 shares of Common Stock previously registered on Form S-8 (Registration Statement No. 333-127686) filed on August 19, 2005 (the “2005 Registration Statement”) of which (i) 3,000,000 shares of Common Stock are issuable pursuant to the Clarus Corporation (the predecessor of the Registrant) 2005 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2005 Incentive Plan”); and (ii) 800,000 shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to the Stock Option Agreement between Clarus Corporation (the predecessor of the Registrant) and Warren B. Kanders, dated December 23, 2002 (the “2002 Stock Option Agreement”). Pursuant to General Instruction E to Form S-8, this Registration Statement incorporates by reference the contents of the 2005 Registration Statement, except as otherwise set forth herein. The 2015 Incentive Plan, the 2005 Incentive Plan, and the 2002 Stock Option Agreement are collectively referred to herein as the “Plans”.

 

This Registration Statement contains two parts. The first part contains a reoffer prospectus pursuant to Form S-3 (in accordance with Section C of the General Instructions to the Form S-8 and in accordance with the requirements of Part I of Form S-3) (the “Reoffer Prospectus”) which covers reoffers and resales of “restricted securities” and/or “control securities” (as such terms are defined in Section C of the General Instructions to Form S-8) of the Company. This Reoffer Prospectus relates to up to 2,427,500 shares of Common Stock that have been or may be issued to certain officers and directors of the Company pursuant to the Plans. Accordingly, this Reoffer Prospectus is a combined prospectus pursuant to Rule 429(a) of the Securities Act, and this Registration Statement, which is a new registration statement, also constitutes a post-effective amendment to the 2005 Registration Statement (Registration Statement No. 333-127686) pursuant to Rule 429(b) of the Securities Act. The second part of this Registration Statement contains information required in the Registration Statement pursuant to Part II of Form S-8 and will be used for offers of shares of Common Stock of the Company pursuant to the 2015 Incentive Plan.

 

 

 

 

PART I

 

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

 

Item 1.Plan Information.

 

The document(s) containing the information specified in Part I of Form S-8 will be sent or given to participants in the Plans as specified by Rule 428(b)(1) under the Securities Act. Such document(s) are not being filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, but constitute, along with the documents incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement, a prospectus that meets the requirements of Section 10(a) of the Securities Act.

 

Item 2.Company Information and Employee Plan Annual Information.

 

The Company will furnish without charge to each person to whom the prospectus is delivered, upon the written or oral request of such person, a copy of any and all of the documents incorporated by reference in Item 3 of Part II of this Registration Statement, other than exhibits to such documents (unless such exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference to the information that is incorporated). Those documents are incorporated by reference in the Section 10(a) prospectus. Requests should be directed to Black Diamond, Inc., 2084 East 3900 South, Salt Lake City, Utah 84124, Attention: Secretary; Telephone number (801) 278-5552.

 

Note: The reoffer prospectus referred to in the Explanatory Note follows this page.

 

 

 

 

REOFFER PROSPECTUS

 

BLACK DIAMOND, INC.

 

2,427,500 Shares of Common Stock,

par value $0.0001 per share

 

 

 

This Prospectus relates to shares (the “Shares”) of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of Black Diamond, Inc., a Delaware corporation (which may be referred to as the “Company,” “we,” “our” or “us”), which may be offered and sold from time to time by certain stockholders of the Company (the “Selling Stockholders”) who have acquired or will acquire such Shares pursuant to stock options and stock grants issued or issuable under (i) the Company’s 2015 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2015 Incentive Plan”); (ii) Clarus Corporation (the predecessor of the Company) 2005 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2005 Incentive Plan”); and (iii) the Stock Option Agreement between Clarus Corporation (the predecessor of the Company) and Warren B. Kanders, dated December 23, 2002 (the “2002 Stock Option Agreement”). The 2015 Incentive Plan, the 2005 Incentive Plan, and the 2002 Stock Option Agreement are collectively referred to herein as the “Plans”. See “Selling Stockholders.”

 

The Company will not receive any of the proceeds from sales of the Shares by any of the Selling Stockholders. The Shares may be offered from time to time by any or all of the Selling Stockholders (and their donees and pledgees) through ordinary brokerage transactions, in negotiated transactions or in other transactions, at such prices as he or she may determine, which may relate to market prices prevailing at the time of sale or be a negotiated price. See “Plan of Distribution.” All costs, expenses and fees in connection with the registration of the Shares will be borne by the Company. Brokerage commissions and similar selling expenses, if any, attributable to the offer or sale of the Shares will be borne by the Selling Stockholder (or their donees and pledgees).

 

Each Selling Stockholder and any broker executing selling orders on behalf of a Selling Stockholder may be deemed to be an “underwriter” as defined in the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). If any broker-dealers are used to effect sales, any commissions paid to broker-dealers and, if broker-dealers purchase any of the Shares as principals, any profits received by such broker-dealers on the resale of the Shares, may be deemed to be underwriting discounts or commissions under the Securities Act. In addition, any profits realized by the Selling Stockholders may be deemed to be underwriting commissions.

 

Our common stock trades on the Nasdaq Global Select Market (“NASDAQ”) under the symbol “BDE.” On June 12, 2017, the last reported sale price of our shares on the NASDAQ was $6.45 per share.

 

 

 

Please refer to “Risk Factors” beginning on page 1 for a description of the risks you should consider when evaluating this investment.

 

 

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

The date of this prospectus is  June 15, 2017

 

 

 

 

 

You should rely only on the information included in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus or information we have referred to in this prospectus. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with information that is different. This prospectus may only be used where it is legal to sell these securities. This prospectus is not an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, in any state where the offer or sale is prohibited. The information in this prospectus is accurate on the date of this prospectus and may become obsolete later. Neither the delivery of this prospectus, nor any sale made under this prospectus will, under any circumstances, imply that the information in this prospectus is correct as of any date after the date of this prospectus. References to “the Company,” “Black Diamond,” “we” or “us” refer to Black Diamond, Inc.

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

  Page
   
RISK FACTORS 1
   
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS 14
   
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE 14
   
THE COMPANY 15
   
USE OF PROCEEDS 16
   
SELLING STOCKHOLDERS 16
   
DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK 19
   
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

23

   
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION 25
   
EXPERTS 25
   
LEGAL MATTERS 25

 

 i 

 

 

RISK FACTORS

 

You should carefully consider the risk factors set forth below as well as the other information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus before investing in our common stock. Any of the following risks could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations. In such a case, you may lose all or part of your investment. The risks described below are not the only risks facing us. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or those we currently view to be immaterial may also materially adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.

 

Risks Related to Our Industry

 

Many of the products we sell are used for inherently risky mountain and outdoor pursuits and could give rise to product liability or product warranty claims and other loss contingencies, which could affect our earnings and financial condition.

 

Many of our products are used in applications and situations that involve high levels of risk of personal injury and death. As a result, we maintain a staff who focus on the appropriate disclaimers and markings and testing and seek to assure the quality and safety of our products. We stay current with the law to seek to provide thorough and protective disclaimers and instructions on all of our products and packaging. Furthermore, our technical climbing and avalanche safety equipment and our operations meet and are certified to International Personal Protective Equipment (PP) standards set by the EEC or ISO 9001 quality system standards. Failure to use our products for their intended purposes, failure to use or care for them properly, or their malfunction, or, in some limited circumstances, even correct use of our products, could result in serious bodily injury or death.

 

We remain exposed to product liability claims by the nature of the products we produce. Exposure occurs if one of our products is alleged to have resulted in property damage, bodily injury or other adverse effects. Any such product liability claims may include allegations of defects in manufacturing, defects in design, a failure to warn of dangers inherent in the product or activities associated with the product, negligence, strict liability, and a breach of warranties. Although we maintain product liability insurance in amounts that we believe are reasonable, there can be no assurance that we will be able to maintain such insurance on acceptable terms, if at all, in the future or that product liability claims will not exceed the amount of insurance coverage. Additionally, we do not maintain product recall insurance. As a result, product recalls or product liability claims could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

 

As a manufacturer and distributor of consumer products, we are subject to the Consumer Products Safety Act, which empowers the Consumer Products Safety Commission to exclude from the market products that are found to be unsafe or hazardous. Under certain circumstances, the Consumer Products Safety Commission could require us to repurchase or recall one or more of our products. Additionally, laws regulating certain consumer products exist in some cities and states, as well as in other countries in which we sell our products, and more restrictive laws and regulations may be adopted in the future. Any repurchase or recall of our products could be costly to us and could damage our reputation. If we were required to remove, or we voluntarily removed, our products from the market, our reputation could be tarnished and we might have large quantities of finished products that we could not sell.

 

We spend substantial resources ensuring compliance with governmental and other applicable standards. However, compliance with these standards does not necessarily prevent individual or class action lawsuits, which can entail significant cost and risk. We do not maintain insurance against many types of claims involving alleged defects in our products that do not involve personal injury or property damage. As a result, these types of claims could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, and financial condition.

 

Our product liability insurance program is an occurrence-based program based on our current and historical claims experience and the availability and cost of insurance. We carry both general and umbrella liability policies that insure us for product liability claims. The policy has a small retention, which enables us to manage and control our product liability claims. Historically, product liability awards have not exceeded our individual per occurrence self-insured retention. We cannot assure you, however, that our future product liability experience will be consistent with our past experience.

 

 -1- 

 

 

A substantial portion of our sales and gross profit is derived from a small number of large customers, none of whom are contractually obligated to continue buying our products. The loss of any of these customers could substantially reduce our profits.

 

A customer accounts for a significant portion of revenues. In the year ended December 31, 2016, REI accounted for approximately 16% of sales. Sales are generally on a purchase order basis, and we do not have long-term agreements with any of our customers. A decision by any of our major customers to decrease significantly the number of products purchased from us could substantially reduce sales and have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Moreover, in recent years, the retail industry has experienced consolidation and other ownership changes. In the future, retailers may further consolidate, undergo restructurings or reorganizations, realign their affiliations or reposition their stores’ target market. These developments could result in a reduction in the number of stores that carry our products, increased ownership concentration within the retail industry, increased credit exposure, and increased retailer leverage over their suppliers. These changes could impact our opportunities in the market and increase our reliance on a smaller number of large customers.

 

We are subject to risks related to our dependence on the strength of retail economies in various parts of the world and our performance may be affected by general economic conditions.

 

Our business depends on the strength of the retail economies in various parts of the world, primarily in North America, Europe and to a lesser extent, Asia, Central and South America. These retail economies are affected primarily by factors such as consumer demand and the condition of the retail industry, which, in turn, are affected by general economic conditions and specific events such as natural disasters, terrorist attacks, and political unrest. The impact of these external factors is difficult to predict, and one or more of the factors could adversely impact our business, results of operations, and financial condition.

 

Purchases of many consumer products are discretionary and tend to be highly correlated with the cycles of the levels of disposable income of consumers. As a result, any substantial deterioration in general economic conditions could adversely affect consumer discretionary spending patterns, our sales, and our results of operations. In particular, decreased consumer confidence or a reduction in discretionary income as a result of unfavorable macroeconomic conditions may negatively affect our business. If the macroeconomic environment worsens, consumers may reduce or delay their purchases of our products. Any such reduction in purchases could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

 

Changes in the retail industry and markets for consumer products affecting our customers or retailing practices could negatively impact existing customer relationships and our results of operations.

 

We sell our products to retailers, including sporting goods and specialty retailers, as well as direct to consumers. A significant deterioration in the financial condition of our major customers could have a material adverse effect on our sales and profitability. We regularly monitor and evaluate the credit status of our customers and attempt to adjust sales terms as appropriate. Despite these efforts, a bankruptcy filing by a key customer could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, and financial condition.

 

In addition, as a result of the desire of retailers to more closely manage inventory levels, there is a growing trend among retailers to make purchases on a “just-in-time” basis. This requires us to shorten our lead time for production in certain cases and more closely anticipate demand, which could in the future require us to carry additional inventories.

 

We may be negatively affected by changes in the policies of our retailer customers, such as inventory destocking, limitations on access to and time on shelf space, use of private label brands, price demands, payment terms, and other conditions, which could negatively impact our results of operations.

 

There is a growing trend among retailers in the U.S. and in foreign markets to undergo changes that could decrease the number of stores that carry our products or increase the concentration of ownership within the retail industry, including:

 

·consolidating their operations;

 

·undergoing restructurings or store closings;

 

 -2- 

 

 

·undergoing reorganizations; or

 

·realigning their affiliations.

 

These consolidations could result in a shift of bargaining power to the retail industry and in fewer outlets for our products. Further consolidations could result in price and other competition that could reduce our margins and our net sales.

 

Seasonality and weather conditions may cause our operating results to vary from quarter to quarter.

 

Sales of certain of our products are seasonal. Sales of our outdoor recreation products such as carabineers, harnesses, and related climbing equipment products increase during warm weather months and decrease during winter, while sales of our apparel line and winter sports equipment such as our skis and related ski equipment increase during the cold weather months and decrease during summer. Weather conditions may also negatively impact sales. For instance, milder temperatures could prevent the formation of ice, which may negatively affect demand for our ice climbing products, and mild winter weather with less snowfall may negatively impact sales of our winter sports products. These factors could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, and financial condition.

 

Our results of operations could be materially harmed if we are unable to accurately forecast demand for our products.

 

We often schedule internal production and place orders for products with independent manufacturers before our customers’ orders are firm. Therefore, if we fail to accurately forecast customer demand, we may experience excess inventory levels or a shortage of product to deliver to our customers. Factors that could affect our ability to accurately forecast demand for our products include:

 

·an increase or decrease in consumer demand for our products or for products of our competitors;

 

·our failure to accurately forecast customer acceptance of new products;

 

·new product introductions by competitors;

 

·unanticipated changes in general market conditions or other factors, which may result in cancellations of orders or a reduction or increase in the rate of reorders placed by retailers;

 

·weak economic conditions or consumer confidence, which could reduce demand for discretionary items such as our products; and

 

·terrorism or acts of war, or the threat of terrorism or acts of war, which could adversely affect consumer confidence and spending or interrupt production and distribution of product and raw materials.

 

Inventory levels in excess of customer demand may result in inventory write-downs and the sale of excess inventory at discounted prices, which could have an adverse effect on our business, results of operations, and financial condition. On the other hand, if we underestimate demand for our products, our manufacturing facilities or third party manufacturers may not be able to produce products to meet customer requirements, and this could result in delays in the shipment of products and lost revenues, as well as damage to our reputation and customer relationships. There can be no assurance that we will be able to successfully manage inventory levels to exactly meet future order and reorder requirements.

 

Competition in our industries may hinder our ability to execute our business strategy, achieve profitability, or maintain relationships with existing customers.

 

We operate in a highly competitive industry. In this industry, we compete against numerous other domestic and foreign companies. Competition in the markets in which we operate is based primarily on product quality, product innovation, price, and customer service and support, although the degree and nature of such competition vary by location and product line. Some of our competitors are more established in their industries and have substantially greater revenue or resources than we do. Our competitors may take actions to match new product introductions and other initiatives. Since many of our competitors also source their products from third parties, our ability to obtain a cost advantage through sourcing is reduced. Certain of our competitors may be willing to reduce prices and accept lower profit margins to compete with us. Further, retailers often demand that suppliers reduce their prices on existing products. Competition could cause price reductions, reduced profits or losses or loss of market share, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, and financial condition.

 

 -3- 

 

 

To compete effectively in the future in the consumer products industry, among other things, we must:

 

·maintain strict quality standards;

 

·develop new and innovative products that appeal to consumers;

 

·deliver products on a reliable basis at competitive prices;

 

·anticipate and respond to changing consumer trends in a timely manner;

 

·maintain favorable brand recognition; and

 

·provide effective marketing support.

 

Our inability to do any of these things could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

 

If we fail to expand existing or develop new customer relationships, our ability to grow our business will be impaired.

 

Our growth depends to a significant degree upon our ability to expand existing relationships with current customers or develop new customer relationships. We cannot guarantee that new customers will be found, that any such new relationships will be successful when we do get them, or that business with current customers will increase. Failure to develop and expand such relationships could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, and financial condition.

 

If we fail to adequately protect our intellectual property rights, competitors may manufacture and market products similar to ours, which could adversely affect our market share and results of operations.

 

Our success with our proprietary products depends, in part, on our ability to protect our current and future technologies and products and to defend our intellectual property rights. If we fail to adequately protect our intellectual property rights, competitors may manufacture and market products similar to ours. Our principal intellectual property rights include our trademarks, patents, and trade secrets.

 

We hold numerous patents for the invention of new or improved technologies, which are known as utility patents, and pending patent applications covering a wide variety of products. We cannot be sure that we will receive patents for any of our patent applications or that any existing or future patents that we receive or license will provide competitive advantages for our products. We also cannot be sure that competitors will not challenge, invalidate or avoid the application of any existing or future patents that we receive or license. In addition, patent rights may not prevent our competitors from developing, using or selling products that are similar or functionally equivalent to our products.

 

Third parties may have patents, or may be awarded new patents, that may materially adversely affect our ability to market, distribute and sell our products. Accordingly, our products, including, but not limited to, our technical climbing and backpack products, may become subject to patent infringement claims or litigation, any adverse determination of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, and financial condition.

 

Changes in foreign, cultural, political, and financial market conditions could impair our international operations and financial performance.

 

Some of our operations are conducted or products are sold in countries where economic growth has slowed, such as Japan, or where economies have suffered economic, social and/or political instability or hyperinflation, including, for example, the uncertainty related to the United Kingdom’s June 2016 vote to leave the European Union (commonly known as “Brexit”). The announcement of Brexit caused significant volatility in global stock markets and currency exchange rate fluctuations that resulted in the strengthening of the U.S. dollar against foreign currencies in which we conduct business. The strengthening of the U.S. dollar relative to other currencies may adversely affect our operating results. The announcement of Brexit and the withdrawal of the U.K. from the E.U. may also create global economic uncertainty, which may cause consumers to reduce their spending.

 

 -4- 

 

 

Additionally, some of our operations are conducted or products are sold in countries where the ability to repatriate funds has been delayed or impaired in recent years. Current government economic and fiscal policies, including stimulus measures and currency exchange rates and controls in these economies may not be sustainable and, as a result, our sales or profits related to those countries may decline.

 

The economies of other foreign countries important to our operations, including other countries in Asia and Europe, could also suffer slower economic growth or economic, social and/or political instability or hyperinflation in the future. International operations, including manufacturing and sourcing operations (and the international operations of our customers), are subject to inherent risks which could adversely affect us, including, among other things:

 

·protectionist policies restricting or impairing the manufacturing, sales or import and export of our products;

 

·new restrictions on access to markets;

 

·lack of developed infrastructure;

 

·inflation or recession;

 

·devaluations or fluctuations in the value of currencies;

 

·changes in and the burdens and costs of compliance with a variety of foreign laws and regulations, including tax laws, accounting standards, environmental laws and occupational health and safety laws;

 

·social, political or economic instability;

 

·acts of war and terrorism;

 

·natural disasters or other crises;

 

·reduced protection of intellectual property rights in some countries;

 

·increases in duties and taxation; and

 

·restrictions on transfer of funds and/or exchange of currencies; expropriation of assets; and other adverse changes in policies, including monetary, tax and/or lending policies, relating to foreign investment or foreign trade by our host countries.

 

Should any of these risks occur, our ability to sell or export our products or repatriate profits could be impaired and we could experience a loss of sales and profitability from our international operations, which could have a material adverse impact on our business.

 

If we cannot continue to develop new products in a timely manner, and at favorable margins, we may not be able to compete effectively.

 

We believe that our future success will depend, in part, upon our ability to continue to introduce innovative design extensions for our existing products and to develop, manufacture, and market new products. We cannot assure you that we will be successful in the introduction, manufacturing, and marketing of any new products or product innovations, or develop and introduce, in a timely manner, innovations to our existing products that satisfy customer needs or achieve market acceptance. Our failure to develop new products and introduce them successfully and in a timely manner, and at favorable margins, would harm our ability to successfully grow our business and could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, and financial condition.

 

 -5- 

 

 

Our operating results can be adversely affected by changes in the cost or availability of raw materials.

 

Pricing and availability of raw materials for use in our businesses can be volatile due to numerous factors beyond our control, including general, domestic, and international economic conditions, labor costs, production levels, competition, consumer demand, import duties, and tariffs and currency exchange rates. This volatility can significantly affect the availability and cost of raw materials for us, and may therefore have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, and financial condition.

 

During periods of rising prices of raw materials, there can be no assurance that we will be able to pass any portion of such increases on to customers. Conversely, when raw material prices decline, customer demands for lower prices could result in lower sale prices and, to the extent we have existing inventory, lower margins. We currently do not hedge against our exposure to changing raw material prices. As a result, fluctuations in raw material prices could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, and financial condition.

 

Supply shortages or changes in availability for any particular type of raw material can delay production or cause increases in the cost of manufacturing our products. We may be negatively affected by changes in availability and pricing of raw materials, which could negatively impact our results of operations.

 

Our operations in international markets, and earnings in those markets, may be affected by legal, regulatory, political, and economic risks.

 

Our ability to maintain the current level of operations in our existing international markets and to capitalize on growth in existing and new international markets is subject to risks associated with international operations. These include the burdens of complying with a variety of foreign laws and regulations, unexpected changes in regulatory requirements, new tariffs or other barriers to some international markets. For example, the United States’ withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership, any future withdrawal or renegotiation of trade agreements, including the North American Free Trade Agreement, or the more aggressive prosecution of trade disputes with countries like China, may adversely affect our ability to operate our business and execute our growth strategy. In addition, it may be more difficult for us to enforce agreements, collect receivables, receive dividends and repatriate earnings through foreign legal systems.

 

We cannot predict whether quotas, duties, taxes, exchange controls or other restrictions will be imposed by the United States, the European Union or other countries upon the import or export of our products in the future, or what effect any of these actions would have on our business, financial condition or results of operations. We cannot predict whether there might be changes in our ability to repatriate earnings or capital from international jurisdictions. Changes in regulatory and geopolitical policies and other factors may adversely affect our business or may require us to modify our current business practices.

 

Approximately 49% of our sales for the year ended December 31, 2016 were earned in international markets. We are exposed to risks of changes in U.S. policy for companies having business operations outside the United States, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, and financial condition.

 

We use foreign suppliers and manufacturing facilities for a significant portion of our raw materials and finished products, which poses risks to our business operations.

 

A majority of our products sold were produced by and purchased from independent manufacturers primarily located in Asia and Eastern Europe, with substantially all of the remainder produced by our manufacturing facility located in Utah. Although no single supplier and no one country controls a majority of our production needs, any of the following could materially and adversely affect our ability to produce or deliver our products and, as a result, have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations:

 

·political or labor instability in countries where our facilities, contractors, and suppliers are located;

 

·political or military conflict, which could cause a delay in the transportation of raw materials and products to us and an increase in transportation costs;

 

·heightened terrorism security concerns, which could subject imported or exported goods to additional, more frequent or more lengthy inspections, leading to delays in deliveries or impoundment of goods for extended periods or could result in decreased scrutiny by customs officials for counterfeit goods, leading to lost sales, increased costs for our anti-counterfeiting measures and damage to the reputation of our brands;

 

 -6- 

 

 

·disease epidemics and health-related concerns, such as the H1N1 virus, bird flu, SARS, mad cow, and hoof-and-mouth disease outbreaks in recent years, which could result in closed factories, reduced workforces, scarcity of raw materials, and scrutiny or embargo of our goods produced in infected areas;

 

·imposition of regulations and quotas relating to imports and our ability to adjust timely to changes in trade regulations, which, among other things, could limit our ability to produce products in cost-effective countries that have the labor and expertise needed;

 

·imposition of duties, taxes and other charges on imports; and

 

·imposition or the repeal of laws that affect intellectual property rights.

 

Our business is subject to foreign, national, state, and local laws and regulations for environmental, employment, safety, and other matters. The costs of compliance with, or the violation of, such laws and regulations by us or by independent suppliers who manufacture products for us could have an adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

 

Numerous governmental agencies in the United States and in other countries in which we have operations, enforce comprehensive national, state, and local laws and regulations on a wide range of environmental, employment, health, safety, and other matters. We could be adversely affected by costs of compliance or violations of those laws and regulations. In addition, the costs of products purchased by us from independent contractors could increase due to the costs of compliance by those contractors. Further, violations of such laws and regulations could affect the availability of inventory, thereby affecting our net sales.

 

We may incur significant costs in order to comply with environmental remediation obligations.

 

Environmental laws also impose obligations on various entities to clean up contaminated properties or to pay for the cost of such remediation, often upon parties that did not actually cause the contamination. Accordingly, we may be liable, either contractually or by operation of law, for remediation costs even if the contaminated property is not presently owned or operated by us, is a landfill or other location where we have disposed wastes, or if the contamination was caused by third parties during or prior to our ownership or operation of the property. Given the nature of the past industrial operations conducted by us and others at these properties, there can be no assurance that all potential instances of soil or groundwater contamination have been identified, even for those properties where an environmental site assessment has been conducted. Future events, such as changes in existing laws or policies or their enforcement, or the discovery of currently unknown contamination, may give rise to additional remediation liabilities that may have a material adverse effect upon our business, results of operations or financial condition.

 

Risks Related to our Business

 

There are significant risks associated with acquiring and integrating businesses.

 

An element of our asset redeployment and diversification strategy is the acquisition of or investment in businesses and assets that will diversify our current business, increase size, expand our geographic scope of operations and otherwise offer growth opportunities. We may not be able to successfully identify attractive acquisition or investment opportunities, obtain financing for acquisitions, make acquisitions on satisfactory terms, or successfully acquire and/or integrate identified targets. In identifying, evaluating and selecting a target business or assets for a potential acquisition or investment, we expect to encounter intense competition from other entities, including blank check companies, private equity groups, venture capital funds, leveraged buyout funds, and operating businesses seeking strategic acquisitions. Many of these entities are well-established and have extensive experience identifying and effecting business combinations directly or through affiliates. Moreover, many of these competitors possess greater financial, technical, human and other resources than us which will give them a competitive advantage in pursuing the acquisition of certain target businesses.

 

Our ability to implement our redeployment and diversification strategy is also subject to other risks and costs, including:

 

·loss of key employees, customers or suppliers of acquired businesses;

 

 -7- 

 

 

·diversion of management’s time and attention from our core businesses;

 

·adverse effects on existing business relationships with suppliers and customers;

 

·our ability to secure necessary financing;

 

·our ability to realize operating efficiencies, synergies, or other benefits expected from an acquisition;

 

·risks associated with entering markets in which we have limited or no experience;

 

·risks associated with our ability to execute successful due diligence; and

 

·assumption of contingent or undisclosed liabilities of acquisition targets.

 

Any of the above risks could have a material adverse effect on the market price of our common stock and our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

Since we have not yet selected a particular industry or target business with which to redeploy or invest our assets, you will be unable to currently ascertain the merits or risks of the industry or business in which we may ultimately operate.

 

We may acquire or invest in a company in any industry and are not limited to any particular type of business. Accordingly, there is no current basis for you to evaluate the possible merits or risks of the particular industry in which we may ultimately operate or the target business which we may ultimately acquire. If we acquire or invest in an entity in an industry characterized by a high level of risk, we may be affected by the currently unascertainable risks of that industry. Although our management will endeavor to evaluate the risks inherent in a particular industry or target business, we cannot assure you that we will properly ascertain or assess all of the significant risk factors. Even if we properly assess those risks, some of them may be outside of our control or ability to affect.

 

Our previously announced asset redeployment and diversification strategy may negatively impact our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

The Company announced that it is seeking to redeploy our significant cash balances to invest in high-quality, durable, cash flow-producing assets potentially unrelated to the outdoor industry in order to diversify our business and potentially monetize our substantial net operating losses as part of our previously announced asset redeployment and diversification strategy. There can be no assurance as to the outcome of the asset redeployment and diversification strategy, that any particular acquisition or investment opportunities will be consummated, that any transaction will occur, or that our net operating losses will be monetized. In addition, our asset redeployment and diversification strategy may create perceived uncertainties as to our future direction and may result in the loss of employees, customers or business partners.

 

Recent turmoil across various sectors of the financial markets may negatively impact the Company’s business, financial condition, and/or operating results as well as our ability to effectively execute our redeployment and diversification strategy.

 

Recently, the various sectors of the credit markets and the financial services industry have been experiencing a period of unprecedented turmoil and upheaval characterized by disruption in the credit markets and availability of credit and other financing, the failure, bankruptcy, collapse or sale of various financial institutions and an unprecedented level of intervention from the United States federal government. While the ultimate outcome of these events cannot be predicted, they may have a material adverse effect on our ability to obtain financing necessary to effectively execute acquisitions, the ability of our customers and suppliers to continue to operate their businesses or the demand for our products, which could have a material adverse effect on the market price of our common stock and our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

 

 -8- 

 

 

We may not be able to adequately manage our growth.

 

We have expanded, and are seeking to continue to expand, our business. This growth has placed significant demands on our management, administrative, operating, and financial resources as well as our manufacturing capacity capabilities. The continued growth of our customer base, the types of products offered and the geographic markets served can be expected to continue to place a significant strain on our resources. Personnel qualified in the production and marketing of our products are difficult to find and hire, and enhancements of information technology systems to support growth are difficult to implement. Our future performance and profitability will depend in large part on our ability to attract and retain additional management and other key personnel, as well as our ability to increase and maintain our manufacturing capacity capabilities to meet the needs of our current and future customers. Any failure to adequately manage our growth could have a material adverse effect on the market price of our common stock and our business, financial condition, and results of operations.

 

The Company’s existing credit agreement contains financial and restrictive covenants that may limit our ability to operate our business.

 

The agreement governing the Company’s credit facility contains, and any of its other future debt agreements may contain, covenant restrictions that limit its ability to operate its business, including restrictions on its ability to:

 

·incur debt (including secured debt) or issue guarantees;

 

·grant liens on its assets;

 

·sell substantially all of our assets; and

 

·enter into certain mergers or consolidations or make certain acquisitions.

 

In addition, the Company’s credit facility contains other affirmative and negative covenants, including the requirements to maintain a minimum level of earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortization, tangible net worth and asset coverage. The Company’s ability to comply with these covenants is dependent on its future performance, which will be subject to many factors, some of which are beyond its control, including prevailing economic conditions. Any failure to comply with the restrictions of our credit facility or any subsequent financing agreements may result in an event of default. An event of default may allow the creditors, if the agreements so provide, to accelerate the related debt as well as any other debt to which a cross-acceleration or cross-default provision applies. In addition, the lender under our credit facility may be able to terminate any commitments it had made to supply us with further funds. If we default on the financial covenants in our credit facility, our lender could exercise all rights and remedies available to it, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

 

As a result of these covenants, the Company’s ability to respond to changes in business and economic conditions and to obtain additional financing, if needed, may be significantly restricted, and the Company may be prevented from engaging in transactions or making acquisitions of a business that might otherwise be beneficial to it.

 

Our variable rate indebtedness subjects us to interest rate risk, which could cause our debt service obligations to increase significantly.

 

Borrowings under the revolving portion of our credit facility are at variable rates of interest and expose us to interest rate risk. If interest rates increase, our debt service obligations on the variable rate indebtedness would increase even though the amount borrowed remained the same, and our net income and cash flows would decrease.

 

Currency devaluations or fluctuations may significantly increase our expenses and affect our results of operations as well as the carrying value of international assets on our balance sheet, especially where the currency is subject to intense political and other outside pressures, such as in the case of the Euro, Canadian Dollar and Great British Pound.

 

While we transact business predominantly in U.S. dollars and most of our revenues are collected in U.S. dollars, a substantial portion of our assets, revenues, costs, and earnings are denominated in other currencies, such as the Euro, Canadian dollar, and Great British pound. Changes in the relation of these and other currencies to the U.S. dollar will affect the carrying value of our international assets as well as our sales and profitability and could result in exchange losses. For example, a devaluation of the Euro would negatively impact the carrying value of our assets in Europe and our results of operations because the earnings and assets in Europe would be reduced when translated into U.S. dollars.

 

 -9- 

 

 

Additionally, as the Company has substantial operations and assets located outside the United States, foreign operations expose us to foreign currency devaluations or fluctuations that could have a material adverse impact on our business, results of operations and financial condition based on the movements of the applicable foreign currency exchange rates in relation to the U.S. dollar, both for purposes of actual conversion and financial reporting purposes. The impact of future exchange rate devaluations or fluctuations on our results of operations cannot be accurately predicted. There can be no assurance that the U.S. dollar foreign exchange rates will be stable in the future or that fluctuations in financial or foreign markets will not have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, and financial condition.

 

Compliance with changing laws, regulations and standards of corporate governance and public disclosure may result in additional expenses.

 

Changing laws, regulations and standards relating to corporate governance and public disclosure, including the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Sarbanes Oxley Act”), the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, new Securities and Exchange Commission regulations and NASDAQ rules, are creating uncertainty for companies such as ours. These new or changed laws, regulations, and standards are subject to varying interpretations, in many cases due to their lack of specificity. As a result, their application in practice may evolve over time as new guidance is provided by regulatory and governing bodies, which could result in continuing uncertainty regarding compliance matters and higher costs necessitated by ongoing revisions to disclosure and governance practices. We are committed to maintaining high standards of corporate governance and public disclosure. As a result, our efforts to comply with evolving laws, regulations, and standards have resulted in, and are likely to continue to result in, increased general and administrative expenses and a diversion of management time and attention from revenue-generating activities to compliance activities.

 

We will face particular challenges in maintaining and reporting on our internal control over financial reporting.

 

Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires that we evaluate and report on our system of internal control over financial reporting and requires that we have our internal control over financial reporting audited. If we fail to maintain adequate internal controls, we could be subject to regulatory scrutiny, civil or criminal penalties and/or stockholder litigation. Any inability to provide reliable financial reports could harm our business and the trading price of our common stock. Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act also requires that our independent registered public accounting firm report on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. In addition, acquisition targets may not be in compliance with the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act regarding adequacy of their internal controls. The development of the internal controls of any such entity to achieve compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act may increase the time and costs necessary to complete any such acquisition.

 

If we identify any material weaknesses or significant deficiencies in our internal control over financial reporting, we may need to take costly steps to implement improved controls and may be subject to sanctions for failure to comply with the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Such remedial costs or sanctions could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition. Further, we would be required to disclose any material weakness in internal control over financial reporting, and we would receive an adverse opinion on our internal control over financial reporting from our independent auditors. These factors could cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial information and could have a negative effect on the trading price of our stock.

 

Our Board of Directors and executive officers have significant influence over our affairs.

 

The members of our Board of Directors and our executive officers, which includes Mr. Warren B. Kanders, beneficially owns approximately 25% of our outstanding common stock as of June 12, 2017. As a result, our Board of Directors and executive officers, to the extent they vote their shares in a similar manner, have influence over our affairs and could exercise such influence in a manner that is not in the best interests of our other stockholders, including by attempting to delay, defer or prevent a change of control transaction that might otherwise be in the best interests of our stockholders.

 

We may be unable to realize the benefits of our net operating losses and tax credit carryforwards.

 

Net operating losses (“NOLs”) may be carried forward to offset federal and state taxable income in future years and eliminate income taxes otherwise payable on such taxable income, subject to certain adjustments. Based on current federal corporate income tax rates, our NOL and other carryforwards could provide a benefit to us, if fully utilized, of significant future tax savings. However, our ability to use these tax benefits in future years will depend upon the amount of our otherwise taxable income. If we do not have sufficient taxable income in future years to use the tax benefits before they expire, we will lose the benefit of these NOL carryforwards permanently.

 

 -10- 

 

 

Additionally, if we underwent an ownership change, the NOL carryforward limitations would impose an annual limit on the amount of the taxable income that may be offset by our NOL generated prior to the ownership change. If an ownership change were to occur, we may be unable to use a significant portion of our NOL to offset taxable income. In general, an ownership change occurs when, as of any testing date, the aggregate of the increase in percentage points of the total amount of a corporation’s stock owned by one or more “5-percent shareholders” within the meaning of Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code (“Code”) whose percentage ownership of the stock has increased as of such date over the aggregate of the lowest percentage of the stock owned by such 5-percent shareholder at any time during the three-year period preceding such date is more than 50 percentage points. In general, persons who own 5% or more of a corporation’s stock are 5-percent shareholders, and all stock owned by persons who are not 5-percent shareholders is treated as owned by one 5-percent shareholder. The issuance of a large number of shares of common stock in connection with any acquisitions could result in a limitation of the use of our NOLs.

 

Further, our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, provides for blank check preferred stock, which allows the Board of Directors to issue preferred stock at any time with rights and designations set forth by the Board of Directors. Section 382 of the Code generally excludes preferred stock when calculating ownership percentages as they relate to our NOLs if the preferred stock satisfies all of the following criteria: it is not entitled to vote, it is limited and preferred as to dividends and does not participate in corporate growth to any significant extent, it has redemption and liquidation rights which do not exceed the issue price of such stock (except for a reasonable redemption or liquidation premium), and it is not convertible into another class of stock. Our Board may authorize and issue preferred stock that does not meet these criteria, and such preferred stock would count towards determining ownership change under Section 382 of the Code. Therefore the issuance of any preferred stock could increase the likelihood of a limitation of the use of our NOLs.

 

Moreover, if a corporation experiences an ownership change and does not satisfy the continuity of business enterprise, or COBE, requirement (which generally requires that the corporation continue its historic business or use a significant portion of its historic business assets in a business for the two-year period beginning on the date of the ownership change), it cannot, subject to certain exceptions, use any NOL from a pre-change period to offset taxable income in post-change years.

 

The actual ability to utilize the tax benefit of any existing NOLs will be subject to future facts and circumstances with respect to meeting the above described COBE requirements at the time NOLs are being utilized on a tax return. The realization of NOLs and the recognition of asset and valuation allowances for deferred taxes require management to make estimates and judgments about the Company’s future profitability which are inherently uncertain. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance when, in the opinion of management, it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. If, in the opinion of management, it becomes more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized, deferred tax assets would be reduced by a valuation allowance and any such reduction could have a material adverse effect on the financial condition of the Company.

 

The amount of NOL and tax credit carryforwards that we have claimed has not been audited or otherwise validated by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”). The IRS could challenge our calculation of the amount of our NOL or our determinations as to when a prior change in ownership occurred, and other provisions of the Code may limit our ability to carry forward our NOL to offset taxable income in future years. If the IRS were successful with respect to any such challenge, the potential tax benefit of the NOL carryforwards to us could be substantially reduced.

 

Certain protective measures implemented by us to preserve our NOL may not be effective or may have some unintended negative effects.

 

On July 24, 2003, at our Annual Meeting of Stockholders, our stockholders approved an amendment (the “Amendment”) to our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation to restrict certain acquisitions of our securities in order to help assure the preservation of our NOL. The Amendment generally restricts direct and indirect acquisitions of our equity securities if such acquisition will affect the percentage of the Company’s capital stock that is treated as owned by a “5% stockholder.” Additionally, on February 7, 2008, our Board of Directors approved a rights agreement which 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 Code.

 

 -11- 

 

 

Although the transfer restrictions imposed on our capital stock and the rights agreement are intended to reduce the likelihood of an impermissible ownership change, there is no guarantee that such protective measures would prevent all transfers that would result in an impermissible ownership change. These protective measures also will require any person attempting to acquire a significant interest in us to seek the approval of our Board of Directors. This may have an “anti-takeover” effect because our Board of Directors may be able to prevent any future takeover. Similarly, any limits on the amount of capital stock that a stockholder may own could have the effect of making it more difficult for stockholders to replace current management. Additionally, because protective measures implemented by us to preserve our NOL will have the effect of restricting a stockholder’s ability to acquire our common stock, the liquidity and market value of our common stock might suffer.

 

The loss of any member of our senior management or certain other key executives could significantly harm our business.

 

Our ability to maintain our competitive position is dependent to a large degree on the efforts and skills of our senior management team, including Warren B. Kanders. If we were to lose the services of any member of our senior management, our business may be significantly impaired. In addition, many of our senior executives have strong industry reputations, which aid us in identifying acquisition and borrowing opportunities, and having such opportunities brought to us. The loss of the services of these key personnel could materially and adversely affect our operations because of diminished relationships with lenders, existing and prospective tenants, property sellers and industry personnel.

 

Our Board of Directors may change significant corporate policies without stockholder approval.

 

Our investment, financing, borrowing and dividend policies and our policies with respect to all other activities, including growth, debt, capitalization and operations, will be determined by our Board of Directors. These policies may be amended or revised at any time and from time to time at the discretion of the Board of Directors without a vote of our stockholders. In addition, the Board of Directors may change our policies with respect to conflicts of interest provided that such changes are consistent with applicable legal requirements. A change in these policies could have an adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations, cash flow, per share trading price of our common stock and ability to satisfy our debt service obligations and to pay dividends to our stockholders.

 

Compensation awards to our management may not be tied to or correspond with our improved financial results or share price.

 

The compensation committee of our Board of Directors is responsible for overseeing our compensation and employee benefit plans and practices, including our executive compensation plans and our incentive compensation and equity-based compensation plans. Our compensation committee has significant discretion in structuring compensation packages and may make compensation decisions based on any number of factors. As a result, compensation awards may not be tied to or correspond with improved financial results for the Company or the share price of our common stock.

 

Risks Related to our Common Stock

 

Our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation authorizes the issuance of shares of preferred stock.

 

Our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation provides that our Board of Directors will be authorized to issue from time to time, without further stockholder approval, up to 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock in one or more series and to fix or alter the designations, preferences, rights and any qualifications, limitations or restrictions of the shares of each series, including the dividend rights, dividend rates, conversion rights, voting rights, terms of redemption, including sinking fund provisions, redemption price or prices, liquidation preferences and the number of shares constituting any series or designations of any series. Such shares of preferred stock could have preferences over our common stock with respect to dividends and liquidation rights. We may issue additional preferred stock in ways which may delay, defer or prevent a change in control of the Company without further action by our stockholders. Such shares of preferred stock may be issued with voting rights that may adversely affect the voting power of the holders of our common stock by increasing the number of outstanding shares having voting rights, and by the creation of class or series voting rights.

 

 -12- 

 

 

We do not expect to pay dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future.

 

Although our stockholders may receive dividends if, as and when declared by our Board of Directors, we do not intend to pay dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future. Therefore, you should not purchase our common stock if you need immediate or future income by way of dividends from your investment. In addition, upon an event of default under our credit facility, we are prohibited from declaring or paying any dividends on our common stock or generally making other distributions to our stockholders.

 

The price of our common stock has been and is expected to continue to be volatile, which could affect a stockholder’s return on investment.

 

There has been significant volatility in the stock market and in particular in the market price and trading volume of securities, which has often been unrelated to the performance of the companies. The market price of our common stock has been subject to significant fluctuations, and we expect it to continue to be subject to such fluctuations for the foreseeable future. We believe the reasons for these fluctuations include, in addition to general market volatility, the relatively thin level of trading in our stock, and the relatively low public float. Therefore, variations in financial results, announcements of material events, technological innovations or new products by us or our competitors, our quarterly operating results, changes in general conditions in the economy or the health care industry, other developments affecting us or our competitors or general price and volume fluctuations in the market are among the many factors that could cause the market price of our common stock to fluctuate substantially.

 

Shares of our common stock have been thinly traded in the past.

 

The trading volume of our common stock has not been significant, and there may not be an active trading market for our common stock in the future. As a result of the thin trading market or “float” for our stock, the market price for our common stock may fluctuate significantly more than the stock market as a whole. Without a large float, our common stock is less liquid than the stock of companies with broader public ownership and, as a result, the trading prices of our common stock may be more volatile. In the absence of an active public trading market, an investor may be unable to liquidate his investment in our common stock. Trading of a relatively small volume of our common stock may have a greater impact on the trading price for our stock than would be the case if our public float were larger. We cannot predict the prices at which our common stock will trade in the future.

 

The sale of a substantial amount of our common stock in the public market could adversely affect the prevailing market price of our common stock.

 

We have outstanding an aggregate of 30,012,765 shares of our common stock as of June 12, 2017. This includes 7,835,284 shares of common stock that are beneficially owned by Mr. Warren B. Kanders, our Chairman of the Board, of which he has 5,919,017 hypothecated and/or pledged as security for loans from financial institutions, and that may be sold by such financial institutions in the event of a foreclosure of these loans. The sale of a significant amount of shares at any given time, or the perception that such sales could occur, including sales of the shares beneficially owned by Mr. Kanders, could adversely affect the prevailing market price of our common stock.

 

We may issue a substantial amount of our common stock in the future, which could cause dilution to current investors and otherwise adversely affect our stock price.

 

We may issue additional shares of common stock as consideration for such acquisition. These issuances could be significant. To the extent that we make acquisitions and issue our shares of common stock as consideration, your equity interest in us will be diluted. Any such issuance will also increase the number of outstanding shares of common stock that will be eligible for sale in the future. Persons receiving shares of our common stock in connection with these acquisitions may be more likely to sell off their common stock, which may influence the price of our common stock. In addition, the potential issuance of additional shares in connection with anticipated acquisitions could lessen demand for our common stock and result in a lower price than might otherwise be obtained. We may issue common stock in the future for other purposes as well, including in connection with financings, for compensation purposes, in connection with strategic transactions or for other purposes. The issuance of a large number of shares of common stock in connection with an acquisition could also have a negative effect on our ability to use our NOLs.

 

 -13- 

 

 

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

Certain statements included in this prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement and the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements are made based on our expectations and beliefs concerning future events impacting the Company and therefore involve a number of risks and uncertainties. We caution that forward-looking statements are not guarantees and that actual results could differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements.

 

Potential risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results of operations or financial condition of the Company to differ materially from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements in this prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement and the documents incorporated herein and therein include, but are not limited to, the overall level of consumer spending on our products; general economic conditions and other factors affecting consumer confidence; disruption and volatility in the global capital and credit markets; the financial strength of the Company’s customers; the Company’s ability to implement its reformation and growth strategy, including its ability to organically grow each of its historical product lines; the ability of the Company to identify potential acquisition or investment opportunities as part of its redeployment and diversification strategy; the Company’s ability to successfully redeploy its capital into diversifying assets or that any such redeployment will result in the Company’s future profitability; the Company’s exposure to product liability or product warranty claims and other loss contingencies; stability of the Company’s manufacturing facilities and foreign suppliers; the Company’s ability to protect trademarks, patents and other intellectual property rights; fluctuations in the price, availability and quality of raw materials and contracted products as well as foreign currency fluctuations; our ability to utilize our net operating loss carryforwards; and legal, regulatory, political and economic risks in international markets. More information on potential factors that could affect the Company’s financial results is included from time to time in the Company’s public reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K. All forward-looking statements included in this prospectus are based upon information available to the Company as of the date of this prospectus, and speak only as the date hereof. We assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this prospectus.

 

You should also read carefully the factors described or referred to in the “Risk Factors” section of this prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement and the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein, to better understand the risks and uncertainties inherent in our business and underlying any forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements that we make in this prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement and the documents incorporated by reference herein as well as other written or oral statements by us or our authorized officers on our behalf, speak only as of the date of such statement, and we undertake no obligation to update such statements. Comparisons of results for current and any prior periods are not intended to express any future trends or indications of future performance, unless expressed as such, and should only be viewed as historical data.

 

INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

 

The Commission allows us to “incorporate by reference” the information we file with it, which means that we can disclose important business, financial and other information to you in this prospectus by referring you to the publicly filed documents containing this information. The information incorporated by reference is deemed to be a part of this prospectus, except for any information superseded by information contained in this prospectus or filed later by us with the Commission. This prospectus incorporates by reference the documents set forth below that we have previously filed with the Commission, other than any portion of any such filing that is furnished under the applicable commission rules, which documents contain important information about us and our common stock:

 

·our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, filed with the Commission on March 6, 2017;

 

·our definitive proxy statement filed with the Commission on April 28, 2016;

 

 -14- 

 

 

·our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2017, filed with the Commission on May 8, 2017;

 

·our current report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on June 6 , 2017; and

 

·the description of our common stock contained in our registration statement on Form 8-A/A filed on June 9, 2010, including any amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating that description.

 

All of such documents are on file with the Commission. In addition, all documents filed by us pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, subsequent to the date of this prospectus are incorporated by reference in this prospectus, other than any portion of any such filing that is furnished under the applicable commission rules, and are a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents. Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any subsequently filed document that is also incorporated by reference herein modifies or replaces such statement. Any statements so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus.

 

Any information incorporated by reference herein is available to you without charge upon written or oral request. If you would like a copy of any of this information, please submit your request to us at Black Diamond, Inc., 2084 East 3900 South, Salt Lake City, Utah 84124, Attention: Secretary, or call (801) 278-5552.

 

THE COMPANY

 

We, through our ownership of Black Diamond Equipment, Ltd., are a global leader in designing, manufacturing, and marketing innovative active outdoor engineered performance equipment and apparel for climbing, mountaineering, backpacking, skiing, and a wide range of other year-round outdoor recreation activities. Black Diamond Equipment and PIEPS™, are synonymous with performance, innovation, durability and safety in the outdoor consumer community. We are targeted not only to the demanding requirements of core climbers, skiers and alpinists, but also to the more general outdoor performance enthusiasts and consumers interested in outdoor-inspired gear for their backcountry and urban activities. Our Black Diamond® and PIEPS™ brands are iconic in the active outdoor and ski industries, and linked intrinsically with the modern history of these sports. Headquartered in Salt Lake City at the base of the Wasatch Mountains, our products are designed and exhaustively tested by an engaged team of discerning entrepreneurs and engineers.

 

We offer a broad range of products including: high performance apparel (such as jackets, shells, pants and bibs); rock-climbing equipment (such as carabiners, protection devices, harnesses, belay devices, helmets, and ice-climbing gear); technical backpacks and high-end day packs; tents; trekking poles; headlamps and lanterns; and gloves and mittens. We also offer advanced skis, ski poles, ski skins, and snow safety products, including avalanche airbag systems, avalanche transceivers, shovels, and probes. We distribute our products through a network comprised primarily of leading independent specialty retailers, specialty chains such as Recreational Equipment, Inc. (“REI”), independent global distributors selling to specialty retail, and direct-to-consumer through our website and wholly-owned retail store. Our products are sold in North America, Europe, Asia, and the rest of the world in over 50 countries, with international sales representing approximately 49% of our sales for the year ended December 31, 2016. Canada is our single largest international country in which we conduct business, representing 8% of our total sales for the year ended December 31, 2016.

 

Our heritage dates back to 1957 when Chouinard Equipment Ltd. pioneered the market for durable, precise, and reusable pitons — devices used to ascend or protect oneself in the event of a fall in the sport of big wall rock climbing. Over the next thirty years, Chouinard Equipment expanded to design and manufacture all kinds of equipment for rock climbing and mountain, canyon, and crag activities. In 1989 Black Diamond Equipment was founded when our predecessor company acquired the business and assets of Chouinard Equipment. In our 60 year heritage, we have developed a track record of gear innovations that has changed the nature of climbing, mountaineering, and skiing. By extension, our history and brands have become synonymous with the sports in which we participate. The genesis of the current Black Diamond, Inc. was through the May 2010 acquisition of Black Diamond Equipment, Ltd. (which may be referred to as “Black Diamond Equipment” or “BDEL”) and Gregory Mountain Products, Inc. (which may be referred to as “Gregory Mountain Products”, “Gregory” or “GMP”) by Clarus Corporation, a public company. Clarus Corporation, incorporated in Delaware in 1991, was renamed Black Diamond, Inc. in January 2011. In July 2012, we acquired POC Sweden AB and its subsidiaries (collectively, “POC”) and in October 2012, we acquired PIEPS Holding GmbH and its subsidiaries (collectively, “PIEPS”).

 

 -15- 

 

 

On July 23, 2014, the Company and Gregory Mountain Products, its wholly-owned subsidiary, completed the sale of certain assets to Samsonite LLC (“Samsonite”) comprising Gregory’s business of designing, manufacturing, marketing, distributing and selling technical, alpine, backpacking, hiking, mountaineering and active trail products and accessories as well as outdoor-inspired lifestyle bags (the “Gregory Business”) pursuant to the terms of that certain Asset Purchase Agreement (the “GMP Purchase Agreement”), dated as of June 18, 2014, by and among the Company, Gregory and Samsonite. Under the terms of the GMP Purchase Agreement, Samsonite paid $84,135,000 in cash for Gregory’s assets comprising the Gregory Business and assumed certain specified liabilities (the “GMP Sale”).

 

On March 16, 2015, the Company announced that it was exploring a full range of strategic alternatives, including a sale of the entire Company and the potential sales of the Company’s Black Diamond Equipment (including PIEPS) and POC brands in two separate transactions.

 

On October 7, 2015, the Company and the Company’s wholly owned subsidiary, Ember Scandinavia AB (“Ember”), sold their respective equity interests in POC comprising POC’s business of designing, manufacturing, marketing, distributing and selling advanced-design helmets, body armor, goggles, eyewear, gloves, and apparel for action or “gravity sports,” such as skiing, snowboarding, and cycling pursuant to a Purchase Agreement (the “POC Purchase Agreement”), dated as of October 7, 2015, by and among the Company and Ember, as sellers, and Dainese S.p.A. and Dainese U.S.A., Inc. (collectively “Dainese”), as purchasers. Under the terms of the POC Purchase Agreement, Dainese paid $63,639,000 in cash for POC (the “POC Disposition”).

 

On October 8, 2015, the Company announced the completion of the POC Disposition resulting in the conclusion of the Company’s review of strategic alternatives.

 

On November 9, 2015, the Company announced that it was seeking to redeploy its significant cash balances to invest in high-quality, durable, cash flow-producing assets potentially unrelated to the outdoor industry in order to diversify the Company’s business and potentially monetize the Company’s substantial net operating losses as part of its asset redeployment and diversification strategy. We intend to focus our search primarily in the United States, although we will also evaluate international investment opportunities should we find such opportunities attractive.

 

USE OF PROCEEDS

 

The Company will not realize any proceeds from the sale of the Common Stock which may be sold pursuant to this prospectus for the respective accounts of the Selling Stockholders. The Company, however, will derive proceeds upon the exercise of the options granted to Selling Stockholders. All such proceeds will be available to the Company for working capital and general corporate purposes. No assurances can be given however, as to when or if any or all of the options will be exercised.

 

SELLING STOCKHOLDERS

 

This prospectus relates to Shares that are being registered for reoffers and resales by the Selling Stockholders named below who have acquired or may acquire Shares pursuant to the Plans. The Selling Stockholders may resell any or all of the Shares at any time they choose while this prospectus is effective.

 

Executive officers and directors, their family members, trusts for their benefit, or entities that they own, that acquire common stock under the Plan may be added to the Selling Stockholder list below by a prospectus supplement filed with the Commission. The number of Shares to be sold by any Selling Stockholder under this prospectus also may be increased or decreased by a prospectus supplement. Non-affiliates who purchased restricted securities, as these terms are defined in Rule 144(a) under the Securities Act, under any of our employee benefit plans and who are not named below may use this prospectus for the offer or sale of their common stock if they hold 1,000 shares or less. Although a person’s name is included in the table below, neither that person nor we are making an admission that the named person is our “affiliate.”

 

 -16- 

 

 

Each of the Selling Stockholders is an employee or director of the Company or one of its subsidiaries. The following table sets forth:

 

·the name and principal position with the Company of each Selling Stockholder;

 

·the number of shares of Common Stock each Selling Stockholder beneficially owned as of June 12, 2017;

 

·the number of shares of Common Stock acquired by each Selling Stockholder in connection with stock options and stock grants pursuant to the Plans and underlying stock options previously granted pursuant to the Plans and being registered under this Registration Statement, some or all of which shares may be sold pursuant to this prospectus; and

 

·the number of shares of Common Stock and the percentage, if 1% or more, of the total class of Common Stock outstanding to be beneficially owned by each Selling Stockholder following this offering, assuming the sale pursuant to this offering of all shares acquired by such Selling Stockholder in connection with grants pursuant the Plans and registered under this Registration Statement;

 

The information contained in this “Selling Stockholders” section of this prospectus is included pursuant to the requirements of Form S-8 and includes certain persons eligible to resell “restricted securities” and/or “control securities” (as such terms are defined in Section C of the General Instructions to Form S-8) pursuant to this prospectus whether or not they have a present intent to sell any or all such shares hereunder. As of the date hereof, the Company has not been informed that any of the Selling Stockholders named below has a present intent to resell any such securities.   Furthermore, there is no assurance that any of the Selling Stockholders will sell any or all of the shares offered by them under this Registration Statement.

 

The address of each Selling Stockholder is c/o Black Diamond, Inc., 2084 East 3900 South Salt Lake City, Utah 84124.

 

Name of Selling
Stockholder
  Relationship to
the Company
  Number of Shares
Beneficially
Owned (1)
   Number of Shares
Being Offered (2)
   Shares of Common Stock
Beneficially Owned
After Offering
 
              Number   Percent (3) 
                    
Warren B. Kanders  Executive Chairman and Director   7,835,284(4)   1,550,000    7,035,284    22.6%
                        
Aaron J. Kuehne  Chief Financial Officer, Chief Administrative Officer, Treasurer and Secretary   97,234(5)   325,000    12,817    * 
                        
Nicholas Sokolow  Director   630,692(6)   202,500    437,567    1.5%
                        
Donald L. House  Director   362,986(7)   242,500    129,861    * 
                        
Michael A. Henning  Director   108,125(8)   107,500    10,000    * 

 

*Less than 1%.

 

(1)As used in this table, a beneficial owner of a security includes any person who, directly or indirectly, through contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise has or shares (a) the power to vote, or direct the voting of, such security or (b) investment power which includes the power to dispose, or to direct the disposition of, such security. In addition, a person is deemed to be the beneficial owner of a security if that person has the right to acquire beneficial ownership of such security within 60 days.

 

(2)Includes shares subject to outstanding options issued under the Plan which are exercisable within 60 days.

 

 -17- 

 

 

(3)Applicable percentage of ownership for each selling stockholder is based on 30,012,765 shares outstanding as of June 12, 2017, plus the number of shares of common stock of which such person has the right to acquire beneficial ownership within 60 days.

 

(4)Includes (i) Mr. Kanders’ options to purchase 800,000 shares of common stock that are presently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of June 12, 2017; (ii) 2,419,490 shares of common stock held by Kanders GMP Holdings, LLC, of which Mr. Kanders is a majority member and a trustee of the manager; (iii) 13,900 shares of common stock that Mr. Kanders may be deemed to beneficially own as UTMA custodian for his children; and (iv) 124,667 shares of common stock held by Mr. Kanders’ spouse in a UTA Trust Account of which Mr. Kanders is the sole trustee. Of the 7,835,284 shares of common stock included in Mr. Kanders’ beneficial ownership, 5,919,017 shares are hypothecated and/or pledged as security for loans from financial institutions. Excludes (i) 100,000 shares of common stock that are beneficially owned by Mr. Kanders’ spouse, as to all of which he disclaims any beneficial ownership; (ii) a seven-year restricted stock award granted on January 17, 2011 under the Company’s 2005 Stock Incentive Plan of which 250,000 restricted shares will vest and become nonforfeitable if, on or before January 17, 2018, the closing price of the Company’s common stock shall have equaled or exceeded $14.00 per share for twenty consecutive trading days; and (iii) a five-year restricted stock award granted on June 1, 2017 under the Company’s 2015 Stock Incentive Plan of which: (A) 250,000 restricted shares will vest and become nonforfeitable if, on or before June 1, 2022, the closing price of the Company’s common stock shall have equaled or exceeded $10.00 per share for twenty consecutive trading days; and (B) 250,000 restricted shares will vest and become nonforfeitable if, on or before June 1, 2022, the closing price of the Company’s common stock shall have equaled or exceeded $12.00 per share for twenty consecutive trading days.

 

(5)Includes Mr. Kuehne’s options to purchase 84,417 shares of common stock that are presently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of June 12, 2017, of which options to purchase 25,000 shares of common stock are subject to certain transfer restrictions through and including December 31, 2017. Excludes (i) Mr. Kuehne’s options to purchase 140,583 shares of common stock that are not presently exercisable and not exercisable within 60 days of June 12, 2017; (ii) restricted stock award granted on July 1, 2016 under the Company’s 2015 Stock Incentive Plan of which 100,000 restricted shares will vest and become nonforfeitable if, on or before July 1, 2020, the Fair Market Value (as defined in the 2015 Stock Incentive Plan) of the Company’s common stock shall have equaled or exceeded $15.00 per share for twenty consecutive trading days; and (iii) 1,991 shares of common stock that are beneficially owned by Mr. Kuehne’s spouse, as to all of which he disclaims any beneficial ownership.

 

(6)Includes (i) Mr. Sokolow’s options to purchase 193,125 shares of common stock that are presently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of June 12, 2017; and (ii) 310,900 shares of common stock held by ST Investors Fund, LLC, of which Mr. Sokolow is the General Manager. Excludes Mr. Sokolow’s options to purchase 9,375 shares of common stock that are not presently exercisable and not exercisable within 60 days of June 12, 2017.

 

(7)Includes Mr. House’s options to purchase 233,125 shares of common stock that are presently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of June 12, 2017. Excludes Mr. House’s options to purchase 9,375 shares of common stock that are not presently exercisable and not exercisable within 60 days of June 12, 2017.

 

(8)Includes Mr. Henning’s options to purchase 98,125 shares of common stock that are presently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of June 12, 2017. Excludes Mr. Henning’s options to purchase 9,375 shares of common stock that are not presently exercisable and not exercisable within 60 days of June 12, 2017.

 

The Company will supplement this prospectus from time to time as required by the rules of the Commission to include certain information concerning the security ownership of the Selling Stockholders or any new Selling Stockholders, the number of shares offered for resale and the position, office or other material relationship which a Selling Stockholder has had within the past three years with the Company or any of its predecessors or affiliates.

 

 -18- 

 

 

DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK

 

The following description of our common stock does not purport to be complete and is subject in all respects to applicable Delaware law and qualified by reference to the provisions of our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended (the “Certificate of Incorporation”), Amended and Restated Bylaws, as amended (the “Bylaws”), and Rights Agreement. Copies of our Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws, and Rights Agreement are incorporated by reference and will be sent to stockholders upon request. See “Where Can You Find More Information.”

 

Authorized Common Stock

 

We have authorized 100,000,000 shares of our common stock, par value $0.0001 per share. As of June 15, 2017 there were 30,012,765 shares of our common stock outstanding.

 

Voting Rights, Dividend Rights, Liquidation Rights and Other Rights

 

Holders of common stock are entitled to one vote for each share held on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders and do not have cumulative voting rights. Accordingly, as the Company has not implemented a staggered board of directors or granted stockholders cumulative voting rights, holders of a majority of the shares of common stock that are entitled to vote in any election of directors will have the ability to elect all of the directors standing for election. Holders of common stock are entitled to receive ratably such dividends, if any, as may be declared by the board of directors of the Company (the “Board”) out of funds legally available therefor, subject to any preferential dividend rights of outstanding preferred stock of the Company. Upon the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, the holders of common stock are entitled to receive ratably the net assets of the Company available after the payment of all debts and other liabilities and subject to the prior rights of any outstanding preferred stock of the Company. Holders of common stock have no preemptive, subscription, redemption or conversion rights. The rights, preferences and privileges of holders of common stock are subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights of the holders of shares of any series of preferred stock which the Company may designate and issue in the future.

 

Acquisition Restrictions

 

To help ensure the preservation of its net operating loss carryforwards (“NOLs”), the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation generally restricts any person from attempting to purchase or acquire (any such purchase or acquisition being an “Acquisition”), any direct or indirect interest in Black Diamond’s capital stock (or options, warrants or other rights to acquire Black Diamond’s capital stock, or securities convertible or exchangeable into Black Diamond’s capital stock), if such Acquisition would affect the percentage of Black Diamond’s capital stock owned by a 5% stockholder (the “Acquisition Restrictions” and any person attempting such an Acquisition, being referred to as a “Restricted Holder”). For purposes of determining the existence and identity of, and the amount of capital stock owned by, any 5% stockholder or Restricted Holders, Black Diamond is entitled to rely conclusively on (a) the existence and absence of filings of Schedules 13D and 13G (or any similar schedules) as of any date and (b) its actual knowledge of the ownership of its capital stock. The Company’s Certificate of Incorporation further provides that a Restricted Holder will be required, prior to the date of any proposed Acquisition, to request in writing (a “Request”) that the Board review the proposed Acquisition and authorize or not authorize such proposed Acquisition. If a Restricted Holder seeks to effect an Acquisition, then at the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Board (which are generally held once during each calendar quarter) following the tenth business day after receipt by the Secretary of the Company of a Request, the Board will be required to determine whether to authorize the proposed Acquisition described in the Request. Any determination made by the Board as whether to authorize a proposed Acquisition will be made in the sole discretion and judgment of the Board. The Board shall promptly inform a Restricted Holder making the Request of such determination. Additionally, any Restricted Holder who makes such a Request shall reimburse Black Diamond, on demand, for all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by Black Diamond with respect to any proposed Acquisition, which may be material in relation to the Acquisition and will include the fees and expenses of any attorneys, accountants or other advisors retained by Black Diamond in connection with such determination.

 

 -19- 

 

 

The Company’s Certificate of Incorporation provides that any person who knowingly violates the Acquisition Restrictions or any persons in the same control group with such person shall be jointly and severally liable to Black Diamond for, and shall indemnify and hold Black Diamond harmless against, any and all damages suffered as a result of such violation, including but not limited to damages resulting from a reduction in or elimination of the ability of Black Diamond to use its NOLs.

 

All certificates representing newly issued shares of the Company’s capital stock or shares voted in favor of the Acquisition Restrictions and subsequently submitted for transfer, must bear the following legend:

 

“The Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended (the “Certificate of Incorporation”) of the Corporation contains restrictions prohibiting the purchase or acquisition (collectively, the “Acquisition”) of any capital stock without the authorization of the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board of Directors”), if such Acquisition affects the percentage of capital stock that is treated as owned by a five percent shareholder (within the meaning of Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder), and such Acquisition would, in the sole discretion and judgment of the Board of Directors, jeopardize the Corporation’s preservation of its U.S. federal income tax attributes pursuant to Section 382 of the Code and is not otherwise in the best interests of the Corporation and its stockholders. The Corporation will furnish without charge to the holder of record of this certificate a copy of the Certificate of Incorporation, containing the above-referenced restrictions on acquisitions of stock, upon written request to the Corporation at its principal place of business.”

 

The Board of Directors has the discretion to approve an Acquisition of stock that would otherwise violate the Acquisition Restrictions in circumstances where it determines that such Acquisition is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders. In determining whether or not to permit an Acquisition which may result in violation of the Acquisition Restrictions, the Board may consider factors it deems relevant including the likelihood that the Acquisition would result in an ownership change to occur that would limit the Company’s use of its NOLs. In addition, the Board is authorized to eliminate the Acquisition Restrictions, modify the applicable allowable percentage ownership interest or modify any of the terms and conditions of the Acquisition Restrictions provided that the Board concludes in writing that such change is reasonably necessary or advisable to preserve the Company’s NOLs or that the continuation of the affected terms and conditions of the Acquisition Restrictions is no longer reasonably necessary for such purpose.

 

The Acquisition Restrictions may have anti-takeover effects because they will restrict the ability of a person or entity or group thereof from accumulating an aggregate of 5% or more of the Company’s capital stock and the ability of persons, entities or groups now owning 5% or more of the Company’s capital stock from acquiring additional stock. Although the Acquisition Restrictions are designed as a protective measure to preserve and protect the Company’s NOLs, the Acquisition Restrictions may have the effect of impeding or discouraging a merger, tender offer or proxy contest, even if such a transaction may be favorable to the interests of some or all of the Company’s stockholders. This might prevent stockholders from realizing an opportunity to sell all or a portion of their shares of common stock at higher than market prices. In addition, the Acquisition Restrictions may delay the assumption of control by a holder of a large block of capital stock and the removal of incumbent directors and management, even if such removal may be beneficial to some or all of the Company’s stockholders.

 

The foregoing description of the Acquisition Restrictions does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Preferred Share Purchase Rights

 

On February 12, 2008, Black Diamond 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 common stock. The dividend is payable to Black Diamond’s stockholders of record as of the close of business on February 12, 2008 (the “Record Date”).

 

 -20- 

 

 

The Board of Directors adopted the Rights Agreement to protect the Company’s ability to carry forward its NOLs, which the Company believes are a substantial asset. The 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 guarantee 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 NOLs set forth in the Code.

 

The Rights Agreement imposes a significant penalty upon any person or group that acquires 4.9% or more (but less than 50%) of Black Diamond’s then-outstanding common stock without the prior approval of the Board. Stockholders who own 4.9% or more of Black Diamond’s 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 common stock. Moreover, the Board may exempt any person or group that owns 4.9% or more. A person or group that acquires a percentage of common stock in excess of the applicable threshold but less than 50% of Black Diamond’s then-outstanding common stock is called an “Acquiring Person.” Any Rights held by an Acquiring Person are void and may not be exercised.

 

The Board of Directors authorized the issuance of one Right per each share of common stock outstanding on the Record Date. If the Rights become exercisable, each Right would allow its holder to purchase from Black Diamond one one-hundredth of a share of Black Diamond’s Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, par value $0.0001 (the “Series A Preferred Stock”), for a purchase price of $12.00. Each fractional share of Series A Preferred Stock would give the stockholder approximately the same dividend, voting and liquidation rights as one share of 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 Black Diamond that a person or group has become an Acquiring Person. Until the date that the Rights become exercisable (the “Distribution Date”), Black Diamond’s 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 Black Diamond 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 Black Diamond’s common stock with a market value of two times the purchase price (or other securities or assets as determined by the 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 Black Diamond 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 Black Diamond’s Series A 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 Board of Directors 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. The 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 Black Diamond 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 Black Diamond 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 Black Diamond that a person or group has become an Acquiring Person, but before an Acquiring Person owns 50% or more of Black Diamond’s outstanding common stock, the Board may exchange each Right (other than the Rights that have become void) for one share of common stock or an equivalent security.

 

 -21- 

 

 

The Board may adjust the purchase price of the Series A Preferred Stock, the number of shares of the Series A Preferred Stock 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 Series A 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, the 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, the 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.

 

Anti-Takeover Effects of Certain Provisions of Delaware Law and Our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws

 

Certain provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws could have an anti-takeover effect. These provisions are intended to enhance the likelihood of continuity and stability in the composition of the Board and in the policies formulated by the Board and to discourage an unsolicited takeover of us if the Board determines that such takeover is not in the best interests of us and our stockholders. However, these provisions could have the effect of discouraging certain attempts to acquire us or remove incumbent management even if some or a majority of stockholders deemed such an attempt to be in their best interests.

 

The provisions in the Certificate of Incorporation and the Bylaws include: (a) a procedure which requires stockholders to nominate directors in advance of a meeting to elect such directors; (b) the authority to issue additional shares of preferred stock without stockholder approval; (c) the number of directors on our Board will be fixed exclusively by the Board; (d) any newly created directorship or any vacancy in our Board resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors or the death, disability, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal from office or other cause will be filled solely by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in office, even if less than a quorum; and (e) our Bylaws may be amended by our Board.

 

The DGCL contains statutory “anti-takeover” provisions, including Section 203 of the DGCL which applies automatically to a Delaware corporation unless that corporation elects to opt-out as provided in Section 203. We, as a Delaware corporation, have not elected to opt-out of Section 203 of the DGCL. Under Section 203 of the DGCL, a stockholder acquiring more than 15% of the outstanding voting shares of a corporation (an “Interested Stockholder”) but less than 85% of such shares may not engage in certain business combinations with the corporation for a period of three years subsequent to the date on which the stockholder became an Interested Stockholder unless prior to such date, the board of directors of the corporation approves either the business combination or the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an Interested Stockholder, or the business combination is approved by the board of directors and by the affirmative vote of at least 662/3% of the outstanding voting stock that is not owned by the Interested Stockholder.

 

Limitation of Liability and Indemnification of Officers and Directors

 

Pursuant to provisions of the DGCL, we have adopted provisions in our Certificate of Incorporation that provide that our directors shall not be personally liable for monetary damages to us or our stockholders for a breach of fiduciary duty as a director to the full extent that the Securities Act permits the limitation or elimination of the liability of directors.

 

We have in effect a directors and officers liability insurance policy indemnifying our directors and officers and the directors and officers of our subsidiaries within a specific limit for certain liabilities incurred by them, including liabilities under the Securities Act. We pay the entire premium of this policy. Our Certificate of Incorporation also contains a provision for the indemnification by us of all of our directors and officers, to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL.

 

 -22- 

 

 

Exclusive Forum

 

Our Bylaws provide that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the sole and exclusive forum for (a) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Company, (b) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer, other employee or stockholder of the Company to the Company or the Company’s stockholders, (c) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL or as to which the DGCL confers jurisdiction on the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware, or (d) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of our stock shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the foregoing forum selection provisions.

 

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

 

The Selling Stockholders, which as used herein includes donees, pledgees, transferees or other successors-in-interest selling shares of our common stock or interests in shares of our common stock received after the date of this prospectus from a Selling Stockholder as a gift, pledge, partnership distribution or other transfer, may, from time to time, sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of any or all of their shares of our common stock or interests in shares of our common stock on any stock exchange, market or trading facility on which the shares are traded, in private transactions or through a combination of such methods. These dispositions may be at fixed prices, at prevailing market prices at the time of sale, at prices related to the prevailing market price, at varying prices determined at the time of sale, or at negotiated prices.

 

The Selling Stockholders may use any one or more of the following methods when disposing of shares or interests therein:

 

·market transactions in accordance with the rules of NASDAQ or any other available markets or exchanges;

 

·ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker-dealer solicits purchasers;

 

·block trades in which the broker-dealer will attempt to sell the shares as agent, but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction;

 

·purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the broker-dealer for its account;

 

·an exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the applicable exchange;

 

·privately negotiated transactions;

 

·short sales entered into after the date of this prospectus;

 

·through the writing or settlement of options or other hedging transactions, whether through an options exchange or otherwise;

 

·distributions to the partners and/or members of the Selling Stockholders;

 

·redemptions or repurchases of interests owned by partners and/or members of the Selling Stockholders;

 

·broker-dealers may agree with the Selling Stockholders to sell a specified number of such shares at a stipulated price per share;

 

·a combination of any such methods of sale; and

 

·any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law.

 

 -23- 

 

 

To the extent permitted, this prospectus may be amended or supplemented from time to time to describe a specific plan of distribution. In connection with the sale of our common stock or interests therein, the Selling Stockholders may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions, which may in turn engage in short sales of our common stock in the course of hedging the positions they assume with the selling stockholders. The Selling Stockholders may also sell shares of our common stock short and deliver these securities to close out their short positions, or loan or pledge our common stock to broker-dealers that in turn may sell these securities. The Selling Stockholders may also enter into option or other transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions or the creation of one or more derivative securities which require the delivery to such broker-dealer or other financial institution of shares offered by this prospectus, which shares such broker-dealer or other financial institution may resell pursuant to this prospectus (as supplemented or amended to reflect such transaction).

 

Short selling occurs when a person sells shares of stock which the person does not yet own and promises to buy stock in the future to cover the sale. The general objective of the person selling the shares short is to make a profit by buying the shares later, at a lower price, to cover the sale. Significant amounts of short selling, or the perception that a significant amount of short sales could occur, could depress the market price of our common stock. In contrast, purchases to cover a short position may have the effect of preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of our common stock, and together with the imposition of the penalty bid, may stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the market price of our common stock. As a result, the price of our common stock may be higher than the price that otherwise might exist in the open market. If these activities are commenced, they may be discontinued at any time. These transactions may be effected on NASDAQ, in the over-the-counter market or otherwise.

 

The aggregate proceeds to the Selling Stockholders from the sale of our common stock offered by them will be the purchase price of our common stock less discounts or commissions, if any. Each of the Selling Stockholders reserves the right to accept and, together with their agents from time to time, to reject, in whole or in part, any proposed purchase of our common stock to be made directly or through agents. We will not receive any of the proceeds from this offering.

 

The Selling Stockholders also may resell all or a portion of the shares in open market transactions in reliance upon Rule 144 under the Securities Act, provided that they meet the criteria and conform to the requirements of that rule.

 

The Selling Stockholders and any underwriters, broker-dealers or agents that participate in the sale of our common stock or interests therein may be “underwriters” within the meaning of Section 2(11) of the Securities Act. Any discounts, commissions, concessions or profits they earn on any resale of the shares may be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act. Selling Stockholders who are “underwriters” within the meaning of Section 2(11) of the Securities Act will be subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act.

 

To the extent required, the shares of our common stock to be sold, the names of the Selling Stockholders, the respective purchase prices and public offering prices, the names of any agents, dealers or underwriters, any applicable commissions or discounts with respect to a particular offer will be set forth in an accompanying prospectus supplement or, if appropriate, a post-effective amendment to the registration statement that includes this prospectus.

 

In order to comply with the securities laws of some states, if applicable, our common stock may be sold in these jurisdictions only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers. In addition, in some states our common stock may not be sold unless it has been registered or qualified for sale or an exemption from registration or qualification requirements is available and is complied with.

 

We have advised the Selling Stockholders that the anti-manipulation rules of Regulation M under the Exchange Act may apply to sales of shares in the market and to the activities of the Selling Stockholders and their affiliates. In addition, we will make copies of this prospectus (as it may be supplemented or amended from time to time) available to the Selling Stockholders for the purpose of satisfying the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act. The Selling Stockholders may indemnify any broker-dealer that participates in transactions involving the sale of the shares against certain liabilities, including liabilities arising under the Securities Act.

 

 -24- 

 

 

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

 

We are subject to the informational requirements of the Exchange Act, and in accordance therewith we are required to file periodic reports, proxy statements and other information with the Commission. Such reports, proxy statements and other information filed by us can be inspected and copied at the Commission’s Public Reference Room located at 100 F Street, N.E. Washington, D.C. 20549, at the prescribed rates. The Commission also maintains a site on the World Wide Web that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding registrants that file electronically. The address of such site is http://www.sec.gov. Please call 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the operation of the Commission’s Public Reference Room.

 

Our common stock is traded on NASDAQ under the symbol “BDE.” Certain materials filed by us may be inspected at the NASDAQ Stock Market, One Liberty Plaza, 165 Broadway, New York, NY 10006.

 

This prospectus omits certain information that is contained in the registration statement on file with the Commission, of which this prospectus is a part. For further information with respect to us and our common stock, reference is made to the registration statement, including the exhibits incorporated therein by reference or filed therewith. Statements herein contained concerning the provisions of any document are not necessarily complete and, in each instance, reference is made to the copy of such document filed as an exhibit or incorporated by reference to the registration statement. The registration statement and the exhibits may be inspected without charge at the offices of the Commission or copies thereof obtained at prescribed rates from the public reference section of the Commission at the addresses set forth above.

 

EXPERTS

 

The consolidated financial statements of Black Diamond, Inc. as of December 31, 2016 and 2015 and for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2016, and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2016 have been incorporated by reference herein, in reliance on the reports of KPMG LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, incorporated by reference herein, and upon the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

 

LEGAL MATTERS

 

The validity of the shares of common stock offered hereby will be passed upon for us by Kane Kessler, P.C., New York, New York. Any underwriters will be advised of the other issues relating to any offering by their own legal counsel.

 

 -25- 

 

 

 

 

REOFFER PROSPECTUS

 

BLACK DIAMOND, INC.

 

2,427,500 Shares of Common Stock,

par value $0.0001 per share

 

 

 

June 15, 2017

 

No dealer, salesperson or other person is authorized to give any information or to represent anything not contained in this prospectus. You must not rely on any unauthorized information or representations. This prospectus is an offer to sell only the shares offered hereby, but only under circumstances and in jurisdictions where it is lawful to do so. The information contained in this prospectus is current only as of its date.

 

 

 

 

 

 

PART II

 

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

 

Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.

 

The following documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) by Black Diamond, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Registrant”), are incorporated by reference in to the Registration Statement:

 

·our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, filed with the Commission on March 6, 2017;

 

·our definitive proxy statement filed with the Commission on April 28, 2017;

 

·our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2017, filed with the Commission on May 8, 2017;

 

·our current report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on June 12 , 2017; and

 

·the description of our common stock contained in our registration statement on Form 8-A/A filed on June 9, 2010, including any amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating that description.

 

All of such documents are on file with the Commission. In addition, all documents filed by us pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, subsequent to the date of this Registration Statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all the securities offered hereby have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement and are a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents. Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any subsequently filed document that is also incorporated by reference herein modifies or replaces such statement. Any statements so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.

 

Item 4. Description of Securities.

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

 

Under Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, a corporation may indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or other enterprise, against expenses, costs or fees (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding (a) if such person acted in good faith and in a manner that such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and (b) with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, if such person had no reasonable cause to believe such conduct was unlawful. To the extent that such person has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defending any such action, suit or proceeding referred to above or any claim, issue or matter therein, he or she is entitled to indemnification for expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection therewith. In the case of an action or suit by or in the right of the corporation, no indemnification may be made in respect to any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware, or the court in which such action or suit was brought, shall determine that, despite the adjudication of liability, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the court shall deem proper. Section 145 provides that, to the extent a director, officer, employee or agent of a corporation has been successful in the defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to above or in the defense of any claim, issue or manner therein, such person shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection therewith.

 

 II-1 

 

 

The Registrant’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended (the “Certificate of Incorporation”), provides that the Registrant shall indemnify to the full extent permitted by law any person made or threatened to be made a party to an action or proceeding, whether criminal, civil, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that he, his testator or intestate is or was a director, officer or employee of the Registrant or any predecessor of the Registrant or serves or served any other enterprise as a director, officer or employee at the request of the Registrant or any predecessor of the Registrant.

 

The Registrant’s Amended and Restated By-Laws, as amended (the  “By-Laws”), provide that the Registrant shall, to the maximum extent and in the manner permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law indemnify any person against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred in connection with any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding in which such person was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director or officer of the Registrant. For purposes of such provisions, the By-Laws defines a  “director” or  “officer” of the Registrant as, in addition to any director or officer of the Registrant, any person who is or was serving at the request of the Registrant as a director or officer of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise or who was a director or officer of a corporation which was a predecessor corporation of the Registrant or of another enterprise at the request of such predecessor corporation.  The Registrant’s By-Laws provide that the Registrant shall be required to indemnify a director or officer in connection with an action, suit or proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such director or officer only if the initiation of such action, suit or proceeding (or part thereof) by the director or officer was authorized by the Board of Directors of the Registrant. The Registrant is required to pay the expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by a director or officer of the Registrant entitled to such indemnification in defending any such action, suit or proceeding; provided, however, that payment of expenses incurred by a director or officer of the Registrant in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding shall be made only upon receipt of an undertaking by the director or officer to repay all amounts advanced if it shall ultimately be determined that the director or officer is not entitled to be indemnified. Any repeal or modification of the foregoing provisions of the Registrant’s By-Laws shall not adversely affect any right or protection hereunder of any person in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to the time of such repeal or modification.

 

The By-Laws provide that if such an indemnification claim provided for under the By-Laws is not paid in full by the Registrant within sixty (60) days after a written claim has been received by the Registrant, except in the case of a claim for an advancement of expenses, in which case the applicable period shall be twenty (20) days, the person claiming indemnification may at any time thereafter bring suit against the Registrant to recover the unpaid amount of the claim. If successful in whole or in part in any such suit or in a suit brought by the Registrant to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the indemnitee shall be entitled to be paid also the expense of prosecuting or defending such suit. In any suit brought by a person claiming indemnification to enforce a right to indemnification hereunder (but not in a suit brought by any such person to enforce a right to an advancement of expenses), it shall be a defense that such person has not met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the Delaware General Corporation Law. In any suit by the Registrant to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the Registrant shall be entitled to recover such expenses upon a final adjudication that such person has not met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the Delaware General Corporation Law. Neither the failure of the Registrant (including its Board of Directors, independent legal counsel or its stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of any such suit that indemnification is proper in the circumstances because the person claiming  indemnification has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the Delaware General Corporation Law, nor an actual determination by the Registrant (including its Board of Directors, independent legal counsel or its stockholders) that the indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall create a presumption that the indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct or, in the case of such a suit brought by a person claiming indemnification, be a defense to such suit. In any suit brought by a person claiming indemnification to enforce a right hereunder, or by the Registrant to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the burden of proving that such person is not entitled to be indemnified or to such advancement of expenses shall be on the Registrant.

 

 II-2 

 

 

The By-Laws provide that the rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses conferred thereunder are not exclusive of any other right which any person may have or acquire under any statute, the Certificate of Incorporation, the By-Laws, by agreement, by vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.

 

The Registrant’s directors and officers are insured (subject to certain exceptions and deductions) against liabilities which they may incur in their capacity as such including liabilities under the Securities Act, under liability insurance policies carried by the Registrant.

 

Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed.

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 8. Exhibits.

 

Exhibit No.   Description
     
4.1   Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant (filed as Appendix C to the Registrant’s Definitive Proxy Statement, filed with the Commission on November 6, 2002 and incorporated herein by reference).
     
4.2   Certificate of Amendment to Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant (filed as Exhibit 3.1 of the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on July 31, 2003 and incorporated herein by reference).
     
4.3   Certificate of Amendment of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant (filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on January 24, 2011 and incorporated herein by reference).
     
4.4   Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Registrant (filed as Appendix D to the Registrant’s Definitive Proxy Statement, filed with the Commission on November 6, 2002 and incorporated herein by reference).
     
4.5   Amendment No. 1 to the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Registrant (filed as Exhibit 3.4 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the Commission on March 31, 2003 and incorporated herein by reference).
     
4.6   Amendment No. 2 to the Amended and Restated By-Laws of the Registrant (filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on June 4, 2010 and incorporated herein by reference).
     
4.7   Amendment No. 3 to the Amended and Restated By-Laws of the Registrant (filed as Exhibit 3.2 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, filed with the Commission on August 9, 2010 and incorporated herein by reference).
     
4.8  

Amendment No. 4 to the Amended and Restated By-Laws of Black Diamond, Inc. (filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on June 9, 2016 and incorporated herein by reference).

     
4.9   Form of Certificate of Designation of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock (filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on February 13, 2008 and incorporated herein by reference).
     
4.10   Registrant’s Specimen Common Stock Certificate (filed as Exhibit 4.2 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the Commission on March 15, 2011 and incorporated herein by reference).

 

 II-3 

 

 

4.11   Form of Rights Certificate (filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on February 13, 2008 and incorporated herein by reference).
     
4.12   Registrant’s 2005 Stock Incentive Plan (filed as Appendix A of the Registrant’s Definitive Proxy Statement, filed with the Commission on May 2, 2005 and incorporated herein by reference).
     
4.13  

Amendment No. 1 to the Registrant’s 2005 Stock Incentive Plan (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on September 7, 2010 and incorporated herein by reference).

     
4.14   Registrant’s 2015 Stock Incentive Plan (filed as Appendix A to the Registrant’s Proxy Statement, filed with the Commission on November 9, 2015 and incorporated herein by reference).
     
4.15  

Stock Option Agreement, dated December 23, 2002, between Clarus Corporation and Warren B. Kanders (filed as Exhibit 4.6 of the Registrant’s Registration Statement Form S-8 filed with the Commission on August 19, 2005 and incorporated herein by reference).

     
5.1   Opinion of Kane Kessler, P.C. (1)
     
23.1   Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm. (1)
     
23.2   Consent of Kane Kessler, P.C. (Included in Exhibit 5.1). (1)
     
24.1   Power of Attorney (included on the signature page of the Registration Statement hereto). (1)

 

(1)Filed herewith.

 

Item 9.Undertakings

 

1.The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

 

(a)To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

 

(i)to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;

 

(ii)to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and

 

(iii)to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;

 

 II-4 

 

 

provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(i) and (a)(ii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement.

 

(b)that, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof; and

 

(c)to remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

 

2.The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the Registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

3.Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the undersigned Registrant pursuant to the provisions described in Item 6 or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

 II-5 

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, the undersigned registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Salt Lake, State of Utah, on June 15, 2017.

 

      BLACK DIAMOND, INC.
           
      By: /s/ Aaron J. Kuehne  
        Name: Aaron J. Kuehne  
        Title: Chief Financial Officer and Chief Administrative Officer  

 

POWER OF ATTORNEY

 

Each of the undersigned officers and directors of Black Diamond, Inc. hereby severally constitutes and appoints Warren B. Kanders and Aaron J. Kuehne as the attorney-in-fact for the undersigned, in any and all capacities, with full power of substitution, to sign any and all pre- or post-effective amendments to this registration statement, any subsequent registration statement for the same offering which may be filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and any and all pre- or post-effective amendments thereto, and to file the same with exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on June 15, 2017:

 

  Name     Title
     
  /s/ Warren B. Kanders   Executive Chairman and Director
Warren B. Kanders    
     
  /s/ Aaron J. Kuehne   Chief Financial Officer and Chief Administrative Officer
(Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)
Aaron J. Kuehne    
     
  /s/ Donald L. House   Director
Donald L. House    
     
  /s/ Nicholas Sokolow   Director
Nicholas Sokolow    
     
  /s/ Michael A. Henning   Director
Michael A. Henning    

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit No.     Description
     
5.1   Opinion of Kane Kessler, P.C.
     
23.1   Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
     
23.2   Consent of Kane Kessler, P.C. (Included in Exhibit 5.1).
     
24.1   Power of Attorney (included on the signature page of the Registration Statement hereto).