UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 Or 15(d) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

  

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)  August 23, 2016

 

 

Image Sensing Systems, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Minnesota 000-26056 41-1519168
(State or other jurisdiction (Commission (IRS Employer
of incorporation) File Number) Identification No.)

 

500 Spruce Tree Centre, 1600 University Avenue West, St. Paul, Minnesota 55104
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code    (651) 603-7700

 

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instructions A.2. below):

 

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
   
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
   
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
   
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 
 

 

Section 1 – Registrant’s Business and Operations

 

Item 1.01.  Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

 

(a)                  Effective August 23, 2016, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Image Sensing Systems, Inc. (the “Company”) authorized and adopted a First Amendment to Rights Agreement (the “Amendment”) to the Rights Agreement between the Company and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as rights agent, dated as of June 6, 2013 (the “Original Rights Agreement”). The Board had previously declared a dividend distribution of one right (a “Right”) for each outstanding share of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share, to shareholders of record at the close of business on June 17, 2013 pursuant to the Original Rights Agreement. Each Right entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company one one-thousandth of a share of the Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Preferred Shares”), of the Company at an exercise price of $25.00 per one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share, subject to adjustment (the “Exercise Price”). (The Original Rights Agreement, as amended by the Amendment, is referred to in this Current Report on Form 8-K as the “Rights Agreement.”) All capitalized terms used but not defined in this Current Report on Form 8-K shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Rights Agreement.

By adopting the Amendment, the Board is helping to preserve the value of certain deferred tax benefits of the Company, including those generated by net operating losses (collectively, the “Tax Benefits”). In general terms, it works by imposing a significant penalty upon any person or group that acquires 4.99% or more of the outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock without the approval of the Board. The Company’s ability to use these Tax Benefits would be substantially limited if it were to experience an “ownership change” as defined under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). In general, an ownership change would occur if there is a greater than 50-percentage point change in ownership of securities by shareholders owning (or deemed to own under Section 382 of the Code) five percent or more of a corporation’s securities over a rolling three-year period. The Amendment reduces the likelihood that changes in the Company's investor base have the unintended effect of limiting the Company’s use of its Tax Benefits. The Board believes it is in the best interest of the Company and its shareholders that the Company provide for the protection of the Tax Benefits by adopting the Amendment.

 

The Rights Agreement is intended to act as a deterrent to any Acquiring Person (as defined below). This would protect the Tax Benefits because changes in ownership by a person owning less than 4.99% of the Company's common stock are not included in the calculation of “ownership change” for purposes of Section 382 of the Code. The Board has established procedures to consider requests to exempt certain acquisitions of the Company's securities from the Rights Agreement if the Board determines that doing so would not limit or impair the availability of the Tax Benefits or is otherwise in the best interests of the Company.

 

The amendments to the Original Rights Agreement effected by the Amendment include, among others, the following:

· amendment of the threshold at which a person or group becomes an “Acquiring Person” from 20% to 4.99% of the outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock, subject to certain exceptions (including that any shareholder who, as of the time of the first public announcement of the adoption of the Amendment, beneficially owns 4.99% or more of the then-outstanding shares of common stock will not be deemed to be an “Acquiring Person” so long as such shareholder does not thereafter acquire any additional shares of Common Stock, subject to certain exceptions);
· amendment of certain other provisions to include terms appropriate for the purpose of preserving the Tax Benefits; and
· amendment of the exchange provision allowing the Board to extinguish the Rights by exchanging for each Right two shares of the Company’s common stock rather than one share of common stock as provided in the Original Rights Agreement.

 

The Company plans to submit the Amendment to the Company’s shareholders for approval at the Company’s regular meeting of shareholders to be held in 2017.

 

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Distribution and Transfer of Rights; Rights Certificates

 

Before the Distribution Date referred to below:

 

· the Rights are and will be evidenced by and trade with the stock certificates for the shares of the Company’s common stock (or, with respect to any uncertificated shares of common stock registered in book entry form, by notation in book entry), and no separate Rights certificates will be distributed;

 

· stock certificates for shares of the Company’s common stock issued after the Record Date contain a legend incorporating the Rights Agreement by reference (and, for any uncertificated shares of common stock registered in book entry form, this legend is contained in a notation in book entry);

 

· new Rights will accompany any new shares of the Company’s common stock issued after the Record Date; and

 

· the surrender for transfer of any certificates for shares of the Company’s common stock (or the surrender for transfer of any uncertificated shares of common stock registered in book entry form) will also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with such shares.

 

Distribution Date

Subject to certain exceptions specified in the Rights Agreement, the Rights will separate from the Company’s common stock and become exercisable following (i) the 10 th business day (or such later date as may be determined by the Board) after the public announcement that an Acquiring Person has acquired beneficial ownership of 4.99% or more of the Common Shares or (ii) the 10 th business day (or such later date as may be determined by the Board) after a person or group announces a tender or exchange offer that would result in ownership by a person or group of 4.99% or more of the Company’s common stock. The date on which the Rights separate from the shares of the Company’s common stock and become exercisable is referred to as the “Distribution Date.”

 

After the Distribution Date, the Rights will separate from the shares of common stock and be evidenced by book-entry credits or by Rights certificates that the Company will cause to be mailed to all eligible holders of common stock, and any Rights held by an Acquiring Person will be void and may not be exercised.

 

Preferred Shares Purchasable Upon Exercise of Rights

After the Distribution Date, each Right will entitle the holder to purchase, for the Exercise Price, one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share having economic and other terms similar to that of one share of the Company’s common stock. This portion of a Preferred Share is intended to give the shareholder approximately the same dividend, voting and liquidation rights as would one share of common stock and should approximate the value of one share of common stock.

More specifically, each one one-thousandth of a Preferred Share, if issued, will:

 

· not be redeemable;

 

· entitle its holder to quarterly dividend payments of $0.001 per share, or an amount equal to the dividend paid on one share of common stock, whichever is greater;

 

· entitle its holder upon liquidation either to receive $1.00 per share or an amount equal to the payment made on one share of common stock, whichever is greater;

 

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· have the same voting power as one share of common stock; and

 

· entitle its holder to a per share payment equal to the payment made on one share of common stock, if the shares of common stock are exchanged via merger, consolidation or a similar transaction.

 

Consequences of a Person or Group Becoming an Acquiring Person

Definition of Acquiring Person

An “Acquiring Person” is a person or group that, together with affiliates and associates of such person or group, acquires beneficial ownership of 4.99% or more of the Company’s common stock, other than (i) an “Exempt Person”; (ii) any shareholder that, as of the time of the first public announcement of adoption of the Amendment, beneficially owns 4.99% or more of the Company’s common stock (unless and until such person thereafter acquires any additional shares of common stock, subject to certain exceptions); (iii) a person who becomes an Acquiring Person solely as a result of the Company repurchasing shares of its common stock; and (iv) certain shareholders who inadvertently buy shares in excess of 4.99% of the shares of common stock and who thereafter reduce the percentage of the shares they own below 4.99%. An Exempt Person is defined as the Company, its subsidiaries and their respective employee benefit plans; and any person that the Board has affirmatively determined, in its sole discretion, prior to the Distribution Date, in light of the intent and purposes of the Amendment and the Original Rights Agreement or other circumstances facing the Company, shall not be deemed an Acquiring Person.

Flip-In Trigger

If a person or group of affiliated or associated persons (an “Acquiring Person”) acquires beneficial ownership of 4.99% or more of the outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock, all holders of Rights may purchase, for the Exercise Price, a number of shares of common stock (or, in certain circumstances, cash, property or other securities of the Company) having a then-current market value equal to twice the Exercise Price, based on the market price of the common stock before such acquisition. However, the Rights are not exercisable following the occurrence of such an event until the Rights are no longer redeemable by the Company, as described below.

Following the occurrence of an event described in the preceding paragraph, all Rights that are or, under certain circumstances specified in the Rights Agreement, were beneficially owned by an Acquiring Person or certain of its transferees will be null and void.

Flip-Over Trigger

If, after an Acquiring Person obtains 4.99% or more of the outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock, the Company merges into another entity, an acquiring entity merges into the Company, or the Company sells or transfers more than 50% of its assets, cash flow or earning power, then each Right (except for Rights that have previously been voided as set forth above) will entitle its holder to purchase, for the Exercise Price, a number of shares of stock of the acquiring person engaging in the transaction having a then-current market value equal to twice the Exercise Price, based on the market price of the acquiring person’s stock before such transaction.

Redemption of the Rights

The Board may redeem the Rights for $0.001 per Right (payable in cash, shares of the Company’s common stock or other consideration deemed appropriate by the Board) at any time before a person becomes an Acquiring Person. When the Board redeems the Rights, the Rights will terminate, and the only right of the holders of the Rights will be to receive the $0.001 redemption price. The redemption price will be adjusted if the Company undertakes a stock dividend or a stock split of its common stock.

 

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Exchange

After a person or group becomes an Acquiring Person, but before an Acquiring Person beneficially owns 50% of the outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock, the Board may extinguish the Rights (except for Rights that have previously been voided as set forth above), in whole or in part, by exchanging two shares of common stock or an equivalent security for each Right. In certain circumstances, the Company may elect to exchange the Rights for cash or other securities of the Company having a value approximately equal to two shares of common stock.

 

Expiration of the Rights

The Rights expire on the earliest of (i) 5:00 p.m., Eastern time, on the date of the Company’s regular meeting of shareholders to be held in 2017 unless the continuation of the Rights is approved by the affirmative vote of the majority of shares of common stock present in person or represented by proxy and voting on such matter at such regular meeting (or any adjournment or postponement thereof) duly held in accordance with the Company's Bylaws and applicable law; (ii) 5:00 p.m., Eastern time, on June 6, 2018 (unless such date is extended); (iii) the time at which the Rights are redeemed or exchanged under the Rights Agreement; (iv) the repeal of Section 382 of the Code or any successor statute or any other change if the Board determines that the Rights Agreement is no longer necessary or desirable for the preservation of the Tax Benefits; or (v) the time at which the Board determines that the Tax Benefits are fully utilized or no longer available.

Amendment of Terms of Rights Agreement and Rights

The terms of the Rights and the Rights Agreement may be amended in any respect without the consent of the holders of the Rights on or before the Distribution Date. After the Distribution Date, the terms of the Rights and the Rights Agreement may be amended without the consent of the holders of Rights in order to cure any ambiguities, to shorten or lengthen any time period set forth in the Rights Agreement, or to make changes that do not adversely affect the interests of holders of the Rights.

Voting Rights; Other Shareholder Rights

The Rights will not have any voting rights. Until a Right is exercised, the holder of the Right will have no separate rights as a shareholder of the Company.

Anti-Dilution Provisions

The Board may adjust the Exercise Price, the number of Preferred Shares issuable and the number of outstanding Rights to prevent dilution that may occur from a stock dividend, a stock split or a reclassification of the Company’s Preferred Shares or shares of common stock.

With certain exceptions, no adjustments to the Exercise Price will be made until the cumulative adjustments amount to at least 1% of the Exercise Price. No fractional Preferred Shares will be issued and, in lieu thereof, an adjustment in cash will be made based on the current market price of the Preferred Shares.

Taxes

The distribution of Rights should not be taxable for federal income tax purposes. However, following any occurrence of an event that renders the Rights exercisable or upon any redemption of the Rights, shareholders may recognize taxable income.

The foregoing is a summary of the terms of the Rights Agreement. The summary does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to full text of the Amendment attached as Exhibit 4.1 and incorporated herein by reference; the full text of the Original Rights Agreement, which was attached as Exhibit 4.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Company on June 6, 2013 and is incorporated herein by reference; and the full text of the Certificate of Designation amending the Articles of Incorporation of the Company setting forth the terms of the Preferred Shares, which was attached as Exhibit 3.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Company on June 6, 2013 and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

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Section 3 –Securities and Trading Markets

 Item 3.03. Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders.

 

(a) The information included in Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference into this Item 3.03(a).

 

Section 8 – Other Events

 

Item 8.01. Other Events.

 

On August 23, 2016, the Company issued a press release relating to the Amendment. A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

Section 9 – Financial Statements and Exhibits

 

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d)           Exhibits .

 

The following exhibits are filed with or incorporated into this Current Reports on Form 8-K:

 

3.1          Certificate of Designation amending the Articles of Incorporation of Image Sensing Systems, Inc. as filed with the Minnesota Secretary of State on June 6, 2013, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated June 6, 2013 (File No. 0-26056).

 

4.1          First Amendment to Rights Agreement dated as of August 23, 2016, by and between Image Sensing Systems, Inc. and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as rights agent, filed herewith.

 

4.2          Rights Agreement dated as of June 6, 2013, by and between Image Sensing Systems, Inc. and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as rights agent, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated June 6, 2013 (File No. 0-26056).

 

99.1          Press Release of Image Sensing Systems, Inc. dated August 23, 2016, filed herewith.

 

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

 

 

 

 

  Image Sensing Systems, Inc.
Date:  August 23, 2016    
  By   /s/ Richard A. Ehrich
  Interim Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)

 

 

 
 

 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

 

Exhibit No.

_______________

Description

_______________

 

3.1 Certificate of Designation amending the Articles of Incorporation of Image Sensing Systems, Inc. as filed with the Minnesota Secretary of State on June 6, 2013, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated June 6, 2013 (File No. 0-26056).
   
4.1

First Amendment to Rights Agreement dated as of August 23, 2016, by and between Image Sensing Systems, Inc. and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as rights agent, filed herewith.

 

4.2

Rights Agreement dated as of June 6, 2013, by and between Image Sensing Systems, Inc. and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as rights agent, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated June 6, 2013 (File No. 0-26056).

 

99.1 Press Release of Image Sensing Systems, Inc. dated August 23, 2016, filed herewith.

 

 

 

Exhibit 4.1

IMAGE SENSING SYSTEMS, INC.

and

CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY

as Rights Agent

FIRST AMENDMENT

TO

RIGHTS AGREEMENT

This First Amendment to Rights Agreement (the “Amendment”) is between Image Sensing Systems, Inc., a Minnesota corporation (the “Company”), and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, a New York limited-purpose trust company, as rights agent (the “Rights Agent”), and shall be effective as the 23rd day of August, 2016.

WHEREAS, the Company and the Rights Agent executed and entered into that certain Rights Agreement dated as of June 6, 2013 (the “Rights Agreement”);

WHEREAS, Section 27 of the Rights Agreement (which is being redesignated by this Amendment as Section 28) provides that the Company may, and the Rights Agent shall, if the Company so directs, supplement or amend any provision of the Rights Agreement without the approval of any holders of the Rights;

WHEREAS, the Company has determined that it is necessary or desirable, in the interests of the Company and the holders of the Rights, to amend the Rights Agreement as provided herein; and

WHEREAS, all acts and things necessary to make this Amendment a valid agreement according to its terms have been done and performed, and the execution and delivery of this Amendment by the Company and the Rights Agent have been in all respects authorized by the Company and the Rights Agent.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and mutual agreements set forth herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, and intending to be legally bound, the Company and the Rights Agent agree as follows:

1. Amendments .

1.1          Section 1 of the Rights Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

“Section 1. Definitions . For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings indicated:

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(a)                  “Acquiring Person” means any Person who or which, together with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person, shall be the Beneficial Owner of 4.99% or more of the Common Shares of the Company then outstanding, but shall not include an “Exempt Person” (as hereinafter defined); provided, however, that no Person who Beneficially Owns, as of the time of the public announcement of this Agreement, 4.99% or more of the Common Shares of the Company then outstanding shall become an Acquiring Person unless such Person shall, after the time of the public announcement of this Agreement, increase its Beneficial Ownership of the then outstanding Common Shares (other than as a result of an acquisition of Common Shares by the Company) to an amount equal to or greater than the greater of (x) 4.99% of the outstanding Common Shares of the Company or (y) the sum of (i) the lowest Beneficial Ownership of such Person as a percentage of the outstanding Common Shares as of any time from and after the public announcement of this Agreement plus (ii) 1.00%. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Person shall become an “Acquiring Person” as the result of an acquisition of Common Shares by the Company which, by reducing the number of Common Shares of the Company outstanding, increases the proportionate number of Common Shares of the Company Beneficially Owned by such Person to 4.99% or more of the Common Shares of the Company then outstanding; provided, however, that, if a Person shall become the Beneficial Owner of 4.99% or more of the Common Shares of the Company then outstanding by reason of share purchases by the Company and shall, after the public announcement of such share purchases by the Company, become the Beneficial Owner of any additional Common Shares of the Company, then such Person shall be deemed to be an Acquiring Person. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Board determines in good faith that a Person who would otherwise be an Acquiring Person, as defined pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this paragraph (a), has become such inadvertently, and such Person divests as promptly as practicable a sufficient number of Common Shares so that such Person would no longer be an Acquiring Person, as defined pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this paragraph (a), then such Person shall not be deemed to be an Acquiring Person for any purposes of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a bona fide swaps dealer who would otherwise be an Acquiring Person has become so as a result of its actions in the ordinary course of its business that the Board determines, in its sole discretion, were taken without the intent or effect of evading or assisting any other Person to evade the purposes and intent of this Agreement, or otherwise seeking to control or influence the management or policies of the Company, then, and unless and until the Board shall otherwise determine, such Person shall not be deemed to be an Acquiring Person for any purposes of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Person shall become an “Acquiring Person” by means of share purchases or issuances (including debt to equity exchanges), directly from the Company or indirectly through an underwritten offering of the Company, in a transaction approved by the Board; provided, however, that a Person shall be deemed to be an “Acquiring Person” if such Person (A) is or becomes the Beneficial Owner of 4.99% or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding following such transaction and (B) following such transaction, becomes the Beneficial Owner of any additional shares of Common Stock without the prior written consent of the Board and then Beneficially Owns 4.99% or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding.

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(b)                  “Affiliate” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act as in effect on the date of this Agreement.

(c)                  “Associate” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act as in effect on the date of this Agreement.

(d)                  A Person shall be deemed the “Beneficial Owner” of and shall be deemed to “Beneficially Own” any securities:

(i)                    which such Person or any of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates beneficially owns, directly or indirectly;

(ii)                  which such Person or any of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates has (A) the right or the obligation to acquire (whether such right is exercisable, or such obligation is required to be performed, immediately or only after the passage of time) pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding (other than customary agreements with and between underwriters and selling group members with respect to a bona fide public offering of securities), or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights, rights (other than these Rights), warrants or options, or otherwise, including, without limitation, securities or other interests that would be treated as exercised under Section 1.382-4(d) or other applicable sections of the Treasury Regulations; provided, however, that a Person shall not be deemed the Beneficial Owner of, or to Beneficially Own, securities tendered pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made by or on behalf of such Person or any of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates until such tendered securities are accepted for purchase or exchange; or (B) the right to vote pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding; provided, however, that a Person shall not be deemed the Beneficial Owner of, or to Beneficially Own, any security if the agreement, arrangement or understanding to vote such security (1) arises solely from a revocable proxy or consent given to such Person in response to a public proxy or consent solicitation made pursuant to, and in accordance with, the applicable rules and regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act and (2) is not also then reportable on Schedule 13D under the Exchange Act (or any comparable or successor report);

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(iii)                 that such Person or any of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates (A) has any agreement, arrangement or understanding (other than customary agreements with and between underwriters and selling group members with respect to a bona fide public offering of securities) for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting (except to the extent contemplated by the proviso to Section 1(d)(ii)(B) hereof) or disposing of any securities of the Company or (B) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and Rule 13d-3 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act, including, with respect to both clause (A) and clause (B) of this Section 1(d)(iii), pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding (whether or not in writing), but only if the effect of such agreement, arrangement or understanding is to treat such Persons as an “entity” under Section 1.382-3(a)(1) of the Treasury Regulations; or

(iv)                which are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by a Counterparty (or any of such Counterparty’s Affiliates or Associates) under any Derivatives Contract (without regard to any short or similar position under the same or any other Derivatives Contract) to which such Person or any of such Person’s Affiliates or Associates is a Receiving Party (as such terms are defined in the immediately following paragraph); provided, however, that the number of Common Shares of the Company that a Person is deemed to Beneficially Own pursuant to this clause (iv) in connection with a particular Derivatives Contract shall not exceed the number of Notional Common Shares with respect to such Derivatives Contract; provided, further, that the number of securities beneficially owned by each Counterparty (including its Affiliates and Associates) under a Derivatives Contract shall for purposes of this clause (iv) be deemed to include all securities that are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by any other Counterparty (or any of such other Counterparty’s Affiliates or Associates) under any Derivatives Contract to which such first Counterparty (or any of such first Counterparty’s Affiliates or Associates) is a Receiving Party, with this proviso being applied to successive Counterparties as appropriate.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Person shall be deemed the “Beneficial Owner” of, and shall be deemed to “beneficially own,” securities if such Person would be deemed constructively to own such securities pursuant to Sections 1.382-2T(h) and 1.382-4(d) of the Treasury Regulations, such Person owns such securities pursuant to a “coordinated acquisition” treated as a single “entity” as defined in Section 1.382-3(a)(1) of the Treasury Regulations, or such securities are otherwise aggregated with securities owned by such Person, pursuant to the provisions of Section 382 of the Code and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder.

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A “Derivatives Contract” is a contract between two parties (the “Receiving Party” and the “Counterparty”) that is designed to produce economic benefits and risks to the Receiving Party that correspond substantially to the ownership by the Receiving Party of a number of Common Shares specified or referenced in such contract (the number corresponding to such economic benefits and risks, the “Notional Common Shares”), regardless of whether obligations under such contract are required or permitted to be settled through the delivery of cash, Common Shares or other property, without regard to any short position under the same or any other Derivative Contract. For the avoidance of doubt, interests in broad-based index options, broad-based index futures and broad-based publicly traded market baskets of stocks approved for trading by the appropriate federal governmental authority shall not be deemed to be Derivatives Contracts.

Notwithstanding anything in this definition of Beneficial Ownership to the contrary, the phrase “then outstanding,” when used with reference to a Person’s Beneficial Ownership of securities of the Company, shall mean the number of such securities then issued and outstanding together with the number of such securities not then actually issued and outstanding which are issuable by the Company and which such Person would be deemed to Beneficially Own hereunder.

(e)                  “Board” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals.

(f)                   “Business Day” shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday, or a day on which banking institutions in St. Paul, Minnesota are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.

(g)                  “Close of Business” on any given date shall mean 5:00 P.M., Eastern time, on such date; provided, however, that, if such date is not a Business Day, it shall mean 5:00 P.M., Eastern time, on the next succeeding Business Day.

(h)                  “Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

(i)                    “Common Shares” when used with reference to the Company shall mean the shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company. “Common Shares” when used with reference to any Person other than the Company shall mean the capital stock (or equity interest) with the greatest voting power of such other Person or, if such other Person is a Subsidiary of another Person, the Person or Persons which ultimately control such first-mentioned Person.

(j)                   “Distribution Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(a) hereof.

(k)                  “Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

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(l)                    “Exempt Person” means (i) the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, in each case including the officers and members of the Board thereof acting in their fiduciary capacities; (ii) any employee benefit plan of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company or any entity or trustee holding (or acting in a fiduciary capacity in respect of) Common Shares of the Company for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan, or for the purpose of funding other employee benefits for employees of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company; (iii) an underwriter or member of a banking or selling group that becomes the Beneficial Owner of 4.99% or more of the then outstanding Common Shares as a result of an acquisition from the Company in connection with a distribution of securities pursuant to a prospectus or by way of a private placement; or (iv) any Person deemed to be an “Exempt Person” in accordance with Section 25(a) or (b).

(m)                “Expiration Date” means the earliest to occur of (i) the Close of Business on the Final Expiration Date; (ii) the Redemption Date; (iii) the time at which the Board orders the exchange of the Rights as provided in Section 24; (iv) the close of business on the effective date of the repeal of Section 382 of the Code or any successor statute or any other change if the Board, in its sole discretion, determines that this Rights Agreement is no longer necessary or desirable for the preservation of the Tax Benefits; (v) the time at which the Board determines that the Tax Benefits are fully utilized or no longer available pursuant to Section 382 of the Code or that an ownership change pursuant to Section 382 of the Code would not adversely impact in any material respect the time period in which the Company could use the Tax Benefits, or materially impair the amount of the Tax Benefits that could be used by the Company in any particular time period, for applicable tax purposes; or (vi) a determination by the Board, in its sole discretion and prior to the Distribution Date, that this Rights Agreement and the Rights are no longer in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders.

(n)                  “Exchange Ratio” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 24(a) hereof.

(o)                  “Final Expiration Date” means the date upon which the Rights expire and will be the earlier of (i) 5:00 p.m., Eastern time, on the date of the Company’s regular meeting of shareholders to be held in 2017 (or any adjournment or postponement thereof), unless the continuation of the Rights is approved by the affirmative vote of the majority of the Common Shares present in person or represented by proxy and voting on such matter at such regular meeting of shareholders (or any adjournment or postponement thereof) duly held in accordance with the Company’s Bylaws and applicable law (in which case the following clause (ii) will govern); or (ii) 5:00 p.m., Eastern time, on June 6, 2018.

(p)                  “NASDAQ” shall mean The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC.

(q)                  “Person” shall mean any individual, partnership, firm, corporation, limited liability company, association, trust, unincorporated organization or other entity, and shall include any successor (by merger or otherwise) of such entity, as well as any group under Rule 13d-5(b)(1) of the Exchange Act.

(r)                   “Preferred Shares” shall mean shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company having the rights and preferences set forth in the Form of Designation of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock attached to this Agreement as Exhibit A.

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(s)                   “Purchase Price” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4 hereof.

(t)                   “Record Date” shall have the meaning set forth in the second paragraph hereof.

(u)                  “Redemption Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(a) hereof.

(v)                  “Redemption Price” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 23(a) hereof.

(w)                 “Right” shall have the meaning set forth in the second paragraph hereof.

(x)                  “Rights Certificate” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(a) hereof.

(y)                  “Shares Acquisition Date” shall mean the first date of public announcement by the Company or an Acquiring Person that an Acquiring Person has become such.

(z)                  “Subsidiary” of any Person shall mean any corporation or other entity of which a majority of the voting power of the voting equity securities or equity interest is owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person.

(aa)              “Summary of Rights” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(b) hereof.

(bb)              “Tax Benefits” means net operating losses, capital loss carryovers, general business credit carryovers, alternative minimum tax credit carryovers, foreign tax credit carryovers or any loss or deduction attributable to a “net unrealized built-in loss” within the meaning of Section 382 of the Code, in each case of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, and any other tax attribute the benefit of which is subject to possible limitation pursuant to Section 382 of the Code.

(cc)               “Trading Day” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(d) hereof.

(dd)              “Treasury Regulations” shall mean the final and temporary (but not proposed) tax regulations promulgated under the Code, as such regulations may be amended from time to time.”

1.2                 Section 3(c) of the Rights Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as follows:

“(c) Certificates for Common Shares which become outstanding (including, without limitation, reacquired Common Shares referred to in the last sentence of this paragraph (c)) after the Record Date but before the earliest of the Distribution Date, the Redemption Date or the Final Expiration Date shall have impressed on, printed on, written on or otherwise affixed to them the following legend:

 

7  
 

THIS CERTIFICATE ALSO EVIDENCES AND ENTITLES THE HOLDER HEREOF TO CERTAIN RIGHTS AS SET FORTH IN AN AGREEMENT DATED AS OF JUNE 6, 2013 BETWEEN IMAGE SENSING SYSTEMS INC. (THE “COMPANY”) AND CONTINENTAL STOCK TRANSFER & TRUST COMPANY, AS RIGHTS A GENT, AS THE SAME MAY BE AMENDED FROM TIME TO TIME (THE “RIGHTS AGREEMENT”), THE TERMS OF WHICH ARE HEREBY INCORPORATED HEREIN BY REFERENCE AND A COPY OF WHICH IS ON FILE AT THE PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES OF THE COMPANY. UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, AS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT, SUCH RIGHTS (AS DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT) MAY BE REDEEMED, MAY BECOME EXERCISABLE FOR SECURITIES OR ASSETS OF THE COMPANY OR SECURITIES OF ANOTHER ENTITY, MAY BE EXCHANGED FOR SHARES OF COMMON STOCK OR OTHER SECURITIES OR ASSETS OF THE COMPANY, MAY EXPIRE OR MAY BE EVIDENCED BY SEPARATE CERTIFICATES AND MAY NO LONGER BE EVIDENCED BY THIS CERTIFICATE. THE COMPANY WILL MAIL TO THE HOLDER OF THIS CERTIFICATE A COPY OF THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT WITHOUT CHARGE AFTER RECEIPT OF A WRITTEN REQUEST THEREFOR. UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES AS SET FORTH IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT, RIGHTS THAT ARE OWNED BY, TRANSFERRED TO OR HAVE BEEN OWNED BY AN ACQUIRING PERSON (AS DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT) OR ANY OF ITS AFFILIATES (AS DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT) OR ASSOCIATES (AS DEFINED IN THE RIGHTS AGREEMENT) WILL BE NULL AND VOID AND WILL NO LONGER BE TRANSFERRABLE.

With respect to such certificates containing the foregoing legend, until the Distribution Date, the Rights associated with the Common Shares of the Company represented by such certificates shall be evidenced by such certificates alone, and the surrender for transfer of any such certificate shall also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the Common Shares of the Company represented thereby. If the Company purchases or acquires any Common Shares of the Company after the Record Date but before the Distribution Date, any Rights associated with such Common Shares of the Company shall be deemed cancelled and retired so that the Company shall not be entitled to exercise any Rights

 

8  
 

associated with the Common Shares of the Company which are no longer outstanding. Notwithstanding this Section 3(c), the omission of a legend shall not affect the enforceability of any part of this Rights Agreement or the rights of any holder of the Rights.”

1.3                 Section 24(a) of the Rights Agreement is hereby amended and revised in its entirety as follows:

“Section 24. Exchange . (a) The Board may, at its option, at any time after any Person becomes an Acquiring Person, exchange all or part of the then outstanding and exercisable Rights (which shall not include Rights that have become void pursuant to the provisions of Section 11(a)(ii) hereof) for Common Shares at an exchange ratio of two Common Shares per Right, appropriately adjusted to reflect any adjustment in the number of Rights pursuant to Section 11(i) (such exchange ratio being hereinafter referred to as the “Exchange Ratio”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) the Board shall not be empowered to effect such exchange at any time after any Person (other than the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit plan of the Company or any such Subsidiary, or any entity holding Common Shares for or pursuant to the terms of any such plan), together with all Affiliates and Associates of such Person, becomes the Beneficial Owner of 50% or more of the Common Shares of the Company then outstanding; and (ii) no exchange shall result in a Person becoming an Acquiring Person, and the Company may, at its option, substitute for each Common Share that would otherwise be issued to cause such Person to become an Acquiring Person cash via check or wire transfer, promissory notes or other property having a value equal to the current market value of such Common Share determined in accordance with Section 11(d). The exchange of the Rights by the Board may be made effective at such time, on such basis and with such conditions as the Board in its sole discretion may establish.”

1.4                 The following is added as a new Section 25 of the Rights Agreement, and Sections 25 through 34 of the Rights Agreement (inclusive) are hereby redesignated as Sections 26 through 35, respectively:

“Section 25. Process to Seek Exemption or Waiver .

(a)                  Any Person who desires to effect any acquisition of Common Shares that would, if consummated, result in such Person beneficially owning 4.99% or more of the then outstanding Common Shares (a “Requesting Person”) may, prior to the Shares Acquisition Date and in accordance with this Section 25(a), request that the Board grant an exemption with respect to such acquisition under this Rights Agreement so that such Person would be deemed to be an “Exempt Person” under Section 1(l) for purposes of this Rights Agreement (an “Exemption Request”). An Exemption Request shall be in proper form and shall be delivered by overnight delivery service or first-class mail, postage prepaid, to the Secretary of the Company at the principal executive office of the Company. The Exemption Request shall be deemed made upon receipt by the Secretary of the Company.

 

9  
 

To be in proper form, an Exemption Request shall set forth (i) the name and address of the Requesting Person, (ii) the number and percentage of Common Shares then Beneficially Owned by the Requesting Person, together with all Affiliates and Associates of the Requesting Person, and (iii) a reasonably detailed description of the transaction or transactions by which the Requesting Person would propose to acquire Beneficial Ownership of Common Shares aggregating 4.99% or more of the then outstanding Common Shares and the maximum number and percentage of Common Shares that the Requesting Person proposes to acquire. The Board shall make a determination whether to grant an exemption in response to an Exemption Request as promptly as practicable (and, in any event, within ten (10) Business Days) after receipt thereof; provided, that the failure of the Board to make a determination within such period shall be deemed to constitute the denial by the Board of the Exemption Request. The Requesting Person shall respond promptly to reasonable and appropriate requests for additional information from the Board and its advisors to assist the Board in making its determination. For purposes of considering the Exemption Request, any calculation of the number of Common Shares outstanding at any particular time, including for purposes of determining the particular percentage of such outstanding Common Shares of which any Person is the Beneficial Owner, shall be made pursuant to and in accordance with Section 382 of the Code. The Board shall grant an exemption in response to an Exemption Request only if the Board determines in its sole discretion that the acquisition of Beneficial Ownership of Common Shares by the Requesting Person (A) will not adversely impact in any material respect the time period in which the Company could use the Tax Benefits or limit or impair the availability to the Company of the Tax Benefits or (B) is in the best interests of the Company despite the fact that it may adversely impact in a material respect the time period in which the Company could use the Tax Benefits or limit or impair the availability to the Company of the Tax Benefits. Any exemption granted hereunder may be granted in whole or in part, and may be subject to limitations or conditions (including a requirement that the Requesting Person agree that it will not acquire Beneficial Ownership of Common Shares in excess of the maximum number and percentage of shares approved by the Board), in each case as and to the extent the Board shall determine necessary or desirable to provide for the protection of the Tax Benefits. Any Exemption Request may be submitted on a confidential basis and, except to the extent required by applicable law, the Company shall maintain the confidentiality of such Exemption Request and the Board’s determination with respect thereto, unless the information contained in the Exemption Request or the Board’s determination with respect thereto otherwise becomes publicly available. The Exemption Request shall be considered and evaluated by directors serving on the Board, or a duly constituted committee thereof, who are independent of the Company and the Requesting Person and disinterested with respect to the Exemption Request, and the action of a majority of such independent and disinterested directors shall be deemed to be the determination of the Board for purposes of such Exemption Request.

 

10  
 

 

(b)                  The Board may, of its own accord or upon the request of a shareholder (a “Waiver Request”), subsequent to a Shares Acquisition Date and prior to the Distribution Date, and in accordance with this Section 25(b), grant an exemption with respect to any Acquiring Person under this Rights Agreement so that such Acquiring Person would be deemed to be an “Exempt Person” under Section 1(l) for purposes of this Rights Agreement. A Waiver Request shall be in proper form and shall be delivered by overnight delivery service or first-class mail, postage prepaid, to the Secretary of the Company at the principal executive office of the Company. The Waiver Request shall be deemed made upon receipt by the Secretary of the Company. To be in proper form, a Waiver Request shall set forth (i) the name and address of the Acquiring Person, (ii) the number and percentage of Common Shares then Beneficially Owned by the Acquiring Person, together with all Affiliates and Associates of the Acquiring Person, and (iii) a reasonably detailed description of the transaction or transactions by which the Acquiring Person acquired Beneficial Ownership of Common Shares aggregating 4.99% or more of the then outstanding Common Shares and the maximum number and percentage of Common Shares that the Acquiring Person proposes to acquire. The Board shall make a determination whether to grant an exemption in response to a Waiver Request as promptly as practicable (and, in any event, within 10 Business Days) after receipt thereof; provided, that the failure of the Board to make a determination within such period shall be deemed to constitute the denial by the Board of the Waiver Request. The Acquiring Person shall respond promptly to reasonable and appropriate requests for additional information from the Board and its advisors to assist the Board in making its determination. For purposes of considering the Waiver Request, any calculation of the number of Common Shares outstanding at any particular time, including for purposes of determining the particular percentage of such outstanding Common Shares of which any Person is the Beneficial Owner, shall be made pursuant to and in accordance with Section 382 of the Code. The Board shall only grant an exemption for an Acquiring Person if the Board determines in its sole discretion that the acquisition of Beneficial Ownership of Common Shares by such Acquiring Person does not adversely impact in any material respect the time period in which the Company could use the Tax Benefits or limit or impair the availability to the Company of the Tax Benefits. Any exemption granted hereunder may be granted in whole or in part, and may be subject to limitations or conditions (including a requirement that such Acquiring Person agree that it will not acquire Beneficial Ownership of Common Shares in excess of the maximum number and percentage of shares approved by the Board), in each case as and to the extent the Board shall determine necessary or desirable to provide for the protection of the Tax Benefits. The facts and circumstances with respect to the Waiver Request, including whether to grant an exemption, shall be considered and evaluated by directors serving on the Board, or a duly constituted committee thereof, who are independent of the Company and such Acquiring Person and disinterested with respect to the Waiver Request, and the action of a majority of such independent and disinterested directors shall be deemed to be the determination of the Board for purposes of any exemption granted pursuant to this Section 25(b).”

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1.5                 The following is added as a new Section 36 of the Rights Agreement:

“Section 36. Determinations and Actions by the Board . Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, the Board has the exclusive power and authority to administer this Rights Agreement and to exercise all rights and powers specifically granted to the Board or to the Company hereunder, or as may be necessary or advisable in the administration of this Rights Agreement, including, without limitation, the right and power (a) to interpret the provisions of this Rights Agreement, and (b) to make all determinations deemed necessary or advisable for the administration of this Rights Agreement (including, without limitation, a determination to redeem or not redeem the Rights in accordance with Section 23 hereof, to exchange or not exchange the Rights in accordance with Section 24 hereof, and to amend or not amend this Rights Agreement in accordance with Section 27 hereof). All such actions, calculations, interpretations and determinations (including, for purposes of clause (ii) below, all omissions with respect to the foregoing) that are done or made by the Board shall be (i) be final, conclusive, and binding on the Company, the Rights Agent, the holders of the Rights and all other parties; and (ii) not subject the Board or any member thereof to any liability to the holders of the Rights.”

2. Capitalized Terms . Capitalized terms used but not defined in this Amendment shall have the respective meanings given to them in the Rights Agreement.
3. Effect of Amendment . It is the intent of the Company and the Rights Agent that this Amendment constitutes an amendment of the Rights Agreement as contemplated by Section 27 thereof (which is being redesignated by this Amendment as Section 28). Except as expressly provided in this Amendment, the terms of the Rights Agreement remain in full force and effect. Unless the context clearly provides otherwise, any reference to this “Agreement” or the “Rights Agreement” shall be deemed to be a reference to the Rights Agreement as amended hereby.
4. Benefits of this Amendment . Nothing in this Amendment shall be construed to give to any Person other than the Company, the Rights Agent and the registered holders of the Rights Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the Common Shares) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Amendment; and this Amendment shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Company, the Rights Agent and the registered holders of the Rights Certificates (and, prior to the Distribution Date, the Common Shares).
5. Severability . If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of this Amendment is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or other authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions of this Amendment shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated.
6. Governing Law . This Amendment shall be deemed to be a contract made under the laws of the State of New York (other than its conflicts of law provisions) and shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of such State applicable to contracts made and performed entirely within such State.

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7. Counterparts . This Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts, and each of such counterpart shall for all purposes be deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. A signature to this Amendment transmitted electronically shall have the same authority, effect and enforceability as an original signature.
8. Descriptive Headings . Descriptive headings of the several Sections of this Amendment are inserted for convenience only and shall not control or affect the meaning or construction of any of the provisions hereof.

[Signature page follows.]

 

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[Signature Page to First Amendment to Rights Agreement

Dated as of August 23, 2016

by and between Image Sensing Systems, Inc. and

Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company]

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amendment to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.

 

Attest:

 

By /s/ Todd C. Slawson

Name: Todd C. Slawson

Title: Director of Finance and Business Development

 

 

Image Sensing Systems, Inc.

 

By: /s/ Richard A. Ehrich

Name: Richard A. Ehrich

Title: Interim Chief Financial Officer

Attest:

 

By: /s/ Margaret Villani

Name: Margaret Villani

Title: Vice President and Director of Client Administration

Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company:

 

By: /s/ Stacy Aqui

Name: Stacy Aqui

Title: Vice President and Account Administrator

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Signature Page to First Amendment to Rights Agreement.]

 

 

S-1  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 99.1

 

HTTP:||CONTENT.EDGAR-ONLINE.COM|EDGAR_CONV_IMG|2013|06|06|0000897101-13-000882_IMAGE_001.JPG

500 Spruce Tree Centre

1600 University Avenue West

St. Paul, Minnesota 55104 3825 USA

651.603.7700 Fax: 651.603.7795

www.imagesensing.com

 

NEWS RELEASE

Contacts: Richard Ehrich, Interim Chief Financial Officer
Image Sensing Systems, Inc. Phone: 651.603.7700

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Image Sensing Systems, Inc. Adopts Tax Benefit Preservation Plan

Saint Paul, Minn., August 23, 2016 — Image Sensing Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: ISNS), announced today that its Board of Directors has unanimously approved an amendment to the Company’s shareholder rights plan (as amended, the “Rights Plan”).

The Rights Plan is designed to preserve the value of its significant net operating loss carryforwards (“NOLs”) in relation to the potential limitations under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code. Image Sensing Systems had federal NOLs totaling approximately $12.4 million as of June 30, 2016. Pursuant to U.S. federal income tax rules, Image Sensing Systems’ use of those tax assets could be substantially limited if it experiences an “ownership change” (as defined in Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code). In general, an ownership change occurs if there is a cumulative change in Image Sensing Systems’ ownership by “5 percent shareholders” that increases by more than 50 percent over the lowest percentage owned by such shareholders at any time during the prior three years on a rolling basis. The Company noted that the Rights Plan is designed to serve the interests of all shareholders by helping to protect the Company’s ability to use its net operating losses to offset future tax liabilities and is similar to plans adopted by many other public companies with significant tax attributes. The Company’s Board of Directors deemed it appropriate and prudent to amend the Rights Plan at this time. The Rights Plan will expire if not approved by the Company’s shareholders at the regular meeting of shareholders to be held in 2017. If the Rights Plan is approved by the shareholders, it will expire on June 6, 2018 unless renewed by the Board of Directors of the Company.

The Board of Directors had previously declared a dividend distribution of one right for each outstanding share of the Company’s common stock to shareholders of record on June 17, 2013 under a Rights Agreement dated June 6, 2013. These rights are not exercisable and trade with the shares of the Company’s common stock. Under the Rights Plan, the rights generally will become exercisable only if a person or group acquires beneficial ownership of 4.99 percent or more of the Company’s common stock (including in the form of synthetic ownership through derivative positions) in a transaction not approved by the Board of Directors of the Company. In that situation, each holder of a right (other than the acquiring person, whose rights will become void and will not be exercisable) will be entitled to purchase, at the then-current exercise price, additional shares of common stock having a value of twice the exercise price of the right. In addition, if the Company is acquired in a merger or other business combination after an unapproved party acquires 4.99 percent or more of the Company’s common stock, each holder of the right would then be entitled to purchase, at the then-current exercise price, shares of the acquiring company’s stock having a value of twice the exercise price of the right. The amendment to the Rights Plan adopted by the Company’s Board amends the threshold at which the rights are triggered from 20% to 4.99%.

 

 
 

 

The Rights Plan exempts any person or group owning 4.99 percent or more of the Company’s common stock as of the announcement of the Rights Plan up to the amount of their ownership of the Company’s common stock as of the announcement of the Rights Plan plus an additional 1.00 percent. However, the rights also will be exercisable if a person or group that already owns 5 percent or more of the Company’s common stock acquires any additional shares beyond an additional 1.00 percent (including through derivatives, but other than pursuant to a dividend or distribution paid or made by the Company or pursuant to a stock split or reclassification).

The Company’s Board of Directors may redeem the rights for a nominal amount at any time before a person becomes the beneficial owner of 4.99 percent of the Company’s common stock.

Details about the Rights Plan are contained in a Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the Company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Winthrop & Weinstine, P.A. and Vinson & Elkins LLP are serving as legal counsel to the Company.

About Image Sensing

Image Sensing Systems, Inc. is a global company dedicated to helping improve safety and efficiency for cities and highways by developing and delivering above-ground detection technology, applications and solutions. We give Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) professionals more precise and accurate information - including real-time reaction capabilities and in-depth analytics - to make more confident and proactive decisions. We are headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota. Visit us on the web at imagesensing.com.

Safe Harbor Statement: Statements made in this release concerning the Company’s or management’s intentions, expectations, or predictions about future results or events are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements reflect management’s current expectations or beliefs, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to vary from stated expectations, which variations could be material and adverse. Factors that could produce such a variation include, but are not limited to, the following: the inherent unreliability of earnings, revenue and cash flow predictions due to numerous factors, many of which are beyond the Company’s control; developments in the demand for the Company’s products and services; relationships with the Company’s major customers and suppliers; the mix of and margins on the products we sell; unanticipated delays, costs and expenses inherent in the development and marketing of new products and services; adverse weather conditions in our markets; the impact of governmental laws and regulations; the effects of legal matters in which the Company may become involved; international presence; our success in integrating any acquisitions; and competitive factors. Our forward-looking statements speak only as of the time made, and we assume no obligation to publicly update any such statements. Additional information concerning these and other factors that could cause actual results and events to differ materially from the Company’s current expectations are contained in the Company’s reports and other documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 filed on March 10, 2016.