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 May 26, 2011
(Date of earliest event reported)
 
Atrion Corporation
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
  Delaware      01-10763    63-0821819
 (State or other jurisdiction   (Commission File   (I. R. S. Employer
of incorporation or organization)   Number)   Identification No.)
 
 
  One Allentown Parkway       75002
 (Address of principal executive offices)      (Zip Code)
 
 
(972) 390-9800
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
 
Not Applicable
(Former Name or Former Address, if changed since last report)
 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the Registrant under any of the following provisions:

¨   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))

 
 

 

 
Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
 
On May 26, 2011, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Atrion Corporation (the “Company”) elected David A. Battat, age 41, as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company.  David Battat, the son of the Company’s Chairman Emile A Battat, has served as the Company’s President and Chief Operating Officer since 2007 and has served as President of Halkey-Roberts Corporation, one of the Company’s subsidiaries, since January 2006 and served from February 2005 through December 2005 as Halkey-Roberts’ Vice President - Business Development and General Counsel.  In connection with his election as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, the Board approved an increase in David Battat’s annual base salary to $350,000.
 
The Company and Emile Battat entered into a First Amendment to Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, dated as of May 26, 2011 (the “First Amendment”).  The First Amendment: (1) provides that Emile Battat will continue to serve as a senior executive officer of the Company and, subject to his election as a director by the stockholders of the Company and his election by the Company’s Board as its Chairman of the Board (“Chairman”), shall serve as Chairman; (2) extends the term of Emile Battat’s employment with the Company until December 31, 2016, which term shall be automatically renewed for additional one year terms unless either party delivers written notice of termination to the other party at least thirty days prior to the end of the applicable term; and (3) increases Emile Battat’s base salary starting January 1, 2012 to $600,000.  The foregoing summary of the First Amendment is qualified in its entirety by the First Amendment, which is attached to this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 10.1 and incorporated herein by this reference.
 
On May 26, 2011, the Company issued the press release that is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K, which by this reference is incorporated herein as if copied verbatim, announcing the change in executive officers and the extension of the term of Emile Battat's employment agreement with the Company reported in this Item 5.02.
 
 
Item 5.07.  Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
 
On May 26, 2011, the Company held its 2011 annual meeting of stockholders.  At the annual meeting, there were 1,863,022 shares represented in person or by proxy, or 92% of the shares outstanding and entitled to vote as of the record date, which constituted a quorum.  The final results of voting for each matter submitted to a vote of stockholders at the meeting are as follows:
 
Item 1.  Election of Directors.
 
Emile Battat and Ronald N. Spaulding were elected as directors to serve until the annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 2014.  The voting for each director was as follows:
 
 
 
For
Withheld
Broker Non-Votes
Emile A Battat
1,452,654
17,335
393,033
Ronald N. Spaulding
1,453,808
16,181
393,033
 

 

 

Item 2.  Ratification of the Appointment of Grant Thornton LLP as the Company’s Independent Accountant for 2011.
 
The appointment of Grant Thornton LLP as the Company’s independent accountant for 2011 was ratified with 1,853,818 votes in favor, 5,977 votes against, 3,227 abstentions and 0 broker non-votes.

Item 3.  Advisory Vote on the Compensation of the Company’s Executive Officers.

The compensation of the Company’s executive officers was approved, on an advisory basis, with 1,443,683 votes in favor, 22,889 votes against, 3,417 abstentions and 393,033 broker non-votes.

Item 4.  Advisory Vote on the Frequency of Advisory Voting on the Compensation of the Company’s Executive Officers.

The tabulation of votes for the advisory vote on the frequency of advisory voting on the compensation of the Company’s executive officers is as follows:

 
 
 
One year
 789,629  
 
Two years
 25,628  
 
Three years
 648,328  
 
Abstentions
 6,404  
 
Broker Non-Votes
 393,033  
 
Item 9.01.  Financial Statements and Exhibits.
 
(d)            Exhibits
 
  10.1
First Amendment to Amended and Restated Employment Agreement by and between Atrion Corporation and Emile A Battat dated May 26, 2011
 
       
  99.1
Press Release issued by Atrion Corporation dated May 26, 2011 (furnished only)
 
 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

 



 

 

SIGNATURE

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.
 

 
  ATRION CORPORATION
 
 
  By:  /s/ Jeffery Strickland     
    Jeffery Strickland
    Vice President and Chief Financial Officer,
    Secretary and Treasurer
 

 

Date:           May 27, 2011


 

 


EXHIBIT INDEX
 
Exhibit No.
Description
   
10.1
First Amendment to Amended and Restated Employment Agreement by and between Atrion Corporation and Emile A Battat dated of May 26, 2011
   
99.1
Press Release issued by Atrion Corporation dated May 26, 2011 (furnished only)


 
  Exhibit 10.1
 
 
FIRST AMENDMENT TO AMENDED AND RESTATED
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

THIS FIRST AMENDMENT TO AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (“First Amendment”) is entered into as of the 26th day of May, 2011 by and between Atrion Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Emile A Battat (the “Executive”).
 
W I T N E S S E T H :

WHEREAS, the Company and the Executive are currently parties to an Amended and Restated Employment Agreement dated as of the August 7, 2006 (the “Employment Agreement”) pursuant to which the Executive is employed by the Company until December 31, 2011; and
 
WHEREAS, the Executive is no longer serving as the Company's President or Chief Executive Officer; and
 
WHEREAS, the Company and the Executive desire to extend the term of the Executive's employment by the Company until December 31, 2016 and to modify certain provisions of the Employment Agreement.
 
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing, the mutual provisions contained herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the parties hereto agree as follows:
 
1.   CAPITALIZED TERMS.  Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in the Employment Agreement.
 
2.   AMENDMENT TO SECTION 1 OF THE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT.  Section 1 of the Employment Agreement is deleted in its entirety and the following is substituted in lieu and instead thereof:
 
       (a)       Continuation of Employment.  The Company hereby agrees to continue to employ the Executive, and the Executive hereby accepts continued employment by the Company until expiration of the Employment Term (as defined below).   The Executive is and will continue to be a senior executive officer of the Company and, subject to his election as a director by the stockholders and his election by the Board as its Chairman of the Board ("Chairman"), the Executive shall serve as Chairman on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.  The Executive shall perform such duties, and have such powers, authority, functions and responsibilities (commensurate with his position and title) as may be reasonably assigned to him from time to time by the Board which are not (except with the Executive's prior written consent) inconsistent with, and which do not interfere with or detract from, those vested in or being performed by the Executive for the Company.  
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
       (b)      Duties. During the remainder of the Employment Term, the Executive shall be a full time employee of the Company; provided, however that the Executive shall be allowed, to the extent that such activities do not materially interfere with the performance of his duties and responsibilities hereunder, to manage his personal financial affairs and to serve on corporate, civic, not-for-profit, charitable and industry boards and advisory committees.  In addition to such duties as may be assigned to him by the Board, consistent with the provisions of Section 1(a) above, the Executive shall provide guidance to the Company's Chief Executive Officer, consult and advise on, and assist with the evaluation, planning and implementation of, corporate strategy and operational matters as requested by the Chief Executive Officer, provide leadership to the Board and preside over meetings of the Company's stockholders and Board.  
 
 
3.   AMENDMENT TO SECTION 2 OF THE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT.  Section 2 of the Employment Agreement is deleted in its entirety and the following is substituted in lieu and instead thereof.
 
  2.           TERM.  The initial term of the Executive's employment under this Agreement shall be for a period of five (5) years from the Commencement Date (the “Initial Term”) and the term shall continue thereafter for an additional five (5) years (the "Renewal Term").  The term of the Executive's employment under this Agreement shall be automatically renewed for additional one (1) year terms (each referred to as an “Additional Term”) at the end of the Renewal Term and at the end of each Additional Term, as the case may be, unless either party delivers written notice of termination to the other at least thirty (30) days prior to the end of the Renewal Term or Additional Term, as the case may be. The Initial Term, the Renewal Term and the Additional Terms together constitute the "Employment Term."  
 
 
4.   AMENDMENT TO SECTION 3(a) OF THE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT.  The first sentence of Section 3(a) of the Employment Agreement is deleted in its entirety and the following is substituted in lieu and instead thereof:
 
  The Company shall pay the Executive a base salary (the "Base Salary") of Five Hundred Thousand and No/100 Dollars ($500,000.00) for each calendar year in the Initial Term and of Six Hundred Thousand and No/100 Dollars ($600,000.00) for each calendar year in the Renewal Term.  
 
 
5.   AMENDMENT TO SECTION 4 OF THE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT.  Section 4 of the Employment Agreement is amended by adding the following as Section 4(g):
 
  (g)           Health Benefits.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, if the provision of any health benefit hereunder would cause any group health plan of the Company to be deemed "discriminatory"  under applicable law, and would thereby  cause the Company to incur  penalties thereunder, then the Company shall have the right unilaterally to amend this Agreement to prevent  the group health plan from being discriminatory by eliminating  any continued health benefits hereunder  or subsidy thereof, other than such continuation coverage as the Executive shall be entitled to under COBRA.  
 
 
 
2

 
 
6.   AMENDMENT TO SECTION 4(d)(ii)(A) OF THE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT.  Section 4(d)(ii)(A) of the Employment Agreement is amended by deleting the phrase "President and Chief Executive Officer" when used therein.
 
7.   AMENDMENT TO SECTION 19 OF THE EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT.  Section 19 of the Employment Agreement is deleted in its entirety and the following is substituted in lieu and instead thereof:
 
  19.           SECTION 409A. The intent of the parties is that this Agreement will be in full compliance with Section 409A of the Code, and in the event that any provision of this Agreement, or any payment of compensation or benefits paid pursuant to this Agreement is determined to be inconsistent with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, the Company shall reform this Agreement and to the extent necessary to comply therewith and to avoid the imposition of any penalties or taxes pursuant to Section 409A of the Code, provided that any such reformation shall to the maximum extent possible retain the originally intended economic and tax benefits to the Executive and the original purpose of this Agreement without violating Section 409A of the Code or creating any unintended or adverse consequences to the Executive.  Such reformation may include imposition of a six month delay in the payment of certain benefits if the Executive is a “specified employee” under Section 409A of the Code at the relevant time.  
 
8.   LEGAL FEES.  The Company shall pay the Executive's reasonable legal fees and costs associated with entering into this First Amendment.
 
9.   FULL FORCE AND EFFECT.  Except as specifically amended herein, all other terms and conditions in the Employment Agreement shall remain unchanged and shall continue in full force and effect.  From and after the date of this First Amendment, any and all references to the Employment Agreement shall refer to the Employment Agreement as hereby amended.
 
10.   MULTIPLE COUNTERPARTS. This First Amendment may be executed in counterparts, each of which for all purposes is to be deemed an original, and both of which constitute, collectively, one agreement, but in making proof of this First Amendment, it shall not be necessary to produce or account for more than one such counterpart.
 

 
[Signatures appear on the following page.]

 
 
 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this First Amendment to be duly executed and delivered as of the date first above written.
 


 
  ATRION CORPORATION
 
 

 
  By: /s/ David A. Battat   
    David A. Battat
    President and Chief Executive Officer

 
 
  /s/ Emile A Battat   
   EMILE A BATTAT
 



 
   
 
 

 
  Exhibit 99.1
Atrion Corporation  
One Allentown Parkway  
Allen, TX 75002  
 
 
  Atrion [Logo]  
     
  NEWS RELEASE  
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE    
 

DAVID A. BATTAT NAMED ATRION CEO

Emile A Battat to Continue as Chairman



ALLEN, Texas (May 26, 2011) - Atrion Corporation (Nasdaq-ATRI) announced that at a meeting of its Board of Directors held today David A. Battat has been elected President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company.  The Company also announced that Emile A Battat will continue to serve as the Company's Chairman and that his employment contract has been extended until December 31, 2016.

Mr. David Battat joined the Company in 2005, first serving as Vice President-Business Development and General Counsel for Halkey-Roberts Corporation, an Atrion subsidiary.  Since January 2006, Mr. David Battat has served as President of Halkey-Roberts, and he has been President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company for the past four years.  Mr. David Battat is a graduate of Harvard College and Columbia Law School.

Mr. Emile Battat, who has served as the Company's Chairman and CEO since 1998, will serve the Company on a full-time basis as an executive Chairman.  Among his continuing duties, he will be participating in the evaluation, planning and implementation of corporate strategy, as well as operational, financial, and commercial matters as requested by the Chief Executive Officer.  He will also continue providing leadership to the Company’s Board.

Atrion Corporation develops and manufactures products primarily for medical applications.  The Company’s website is www.atrioncorp.com .

Statements in this press release that are forward looking are based upon current expectations and actual results or future events may differ materially. Words such as "expects," "believes," "anticipates," "intends," "should," "plans", "will" and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, and factors that could cause actual results or future events to differ materially from those expressed in or underlying our forward-looking statements.  For information regarding these risks, uncertainties and factors see the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.


 
 Contact:  Jeffery Strickland
  Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
  (972) 390-9800