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): June 12, 2017 (June 8, 2017)

 


 

CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware

 

1–10079

 

94-2885898

(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)

 

(Commission
File Number)

 

(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

 

198 Champion Court

San Jose, California 95134

(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)

 

(408) 943-2600

(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:

 

o                      Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

x                    Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

o                      Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

o                      Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

 

Emerging growth company o

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. o

 

 

 



 

Item 5.02.  Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

 

On June 11, 2017, H. Raymond Bingham submitted a letter to the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Cypress Semiconductor Corporation (the “Company”) resigning as Executive Chairman of the Company and as a member of the Board, effective immediately, and notifying the Board that he was declining to stand for re-election at the Company’s 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.  Mr. Bingham’s resignation was not due to any disagreement with the Company.  A copy of the letter is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

In connection with Mr. Bingham’s resignation, the Company and Mr. Bingham entered into a mutual release agreement on June 11, 2017 (the “Release”).  Pursuant to the terms of the Release, each of the Company and Mr. Bingham agreed to release the other party from all liability relating in any way to claims (i) asserted in or that could have been asserted in certain litigation by T.J. Rodgers, the Company’s former President and Chief Executive Officer, against the Company, and (ii) arising from the other party’s actions, which were known to the other party as of the time of the execution of the Release.  The foregoing summary of the Release is qualified in its entirety by the full text of the Release, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1 and incorporated herein by reference.  There was no acceleration of Mr. Bingham’s existing equity awards or compensation or other arrangements entered into with Mr. Bingham in connection with his resignation other than the Release.

 

Item 8.01.  Other Events.

 

The Company’s 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders was convened on June 8, 2017 and was adjourned to June 20, 2017.  The adjourned Annual Meeting will take place at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time at the Company’s principal executive offices located at 198 Champion Court, San Jose, California 95134. The record date for the meeting will remain April 18, 2017.

 

Item 9.01.  Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d) Exhibits

 

Exhibit
No.

 

Description

10.1

 

Release, dated June 11, 2017.

 

 

 

99.1

 

Letter, dated June 11, 2017.

 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

Statements herein that are not historical facts and that refer to Cypress or its subsidiaries’ plans and expectations for the future are forward-looking statements made pursuant to the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We may use words such as “may,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “future,” “continue” or other wording indicating future results or expectations to identify such forward-looking statements that include, but are not limited to statements related to: our Cypress 3.0 strategy; our financial and operational performance; the composition of our Board of Directors; our 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders; our corporate governance policies and practices; and our plans to file certain materials with the SEC. Such statements reflect our current expectations, which are based on information and data available to our management as of the date of this Current Report on Form 8-K. Our actual results may differ materially due to a variety of risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to:  the uncertainty of litigation; our ability to execute

 

2



 

on our Cypress 3.0 strategy; global economic and market conditions; business conditions and growth trends in the semiconductor market; our ability to compete effectively; the volatility in supply and demand conditions for our products, including but not limited to the impact of seasonality on supply and demand; our ability to develop, introduce and sell new products and technologies; potential problems relating to our manufacturing activities; the impact of acquisitions; our ability to attract and retain key personnel; and other risks and uncertainties described in the “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” sections in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We assume no responsibility to update any such forward-looking statements.

 

3



 

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.

 

 

 

Date: June 12, 2017

CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Thad Trent

 

 

Thad Trent

 

 

Executive Vice President, Finance and Administration and Chief Financial Officer

 

4



 

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit
No.

 

Description

10.1

 

Release, dated June 11, 2017.

 

 

 

99.1

 

Letter, dated June 11, 2017.

 

5


Exhibit 10.1

 

MUTUAL RELEASE AGREEMENT

 

This Mutual Release Agreement (this “Agreement”), dated as of June 11, 2017, is made by and between Cypress Semiconductor Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“Cypress”) and H. Raymond Bingham (“Bingham”).

 

WHEREAS, Bingham was employed by Cypress as its Executive Chairman and served as a member of the Board of Directors (the “Board”);

 

WHEREAS, on June 11, 2017, Bingham submitted a letter to the Board resigning as a member of the Board and as Executive Chairman, effective immediately, and notifying the Board that he was declining to stand for re-election at the Cypress 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “2017 Annual Meeting”);

 

WHEREAS, on January 19, 2017, T.J. Rodgers (“Rodgers”) sent a demand (the “Section 220 Demand”) to Cypress for books and records pursuant to Section 220 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”);

 

WHEREAS, on January 30, 2017, Rodgers filed a complaint in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (the “Court of Chancery”) against Cypress for inspection of the books and records of Cypress (the “Section 220 Action”);

 

WHEREAS, on April 21, 2017, the Court of Chancery issued an order permitting Rodgers to inspect certain books and records of Cypress (the “Section 220 Order”) in connection with the Section 220 Action;

 

WHEREAS, on April 24, 2017, Rodgers filed a complaint in Court of Chancery against Bingham and the other members of the Board seeking to enjoin the 2017 Annual Meeting (the “Injunctive Action,” and collectively with the Section 220 Demand and the Section 220 Action, the “Delaware Actions”); and

 

WHEREAS, each of the parties desire to resolve, fully and finally, all outstanding matters between them relating to the Delaware Actions, and certain other matters pertaining to Bingham’s service as Executive Chairman and a member of the Board.

 

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements set forth hereinafter, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:

 

Section 1.                                  Mutual Releases .

 

(a)                                  Each of Cypress, its subsidiaries, affiliates under its control, predecessors, successors and assigns, and the current and former directors, officers, employees, agents, attorneys and representatives of each of them (collectively, the “Cypress Parties”), hereby releases Bingham and forever discharges Bingham from all liability relating in any way to any and all Claims (defined below):  (i) asserted in or that could have been asserted in the Delaware Actions, to the extent such Claims arise out of facts disclosed in connection with the Delaware

 



 

Actions, and (ii) arising from Bingham’s actions, within the course and scope of his service to Cypress as Executive Chairman or member of the Board, which are known as of the time of the execution of this Agreement to the Board or the Chief Executive Officer of Cypress, other than Claims relating to fraud (with respect to both subparts (i) and (ii) in this subparagraph), which the Cypress Parties ever had, now have or hereafter can, shall or may have, for, upon or by reason of any matter, cause or thing whatsoever from the beginning of the world to the date of this Agreement; provided , however , that the releases set forth in this Section 1 shall not affect the Parties’ obligations set forth in this Agreement and shall not affect the rights of Bingham to advancement or indemnification under any preexisting obligation, bylaw, agreement, or statute.

 

(b)                                  Bingham hereby releases the Cypress Parties and forever discharges the Cypress Parties from all liability relating in any way to any and all Claims:  (i) asserted in or that could have been asserted in the Delaware Actions, to the extent such Claims arise out of facts disclosed in connection with the Delaware Actions, and (ii) arising from any Cypress Party’s actions, which are known to Bingham as of the time of the execution of this Agreement, other than Claims relating to fraud (with respect to both subparts (i) and (ii) in this subparagraph), which Bingham ever had, now has or hereafter can, shall or may have, for, upon or by reason of any matter, cause or thing whatsoever from the beginning of the world to the date of this Agreement; provided , however , that the releases set forth in this Section 1 shall not affect the Parties’ obligations set forth in this Agreement and shall not affect the rights of the Cypress Parties to advancement or indemnification under any preexisting obligation, bylaw, agreement, or statute.

 

(c)                                   “Claim” shall mean any actual or potential claim, counterclaim, action, cause of action in law or in equity, suit, lien, liability, debt, sum of money, demand, obligation, accounting, damage, punitive damages, loss, cost or expense, and attorneys’ fees of any nature whatsoever, contingent or non-contingent, whether arising under state, federal or other law, or based on common law, statutory law, regulations or otherwise.

 

Section 2.                                  Acknowledgments .

 

(a)                                  Cypress hereby acknowledges and agrees that the indemnification and exculpation provisions of Article X of the Cypress Second Amended Certificate of Incorporation, dated as of June 12, 2000, as amended, and Article VI of the Cypress Amended and Restated Bylaws, effective as of March 23, 2017, shall continue to apply to the released Claims in Section 1 ; and that Bingham is entitled to advancement and indemnification in connection with the Delaware Actions pursuant to Article X of the Cypress Second Amended Certificate of Incorporation, dated as of June 12, 2000, as amended, and Article VI of the Cypress Amended and Restated Bylaws, effective as of March 23, 2017, to the fullest extent permitted by law.

 

(b)                                  Bingham hereby acknowledges and agrees that the vesting of all Company equity awards previously granted to him will cease as of the date of this Agreement and that there will be no acceleration of any such equity awards in connection with his separation from the Company.  Subject to the terms and conditions of such options, Cypress hereby acknowledges that Bingham shall be permitted to exercise any vested options within three months from the date of this Agreement, after which time any unexercised options shall be cancelled for no consideration.

 

2



 

Section 3.                                  Cooperation in the Case of Litigation .  Bingham hereby agrees that if and when requested to do so by Cypress, he will make himself reasonably available to, and will cooperate in all reasonable respects with, Cypress, its officers and directors, and their respective counsel in connection with any litigation, proceeding, or investigation relating to Cypress; it being understood that such cooperation shall take into account and accommodate Bingham’s then applicable business and professional commitments, and that nothing herein is intended to prevent Bingham from providing truthful and accurate testimony in legal proceedings. Upon written request accompanied by appropriate documentation, Cypress agrees to reimburse Bingham for any reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by Bingham in connection with any actions taken by Bingham pursuant to this Section 3 .

 

Section 4.                                  Nondisparagement .  Bingham hereby agrees not to make any public statement or announcement that disparages Cypress and its officers, directors, and employees in any manner likely to be harmful to them or their business, business reputations or personal reputations, and Cypress (through its officers and directors) agrees not to make any public statement or announcement that disparages Bingham in any manner likely to be harmful to him or his business, business reputation or personal reputation; provided , that both Bingham and Cypress (and its officers and directors) may respond accurately and fully to any request for information to the extent required by legal process.

 

Section 5.                                  Miscellaneous .

 

(a)                                  Assignment .  Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations hereunder shall be assigned by either party hereto (whether by operation of law or otherwise) without the prior written consent of the other party.  Subject to the preceding sentence, this Agreement shall be binding upon, inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns.

 

(b)                                  Amendment and Modification .  This Agreement may be amended, modified and supplemented in any and all respects, but only by a written instrument signed by each of the parties hereto expressly stating that such instrument is intended to amend, modify or supplement this Agreement.

 

(c)                                   Governing Law .  This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware.

 

(d)                                  Entire Agreement; No Third-Party Beneficiaries .  This Agreement (i) constitutes the entire agreement between the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior oral and written understandings, all contemporaneous oral negotiations and discussions, and all other writings and agreements relating to the subject matter of this Agreement and (ii) is not intended to confer any rights or remedies upon any Person other than the parties hereto and Cypress and their respective successors and permitted assigns.

 

3



 

(e)                                   Severability .  Any term or provision of this Agreement that is held by a court of competent jurisdiction or other authority to be invalid, void or unenforceable in any situation in any jurisdiction shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the remaining terms and provisions hereof or the validity or enforceability of the offending term or provision in any other situation or in any other jurisdiction.  If the final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction or other authority declares that any term or provision hereof is invalid, void or unenforceable, the parties agree that the court making such determination shall have the power to reduce the scope, duration, area or applicability of the term or provision, to delete specific words or phrases, or to replace any invalid, void or unenforceable term or provision with a term or provision that is valid and enforceable and that comes closest to expressing the intention of the invalid or unenforceable term or provision insofar as possible under applicable law.

 

(The remainder of this page is intentionally left blank.)

 

4



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties has caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first set forth above.

 

 

CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Pamela Tondreau

 

 

Name:

Pamela Tondreau

 

 

Title:

Chief Legal Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 H. RAYMOND BINGHAM

 

 

 

 

/s/ H. Raymond Bingham

 

[Signature Page to Mutual Agreement Agreement]

 


Exhibit 99.1

 

 

June 11, 2017

 

Dear Fellow Directors:

 

With mixed emotions, I hereby tender my resignation, effective immediately, both as Executive Chairman of Cypress Semiconductor and as a member of the Cypress Board of Directors. It has been a pleasure and a privilege working with all of you.

 

Together we have achieved a great deal to benefit our shareholders. We took difficult but necessary steps in removing TJ as both CEO and as a Director. I believe we also made an excellent decision in appointing Hassane as CEO.  Under Hassane’s leadership, I am confident that the Cypress 3.0 strategy is key to a bright future for the Company. In sum, I am quite proud of our many accomplishments as a Board and a company during my tenure.

 

Despite all of the fine work, we now are engaged in a prolonged, collateral struggle with TJ over the future composition of the Board. As a result,  my position on the Board has become a distraction from the Company’s focus on the task of paramount importance to our shareholders — the most effective possible execution of the 3.0 plan.

 

Thus, for the Company’s greater good, I am tendering this resignation.

 

Very truly yours,

 

 

 

/s/ Ray Bingham

 

Ray Bingham