0001493152-20-018561.txt : 20200929 0001493152-20-018561.hdr.sgml : 20200929 20200929172728 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001493152-20-018561 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 8-K PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 5 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20200927 ITEM INFORMATION: Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement ITEM INFORMATION: Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers: Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers ITEM INFORMATION: Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year ITEM INFORMATION: Other Events ITEM INFORMATION: Financial Statements and Exhibits FILED AS OF DATE: 20200929 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20200929 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: COLLECTORS UNIVERSE INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001089143 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: SERVICES-BUSINESS SERVICES, NEC [7389] IRS NUMBER: 330846191 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 0630 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 8-K SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-34240 FILM NUMBER: 201209858 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 1921 E. ALTON AVENUE CITY: SANTA ANA STATE: CA ZIP: 92705 BUSINESS PHONE: 9495671234 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 1921 E. ALTON AVENUE CITY: SANTA ANA STATE: CA ZIP: 92705 8-K 1 form8-k.htm

 

 

 

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): September 27, 2020

 

COLLECTORS UNIVERSE, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware   1-34240   33-0846191
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)
  (Commission
File Number)
  (IRS Employer
Identification No.)

 

1610 East Saint Andrew Place, Santa Ana, California   92705
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (949) 567-1234

 

N/A

(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))

 

Securities Registered under Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class   Trading Symbol(s)   Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock $0.001 Par Value   CLCT   Nasdaq Global Market

 

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 [  ]

 

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. [  ]

 

 

 

 
 

 

Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

 

On September 28, 2020, Collectors Universe, Inc. (the “Company”) entered into a letter agreement (the “Agreement”) with, among others, Alta Fox Capital Management LLC (collectively, “Alta Fox”). Among other things, the Agreement provides that:

 

  The Company appointed Lorraine G. Bardeen to the Company’s board of directors (the “Board”) to serve as a director with a term expiring at the Company’s 2020 annual meeting of stockholders (the “2020 Annual Meeting”) (including any person appointed to replace Ms. Bardeen, the “New Designee”). Alta Fox has certain rights to appoint a replacement director if the New Designee ceases to serve on the Board during the Restricted Period (as defined below).
  The New Designee will be nominated as one of the directors to stand for election at the 2020 Annual Meeting.
  During the Restricted Period, Alta Fox will vote its shares of the Company’s common stock that it beneficially owns in a manner consistent with the recommendation of the Board, subject to certain exceptions specified in the Agreement.
  Beginning with the closing of the polls at the 2020 Annual Meeting and continuing through the remainder of the Restricted Period, the Company has agreed the Board will be comprised of no more than eight directors.
  Alta Fox will abide by certain customary standstill provisions lasting from the date of the Agreement until 11:59 p.m., Pacific time, on the day that is 30 days prior to the deadline for the submission of stockholder nominations of directors and business proposals for Company’s 2021 annual meeting of stockholders (such period, the “Restricted Period”). The standstill provisions provide, among other things, that Alta Fox and the other Restricted Persons (as defined in the Agreement) cannot:

 

  solicit proxies regarding any matter to come before any annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Company, including the election of directors;
  enter into a voting agreement or any “group” with stockholders of the Company, other than with other Restricted Persons;
  seek representation on the Board, or submit any proposal for consideration by stockholders of the Company at any annual or special meeting of stockholders;
  engage in any short sale or other derivative transaction in relation to the Company, or sell any voting rights decoupled from the underlying Voting Securities (as defined in the Agreement) held by the Restricted Persons;
  acquire any securities of the Company or rights that would result in the Restricted Persons beneficially owning more than 9.9 percent of the then-outstanding Voting Securities; or
  other than through certain open market transactions and public offerings, sell securities of the Company to any person that is not a party to the Agreement that, to Alta Fox’s knowledge, would result in such party having any beneficial or other ownership interest of more than 4.9 percent of the then-outstanding Voting Securities (subject to limited exceptions as provided in the Agreement).

 

The foregoing summary of the Agreement does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by, the full text of the Agreement, which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 and incorporated by reference.

 

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

 

(b) Departure of Directors

 

On September 27, 2020, Deborah A. Farrington and Joseph R. Martin informed the Board that they will not stand for re-election to the Board at the 2020 Annual Meeting.

 

(d) Election of Directors

 

On September 28, 2020, the Board also increased the size of the Board from eight to ten members. In connection with the Agreement on September 28, 2020, the Board appointed Ms. Bardeen to fill one of the resulting vacancies and to serve as a member of the Board. The Board also appointed Jennifer H. Leuer to fill the other vacancy and to serve as a member of the Board.

 

Initially Ms. Bardeen will serve on the Nominating and Governance Committee of the Board. The committee assignments for Ms. Leuer have not yet been determined.

 

As non-management directors, Ms. Bardeen and Ms. Leuer will receive compensation in the same manner as the Company’s other non-management directors, which compensation the Company disclosed in its definitive proxy statement for its 2019 annual meeting of stockholders filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 24, 2019. Upon joining the Board, each of the new directors received a grant of Company common stock equal in value to $45,000, with the exact number of shares based on the closing price of the Company’s common stock on September 28, 2020.

 

 
 

 

The Company expects that Ms. Bardeen and Ms. Leuer will each enter into standard director and officer indemnification agreements that the Company has with its directors and officers. A copy of the Company’s form of director and officer indemnification agreement was filed as Exhibit 10.7 to the Company’s Form S-1 filed on September 2, 1999.

 

Other than as described in Item 1.01, there are no arrangements or understandings between Ms. Bardeen or Ms. Leuer and any other persons pursuant to which Ms. Bardeen or Ms. Leuer were selected as directors. There are no transactions, arrangements or relationships between the Company or its subsidiaries, on the one hand, and Ms. Bardeen and Ms. Leuer on the other hand, that would require disclosure pursuant to Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.

 

Item 5.03. Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.

 

On September 27, 2020, the Board amended and restated the Company’s bylaws (as amended and restated, the “Bylaws”) to:

 

  adjust the period during which a stockholder’s notice of nomination or other business to be considered at an annual meeting of stockholders must be delivered to the Company for an annual meeting to 90 to 120 calendar days before the anniversary of the prior year’s annual meeting; and
  make certain other non-substantive technical edits and updates.

 

The foregoing description of the Bylaws does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Bylaws, which is filed as Exhibit 3.1 and is incorporated by reference.

 

Item 8.01 Other Events.

 

On September 29, 2020, the Company issued a press release announcing the Agreement and the appointment of Ms. Bardeen and Ms. Leuer as directors. A copy of the press release is filed as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated by reference.

 

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d) Exhibits.

 

Exhibit No.   Description
     
3.1   Fourth Amended and Restated Bylaws of Collectors Universe, Inc.
10.1   Letter agreement, dated as of September 28, 2020, among Collectors Universe, Inc., Alta Fox Capital Management LLC and certain other parties.
99.1   Press Release, dated September 29, 2020.

 

 
 

 

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.

 

  COLLECTORS UNIVERSE, INC.
     
  By: /s/ JOSEPH J. WALLACE
    Joseph J. Wallace
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

Date: September 29, 2020

 

 

 

EX-3.1 2 ex3-1.htm

 

Exhibit 3.1

 

FOURTH AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS

 

OF

 

COLLECTORS UNIVERSE, INC.

 

a Delaware corporation

 

Effective as of September 27, 2020

 

 

 

 

FOURTH AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS

OF

COLLECTORS UNIVERSE, INC.

a Delaware corporation

 

(Effective As of September 27, 2020)

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

      Page No.
Article I OFFICES 5
  Section 1 Registered Office 5
  Section 2 Other Offices 5
  Section 3 Books 5
Article II MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS 5
  Section 1 Place of Meetings 5
  Section 2 Annual Meetings 5
  Section 3 Special Meetings 5
  Section 4 Notification of Business to be Transacted at Meeting 5
  Section 5 Notice; Waiver of Notice 5
  Section 6 Quorum; Adjournment 6
  Section 7 Voting 6
  Section 8 Stockholder Action by Written Consent Without a Meeting 6
  Section 9 Record Date for Stockholder Notice and Voting 6
  Section 10 Stock Ledger 6
  Section 11 Inspectors of Election 6
  Section 12 Organization 7
  Section 13 Order of Business 7
  A. Annual Meetings of Stockholders. 7
  B. Special Meetings of Stockholders. 8
  C. General. 8
Article III DIRECTORS 9
  Section 1 Powers 9
  Section 2 Number and Election of Directors 9
  Section 3 Vacancies 10
  Section 4 Time and Place of Meetings 10
  Section 5 Annual Meeting 10
  Section 6 Regular Meetings 10
  Section 7 Special Meetings 11
  Section 8 Quorum; Vote Required for Action; Adjournment 11
  Section 9 Action by Written Consent 11
  Section 10 Telephone Meetings 11

 

ii

 

 

FOURTH AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS

OF

COLLECTORS UNIVERSE, INC.

a Delaware corporation

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued)

 

      Page No.
  Section 11 Committees 12
  Section 12 Compensation 12
  Section 13 Interested Directors 12
  Section 14 Removal of Directors 12
Article IV OFFICERS 12
  Section 1 Officers 12
  Section 2 Appointment of Officers 12
  Section 3 Subordinate Officers 13
  Section 4 Removal and Resignation of Officers 13
  Section 5 Vacancies in Offices 13
  Section 6 Chairman of the Board of Directors 13
  Section 7 Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors 13
  Section 8 Chief Executive Officer 13
  Section 9 President 13
  Section 10 Vice President 13
  Section 11 Secretary 14
  Section 12 Chief Financial Officer 14
Article V STOCK 14
  Section 1 Certificated Shares 14
  Section 2 Uncertificated Shares 14
  Section 3 Stock Records and Record Holders 15
  Section 4 Transfers of Stock 15
  Section 5 Lost, Stolen, Destroyed, and Mutilated Certificates 15
  Section 6 Regulations 15
Article VI INDEMNIFICATION 16
  Section 1 Right to Indemnification 16
  Section 2 Right of Indemnitee to Bring Suit 16
  Section 3 Non-Exclusivity of Rights 16
  Section 4 Insurance 16
  Section 5 Indemnification of Employees or Agents of the Corporation 17
  Section 6 Indemnification Contracts 17
  Section 7 Effect of Amendment 17
Article VII GENERAL PROVISIONS 17
  Section 1 Dividends 17
  Section 2 Disbursements 17
  Section 3 Fiscal Year 17

 

iii

 

 

FOURTH AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS

OF

COLLECTORS UNIVERSE, INC.

a Delaware corporation

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued)

 

      Page No.
  Section 4 Corporate Seal 17
  Section 5 Record Date 17
  Section 6 Voting of Stock Owned by the Corporation 17
  Section 7 Construction and Definitions 18
  Section 8 Amendments 18
  Section 9 Forum for Certain Litigation 18

 

iv

 

 

FOURTH AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS

OF

COLLECTORS UNIVERSE, INC.

a Delaware corporation

 

Article I

OFFICES

 

Section 1 Registered Office. The address of the registered office of the Corporation in the State of Delaware is 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19801, County of New Castle. The name of the Corporation’s registered agent at that address is Corporation Trust Company.

 

Section 2 Other Offices. The Corporation may also have offices at such other places, both within and without the State of Delaware, as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine or the business of the Corporation may require.

 

Section 3 Books. The books of the Corporation may be kept within or without the State of Delaware as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine or the business of the Corporation may require.

 

Article II

MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS

 

Section 1 Place of Meetings. All meetings of stockholders for the election of directors shall be held at such place either within or without the State of Delaware as may be fixed from time to time by the Board of Directors, or at such other place either within or without the State of Delaware as shall be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors and stated in the notice of the meeting. Meetings of stockholders for any other purpose may be held at such time and place, within or without the State of Delaware, as shall be stated in the notice of the meeting or in a duly executed waiver of notice thereof.

 

Section 2 Annual Meetings. Annual meetings of stockholders shall be held at a time and date designated by the Board of Directors for the purpose of electing directors and transacting such other business as may properly be brought before the meeting.

 

Section 3 Special Meetings. A special meeting of stockholders may be called at any time by the Board of Directors, or by a majority of the Board of Directors or by a committee of the Board of Directors which has been duly designated by the Board of Directors and whose powers and authority, as provided in a resolution of the Board of Directors, include the power to call such meetings, but such special meetings may not be called by any other person or persons.

 

Section 4 Notification of Business to be Transacted at Meeting. To be properly brought before a meeting, business must be (a) specified in the notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto) given by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, (b) otherwise properly brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, or (c) otherwise properly brought before the meeting by a stockholder entitled to vote at the meeting.

 

Section 5 Notice; Waiver of Notice. Whenever stockholders are required or permitted to take any action at a meeting, a written notice of the meeting shall be given which shall state the place, date and hour of the meeting, and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called. Unless otherwise required by law, such notice shall be given not less than 10 nor more than 60 days before the date of the meeting to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at such meeting. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be given when deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, directed to the stockholder at his address as it appears on the records of the Corporation. A written waiver of any such notice signed by the person entitled thereto, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to notice. Attendance of a person at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the person attends the meeting for the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.

 

5

 

 

Section 6 Quorum; Adjournment. Except as otherwise required by law, or provided by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, the holders of a majority of the capital stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at all meetings of the stockholders. A meeting at which a quorum is initially present may continue to transact business, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough votes to leave less than a quorum, if any action taken is approved by at least a majority of the required quorum to conduct that meeting. If, however, such quorum shall not be present or represented at any meeting of the stockholders, the chairman of the meeting shall have power to adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting of the time and place of the adjourned meeting, until a quorum shall be present or represented. At such adjourned meeting at which a quorum shall be present or represented, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally noticed. If the adjournment is for more than 30 days, or if after the adjournment a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder entitled to vote at the meeting.

 

Section 7 Voting. Except as otherwise required by law, or provided by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, any question brought before any meeting of stockholders at which a quorum is present shall be decided by the vote of the holders of a majority of the stock represented and entitled to vote thereat. Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, each stockholder represented at a meeting of stockholders shall be entitled to cast one vote for each share of the capital stock entitled to vote thereat held by such stockholder. Such votes may be cast in person or by proxy, but no proxy shall be voted on or after three years from its date, unless such proxy provides for a longer period. Elections of directors need not be by ballot unless the Chairman of the meeting so directs or unless a stockholder demands election by ballot at the meeting and before the voting begins.

 

Section 8 Stockholder Action by Written Consent Without a Meeting. The stockholders may not take action by written consent.

 

Section 9 Record Date for Stockholder Notice and Voting . For purposes of determining the holders entitled to notice of any meeting or to vote, the Board of Directors may fix, in advance, a record date, which shall not be more than 60 days nor less than 10 days prior to the date of any such meeting, and in such case only stockholders of record on the date so fixed are entitled to notice and to vote, notwithstanding any transfer of any shares on the books of the Corporation after the record date fixed as aforesaid, except as otherwise provided in the Delaware General Corporation Law. If the Board of Directors does not so fix a record date, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the business day next preceding the day on which notice is given or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the business day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held.

 

Section 10 Stock Ledger. The stock ledger of the Corporation shall be the only evidence as to who are the stockholders entitled to examine the stock ledger, the list required by Section 9 of this Article II or the books of the Corporation, or to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of stockholders.

 

Section 11 Inspectors of Election. In advance of any meeting of stockholders, the Board of Directors may appoint one or more persons (who shall not be candidates for office) as inspectors of election to act at the meeting or any adjournment thereof. If an inspector or inspectors are not so appointed, or if an appointed inspector fails to appear or fails or refuses to act at a meeting, the Chairman of any meeting of stockholders may, and on the request of any stockholder or his proxy shall, appoint an inspector or inspectors of election at the meeting. The duties of such inspector(s) shall include: determining the number of shares outstanding and the voting power of each; the shares represented at the meeting; the existence of a quorum; the authenticity, validity and effect of proxies; receiving votes, ballots or consents; hearing and determining all challenges and questions in any way arising in connection with the right to vote; counting and tabulating all votes or consents; determining the result; and such acts as may be proper to conduct the election or vote with fairness to all stockholders. In the event of any dispute between or among the inspectors, the determination of the majority of the inspectors shall be binding.

 

6

 

 

Section 12 Organization. At each meeting of stockholders the Chairman of the Board of Directors, if one shall have been elected or, in his absence or if one shall not have been elected, the President, shall act as Chairman of the meeting. The Secretary (or in his absence or inability to act, the person whom the Chairman of the meeting shall appoint Secretary of the meeting) shall act as Secretary of the meeting and keep the minutes thereof.

 

Section 13 Order of Business.

 

A. Annual Meetings of Stockholders.

 

(1) Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors of the Corporation and the proposal of business to be considered by the stockholders may be made at an annual meeting of stockholders (a) pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting, (b) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (c) by any stockholder of the Corporation who was a stockholder of record at the time of giving of notice provided for in this Bylaw, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Bylaw.

 

(2) For nominations or other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to clause (c) of paragraph (A)(1) of this Bylaw, the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation and such other business must otherwise be a proper matter for stockholder action. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than 5:00 p.m. (Pacific time) on the 90th calendar day or earlier than 9:00 a.m. (Pacific time) on the 120th calendar day prior to the first anniversary of the date of the preceding year’s annual meeting as first specified in the Corporation’s notice of meeting (without regard to any postponements or adjournments of such meeting after such notice was first sent); provided, however, that if no annual meeting was held in the previous year or the date of the annual meeting has been changed by more than 30 calendar days from the date contemplated at the time of the previous year’s proxy statement, a proposal shall be received by the Corporation no later than the close of business on the tenth day following the day on which notice of the date of the meeting was mailed or public announcement of the date of the meeting was made, whichever comes first. In no event shall the public announcement of an adjournment of an annual meeting commence a new time period for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above. Such stockholder’s notice shall set forth (a) as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection as a director all information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors in an election contest, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to applicable federal securities laws, including, without limitation, Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), (including such person’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected); (b) as to any other business that the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting, the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting and any material interest in such business of such stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made; and (c) as to the stockholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made (i) the name and address of such stockholder, as they appear on the Corporation’s books, and of such beneficial owner and (ii) the class and number of shares of the Corporation which are owned beneficially and of record by such stockholder and such beneficial owner.

 

7

 

 

(3) Notwithstanding anything in the second sentence of paragraph (A)(2) of this Bylaw to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the Board of Directors of the Corporation is increased and there is no public announcement by the Corporation naming all of the nominees for director or specifying the size of the increased Board of Directors at least 70 days prior to the first anniversary of the date of the preceding year’s annual meeting, a stockholders notice required by this Bylaw shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for any new positions created by such increase, if it shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the tenth day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the Corporation.

 

B. Special Meetings of Stockholders.

 

Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as shall be brought before the meeting pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting.

 

A stockholder’s nomination of one or more persons for election to the Board of Directors shall only be permitted to be made at a special meeting of stockholders if: (i) the Corporation’s notice of such meeting specified that directors are to be elected at such special meeting; (ii) such stockholder was a stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting at the time of giving of notice provided for in this Bylaw; and (iii) if such stockholder complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Bylaw. In the event the Corporation calls a special meeting of stockholders for the purpose of electing one or more directors to the Board of Directors, any such stockholder may nominate a person or persons (as the case may be), for election to such position(s) as specified in the Corporation’s notice of meeting, if the stockholder’s notice required by paragraph (A)(2) of this Bylaw shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not earlier than the close of business on the 90th day prior to such special meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 60th day prior to such special meeting or the 10th day following the day on which public announcement is first made of the date of the special meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Board of Directors to be elected at such meeting. In no event shall the public announcement of an adjournment of a special meeting commence a new time period for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.

 

C. General.

 

(1) Only such persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Bylaw shall be eligible to serve as directors. Except as otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, the chairman of the meeting shall have the power and authority to determine the procedures of a meeting of stockholders, including, without limitation, the authority to determine whether a nomination or any other business proposed to be brought before the meeting was made or proposed, as the case may be, in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Bylaw and, if any proposed nomination or business is not in compliance with this Bylaw, to declare that such defective proposal or nomination shall be disregarded.

 

For purposes of this Bylaw, “public announcement” shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press or comparable national news service or in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

 

(2) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Bylaw, a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in this Bylaw. Nothing in this Bylaw shall be deemed to affect any rights (i) of stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act or (ii) of the holders of any series of preferred stock, if any, to elect directors under certain circumstances.

 

8

 

 

Article III

DIRECTORS

 

Section 1 Powers. Except as otherwise required by law or provided by the Certificate of Incorporation, the business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors.

 

Section 2 Number and Election of Directors.

 

(A) The exact number of directors shall be fixed from time to time by a resolution adopted by a majority of the directors, or by resolution adopted by the stockholders, by the vote of the holders of 66 2/3% of the outstanding voting stock of the Corporation, at any annual or special meeting of stockholders, provided that notice of such proposed amendment, modification, repeal or adoption is given in the notice of the annual or special meeting; provided, however, that such resolution would not conflict with the Certificate of Incorporation.

 

(B) In an uncontested election of directors, each director of the Corporation shall be elected by a majority of the votes cast by the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the annual or special meeting and entitled to vote on the election of directors (a “majority vote”); provided, however, that, in a contested election, the directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast by the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the annual or special meeting and entitled to vote on the election of directors. For purposes of this Section 2, (1) an “uncontested election” is an election in which the number of nominees for director is not greater than the number of directors to be elected, (2) a “contested election” is an election in which the number of nominees for director nominated by (a) the Board of Directors or (b) any stockholder or (c) a combination of the Board of Directors and any stockholder, exceeds the number of directors to be elected, and (3) a “majority of the votes cast” means that the number of votes “for” a nominee for director must exceed fifty percent (50%) of the votes cast. Votes “against” a nominee for director will count as votes cast, but “abstentions” (including “broker non-votes”) will not count as votes cast. Prior to the meeting, the Board of Directors shall determine whether an election constitutes a contested election, and such determination shall remain effective from the date of such determination regardless of any change in the number of nominees for director or the number of directors to be elected.

 

(C) In order for any incumbent director to become a nominee for further service on the Board of Directors, such person must submit an irrevocable letter of resignation to the Board of Directors, which offer of resignation shall become effective (1) upon that incumbent director not receiving a majority vote in an uncontested election, and (2) upon acceptance of the offer of resignation by the Board of Directors as set forth in this Section 2.

 

Within sixty (60) days following certification of the stockholder vote, the Corporation’s Nominating and Governance Committee (the “Committee”) shall recommend to the Board of Directors the action to be taken with respect to such offer of resignation. In determining whether or not to recommend that the Board of Directors accept any resignation offer, the Committee shall be entitled to consider all factors believed relevant by the Committee’s members, including, without limitation: (1) any stated reasons for the incumbent director not receiving the required majority vote and whether the underlying cause or causes are curable, (2) the factors, if any, set forth in the guidelines or other policies that are to be considered by the Committee in evaluating potential candidates for the Board of Directors as such factors relate to each incumbent director who has so offered his or her resignation, (3) the length of service of such incumbent director, (4) the effect of such resignation on the Corporation’s compliance with any law, rule, regulation, stock exchange listing standards or contractual obligations, (5) such incumbent director’s contributions to the Corporation, and (6) any other factors that the Committee believes are in the best interests of the Corporation.

 

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The Board of Directors shall act on the Committee’s recommendation within ninety (90) days following certification of the stockholder vote and shall notify the incumbent director concerned of its decision. In determining whether or not to accept any resignation offer, the Board of Directors shall take into account the factors considered by the Committee and any additional information and factors that the Board of Directors believes to be relevant. If any director’s resignation offer is not accepted by the Board of Directors, the Board of Directors shall, within four (4) business days after reaching its decision, publicly disclose the decision, including the reasons for not accepting an offer of resignation, by a press release, a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission or other broadly disseminated means of communication.

 

Any director who tenders his or her offer to resign shall not participate in either the Committee’s or the Board of Director’s consideration or other actions regarding whether to accept the offer of resignation. If each member of the Committee did not receive the required majority vote, a majority of the Board of Directors shall appoint a special committee of independent directors for such purpose of making a recommendation to the Board of Directors. If no independent directors received the required majority vote, the Board of Directors shall act on the resignation offers.

 

(D) If any incumbent director’s resignation offer is not accepted by the Board of Directors, such incumbent director shall continue to serve on the Board of Directors for the term for which he or she would have been elected and until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified, or until the incumbent director’s earlier death, resignation, or removal. If an incumbent director’s offer of resignation is accepted by the Board of Directors pursuant to this Section 2, or if a nominee for director is not elected by a majority vote and the nominee is not an incumbent director, then the Board of Directors, in its sole discretion, may fill any resulting vacancy pursuant to the provisions of Section 3 of this Article III.

 

Section 3 Vacancies. Subject to the limitations in the Certificate of Incorporation, vacancies in the Board of Directors resulting from death, resignation, removal or otherwise and newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors may be filled by a majority of the directors then in office, although less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director. Each director so selected shall hold office for the remainder of the full term of office of the former director which such director replaces and until his successor is duly elected and qualified, or until his earlier death, resignation or removal. No decrease in the authorized number of directors constituting the Board of Directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent directors.

 

Section 4 Time and Place of Meetings. The Board of Director’s shall hold its meetings at such place, either within or without the State of Delaware, and at such time as may be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors.

 

Section 5 Annual Meeting. The Board of Directors shall meet for the purpose of organization, the election of officers and the transaction of other business, as soon as practicable after each annual meeting of stockholders, on the same day and at the same place where such annual meeting shall be held. Notice of such meeting need not be given. In the event such annual meeting is not so held, the annual meeting of the Board of Directors may be held at such place, either within or without the State of Delaware, on such date and at such time as shall be specified in a notice thereof given as hereinafter provided in Section 7 of this Article III or in a waiver of notice thereof.

 

Section 6 Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors may be held at such places within or without the State of Delaware at such date and time as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine and, if so determined by the Board of Directors, notices thereof need not be given.

 

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Section 7 Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Secretary or any director. Notice of the time and place of special meetings shall be delivered to the directors by any of the following methods: Personally or by telephone; or for overnight delivery by a nationally recognized courier (such as Federal Express or UPS), or by first-class mail, in either case with charges prepaid, addressed to the director at the director’s office or residence address (as such address is shown in the records of the Corporation); or transmitted by facsimile to the director’s facsimile number or, if consented to by the director, by email or other form of electronic transmission to the director’s email or other electronic address, in each case as is shown in the records of the Corporation. If the notice is mailed by first class mail, it shall be deposited in the United States mail at least four (4) calendar days before the time of the holding of the meeting. If the notice is delivered personally or by overnight courier, or transmitted by telephone, facsimile, email or other method of electronic transmission, it shall be delivered or transmitted at least twenty-four (24) hours before the time of the holding of the meeting. Any oral notice given personally or by telephone may be communicated either to the director or to a person at the office or residence of the director who the individual giving the notice has reason to believe will promptly communicate it to the director or, if notice is given by telephone, but no one answers the call, the notice shall nevertheless be deemed to have been given at the time of the call if the time and place of the special meeting is left on the director’s voice mail. The notice need not specify the place of the meeting, if the meeting is to be held at the principal executive office of the corporation and need not specify the purpose of the meeting. Unless otherwise indicated in the notice, any and all business may be transacted at a special meeting of the Board of Directors. A written waiver of any such notice signed by a director, whether before or after a special meeting, shall be deemed equivalent to notice given thereof by one of the methods set forth above. Attendance of a director at a special meeting shall constitute a waiver of the giving of notice of such meeting to that Director, except when the Director attends the meeting for the express and sole purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business on grounds that the meeting is not lawfully called, noticed or convened and then leaves the meeting.

 

Section 8 Quorum; Vote Required for Action; Adjournment. Except as otherwise required by law, or provided in the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, a majority of the directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at all meetings of the Board of Directors and the affirmative vote of not less than a majority of the directors present at any meeting at which there is a quorum shall be the act of the Board of Directors. If a quorum shall not be present at any meeting of the Board of Directors, the directors present thereat may adjourn the meeting, from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present. A meeting at which a quorum is initially present may continue to transact business, notwithstanding the withdrawal of directors, if any action taken is approved by at least a majority of the required quorum to conduct that meeting. When a meeting is adjourned to another time or place (whether or not a quorum is present), notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the time and place thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken. At the adjourned meeting, the Board of Directors may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting.

 

Section 9 Action by Written Consent. Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors or of any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting if all the members of the Board of Directors or committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing, and the writing or writings are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors or committee.

 

Section 10 Telephone Meetings. Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation, members of the Board of Directors of the Corporation, or any committee designated by the Board of Directors, may participate in a meeting of the Board of Directors or such committee, as the case may be, by conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other. Participation in a meeting pursuant to this Section 10 shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.

 

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Section 11 Committees. The Board of Directors may, by resolution passed unanimously by the entire Board of Directors, designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the Corporation. The Board of Directors may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any such committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. In the event of absence or disqualification of a member of a committee, and in the absence of a designation by the Board of Directors of an alternate member to replace the absent or disqualified member, the committee member or members present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not he or they constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in the place of the absent or disqualified member. Any committee, to the extent allowed by law and as provided in the resolution establishing such committee, shall have and may exercise all the power and authority of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation, but no such committee shall have the power or authority in reference to amending the Certificate of Incorporation, adopting an agreement of merger or consolidation, recommending to the stockholders the sale, lease or exchange of all or substantially all of the Corporation’s property and assets, recommending to the stockholders a dissolution of the Corporation or a revocation of a dissolution, or amending the Bylaws of the Corporation; and, unless the resolution or the Certificate of Incorporation expressly so provides, no such committee shall have the power or authority to declare a dividend or to authorize the issuance of stock. Each committee shall keep regular minutes of its meetings and report to the Board of Directors when required.

 

Section 12 Compensation. The directors may be paid such compensation for their services as the Board of Directors shall from time to time determine.

 

Section 13 Interested Directors. No contract or transaction between the Corporation and one or more of its directors or officers, or between the Corporation and any other Corporation, partnership, association, or other organization in which one or more of its directors or officers are directors or officers, or have a financial interest, shall be void or voidable solely for this reason, or solely because the director or officer is present at or participates in the meeting of the Board of Directors or the committee thereof which authorizes the contract or transaction, or solely because his of their votes are counted for such purpose if: (i) the material facts as to his or their relationship or interest and as to the contract or transaction are disclosed or are known to the Board of Directors or the committee, and the Board of Directors or committee in good faith authorizes the contract or transaction by the affirmative votes of a majority of the disinterested directors, even though the disinterested directors be less than a quorum; or (ii) the material facts as to his or their relationship or interest and as to the contract or transaction are disclosed or are known to the stockholders entitled to vote thereon, and the contract or transaction is specifically approved in good faith by vote of the stockholders; or (iii) the contract or transaction is fair as to the Corporation as of the time it is authorized, approved or ratified, by the Board of Directors, a committee thereof, or the stockholders. Common or interested directors may be counted in determining the presence of a quorum at a meeting of the Board of Directors or of a committee which authorizes the contract or transaction.

 

Section 14 Removal of Directors. Any director or the entire Board of Directors may be removed with cause, by the holders of a majority of the shares then entitled to vote at an election of directors.

 

Article IV

OFFICERS

 

Section 1 Officers. The officers of the Corporation shall be a President, a Secretary and a Chief Financial Officer. The Corporation may also have, at the discretion of the Board of Directors, a Chairman of the Board of Directors, a Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, a Chief Executive Officer, one or more Vice Presidents, one or more Assistant Financial Officers and Treasurers, one or more Assistant Secretaries and such other officers as may be appointed in accordance with the provisions of Section 3 of this Article IV.

 

Section 2 Appointment of Officers. The officers of the Corporation, except such officers as may be appointed in accordance with the provisions of Section 3 or Section 5 of this Article IV, shall be appointed by the Board of Directors, and each shall serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors, subject to the rights, if any, of an officer under any contract of employment.

 

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Section 3 Subordinate Officers. The Board of Directors may appoint, and may empower the Chief Executive Officer or President to appoint, such other officers as the business of the Corporation may require, each of whom shall hold office for such period, have such authority and perform such duties as are provided in the Bylaws or as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine.

 

Section 4 Removal and Resignation of Officers. Subject to the rights of an officer under any contract, any officer may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by the Board of Directors or, except in case of an officer chosen by the Board of Directors, by any officer upon whom such power of removal may be conferred by the Board of Directors. Any officer may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Corporation. Any resignation shall take effect at the date of the receipt of that notice or at any later time specified in that notice; and, unless otherwise specified in that notice, the acceptance of the resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective. Any resignation shall be without prejudice to the rights of the Corporation under any contract to which the officer is a party.

 

Section 5 Vacancies in Offices. A vacancy in any office because of death, resignation, removal, disqualification or any other cause shall be filled in the manner prescribed in these Bylaws for regular appointments to that office.

 

Section 6 Chairman of the Board of Directors. The Chairman of the Board, if such an officer is elected, shall, if present, preside at meetings of the stockholders and of the Board of Directors, unless otherwise determined by the Board of Directors. He shall, in addition, perform such other functions (if any) as may be prescribed by the Bylaws or the Board of Directors.

 

Section 7 Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors. The Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, if such an officer is elected, shall, in the absence or disability of the Chairman of the Board of Directors, perform all duties of the Chairman of the Board of Directors and when so acting shall have all the powers of and be subject to all of the restrictions upon the Chairman of the Board of Directors. The Vice Chairman of the Board shall have such other powers and duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors or the Bylaws.

 

Section 8 Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation shall, subject to the control of the Board of Directors, have general supervision, direction and control of the business and the officers of the Corporation. He shall exercise the duties usually vested in the chief executive officer of a Corporation and perform such other powers and duties as may be assigned to him from time to time by the Board of Directors or prescribed by the Bylaws. In the absence of the Chairman of the Board of Directors and any Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders and of the Board of Directors.

 

Section 9 President. The President of the Corporation shall, subject to the control of the Board of Directors and the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation, if there be such an officer, have general powers and duties of management usually vested in the office of president of a Corporation and shall have such other powers and duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors or the Bylaws or the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation. In the absence of the Chairman of the Board, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer, the President shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors and stockholders.

 

Section 10 Vice President. In the absence or disability of the President, the Vice Presidents, if any, in order of their rank as fixed by the Board of Directors or, if not ranked, a Vice President designated by the Board of Directors, shall perform all the duties of the President, and when so acting shall have all the powers of, and subject to all the restrictions upon, the President. The Vice Presidents shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as from time to time may be prescribed for them respectively by the Board of Directors or the Bylaws, and the President, or the Chairman of the Board.

 

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Section 11 Secretary. The Secretary shall keep or cause to be kept, at the principal executive office or such other place as the Board of Directors may direct, a book of minutes of all meetings and actions of directors, committees of directors, and stockholders, with the time and place of holding, whether regular or special, and, if special, how authorized, the notice given, the names of those present at directors’ meetings or committee meetings, the number of shares present or represented at stockholders’ meetings, and a summary of the proceedings.

 

The Secretary shall keep, or cause to be kept, at the principal executive office or at the office of the Corporation’s transfer agent or registrar, as determined by resolution of the Board of Directors, a share register, or a duplicate share register, showing the names of all stockholders and their addresses, the number and classes of shares held by each, the number and date of certificates issued for the same, and the number and date of cancellation of every certificate surrendered for cancellation.

 

The Secretary shall give, or cause to be given, notice of all meetings of the stockholders and of the Board of Directors required by the Bylaws or by law to be given, and he shall keep or cause to be kept the seal of the Corporation if one be adopted, in safe custody, and shall have such powers and perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors or by the Bylaws.

 

Section 12 Chief Financial Officer. The Chief Financial Officer shall keep and maintain, or cause to be kept and maintained, adequate and correct books and records of accounts of the properties and business transactions of the Corporation. The Chief Financial Officer shall deposit all moneys and other valuables in the name and to the credit of the Corporation with such depositories as may be designated by the Board of Directors. He shall make such disbursements of the funds of the Corporation as are authorized and shall render from time to time an account of all of his transactions as Chief Financial Officer and of the financial condition of the Corporation. The Chief Financial Officer shall also have such other powers and perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors or the Bylaws.

 

Article V

STOCK

 

Section 1 Certificated Shares. Every holder of stock in the Corporation shall be entitled to have a certificate signed by, or in the name of the Corporation (i) by the Chairman or Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, or the President or a Vice President and (ii) by the Chief Financial Officer or the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer, or the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Corporation, certifying the number of shares owned by such stockholder in the Corporation. Any or all of the signatures on the certificate may be a facsimile. In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate shall have ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if he were such officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of issue.

 

Section 2 Uncertificated Shares. Shares of stock of the Corporation may be evidenced by registration in the owner’s name in uncertificated form on the books of the Corporation. To the extent required by applicable law, within a reasonable time after the issuance or transfer of uncertificated shares of stock, the Corporation shall send or cause to be sent to the registered owner thereof a written notice containing the information required to be set forth or stated on certificates representing shares of that class or series of stock, or a statement that the Corporation will furnish without charge to each registered owner thereof who so requests, the powers, designations, preferences and relative rights of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of any such class or series of stock. Except as otherwise expressly provided by applicable law, the rights and obligations of the owners of uncertificated shares of stock and the rights and obligations of the owners of certificated shares of stock of the same class and series shall be identical. If a holder of uncertificated shares elects to receive a certificate for shares of the Corporation’s stock, the Corporation (or the transfer agent or registrar, as the case may be) shall (to the extent permitted under applicable law and rules, regulations and listing requirements of any stock exchange or stock market on which the Corporation’s shares are listed or traded) cease providing annual statements indicating such holder’s holdings of shares in the Corporation.

 

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Section 3 Stock Records and Record Holders. A record shall be kept of the respective names of the persons, firms or corporations owning shares of the Corporation’s stock, whether certificated or uncertificated, the number and class or series of shares owned thereby, respectively, and the respective dates thereof, and in case of cancellation, the respective dates of cancellation. The Corporation shall be entitled to recognize the exclusive right of a person registered on its books as the record holder of shares to receive dividends, and to vote as such record holder, and to hold liable for calls and assessments a person registered on its books as the record holder of shares, and shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or shares on the part of any other person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise required by law.

 

Section 4 Transfers of Stock. Transfers of shares of stock of the Corporation shall be made only on the books of the Corporation by the registered holder thereof, or by such holder’s attorney-in-fact thereunto authorized by power of attorney duly executed and filed with the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary, or with a transfer clerk or a transfer agent appointed as provided in Section 6 of this Article V, and, in the case of certificated shares of stock, upon surrender of the certificate or certificates for such shares properly endorsed and the payment of all taxes thereon, or, in the case of uncertificated shares of stock, upon receipt of proper transfer instructions, payment of all taxes thereon and compliance with appropriate procedures for transferring shares in uncertificated form. Whenever any transfer of shares shall be made for collateral security, and not absolutely, such fact shall be so expressed in the entry of transfer if, when the shares, whether certificated or uncertificated, shall be presented to the Corporation for transfer, both the transferor and the transferee request the Corporation to do so.

 

Section 5 Lost, Stolen, Destroyed, and Mutilated Certificates. In any case of loss, theft, destruction, or mutilation of any certificate of stock, another certificate of stock may be issued in its place, or, at the request of the holder thereof, uncertificated shares of stock may be issued in its place, upon proof of such loss, theft, destruction, or mutilation and upon the giving of a bond of indemnity to the Corporation in such form and in such sum as the Board of Directors may direct; provided, however, that a new certificate, or, upon request, uncertificated shares of stock, may be issued without requiring any bond when, in the judgment of the Board of Directors, it is proper to do so.

 

Section 6 Regulations. The Board of Directors may make such rules and regulations as it may deem expedient, not inconsistent with these Bylaws, concerning the issue, transfer and registration of certificated or uncertificated shares of stock of the Corporation. It may appoint, or authorize any officer or officers to appoint, one or more transfer clerks or one or more transfer agents and one or more registrars, and, in the case of certificated shares of stock, may require all such certificates to bear the signature or signatures of any of them.

 

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Article VI

INDEMNIFICATION

 

Section 1 Right to Indemnification. Each person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (hereinafter a “proceeding”), by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or officer of the Corporation or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director or officer of another Corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to employee benefit plans (hereinafter an “indemnitee”), whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director or officer or in any other capacity while serving as a director or officer, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation to the fullest extent authorized by the Delaware General Corporation Law, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights than such law permitted the Corporation to provide prior to such amendment), against all expense, liability and loss (including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes or penalties and amounts paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by such indemnitee in connection therewith and such indemnification shall continue as to an indemnitee who has ceased to be a director or officer and shall inure to the benefit of the indemnitee’s heirs, executors and administrators; provided, however, that, except as provided in Section 2 of this Article VI with respect to proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification, the Corporation shall indemnify any such indemnitee in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such indemnitee only if such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board of Directors of the Corporation. The right to indemnification conferred in this Section shall be a contract right and shall include the right to be paid by the Corporation the expenses incurred in defending any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition (hereinafter an “advancement of expenses”); provided, however, that, if the Delaware General Corporation Law requires, an advancement of expenses incurred by an indemnitee in his or her capacity as a director or officer (and not in any other capacity in which service was or is rendered by such indemnitee, including without limitation, service to an employee benefit plan) shall be made only upon delivery to the Corporation of an undertaking, by or on behalf of such indemnitee, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined that such indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified for such expenses under this Article VI or otherwise (hereinafter an “undertaking”).

 

Section 2 Right of Indemnitee to Bring Suit. If a claim under Section 1 of this Article VI is not paid in full by the Corporation within 45 days after a written claim has been received by the Corporation, the indemnitee may at any time thereafter bring suit against the Corporation to recover the unpaid amount of the claim. If successful in whole or part in any such suit or in a suit brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the indemnitee shall be entitled to be paid also the expense of prosecuting or defending such suit. In (i) any suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification hereunder (but not in a suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to an advancement of expenses) it shall be a defense that, and (ii) any suit by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking the Corporation shall be entitled to recover such expenses upon a final adjudication that, the indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the Delaware General Corporation Law. Neither the failure of the Corporation (including its Board of Directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such suit that indemnification of the indemnitee is proper in the circumstances because the indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the Delaware General Corporation Law, nor an actual determination by the Corporation (including its Board of Directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) that the indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall create a presumption that the indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct or, in the case of such a suit brought by indemnitee, be a defense to such suit. In any suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right hereunder, or by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the burden of proving that the indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified or to such advancement of expenses under this Article VI or otherwise shall be on the Corporation.

 

Section 3 Non-Exclusivity of Rights. The rights of indemnification and to the advancement of expenses conferred in this Article VI shall not be exclusive of any other right which any person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of the Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.

 

Section 4 Insurance. The Corporation may maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any expense, liability or loss, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under the Delaware General Corporation Law.

 

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Section 5 Indemnification of Employees or Agents of the Corporation. The Corporation may, to the extent authorized from time to time by the Board of Directors, grant rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses, to any employee or agent of the Corporation to the fullest extent of the provisions of this Article VI with respect to the indemnification and advancement of expenses of directors or officers of the Corporation.

 

Section 6 Indemnification Contracts. The Board of Directors is authorized to enter into a contract with any director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or any person serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another Corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including employee benefit plans, providing for indemnification rights equivalent to or, if the Board of Directors so determinates, greater than, those provided for in this Article VI.

 

Section 7 Effect of Amendment. Any amendment, repeal or modification of any provision of this Article VI by the stockholders or the directors of the Corporation shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a director or officer of the Corporation existing at the time of such amendment, repeal or modification.

 

Article VII

GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

Section 1 Dividends. Subject to limitations contained in the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and the Certificate of Incorporation, the Board of Directors may declare and pay dividends upon the shares of capital stock of the Corporation, which dividends may be paid either in cash, securities of the Corporation or other property.

 

Section 2 Disbursements. All checks or demands for money and notes of the Corporation shall be signed by such officer or officers or such other person or persons as the Board of Directors may from time to time designate.

 

Section 3 Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors.

 

Section 4 Corporate Seal. The Corporation shall have a corporate seal in such form as shall be prescribed by the Board of Directors.

 

Section 5 Record Date. In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, or entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights, or entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock, or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board of Directors may fix, in advance, a record date, which shall not be more than 60 days nor less than 10 days before the date of such meeting, nor more than 60 days prior to any other action. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting. Stockholders on the record date are entitled to notice and to vote or to receive the dividend, distribution or allotment of rights or to exercise the rights, as the case may be, notwithstanding any transfer of any shares on the books of the Corporation after the record date, except as otherwise provided by agreement or by applicable law.

 

Section 6 Voting of Stock Owned by the Corporation. The Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the President and any other officer of the Corporation authorized by the Board of Directors shall have power, on behalf of the Corporation, to attend, vote and grant proxies to be used at any meeting of stockholders of any corporation (except this Corporation) in which the Corporation may hold stock.

 

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Section 7 Construction and Definitions. Unless the context requires otherwise, the general provisions, rules of construction and definitions in the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware shall govern the construction of these Bylaws.

 

Section 8 Amendments. The Bylaws, or any of them, may be rescinded, altered, amended or repealed, and new Bylaws may be made (i) by the Board of Directors, by vote of a majority of the number of directors then in office as directors, acting at any meeting of the Board of Directors, or (ii) by the stockholders, by the vote of the holders of 66 2/3% of the outstanding voting stock of the Corporation, at any annual or special meeting of stockholders, provided that notice of such proposed amendment, modification, repeal or adoption is given in the notice of the annual or special meeting; provided, however, that the Bylaws can only be amended if such amendment would not conflict with the Certificate of Incorporation. Any Bylaw made or altered by the requisite number of stockholders may be altered or repealed by the Board of Directors or may be altered or repealed by the requisite number of stockholders.

 

Section 9 Forum for Certain Litigation. Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or, if and only if the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware lacks subject matter jurisdiction, any state or federal court located within the State of Delaware) shall be the sole and exclusive forum for: (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, (ii) any action or proceeding asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer or other employee of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation’s stockholders, (iii) any action or proceeding asserting a claim against the Corporation or any director, officer or other employee of the Corporation arising pursuant to, or seeking to enforce any right or remedy under, any provision of the Delaware General Corporation Law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws (in each case, as they may be amended from time to time), (iv) any action or proceeding asserting a claim against the Corporation or any director, officer or other employee of the Corporation governed by the internal affairs doctrine, or (v) any action or proceeding to interpret, apply, enforce, or determine the validity or scope of any provision or provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws (in each case, as they may be amended from time to time), in all cases to the full extent permitted by applicable law and subject to the court’s having personal jurisdiction over the indispensable parties named as defendants. Any person or entity purchasing, otherwise acquiring, or continuing to own any interest in any shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be deemed to have notice of and consented to the provisions of this Bylaw.

 

18

 

EX-10.1 3 ex10-1.htm

 

Exhibit 10.1

 

Execution Version

 

Collectors Universe, Inc.

1610 E. St. Andrew Place, Suite 150

Santa Ana, CA 92705

 

September 28, 2020

 

Alta Fox Capital Management LLC

640 Taylor Street, Suite 2522

Fort Worth, TX 76102

Attn: Connor Haley, Managing Partner

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

This letter (this “Agreement”) constitutes the agreement between (a) Collectors Universe, Inc. (“Company”) and (b) Alta Fox Capital Management LLC (“Alta Fox”) and each of the other related Persons (as defined below) set forth on the signature pages to this Agreement (collectively with Alta Fox, the “Alta Fox Signatories”). Company and the Alta Fox Signatories are collectively referred to as the “Parties.” The Alta Fox Signatories and each Affiliate (as defined below) and Associate (as defined below) of each Alta Fox Signatory are collectively referred to as the “Alta Fox Group.”

 

1.       New Independent Director. Effective as of the date of this Agreement, Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) will take all action necessary (including increasing the size of the Board) to appoint Lorraine Bardeen (the “New Director”) as a director with a term expiring at Company’s 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “2020 Annual Meeting”).

 

2.       Composition of the Board.

 

(a)       Existing Directors. Two of the directors serving on the Board as of September 13, 2020, have informed the Board that they will not stand for re-election to the Board at the 2020 Annual Meeting.

 

(b)       Nomination of the New Director at the 2020 Annual Meeting. Company will take all action necessary to include the New Director on the Board’s slate of director nominees standing for election at the 2020 Annual Meeting. If the New Director is included on the Board’s slate of director nominees at the 2020 Annual Meeting, then Company will recommend that Company’s stockholders vote, and will solicit proxies, in favor of the election of the New Director at the 2020 Annual Meeting and otherwise support the New Director for election in a manner no less rigorous and favorable than the manner in which Company supports its other director nominees at the 2020 Annual Meeting.

 

(c)       Chairman. Prior to the date of this Agreement, Bruce A. Stevens has resigned as the chairman of the Board but continues to serve as a director.

 

 
 

 

3.       Replacement of the New Director. During the Restricted Period (as defined below) but subject to paragraph 4, if the New Director ceases to be a member of the Board for any reason, then Alta Fox will have the right to identify (and, subject to the next sentence of this paragraph 3, the Board will take all action necessary to promptly, and in any event within five Business Days (as defined below), appoint) another person (a “Replacement Director”) to serve as a director in place of the New Director. Any Replacement Director must (a) be reasonably acceptable to the Board; (b) be qualified to serve as a member of the Board under all applicable corporate governance policies or guidelines of Company and the Board and applicable legal and regulatory requirements; (c) meet the independence requirements with respect to Company of the listing rules of The Nasdaq Stock Market (“Nasdaq”); and (d) have complied with Company’s procedures for new director candidates (including the full completion of a directors and officers questionnaire, undergoing a customary background check, and participating in interviews with the members of the Board’s Nominating and Governance Committee and the Board). Upon becoming a member of the Board, the Replacement Director will succeed to all of the rights and privileges, and will be bound by the terms and conditions, of the New Director under this Agreement.

 

4.       Termination of Certain Obligations. Company’s obligations under paragraph 3 and paragraph 6 will immediately terminate upon the earliest of: (a) the Alta Fox Group no longer beneficially owning shares of Company’s common stock (which shares are determined to be Net Long Shares (as defined below)) representing in the aggregate at least three percent of Company’s then-outstanding common stock; (b) any Restricted Person (as defined below) breaching this Agreement and such breach is not cured (if capable of being cured) within 15 days after receipt by Alta Fox from Company of written notice specifying the breach; or (c) the submission by any Restricted Person of any director nominations in connection with any meeting of Company’s stockholders.

 

5.       Timing of the 2020 Annual Meeting. Company will use commercially reasonable efforts to hold the 2020 Annual Meeting no later than December 15, 2020.

 

6.       Size of the Board. Beginning with the closing of the polls at the 2020 Annual Meeting and continuing through the remainder of the Restricted Period, the Board will be comprised of no more than eight directors.

 

7.       Committee Matters.

 

(a)       New Director Committee Memberships. The New Director will initially be appointed to one of the Board’s standing committees and as chair of Strategy Committee (as defined below).

 

(b)       Strategy Committee. Within 30 days of the date of this Agreement, the Board will take all action necessary to form a strategy committee (the “Strategy Committee”). The Strategy Committee’s role will be to explore strategies and opportunities for operational improvements to increase and sustain the Company’s growth and profitability. The Strategy Committee will regularly report to the Board regarding its findings and recommendations. The Strategy Committee will be empowered to retain the services of an appropriate consulting firm to assist the Strategy Committee with its work.

 

(c)       Future Committees. Subject to Company’s corporate governance guidelines, as they may be amended from time to time (the “Guidelines”), the listing rules of Nasdaq and applicable law, the Board and all applicable committees of the Board will take all action necessary to ensure that each new committee of the Board formed after the date of this Agreement and during the Restricted Period includes the New Director as one of its members.

 

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8.       Investor Engagement. Company will use commercially reasonable efforts (a) to obtain coverage by at least one sell-side analyst within six months of the date of this Agreement; (b) during calendar year 2021 to attend and participate in at least two small-cap investor conferences sponsored by any of Roth Capital Partners, LLC, LD Micro, Sidoti & Company, LLC or Craig-Hallum Capital Group LLC (or other appropriate investor conferences); and (c) after calendar year 2021 to attend and participate, at the Company’s reasonable discretion, in a reasonable number of appropriate investor conferences.

 

9.       Recusal. The Alta Fox Group understands and agrees that the Board or any of its committees, in the exercise of its fiduciary duties, may require that the New Director be recused from any Board or committee meeting or portion thereof at which the Board or any such committee is evaluating or taking action with respect to the exercise of any of Company’s rights or enforcement of any of the obligations under this Agreement.

 

10.       Compliance with Laws and Company Policies. The Alta Fox Group acknowledges that the New Director will be governed by the same laws, policies, procedures, processes, codes, rules, standards and guidelines applicable to members of the Board, including Company’s code of conduct, insider trading policy, Regulation FD policy, related party transactions policy and the Guidelines, in each case in effect and as amended from time to time.

 

11.       No Fiduciary Restriction. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, Company and the Alta Fox Group each acknowledge that the New Director, during the New Director’s service as a director of Company, will not be prohibited from acting in the New Director’s capacity as a director or from complying with the New Director’s fiduciary duties as a director of Company (including voting on any matter submitted for consideration by the Board, participating in deliberations or discussions of the Board, and making suggestions or raising any issues or recommendations to the Board).

 

12.       Director Benefits. The New Director will be entitled to the same director benefits as other members of the Board, including (a) compensation for such director’s service as a director and reimbursement of such director’s expenses on the same basis as all other non-employee directors of Company; (b) equity-based compensation grants and other benefits, if any, on the same basis as all other non-employee directors of Company; and (c) the same rights of indemnification and directors’ and officers’ liability insurance coverage as the other non-employee directors of Company as such rights may exist from time to time.

 

13.       Voting Commitment. During the Restricted Period, at each annual or special meeting of Company’s stockholders (including any adjournments, postponements or other delays thereof) or action by written consent, Alta Fox will cause all Voting Securities (as defined below) that are beneficially owned by the members of the Alta Fox Group to be (a) present for quorum purposes, if applicable; and (b) voted or consented (i) in favor of the election of each person nominated by the Board for election as a director; (ii) against any proposals or resolutions to remove any member of the Board; and (iii) in accordance with the recommendation of the Board on all other proposals or business that may be the subject of stockholder action at such meeting or action by written consent. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (A) if Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. (“ISS”) or Glass Lewis & Co., LLC (“Glass Lewis”) recommends a vote inconsistent with the recommendation of the Board at any annual or special meeting of Company’s stockholders with respect to (1) Company’s “say-on-pay” proposal or (2) any other proposal (other than the election or removal of directors), then the members of the Alta Fox Group will be permitted to vote in accordance with the recommendation of ISS or Glass Lewis; and (B) the members of the Alta Fox Group will be permitted to vote in their sole discretion on any proposals related to an Extraordinary Transaction (as defined below).

 

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14.       Standstill. During the Restricted Period, Alta Fox will not, and will cause the other Restricted Persons not to, in any way, directly or indirectly (in each case, except as expressly permitted by this Agreement):

 

(a)       with respect to Company or the Voting Securities, (i) make, participate in or encourage any “solicitation” (as such term is used in the proxy rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including any solicitations of the type contemplated by Rule 14a-2(b) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”)) of proxies or consents with respect to the election or removal of directors or any other matter or proposal; (ii) become a “participant” (as such term is used in the proxy rules of the SEC) in any such solicitation of proxies or consents; (iii) seek to advise, encourage or influence any Person, or assist any Person in so encouraging, advising or influencing any Person, with respect to the giving or withholding of any proxy, consent or other authority to vote or act (other than such encouragement, advice or influence that is consistent with the Board’s recommendation in connection with such matter, if applicable); or (iv) initiate, encourage or participate, directly or indirectly, in any “vote no,” “withhold” or similar campaign;

 

(b)       initiate, propose or otherwise “solicit” (as such term is used in the proxy rules of the SEC, including any solicitations of the type contemplated by Rule 14a-2(b) promulgated under the Exchange Act) Company’s stockholders for the approval of any shareholder proposal, whether made pursuant to Rule 14a-4 or Rule 14a-8 promulgated under the Exchange Act, or otherwise, or cause or encourage any Person to initiate or submit any such shareholder proposal;

 

(c)       with respect to Company or the Voting Securities, (i) communicate with Company’s stockholders or others pursuant to Rule 14a-1(l)(2)(iv) promulgated under the Exchange Act; (ii) participate in, or take any action pursuant to, or encourage any Person to take any action pursuant to, any type of “proxy access”; or (iii) conduct any nonbinding referendum or hold a “stockholder forum”;

 

(d)       (i) seek, alone or in concert with others, election or appointment to, or representation on, the Board; (ii) nominate or propose the nomination of, or recommend the nomination of, or encourage any Person to nominate or propose the nomination of or recommend the nomination of, any candidate to the Board; or (iii) seek, alone or in concert with others, or encourage any Person to seek, the removal of any member of the Board;

 

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(e)       (i) call or seek to call a special meeting of stockholders, or encourage any Person to call a special meeting of stockholders; (ii) act or seek to act by written consent of stockholders; or (iii) make a request for any stockholder list or other records of Company;

 

(f)       other than solely with other Restricted Persons with respect to Voting Securities now or subsequently owned by them, (i) form, join (whether or not in writing), encourage, influence, advise or participate in a partnership, limited partnership, syndicate or other group, including a “group” as defined pursuant to Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, with respect to any Voting Securities; (ii) deposit any Voting Securities into a voting trust, arrangement or agreement; or (iii) subject any Voting Securities to any voting trust, arrangement or agreement (other than granting proxies in solicitations approved by the Board);

 

(g)       (i) make any offer or proposal (with or without conditions) with respect to any tender offer, exchange offer, merger, amalgamation, consolidation, acquisition, business combination, recapitalization, consolidation, restructuring, liquidation, dissolution or similar extraordinary transaction involving Company, any of its subsidiaries or any of their respective securities or assets (each, an “Extraordinary Transaction”) and any Restricted Person; (ii) knowingly solicit any Person not a party to this Agreement (a “Third Party”) to, on an unsolicited basis, make an offer or proposal (with or without conditions) with respect to any Extraordinary Transaction, or encourage, initiate or support any Third Party in making such an offer or proposal; (iii) participate in any way in, either alone or in concert with others, any Extraordinary Transaction; or (iv) prior to such proposal becoming public, publicly comment on any proposal regarding any Extraordinary Transaction by a Third Party (it being understood that this clause (g) will not restrict any Restricted Person from tendering shares, receiving payment for shares or otherwise participating in any such Extraordinary Transaction on the same basis as other stockholders of Company);

 

(h)       institute, solicit, assist or join, as a party, any litigation, arbitration or other proceeding against or involving Company, its Affiliates or any of their respective current or former directors or officers (including derivative actions), except that the foregoing will not prevent any Restricted Person from (i) bringing litigation to enforce the provisions of this Agreement instituted in accordance with this Agreement; (ii) making counterclaims with respect to any proceeding initiated by, or on behalf of, Company or its Affiliates against a Restricted Person; (iii) bringing bona fide commercial disputes that do not in any manner relate to the subject matter of this Agreement; (iv) exercising statutory appraisal rights; or (v) responding to or complying with a validly issued legal process;

 

(i)       take any action in support of, or make any proposal or request that constitutes: (i) controlling, changing or influencing the Board or management of Company, including any plans or proposals to change the number or term of directors or to fill any vacancies on the Board; (ii) controlling, changing or influencing the capitalization, stock repurchase programs and practices, capital allocation programs and practices, or dividend policy of Company; (iii) controlling, changing or influencing Company’s management, business or corporate structure; (iv) seeking to have Company waive or make amendments or modifications to its certificate of incorporation or bylaws; (v) causing a class of securities of Company to be delisted from, or to cease to be authorized to be quoted on, any securities exchange; or (vi) causing a class of securities of Company to become eligible for termination of registration pursuant to Section 12(g)(4) of the Exchange Act;

 

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(j)       sell, offer or agree to sell to any Third Party, through swap or hedging transactions, derivative agreements or otherwise, any voting rights decoupled from the underlying Voting Securities;

 

(k)       engage in any short sale or similar transaction with respect to any security (other than a broad-based market basket or index) that includes, relates to or derives any significant part of its value from a decline in the market price or value of the securities of Company (it being understood that the restrictions in this clause (k) will not apply to the sale of put options or other option-related contracts);

 

(l)       other than through non-public communications with Company that would not reasonably be expected to trigger public disclosure obligations for any Party, make or disclose any statement regarding any intent, purpose, plan or proposal with respect to the Board, Company or its management, policies, affairs or assets, or the Voting Securities or this Agreement, that is inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement, including any intent, purpose, plan or proposal that is conditioned on, or that would require, the waiver, amendment, nullification or invalidation of any provision of this Agreement, or take any action that could require Company to make any public disclosure relating to any such intent, purpose, plan, proposal or condition;

 

(m)       make or cause to be made any statement that disparages, calls into disrepute, slanders, impugns, casts in a negative light or otherwise damages the reputation of Company or any of its Affiliates, Associates, subsidiaries, successors or assigns, or any of its or their respective current or former officers, directors, employees, stockholders, agents, attorneys, advisors or representatives, or any of its or their respective businesses, products or services, in any manner that would reasonably be expected to damage the business or reputation of the other or its businesses, products or services (including any statements regarding Company’s strategy, operations, performance, products or services), it being understood that this clause (m) will not restrict the ability of any Restricted Person to (i) comply with any subpoena or other legal process or respond to a request for information from any governmental authority with jurisdiction over such Restricted Person; or (ii) enforce such Restricted Person’s rights pursuant to this Agreement;

 

(n)       compensate or enter into any agreement, arrangement or understanding, whether written or oral, to compensate any person for his or her service as a director of Company with any cash, securities (including any rights or options convertible into or exercisable for or exchangeable into securities or any profit sharing agreement or arrangement) or other form of compensation directly or indirectly related to Company or its securities;

 

(o)       other than with other Restricted Persons, enter into any negotiations, agreements (whether written or oral), arrangements or understandings with, or advise, finance, assist or encourage, any Third Party to take any action that the Restricted Persons are prohibited from taking pursuant to this Agreement;

 

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(p)       acquire, offer, agree or propose to acquire, whether by purchase, tender or exchange offer, through the acquisition of control of another Person, by joining a partnership, limited partnership, syndicate or other group (including a “group” as defined pursuant to Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act), through swap or hedging transactions, or otherwise, or direct any Third Party in the acquisition of, any securities of Company or any rights decoupled from the underlying securities of Company that would result in the Alta Fox Group in the aggregate owning, controlling or otherwise having any beneficial or other ownership interest of more than 9.9 percent of the then-outstanding Voting Securities (including, for purpose of this calculation, all Voting Securities that such member of the Alta Fox Group has the right to acquire pursuant to the exercise of any rights in connection with any securities or any agreement, regardless of when such rights may be exercised and whether they are conditional and including economic ownership pursuant to a cash settled call option or other derivative security, contract or instrument primarily related to the price of Voting Securities); or

 

(q)       other than through open market broker sale transactions where the identity of the purchaser is not known and in underwritten widely dispersed public offerings, sell, offer or agree to sell, through swap or hedging transactions or otherwise, the securities of Company to any Third Party that, to the knowledge of any member of the Alta Fox Group (after due inquiry in connection with a private, non-open market transaction, it being understood that such knowledge will be deemed to exist with respect to any publicly available information, including information in documents filed with the SEC), would result in such Third Party, together with its Affiliates and Associates, owning, controlling or otherwise having any beneficial or other ownership interest of more than 4.9 percent of the then-outstanding Voting Securities or that would increase the beneficial or other ownership interest of any Third Party who, together with its Affiliates and Associates, has a beneficial or other ownership interest of more than 4.9 percent of the then-outstanding Voting Securities (it being understood that the restrictions in this clause (q) will not apply to any Third Party that is a Schedule 13G filer and is a mutual fund, pension fund, index fund or investment fund manager with no known history of activism or known plans to engage in activism).

 

15.       Withdrawal of Nominations. The Alta Fox Group agrees that automatically and without any additional action by any Party, upon the execution of this Agreement by all of the Parties, Alta Fox Opportunities Fund LP will be deemed to have irrevocably withdrawn its nomination of candidates for election as directors of Company set forth in its letter to Company dated June 18, 2020.

 

16.       Non-Disparagement by Company. During the Restricted Period, Company will not, and will direct its directors, officers and employees not to, make or cause to be made any statement that disparages, calls into disrepute, slanders, impugns, casts in a negative light or otherwise damages the reputation of any member of the Alta Fox Group or any of their respective Affiliates, Associates, subsidiaries, successors or assigns, or any of its or their respective current or former officers, directors, employees, stockholders, agents, attorneys, advisors or representatives. This paragraph 16 will not restrict the ability of any Person to (a) comply with any subpoena or other legal process or respond to a request for information from any governmental authority with jurisdiction over such Person; or (b) enforce such Person’s rights pursuant to this Agreement.

 

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17.       Compliance with this Agreement. Alta Fox will cause the Restricted Persons to comply with the terms of this Agreement and will be responsible for any breach of the terms of this Agreement by any Restricted Person (even if such Restricted Person is not a party to this Agreement).

 

18.       Expense Reimbursement. Within five Business Days of the receipt of appropriate documentation, Company will reimburse the Alta Fox Group for its reasonable and documented out-of-pocket legal expenses (up to a maximum of $150,000) incurred by the Alta Fox Group in connection with the negotiation and execution of this Agreement and related matters. Except as set forth in the preceding sentence, all fees, costs and expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement will be paid by the Person incurring such fee, cost or expense.

 

19.       Public Disclosure.

 

(a)       Press Release. No later than 5:30 p.m., Pacific time, on September 29, 2020, Company and Alta Fox will issue a joint press release in the form attached as Exhibit A (the “Press Release”). Neither Company nor the members of the Alta Fox Group will make any public statements with respect to the matters covered by this Agreement (including in the Schedule 13D (as defined below) or in any other filing with the SEC, any other regulatory or governmental agency, any stock exchange or in any materials that would reasonably be expected to be filed with the SEC) that are inconsistent with, or otherwise contrary to, the statements in the Press Release.

 

(b)       Form 8-K. Company will promptly prepare and file (but not before the issuance of the Press Release) with the SEC a Current Report on Form 8-K (the “Form 8-K”) reporting the entry into this Agreement. All disclosure in the Form 8-K will be consistent with this Agreement. Company will provide Alta Fox and its counsel with a reasonable opportunity to review and comment on the Form 8-K prior to filing, and will consider in good faith any changes proposed by Alta Fox or its counsel. The Form 8-K will include this Agreement as an exhibit.

 

(c)       Amended Schedule 13D. The Alta Fox Group will promptly prepare and file (but not before the issuance of the Press Release) with the SEC an amendment to its Schedule 13D (the “Amended Schedule 13D”) with respect to Company reporting the entry into this Agreement. All disclosure in the Amended Schedule 13D will be consistent with this Agreement. The Alta Fox Group will provide Company and its counsel with reasonable opportunity to review and comment on the Amended Schedule 13D prior to filing, and will consider in good faith any changes proposed by Company or its counsel. The Amended Schedule 13D will include this Agreement as an exhibit.

 

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20.       Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the term (a) “Person” will be interpreted broadly to include, among others, any individual, general or limited partnership, corporation, limited liability or unlimited liability company, joint venture, estate, trust, group, association or other entity of any kind or structure; (b) “Affiliate” has the meaning set forth in Rule 12b-2 promulgated under the Exchange Act and will include Persons who become Affiliates of any Person after the date of this Agreement; (c) “Associate” has the meaning set forth in Rule 12b-2 promulgated under the Exchange Act and will include Persons who become Associates of any Person after the date of this Agreement, but will exclude any Person not controlled by or under common control with the related Person; (d) “beneficially own,” “beneficially owned” and “beneficial ownership” has the meaning set forth in Rule 13d-3 and Rule 13d-5(b)(1) promulgated under the Exchange Act; (e) “Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or a day on which the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco is closed; (f) “Net Long Shares” will be limited to the number of shares of Company’s common stock that are beneficially owned by any Person that constitute such Person’s net long position as defined in Rule 14e-4 promulgated under the Exchange Act (except that for purposes of such definition, the date that the tender offer is first announced will instead refer to the date for determining or documenting such Person’s Net Long Shares and the reference to the highest tender price will refer to the market price on such date) and, to the extent not covered by such definition, reduced by any shares as to which such Person does not have the right to vote or direct the vote as of the date for determining or documenting or as to which such Person has entered into a derivative or other agreement, arrangement or understanding that hedges or transfers, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, any of the economic consequences of ownership of such shares, it being understood that whether shares constitute Net Long Shares will be decided by the Board in its reasonable determination; (g) “Restricted Period” means the period from the date of this Agreement until 11:59 p.m., Pacific time, on the day that is 30 days prior to the deadline for the submission of stockholder nominations of directors and business proposals for Company’s 2021 Annual Meeting of Stockholders; (h) “Restricted Persons” means the members of the Alta Fox Group and the principals, directors, general partners, officers, employees, agents and representatives of each member of the Alta Fox Group; and (i) “Voting Securities” means the shares of Company’s common stock and any other securities of Company entitled to vote in the election of directors, or securities convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for, such shares or other securities, whether or not subject to the passage of time or other contingencies.

 

21.       Interpretations. The words “include,” “includes” and “including” will be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation.” Unless the context requires otherwise, “or” is not exclusive. The definitions contained in this Agreement are applicable to the singular as well as the plural forms of such terms. Any agreement, instrument, law, rule or statute defined or referred to in this Agreement means, unless otherwise indicated, such agreement, instrument, law, rule or statute as from time to time amended, modified or supplemented. The measure of a period of one month or year for purposes of this Agreement will be the day of the following month or year corresponding to the starting date. If no corresponding date exists, then the end date of such period being measured will be the next actual day of the following month or year (for example, one month following February 18 is March 18 and one month following March 31 is May 1).

 

22.       Representations of the Alta Fox Group. Each of the Alta Fox Signatories, severally and not jointly, represents that (a) its authorized signatory set forth on the signature page to this Agreement has the power and authority to execute this Agreement and any other documents or agreements to be entered into in connection with this Agreement and to bind such member; (b) this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by it and is a valid and binding obligation of such member, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, except as enforcement thereof may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or similar laws generally affecting the rights of creditors and subject to general equity principles; (c) this Agreement does not and will not violate any law, any order of any court or other agency of government, its organizational documents or any provision of any agreement or other instrument to which it or any of its properties or assets is bound, or conflict with, result in a material breach of or constitute (with due notice or lapse of time or both) a default under any such agreement or other instrument to which Alta Fox or any of the Alta Fox Signatories are bound, or result in the creation or imposition of, or give rise to, any material lien, charge, restriction, claim, encumbrance or adverse penalty of any nature whatsoever; and (d) as of the date of this Agreement, it has not, and no other member of the Alta Fox Group has, directly or indirectly, compensated or entered into any agreement, arrangement or understanding to compensate any person for his or her service as a director of Company with any cash, securities (including any rights or options convertible into or exercisable for or exchangeable into securities or any profit sharing agreement or arrangement) or other form of compensation directly or indirectly related to Company or its securities. Alta Fox represents that as of the date of this Agreement, the Alta Fox Group is the beneficial owner of an aggregate of 496,945 shares of Company’s common stock.

 

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23.       Representations of Company. Company represents that this Agreement (a) has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by it and is a valid and binding obligation of Company, enforceable against Company in accordance with its terms, except as enforcement thereof may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or similar laws generally affecting the rights of creditors and subject to general equity principles; (b) does not require the approval of the stockholders of Company; and (c) does not and will not violate any law, any order of any court or other agency of government, Company’s certificate of incorporation or bylaws, each as amended from time to time, or any provision of any agreement or other instrument to which Company or any of its properties or assets is bound, or conflict with, result in a material breach of or constitute (with due notice or lapse of time or both) a default under any such agreement or other instrument to which Company is bound, or result in the creation or imposition of, or give rise to, any material lien, charge, restriction, claim, encumbrance or adverse penalty of any nature whatsoever.

 

24.       Specific Performance. Each Party acknowledges and agrees that money damages would not be a sufficient remedy for any breach (or threatened breach) of this Agreement by it and that, in the event of any breach or threatened breach of this Agreement, (a) the Party seeking specific performance will be entitled to injunctive and other equitable relief, without proof of actual damages; (b) the Party against whom specific performance is sought will not plead in defense that there would be an adequate remedy at law; and (c) the Party against whom specific performance is sought agrees to waive any applicable right or requirement that a bond be posted. Such remedies will not be the exclusive remedies for a breach of this Agreement, but will be in addition to all other remedies available at law or in equity.

 

25.       Entire Agreement; Binding Nature; Assignment; Waiver. This Agreement constitutes the only agreement between the Parties with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement and it supersedes all prior agreements, understandings, negotiations and discussions, whether oral or written. This Agreement binds, and will inure to the benefit of, the Parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns. No Party may assign or otherwise transfer either this Agreement or any of its rights, interests, or obligations under this Agreement without the prior written approval of the other Party. Any purported transfer requiring consent without such consent is void. No amendment, modification, supplement or waiver of any provision of this Agreement will be effective unless it is in writing and signed by the affected Party, and then only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose stated in such writing. Any waiver by any Party of a breach of any provision of this Agreement will not operate as or be construed to be a waiver of any other breach of such provision or of any breach of any other provision of this Agreement. The failure of a Party to insist upon strict adherence to any term of this Agreement on one or more occasions will not be considered a waiver or deprive that Party of the right to insist upon strict adherence to that term or any other term of this Agreement in the future.

 

-10-
 

 

26.       Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is held invalid or unenforceable by any court of competent jurisdiction, then the other provisions of this Agreement will remain in full force and effect. Any provision of this Agreement that is held invalid or unenforceable only in part or degree will remain in full force and effect to the extent not held invalid or unenforceable, and this Agreement will otherwise be construed so as to effectuate the original intention of the Parties reflected in this Agreement. The Parties further agree to replace such invalid or unenforceable provision of this Agreement with a valid and enforceable provision that will achieve, to the extent possible, the purposes of such invalid or unenforceable provision.

 

27.       Governing Law; Forum. This Agreement is governed by and will be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware. Each of the Parties (a) irrevocably and unconditionally consents to the exclusive personal jurisdiction and venue of the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware and any appellate court thereof (unless the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction over the matter, in which case the United States District Court for the District of Delaware and any appellate court thereof will have exclusive personal jurisdiction); (b) agrees that it will not attempt to deny or defeat such personal jurisdiction by motion or other request for leave from any such court; (c) agrees that it will not bring any action relating to this Agreement or otherwise in any court other than the such courts; and (d) waives any claim of improper venue or any claim that those courts are an inconvenient forum. The Parties agree that mailing of process or other papers in connection with any such action or proceeding in the manner provided in paragraph 30 or in such other manner as may be permitted by applicable law, will be valid and sufficient service thereof.

 

28.       Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH OF THE PARTIES, AFTER CONSULTING OR HAVING HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONSULT WITH COUNSEL, KNOWINGLY, VOLUNTARILY AND INTENTIONALLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT THAT SUCH PARTY MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LITIGATION BASED UPON OR ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY COURSE OF CONDUCT, DEALING, STATEMENTS (WHETHER ORAL OR WRITTEN), OR ACTIONS OF ANY OF THEM. No Party will seek to consolidate, by counterclaim or otherwise, any action in which a jury trial has been waived with any other action in which a jury trial cannot be or has not been waived.

 

29.       Third Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement is solely for the benefit of the Parties and is not enforceable by any other Person.

 

30.       Notices. All notices and other communications under this Agreement must be in writing and will be deemed to have been duly delivered and received (a) four Business Days after being sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid; (b) one Business Day after being sent for next Business Day delivery, fees prepaid, via a reputable nationwide overnight courier service; (c) immediately upon delivery by hand; or (d) on the date sent by email (except that notice given by email will not be effective unless either (i) a duplicate copy of such email notice is promptly given by one of the other methods described in this paragraph 30 or (ii) the receiving Party delivers a written confirmation of receipt of such notice either by email or any other method described in this paragraph 30 (excluding “out of office” or other automated replies)). The addresses for such communications are as follows. At any time, any Party may, by notice given to the other Parties in accordance with this paragraph 30, provide updated information for notices pursuant to this Agreement.

 

-11-
 

 

  If to Company:
   
    Collectors Universe, Inc.
    1610 E. St. Andrew Place, Suite 150
    Santa Ana, CA 92705
    Attn: Joe Orlando, President and Chief Executive Officer
    Email: joe@collectors.com  
   
    with a copy (which will not constitute notice) to:
   
    Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati
    Professional Corporation
    650 Page Mill Road
    Palo Alto, CA 94063
    Attn: David J. Berger
      Douglas K. Schnell
    Email: dberger@wsgr.com, dschnell@wsgr.com
   
  If to the Alta Fox Group:
   
    Alta Fox Capital Management LLC
    640 Taylor Street, Suite 2522
    Fort Worth, TX 76102
    Attn: Connor Haley
    Email: connor@altafoxcapital.com
     
    with a copy (which will not constitute notice) to:
     
    Olshan Frome Wolosky LLP
    1325 Avenue of the Americas
    New York, NY 10019
    Attn: Andrew Freedman
    Email: afreedman@olshanlaw.com

 

31.       Representation by Counsel. Each of the Parties acknowledges that it has been represented by counsel of its choice throughout all negotiations that have preceded the execution of this Agreement, and that it has executed this Agreement with the advice of such counsel. Each Party and its counsel cooperated and participated in the drafting and preparation of this Agreement, and any and all drafts of this Agreement exchanged among the Parties will be deemed the work product of all of the Parties and may not be construed against any Party by reason of its drafting or preparation. Accordingly, any rule of law or any legal decision that would require interpretation of any ambiguities in this Agreement against any Party that drafted or prepared it is of no application and is expressly waived by each of the Parties, and any controversy over interpretations of this Agreement will be decided without regard to events of drafting or preparation.

 

-12-
 

 

32.       Counterparts. This Agreement and any amendments to this Agreement may be executed in one or more textually-identical counterparts, all of which will be considered one and the same agreement and will become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of the Parties and delivered to the other Parties, it being understood that all Parties need not sign the same counterpart. Any such counterpart, to the extent delivered by fax or .pdf, .tif, .gif, .jpg or similar attachment to electronic mail (any such delivery, an “Electronic Delivery”), will be treated in all manner and respects as an original executed counterpart and will be considered to have the same binding legal effect as if it were the original signed version thereof delivered in person. No Party may raise the use of an Electronic Delivery to deliver a signature, or the fact that any signature or agreement or instrument was transmitted or communicated through the use of an Electronic Delivery, as a defense to the formation of a contract, and each Party forever waives any such defense, except to the extent that such defense relates to lack of authenticity.

 

33.       Headings. The headings set forth in this Agreement are for convenience of reference purposes only and will not affect or be deemed to affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement or any term or provision of this Agreement.

 

[Signature page follows.]

 

-13-
 

 

  Very truly yours,
   
  COLLECTORS UNIVERSE, INC.
   
  By: /s/ Joseph Orlando
    Name:    Joseph Orlando
    Title:      CEO
     
ACCEPTED AND AGREED    
as of the date written above:    
     
ALTA FOX OPPORTUNITIES FUND, LP    
     
By: Alta Fox GenPar, LP,    
  its general partner    
     
By: /s/ P. Connor Haley    
  Name: P. Connor Haley    
  Title: Authorized Signatory    
     
ALTA FOX SPV 1, LP    
     
By: Alta Fox GenPar, LP,    
  its general partner    
         
By: /s/ P. Connor Haley    
  Name: P. Connor Haley    
  Title: Authorized Signatory    
         
ALTA FOX GENPAR, LP    
         
By: Alta Fox Equity, LLC,    
  its general partner    
         
By: /s/ P. Connor Haley    
  Name: P. Connor Haley    
  Title: Authorized Signatory    

 

[Signature Page to Letter Agreement]

 

 
 

 

 

ALTA FOX EQUITY, LLC                  
     
By: P. Connor Haley,    
  its manager    
     
By: /s/ P. Connor Haley    
  Name: P. Connor Haley    
  Title: Authorized Signatory    
     
ALTA FOX CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC    
     
By: P. Connor Haley,    
  its manager    
     
By: /s/ P. Connor Haley    
  Name: P. Connor Haley    
  Title: Authorized Signatory    
         
P. CONNOR HALEY    
         
/s/ P. Connor Haley    

 

[Signature Page to Letter Agreement]

 

 
 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

Form of Press Release

 

[see attached]

 

 

 

 

EX-99.1 4 ex99-1.htm

 

Exhibit 99.1

 

 

Collectors Universe Appoints Two New Independent Directors

 

Appoints Lorraine G. Bardeen and Jennifer H. Leuer as Independent Directors

 

Enters into Settlement Agreement with Alta Fox Capital Management

 

Appoints A.J. “Bert” Moyer as Chairman of the Board

 

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., September 29, 2020 – Collectors Universe, Inc. (NASDAQ: CLCT) (the “Company”), a leading provider of value-added authentication and grading services to dealers and collectors of collectibles, today announced the appointment of Lorraine G. Bardeen to its Board of Directors (the “Board”), effective immediately. In connection with her appointment, the Company has entered into a settlement agreement with Alta Fox Capital Management, LLC (“Alta Fox”), which owns approximately 5.4% of Collectors Universe’s outstanding shares.

 

Separately, the Board also announced the appointment of Jennifer H. Leuer to the Collectors Universe Board of Directors, effective immediately.

 

Ms. Bardeen serves as VP and Chief Technology Officer of World Wide Enterprise and Commercial Industries at Microsoft, where she acts as a technical and strategy advisor. She brings significant experience in driving technical innovation and leading teams at a global organization. Ms. Bardeen will chair a newly formed Strategy Committee that will explore ways to use technology to enhance value for customers and shareholders.

 

Ms. Leuer serves as Chief Executive Officer of CyberScout, a cybersecurity and identity protection solutions firm. She brings more than 20 years of strategy and operations experience and has a strong understanding of how to launch, scale and optimize businesses. With the appointment of Ms. Bardeen and Ms. Leuer, the Board will comprise 10 directors, 9 of whom are independent.

 

The Board has also appointed A.J. “Bert” Moyer as Chairman of the Board. Mr. Moyer has a deep understanding of the Company, having served as an independent director since 2003, and brings significant managerial and financial experience to the role. Bruce A. Stevens will continue his service to the Board as a director following the conclusion of his tenure as Chairman. In addition, two current directors, Deborah A. Farrington and Joseph R. Martin, have informed the Board that they will not stand for re-election to the Board at the Company’s 2020 Annual Meeting. The Company thanks them for their service.

 

“We are pleased to have Lorraine and Jennifer join our Board as independent directors,” said A.J. “Bert” Moyer, Chairman of the Collectors Universe Board of Directors. “As the Company continues to focus on expanding its technological capabilities, their combined knowledge and expertise in digital strategy, business optimization and product development will be beneficial to the business. We look forward to their contributions.”

 

“We appreciate the constructive dialogue with Alta Fox over the past few months and believe that, together, we reached the best outcome for Collectors Universe and the Company’s shareholders,” said Joseph J. Orlando, President and Chief Executive Officer of Collectors Universe. “The agreement announced today further demonstrates our commitment to taking action to drive additional value for our stakeholders, including our shareholders. On behalf of the Board, I want to express my appreciation to Debby and Joe for their years of leadership and the many contributions they made to Collectors Universe.”

 

 
 

 

“We are pleased to reach this agreement,” said Connor Haley, Managing Partner of Alta Fox. “We remain excited about the future of Collectors Universe and are confident that this Board and management team can advance our common goal of increasing shareholder value.”

 

Pursuant to the agreement, Alta Fox will vote all of its shares in favor of each of the Company’s nominees at the 2020 Annual Meeting and has agreed to certain customary standstill provisions and voting commitments. The complete agreement will be filed on a Form 8-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

About Lorraine G. Bardeen

 

Lorraine Bardeen serves as VP and Chief Technology Officer of World Wide Enterprise and Commercial Industries at Microsoft, where she bridges technical innovation and creative process to simplify complex industry solutions. Prior to her current role, Ms. Bardeen held several managerial roles at Microsoft, including General Manager of Industry Solutions and Customer Success Dynamics 365 and Power Platform Engineering, General Manager of Engineering, D365 Mixed Reality and Computer Vision Apps and many more. She started her career as Senior Associate Consultant at PWC. She holds a Bachelor of Science in finance from Cornell University.

 

About Jennifer H. Leuer

 

Jennifer Leuer serves as Chief Executive Officer of CyberScout, where she oversees strategy, go-to-market success and product development. She is also a strategic advisor at joinREACH, a mobile app committed to rebuilding trust between customers and brands through mutually beneficial relationships, and a current board member at BigRentz, Inc. Prior to CyberScout, Ms. Leuer held various roles at Experian, a multinational consumer credit reporting company, most recently serving as President of Partner Solutions, where she transformed the partners solutions business into a dynamic and fast-growing operating unit. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in communications from California State University, Fullerton and a Master of Business Administration from the University of California, Irvine.

 

About Collectors Universe

 

Collectors Universe, Inc. is a leading provider of value-added services to the collectibles markets. The Company authenticates and grades collectible coins, trading cards, event tickets, autographs and memorabilia (“collectibles”). The Company also compiles and publishes authoritative information about United States and world coins, collectible trading cards and sports memorabilia, and operates its CCE dealer-to-dealer Internet bid-ask market for certified coins and its Expos trade show and conventions business. This information is accessible to collectors and dealers at the Company’s website, http://www.collectorsuniverse.com and is also published in print.

 

Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information

 

This news release contains statements regarding Collectors Universe’s expectations, beliefs or views about its future performance, trends in its business and in its markets, and future opportunities, all of which constitute “forward-looking statements” as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward looking statements can often be identified by the use of words such as “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “estimate,” “project,” or future or conditional verbs such as “will,” “would,” “should,” “could,” or “may.”

 

 
 

 

Due to a number of risks and uncertainties to which its business and its markets are subject, Collectors Universe’s future financial performance may differ, possibly significantly, from expectations regarding its future financial performance that are expressed in, or that may be implied or inferred from the discussion of its operating results in this news release. Those risks and uncertainties, and their possible impact on Collectors Universe’s future financial performance, include, but are not limited to, the following: Collectors Universe’s continued dependence on its coins, and cards and autographs businesses, which historically have generated more than 90% of its total consolidated revenues and a substantial portion of its operating income, which make its operating results more vulnerable to conditions that could adversely affect those businesses, such as the volatility of precious metals prices that could adversely affect its coin revenues; the risk that the prolonged effects of COVID-19, and the business closures and travel restrictions that have been imposed in response to that outbreak, will adversely affect Collectors Universe’s revenues and operating performance, and could cause it to incur operating losses and declines in cash flows; the risk that it may become necessary for Collectors Universe to reduce the amount of, or suspend or discontinue the payment of cash dividends in the future, due to conditions or circumstances outside of its control, such as the continued effects of COVID-19 and resulting adverse economic or market conditions, as well as its financial performance and the cash needs of its business in the future; the risk that domestic or international economic conditions may deteriorate as a result of events outside of Collectors Universe’s control, which could lead to reductions in the demand for its collectibles authentication and grading services and, consequently, in its revenues and operating results; the risk that the weakness or volatility of economic conditions will lead to longer-term changes in the spending habits of consumers and in the availability and use of credit by smaller businesses, such as collectibles dealers, to fund purchases of collectibles, which could lead to longer-term declines in collectibles commerce and, therefore, in the demand for Collectors Universe’s services; the risks that claims under Collectors Universe’s coin and trading card authentication and grading warranties will increase substantially and that the warranty reserves that it maintains for such claims will prove to be inadequate, which could cause its gross profit margin and operating results to decline or cause it to incur operating losses; the risk that Collectors Universe’s strategies of offering services in newer geographic areas, such as Europe and Asia, or potentially investing in new lines of business, will not be successful in enabling it to improve profitability or may even cause it to incur significant losses; and the risks and added complexity of conducting business overseas.

 

Additional information regarding these risks and other risks and uncertainties to which its business is subject is contained in Item 1A, entitled “Risk Factors”, in Collectors Universe’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for its fiscal year ended June 30, 2020, which it filed with the SEC on August 26, 2020. Readers of this news release are urged to review the discussion of those risks and uncertainties in that Report. Also, Collectors Universe’s financial results in the future may differ from those currently expected due to additional risks and uncertainties of which it is not currently aware or which it does not currently view as, but in the future may become, material to its business or operating results. Due to the aforementioned risks and uncertainties, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained, implied or inferred, in this news release or in Collectors Universe’s Annual or Quarterly Reports filed with the SEC, which speak only as of their respective dates. Collectors Universe disclaims any obligation to update or revise any of the forward-looking statements contained in this news release or in its Annual or Quarterly Reports that it has filed with the SEC as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law or NASDAQ rules.

 

Contacts

Shelton Group

Leanne K. Sievers

949-224-3874

sheltonir@sheltongroup.com

 

MacKenzie Partners, Inc.

Bob Marese

212-929-5405

bmarese@mackenziepartners.com

 

 

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