CUSIP No. 253827109 |
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 13D
Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No. 2)*
Digirad Corporation
(Name of Issuer)
Common Stock, $0.0001 par value
(Title of Class of Securities)
253827109
(CUSIP Number)
RED OAK PARTNERS, LLC
Attn: David Sandberg
304 Park Avenue South, 11th Floor
New York, NY 10010
(212) 614-8952
(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person Authorized
to Receive Notices and Communications)
May 16, 2013
(Date of Event which Requires Filing of this Statement)
If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G to report the acquisition that is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and is filing this schedule because of Rule 13d-1(e), 13d-1(f) or 13d-1(g), check the following box ☐
Note: Schedules filed in paper format shall include a signed original and five copies of the schedule, including all exhibits. See Rule 13d-7 for other parties to whom copies are to be sent.
*The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting persons initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter disclosures provided in a prior cover page.
The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be filed for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Act) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes).
CUSIP No. 253827109 |
1 | NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS Red Oak Partners, LLC | |||
2 | CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (See Instructions) | (a) ☐ | ||
3 | SEC USE ONLY | |||
4 | SOURCE OF FUNDS (See Instructions) AF | |||
5 | CHECK IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) or 2(e) | ☐ | ||
6 | CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION New York | |||
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH: | 7 | SOLE VOTING POWER | ||
8 | SHARED VOTING POWER 1,078,752 | |||
9 | SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER | |||
10 | SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 1,078,752 | |||
11 | AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 1,078,752 | |||
12 | CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (See Instructions) | ☐ | ||
13 | PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) 5.61%1 | |||
14 | TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (See Instructions) OO |
____________________________
1 Based on 19,243,079 shares of common stock outstanding at April 24, 2013, as reported by the Company on its Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2013, filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission on May 6, 2013.
CUSIP No. 253827109 |
1 | NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
| |||
2 | CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (See Instructions) | (a) ☐ | ||
3 | SEC USE ONLY | |||
4 | SOURCE OF FUNDS (See Instructions) WC | |||
5 | CHECK IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) or 2(e) | ☐ | ||
6 | CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION Delaware | |||
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH: | 7 | SOLE VOTING POWER | ||
8 | SHARED VOTING POWER 618,566 | |||
9 | SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER | |||
10 | SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 618,566 | |||
11 | AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 618,566 | |||
12 | CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (See Instructions) | ☐ | ||
13 | PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) 3.21%1 | |||
14 | TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (See Instructions) PN |
CUSIP No. 253827109 |
1 | NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
| |||
2 | CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (See Instructions) | (a) ☐ | ||
3 | SEC USE ONLY | |||
4 | SOURCE OF FUNDS (See Instructions) AF | |||
5 | CHECK IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) or 2(e) | ☐ | ||
6 | CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION Colorado | |||
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH: | 7 | SOLE VOTING POWER | ||
8 | SHARED VOTING POWER 460,186 | |||
9 | SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER | |||
10 | SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 460,186 | |||
11 | AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 460,186 | |||
12 | CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (See Instructions) | ☐ | ||
13 | PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) 2.39%1 | |||
14 | TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (See Instructions) OO |
CUSIP No. 253827109 |
1 | NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
| |||
2 | CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (See Instructions) | (a) ☐ | ||
3 | SEC USE ONLY | |||
4 | SOURCE OF FUNDS (See Instructions) WC | |||
5 | CHECK IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) or 2(e) | ☐ | ||
6 | CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION Colorado | |||
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH: | 7 | SOLE VOTING POWER | ||
8 | SHARED VOTING POWER 460,186 | |||
9 | SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER | |||
10 | SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 460,186 | |||
11 | AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 460,186 | |||
12 | CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (See Instructions) | ☐ | ||
13 | PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) 2.39%1 | |||
14 | TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (See Instructions) PN |
1 | NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS David Sandberg | |||
2 | CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (See Instructions) | (a) ☐ | ||
3 | SEC USE ONLY | |||
4 | SOURCE OF FUNDS (See Instructions) AF | |||
5 | CHECK IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) or 2(e) | ☐ | ||
6 | CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION United States | |||
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH: | 7 | SOLE VOTING POWER | ||
8 | SHARED VOTING POWER 1,078,752 | |||
9 | SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER | |||
10 | SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 1,078,752 | |||
11 | AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 1,078,752 | |||
12 | CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (See Instructions) | ☐ | ||
13 | PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) 5.61%1 | |||
14 | TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (See Instructions) IN |
This Amendment No. 2 (Amendment No. 2) to Schedule 13D amends and supplements the statement on Schedule 13D originally filed by Red Oak Partners, LLC (the Reporting Persons) on March 18, 2013, as amended by amendment 1 (as amended, the Schedule 13D) relating to the common stock, par value $.0001 per share (the Common Stock), of Digirad Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the Issuer). The principal executive offices of the Issuer are located at 13950 Stowe Drive, Poway, California 92064. Except as specifically amended and supplemented by this Amendment No. 2, all other provision of the Schedule 13D remain in full force and effect. Unless otherwise indicated, each capitalized term used but not defined herein shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Schedule 13D.
Item 4. Purpose of Transaction.
On May 16, 2013, the Reporting Persons issued a press release relating to a motion and complaint it filed in Delaware Chancery Court seeking to compel Digirad Corporation to hold a new election of Directors. A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit A. A copy of the motion is attached as Exhibit B. A copy of the complaint is attached as Exhibit C.
The Reporting Persons purchased the Common Stock subject to this Statement for investment purposes. The Reporting Persons will review their investments in the Common Stock from time to time, and, subject to applicable law and regulation and depending upon certain factors, including, without limitation, the financial performance of the Company, the availability and price of the Common Stock or other securities related to the Company, and other general market and investment conditions, the Reporting Persons may determine to:
· |
acquire additional Common Stock through open market purchases or otherwise;
· |
sell Common Stock through the open market or otherwise; or
· |
otherwise engage or participate in a transaction with the purpose or effect of changing or influencing the control of the Company.
Such transactions may take place at any time and without prior notice. There can be no assurance, however, that any Reporting Person will take any such actions.
Item 7. Material to be Filed as Exhibits.
Exhibit A Press Release
Exhibit B Motion filed in Delaware Chancery Court
Exhibit C Complaint filed in Delaware Chancery Court
SIGNATURE
After reasonable inquiry and to best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.
Dated: May 16, 2013
By: |
/s/ David Sandberg
Name: |
David Sandberg
RED OAK PARTNERS, LLC
By: |
/s/ David Sandberg
Name: |
David Sandberg
Title: |
Managing Member
THE RED OAK FUND, L.P.
By: |
RED OAK PARTNERS, LLC,
its general partner
By: |
/s/ David Sandberg
Name: |
David Sandberg
Title: |
Managing Member
PINNACLE PARTNERS, LLC
By: |
RED OAK PARTNERS, LLC,
its managing member
By: |
/s/ David Sandberg
Name: |
David Sandberg
Title: |
Managing Member
PINNACLE FUND, LLLP
By: |
PINNACLE PARTNERS, LLC,
its general partner
By: |
/s/ David Sandberg
Name: |
David Sandberg
Title: |
Managing Member
1
Red Oak Partners Files Motion in Delaware Chancery Court to Seek to Compel Digirad Corp to Hold New Election of Directors
NEW YORK, May 16, 2013 On May 15, 2013, Red Oak Partners, LLC and the Red Oak Fund L.P. (collectively Red Oak) filed a Complaint and Motion to Expedite a new meeting for Digirad Corporation (ticker DRAD) shareholders to elect Directors in Delaware Chancery Court.
Stated David Sandberg, Red Oaks Founder and Managing Member, We are greatly disappointed with Digirads insiders as we do not believe they held a fair election of Directors. Per the June 29, 2012 agreement, this same slate of Digirad Directors agreed to hold what we expected to be a fair election by May 5, 2013 when they asked us not to contest their re-election at that time. Instead we have learned, based on information provided to us by the independent Inspector of elections, Broadridge, and others, that Digirads insiders generated and we allege improperly voted a proxy card for its treasury shares (approximately six percent of shares) in favor of its Directors and proposals early in the contest despite such shares being not legally eligible to be voted because they are shares which no longer exist they are shares that have been bought back and were retired or available for re-issuance. Of note, the voting of the treasury stock required an authorized signatory of Digirad. Further, when Red Oaks advisors asked Digirads advisor (Investorcom) where such treasury shares were held so that they could be tracked, Digirads advisors - via email correspondence - refused to provide such information. We believe these shares had already been improperly voted at that time this information was witheld.
Continued Mr. Sandberg, Our suit alleges that preliminary results may not be provided or indicated to shareholders for multiple reasons, including because: 1) such predictions and information can sway investors with respect to their vote; and 2) micro cap companies have limited sell-side research and investors must instead rely on information and access to management to remain informed. If an investor is informed that one side is winning or likely to win, that investor is more likely to vote with the winning side so as to not be alienated from future communication with management. Despite this, we believe that Digirads insiders artificially inflated the preliminary vote count by improperly voting its treasury shares (which effectively doubled their insider voting power) in their favor, and improperly communicated with shareholders using these inflated and preliminary results. On April 29, 2013, Digirads CFO and its Chairman emailed Red Oak about their own knowledge that this form of communication was not permitted, yet Digirad and its representatives nonetheless made comments (as communicated to Red Oak from others) about the election being a landslide, and having it won which were misleading and inaccurate vs. the actual results as reported. Final results show that Red Oaks nominees received approximately 46% of Director votes cast vs. 54% for Digirads nominees not a landslide, and in fact a close vote.
Continued Mr. Sandberg, We filed our preliminary and definitive proxies after Digirad so we could include shareholder information included in Digirads tables - a fairly common practice in such contests. We therefore expected to mail our proxy and voting cards to shareholders after Digirad did. Although this would result in Digirad receiving more votes early in the process because shareholders received their voting information first, shareholders would receive our voting information in time to vote and before final results were tallied, and only final results matter in a fairly held election. However, we did not anticipate Digirad influencing early results and then improperly using early results to communicate with shareholders during the contest. Given these actions (and such a close final vote in spite of these actions), we are seeking a new and fair election to be held in which all sides must play by the rules.
Concluded Mr. Sandberg, Lastly, we are concerned that Digirads insiders withheld the release of poor Q1 results until a single business day after the annual meeting. Digirads share price declined 4% on its highest volume in over 2 weeks on the day the results were announced, and has continued to trade down. Insiders had possession of these results during a contest largely about whether their experience and qualifications could drive adequate results, thus we question how the most current operating results about the company - a year after these Directors joined the Board and which were known to them - could not be meaningfully relevant for shareholders to know about. This information was withheld coincident to Digirads insiders improperly inflating voting results by voting the treasury stock and using such inflated preliminary information in their communications with shareholders. We dont believe a fair process has been overseen under the current Board and await the Courts decision regarding a new election.
David Sandberg
Red Oak Partners, LLC
(212) 614-8952
IN THE COURT OF CHANCERY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE
THE RED OAK FUND, L.P. Plaintiff, v. DIGIRAD CORPORATION, JEFFREY E. EBERWEIN, CHARLES M. GILLMAN, JOHN M. CLIMACO, JAMES B. HAWKINS, AND JOHN W. SAYWARD Defendant. | ))))))))))))) | Civil Action No. |
MOTION FOR EXPEDITED PROCEEDINGS
Plaintiff The Red Oak Fund, LP (Red Oak), consistent with the process contemplated by Section 225 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, and pursuant to Court of Chancery Rules 4, 12(a) and 26, hereby moves for an Order setting forth an expedited schedule for this action including (i) shortening the time to answer the verified complaint (the Complaint), (ii) scheduling a trial for resolution of the issues raised in the Complaint within45 days or at the earliest time available to the Court and (iii) ordering expedited discovery.
1. |
Red Oak is both a record owner and beneficial owner of shares of Digirad Corporation (Digirad). At all times relevant to the allegations in the Complaint, Red Oak beneficially owned 1,041,619 shares of Digirads common stock, or approximately 5.4% of the companys voting shares.
2. |
As set forth in more detail in the Complaint, Red Oak initiated this summary proceeding under Section 225 of the Delaware General Corporation Law to review the validity of the May 3, 2013 corporate election of directors for Digirad. Red Oak had sought to elect a new slate of five directors at the annual meeting. However, before the annual meeting, and as part of current managements proxy solicitations, certain individual directors made misrepresentations to shareholders and engaged in trickery that undermined the fairness of the election.
3. |
First, the Companys proxy advisor, InvestorCom, Inc., at the direction of current management, provided several large and small investors with what was purported to be voting information about the preliminary results of the election, including how many shares had supposedly been voted for each side and how specific shareholders had purportedly voted (and the number of shares they had voted). In addition to the fact that such communications themselves are improper, the information itself was materially inaccurate.
4. |
Second, Digirads Chairman of the Board, Jeffrey E. Eberwein, in an improper attempt to influence the outcome of the election made direct statements to certain stockholders that the Company already had over 50% of the vote, had the vote won, its a landslide, and its not even close. Each of these proxy solicitations were demonstrably false when made, and was expressly and improperly designed to coincide with efforts by the Companys advisor and management to gain votes from shareholders for the Companys slate.
5. |
Third, Digirad impeached the integrity of the election by attempting to vote the Companys treasury shares (held in an outside brokerage account) in favor of the company slate, even though treasury shares are ineligible to vote. In addition, Digirad included the ineligible treasury shares in the improper and inaccurate tallies reported to certain shareholders. The Inspector of Elections ferreted out Digirads improper conduct and properly rejected the treasury shares. Digirads shareholders, however, were never informed of managements trickery before the election was closed.
6. |
Fourth, Digirad delayed the announcement of its highly negative financial performance until the next business day after the election. Digirads delay of the announcement was a material omission that deprived shareholders of full and accurate information bearing directly on the contested election of directors.
7. |
[D]irectors of Delaware corporations are under a fiduciary duty to disclose fully and fairly all material information within the boards control when it seeks shareholder action. Stroud v. Grace, 606 A.2d 75, 84 (Del. 1992). The duty exists regardless of whether a corporation is registered and publicly traded, dark and delisted, or closely held. Cf. Unanue v. Unanue, 2004 Del. Ch. LEXIS 153, at *39-40 (Del. Ch. Nov. 3, 2004). This fiduciary duty to disclose often overlaps the affirmative duties to disclose under the federal securities laws. Where the federal laws mandate disclosure, Delaware law requires that any disclosure made be full and fair. Id. See also Stroud, 606 A.2d at 84; Zirn v. VLI Corp., 681 A.2d 1050, 1058 (Del. 1996) (The goal of disclosure is, however, to provide a balanced and truthful account of those matters which are discussed in a corporation's disclosure materials.).
8. |
As applied here, the Chairman and the companys current directors, either directly or through their agents, in the course of making proxy solicitations regarding a contested election, and in violation of their fiduciary duties made materially false statements and omitted material information in their communications with investors that destroyed the integrity of the corporate election. At the time, Defendants knew or should have known that such statements were materially inaccurate and misleading when made and were likely to influence the votes or efforts of the persons to whom they were made. Because Defendants or their agents were improperly reporting the outcome of an election and including in their vote tally treasury shares they knew the company was not entitled to vote, the communications were not full or fair, and were likely to influence the election.
9. |
The final result of the election was 41% of shares in favor of the incumbent slate of directors and 34% in favor of the challenging Red Oak slate of directors. Given the actions and omissions described above and detailed in the Complaint, at present there is a dispute over the legality and fairness of the election and whether the elected board was properly elected. Accordingly, Plaintiff has sought this Courts intervention pursuant to Section 225 to void the election.
10. |
The next annual meeting of shareholders is not until next year. Because it would be improper and unfair for the current directors to maintain control for an entire year given the cloud created by the misrepresentations at issue in this case, Plaintiff seeks an order from this court setting a special meeting as soon as practicable for the purpose of conducting a fair election.
11. |
As this Court is already aware, claims under Section 225 relating to contested director elections are routinely expedited. See, e.g., Oralco, Inc. v. Bradley, 1992 Del. Ch. LEXIS 256, at *1-2 (Del. Ch. Dec. 15, 1992); Kirkland v. Intl Cmty. Corp., 1984 Del. Ch. LEXIS 595, at *1 (Del. Ch. July 13, 1984). Indeed, section 225 proceedings are, by their very nature, summary and expedited. Box v. Box, 697 A.2d 395, 399 (Del. 1997).
12. |
This case presents a paradigm example of a Section 225 proceeding where expedited treatment is appropriate. Expediting discovery and trial ensures that shareholders are provided an opportunity to have a special election and make their voting decisions based on accurate and complete information. Expediting trial will minimize any risk that the corporate actions taken by directors who were not properly elected will later be challenged and invalidated.
WHEREFORE, Plaintiff respectfully requests that this Court expedite the pleadings, discovery and trial in this case.
Dated: May 15, 2013 | PRICKETT, JONES & ELLIOTT, P.A. /s/ Elizabeth M. McGeever Elizabeth M. McGeever (I.D. No. 2057) Laina M. Herbert (I.D. No. 4717) 1310 King Street P.O. Box 1328 Wilmington, DE 19899 TEL: (302) 888-6500 emmcgeever@prickett.com lmherbert@prickett.com Attorneys for Plaintiff |
OF COUNSEL: Daniel F. Wake Daniel E. Rohner SANDER INGEBRETSEN & WAKE, P.C. 1660 17th Street, Suite 450 Denver, Colorado 80202 Telephone: (303) 285-5544 Facsimile: (303) 285-5301 Email: dwake@siwlegal.com |
|
539085v1
IN THE COURT OF CHANCERY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE
RED OAK FUND, L.P., Plaintiff, v. DIGIRAD CORPORATION, JEFFREY E. EBERWEIN, CHARLES M. GILLMAN, JOHN M. CLIMACO, JAMES B. HAWKINS, AND JOHN W. SAYWARD Defendants. | ))))))))))))) | Civil Action No. |
VERIFIED COMPLAINT PURSUANT TO 8 DEL. C. § 225 |
Plaintiff The Red Oak Fund, LP (Red Oak), for its Verified Complaint Pursuant to 8 Del. C. § 225, alleges as follows:
NATURE OF THE ACTION
1. |
This action is brought pursuant to Section 225 of the Delaware General Corporation Law for a declaration that the election of directors conducted at the May 3, 2013 annual meeting of Digirad Corporation (Digirad) was invalid and that the results of that election are null and void. Additionally, Plaintiff seeks entry of an order compelling Digirad to hold a meeting and a new election of directors as soon as practicable.
2. |
Digirads management made improper and illegal disclosures about non-public interim proxy voting tabulations to certain shareholders in order to sway their votes in a close contested election. Digirads management also made material misrepresentations in connection with the election, attempted to vote non-voting Digirad treasury shares in their own favor and concealed damaging information about the companys poor financial performance until one business day after the annual meeting. After all these improper and inequitable machinations to influence the vote, Digirads management ostensibly prevailed in a close election by a vote of approximately 40% - 34% of all shares, with approximately 25% abstaining. The validity and integrity of the corporate election process was destroyed and a new election should be ordered to protect Digirads shareholders franchise rights and their entitlement to a valid corporate election.
PARTIES
3. |
Red Oak is a Delaware limited partnership having its principal place of business in New York, New York. At the time of the May 2013 election, Red Oak beneficially owned 1,041,619 shares of Digirads common stock, or about 5.4% of the companys voting shares.
4. |
Digirad is a Delaware corporation with its principal place of business in Poway, California. Digirad is what is commonly referred to as a microcap company, meaning its market capitalization is at the small end of the spectrum of publicly traded companies.
5. |
Jeffrey E. Eberwein is the chairman of the board of directors of Digirad. Eberwein ostensibly was re-elected to the board of directors on May 3, 2013, to serve until the annual meeting and election of shareholders in 2014.
6. |
Charles M. Gillman is a member of the board of directors of Digirad. Gillman ostensibly was re-elected to the board of directors on May 3, 2013, to serve until the annual meeting and election of shareholders in 2014.
7. |
John M. Climaco is a member of the board of directors of Digirad. Climaco ostensibly was re-elected to the board of directors on May 3, 2013, to serve until the annual meeting and election of shareholders in 2014.
8. |
James B. Hawkins is a member of the board of directors of Digirad. Hawkins ostensibly was re-elected to the board of directors on May 3, 2013, to serve until the annual meeting and election of shareholders in 2014.
9. |
John W. Sayward is a member of the board of directors of Digirad. Sayward ostensibly was re-elected to the board of directors on May 3, 2013, to serve until the annual meeting and election of shareholders in 2014.
JURISDICTION
10. |
This Court has subject matter jurisdiction over this action pursuant to 8 Del. C. § 225(a).
11. |
The individual defendants are proper party defendants because they claim directorships on Digirads board of directors, over which this Court exercises in rem jurisdiction.
FACTUAL BACKGROUND
12. |
Red Oak initially invested in Digirad in 2008 and has been a Digirad shareholder continuously since 2011. Red Oak notified Digirad in November 2011 that it was not satisfied with the performance of Digirads board of directors and with various corporate governance and compensation practices of Digirad. Red Oak nominated an alternative slate of directors in connection with Digirads annual meeting and election of shareholders in 2012.
13. |
In response, Digirad agreed to adopt certain changes in its corporate governance standards and compensation practices to bring greater transparency and other benefits for shareholders. As a result of these commitments by Digirads board, Red Oak agreed it would not nominate an alternative slate of directors for the 2012 annual meeting and election of directors but specifically reserved the right to nominate an alternative slate of directors in 2013. Red Oak also required that Digirad hold its 2013 annual meeting for the election of directors one which Red Oak could contest if it felt it necessary to do so not later than May 5, 2013. Digirad agreed to all of these terms on June 29, 2012.
14. |
After continued poor performance, Red Oak determined thereafter that the shareholder value could be improved with an alternative slate of more effective and experienced directors. Red Oak informed Digirad in February 2013 that it would nominate five directors to run in opposition to the management boards five nominees in the 2013 annual meeting and election of directors scheduled for May 3, 2013.
15. |
Pursuant to SEC regulations, on or about March 15, 2013, Digirad issued a preliminary proxy statement urging Digirad shareholders to vote for five individuals, all of whom were then currently on the board (the Management Slate). Similarly, Red Oak issued a preliminary proxy statement on or about March 29, 2013. The preliminary proxy statement solicited Digirad shareholders to vote for five new nominees for the Digirad board, only one of which was affiliated with Red Oak itself (the Red Oak Nominees).
16. |
On April 4, 2013, Digirad issued its definitive proxy statement. The final proxy statement again urged Digirad shareholders to vote for the Management Slate.
17. |
On April 10, 2013, Red Oak issued its definitive proxy statement soliciting Digirad shareholders to vote for the Red Oak Nominees. Red Oak intentionally issued its definitive proxy statement after Digirad had issued its own so that Red Oaks final proxy statement would be able to comment on the accuracy and content of Digirads proxy statement. As a natural consequence of this series of disclosures, supporters of the Management Slate were able to start returning their proxy instructions approximately one week before supporters of the Red Oak Nominees were able to return their proxy instructions. Of course, by the time of the annual meeting itself, both sides would have ample opportunity to cast their votes. But it was inescapable that initial returns of proxy instructions would necessarily be weighted toward Management Slate shareholders who had received proxy instructions from Digirad well in advance of when Red Oak mailed its proxy materials to shareholders.
18. |
One mechanism proxy solicitors use to monitor the preliminary returns of proxies cast by a corporations shareholders is to review preliminary tabulations prepared by Broadridge Financial Services, Inc. (Broadridge). Broadridge receives instructions from beneficial owners of a companys stock regarding how they wish their custodian to vote their shares in a contested election and then summarizes those votes for the contestants. These tabulations which are preliminary in nature and subject to change until voting is complete are provided daily by Broadridge after a proxy contestant issues its definitive proxy statement pursuant to Securities and Exchange Commission requirements. Broadridges reports are not public documents, but are provided only to the election contestants.
19. |
For this reason, it is illegal for election contestants to publicize interim voting results or otherwise try to influence shareholder voters by claiming to know the results of an election. Indeed, Delaware fiduciary duty law and the federal securities law prohibit false or misleading statements in a proxy statement or other communication made in connection with soliciting a stockholder action. In fact, Rule 14a-9(a) promulgated under Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act (17 C.F.R. 240.14a-9) provides express examples of what may be misleading within the meaning of this section and states that [c]laims made prior to a meeting regarding the results of a solicitation may violate Section 14(a) and Rule 14a-9.
20. |
The impropriety of an election contestant claiming to know the results of an election before votes are final is widely understood in the industry. As shown below, Digirads directors were acutely aware of this prohibition yet flagrantly violated it to fatally undermine the validity of the Digirad election.
21. |
The potential for abusing preliminary voting returns is especially strong in the context of microcap companies like Digirad. Microcap companies generally receive little or no market research or other investment coverage. The primary or only source of information about a microcap company other than publicly-filed periodic reports is often the companys management personnel. Access to those personnel is particularly important for a shareholder to be able to monitor its investment in a microcap company.
22. |
For this reason, a contested election in a microcap company makes a shareholder face a difficult choice that may have little to do with the merits of the differing slates themselves. Managements ability to control the flow of information to shareholders is a powerful tool to incentivize shareholders to vote for management. If a shareholder visibly opposes management or current directors who ultimately prevail in a contested election, that shareholder risks alienating the only people who can provide information about its investment.
23. |
Accordingly, managements contention that an election is a foregone conclusion especially when purportedly based on confidential, non-public preliminary proxy returns is a powerful incentive to dissuade shareholders from voting against a microcap companys managements slate, or at a minimum to abstain from voting. For this reason such statements manipulate the corporate machinery and interfere the stockholder franchise.
24. |
Digirad is precisely such a microcap company. It is the subject of little or no market research. Access to the companys management is critical for any shareholder who wishes to actively monitor its investment. Any claim by management that it will inescapably win an election based on information not available to shareholders is a powerful incentive to unfairly pressure shareholders to vote in favor of management or risk being excluded from access to management in the future.
DIGIRAD IMPROPERLY VOTES DIGIRADS
TREASURY SHARES FOR ITSELF
25. |
According to Digirads definitive proxy statement of April 4, 2013, there were 19,266,685 outstanding shares of Digirad eligible to vote in the May 2013 annual meeting of shareholders. This figure excludes the companys treasury shares. Treasury shares are ineligible to vote in an annual meeting.
26. |
Digirad held approximately 1 million shares of treasury stock in an account at Raymond James & Co. (Raymond James). This account holding these treasury shares was not known to the general public. In early April 2013, Digirads management returned a proxy card to Broadridge. Digirads proxy card instructed Raymond James to vote the treasury shares for which it was custodian in favor of the Management Slate. Digirad did so with knowledge that the treasury shares were not eligible to vote at the annual meeting. Digirad did so with the hope and intention that the treasury shares nevertheless would be counted at the annual meeting and would help elect the Management Slate. Digirad also did so in order to artificially inflate the preliminary voting results it would improperly release to certain shareholders in order to influence their voting decisions, as further discussed below.
27. |
On about April 8, Red Oaks proxy solicitor obtained from Digirads proxy solicitor (InvestorCom, Inc.) a list of Digirads shareholders that indicated there were 20,169,852 outstanding common shares of Digirad stock. Red Oaks proxy solicitor inquired why this list showed more outstanding shares than were reflected in Digirads public filings, and whether the difference was attributable to treasury shares. Digirads proxy solicitor confirmed that the list included roughly 1 million shares of treasury stock. Digirads proxy solicitor, however, refused to disclose the custodian or custodians where those treasury shares were held (which plaintiff now knows to be Raymond James). Such secretive behavior was unusual for a proxy solicitor even in a contested election of directors.
28. |
On April 17, 2013, Broadridge reported a sudden increase in votes cast by Raymond James of more than 1 million votes or about 5% of all Digirads shares. Suspiciously, all of these sudden votes were cast in favor of Digirads recommendations on all agenda items, including the election of directors. Unknown to the public at that time, most or all of the shares attributed to Raymond James were Digirad treasury shares held at Raymond James, and which Digirads incumbent managers had wrongfully instructed Raymond James to cast in favor of the Management Slate.
29. |
In fact, when Digirad refused to reveal to Red Oaks proxy solicitor the name of the custodian holding Digirads treasury shares, as noted above, Digirad had already given improper instructions to that custodian (Raymond James) to vote those treasury shares in favor of the Management Slate.
30. |
The annual meeting of Digirad was held as scheduled on May 3, 2013. The election results were tabulated by an Inspector of Elections. Digirad did not disclose to the Inspector of Elections that it had submitted ineligible treasury shares. Nevertheless, the inspector determined there was an overvote and conducted his own investigation to determine why.
31. |
The inspector determined that the company attempted to vote 1,073,641 treasury shares held by Raymond James even though such shares are ineligible to vote. The Inspector of Elections then excluded the treasury shares before certifying the results of the election on or about May 8, 2013.
32. |
The fact that the management board attempted to violate the law and attempted to vote non-voting shares in their favor was material to investors. Digirad never disclosed to shareholders its attempt to manipulate the companys treasury shares in favor of the Management Slate. As noted, Digirad then wrongfully used the preliminary voting results which were inflated by the non-voting treasury shares to pressure shareholders to vote for the Management Slate.
33. |
The results certified by the inspector of elections indicated a close election. About 40% of the shares voted were cast in favor of the management board members. About 34% of the shares voted were cast in favor of the Red Oak Nominees. Approximately 25% of the shares abstained. As a result, the Management Slate ostensibly prevailed in the election of directors.
THE MANAGEMENT SLATE UNLAWFULLY PREDICTED THE OUTCOME OF THE ELECTION OF DIRECTORS BASED ON NON-PUBLIC AND PRELIMINARY PROXY RETURNS
34. |
Multiple representatives of the Management Slate, including its proxy solicitor InvestorCom, repeatedly represented to shareholders that management was assured of winning the election and maintaining its power over the company. The Management Slate made these repeated misrepresentations in order to influence the outcome of the election by dissuading shareholders from voting for the Red Oak Nominees. For the reasons discussed above, these claims about the ultimate outcome of the solicitation were illegal, violated the individual defendants fiduciary duties, and eviscerated the integrity of the Digirad election process.
35. |
For example, on or about April 26, 2013, the third largest Digirad shareholder, Somerset Capital Partners LP (Somerset), spoke by telephone with Digirads president, Defendant Jeffrey Eberwein. Mr. Eberwein urged Somerset to vote Somersets shares in support of the Management Slate. In doing so, Eberwein strongly and repeatedly claimed that the Management Slate would no doubt win the election, with or without Somersets votes. Mr. Eberwein nevertheless encouraged Somerset to align with the winning side by casting its votes for the Management Slate. Somerset did not do so.
36. |
Mr. Eberwein predicted the outcome of the election purportedly based on the non-public preliminary tabulations of votes that had already been cast by shareholders and to which he was privy. He explained that he received voting summaries daily and that he knew which shareholders had voted and who they voted for. Eberwein described the outcome in such terms as its not even close, and we have this sewn up, and its a landslide. He also told Somerset the range of actual votes already cast, and claimed that the Management Slate already had received the votes of more than 40% of the companys total outstanding common shares.
37. |
Such predictions and assertions based on non-public proxy returns were particularly wrongful in this case for two reasons. First, the Management Slate had sent its definitive proxy statement, and had begun soliciting votes, about a week before Red Oak did so. Thus it was natural and both contestants knew and expected - that the earliest preliminary proxy returns would be weighted towards the Management Slate. It is precisely for that reason that an election contestant may not use preliminary non-public information to predict the final outcome in an effort to sway shareholder voters.
38. |
Second, the earliest preliminary proxy returns included Digirads unlawful attempt to vote the companys treasury shares in managements favor. Thus, Digirad aggravated its improper predictions by relying on a large amount of treasury shares that Digirad had itself voted but knew to be ineligible.
39. |
Other representatives of Digirad made similar misrepresentations to manipulate the corporate machinery and try to influence shareholders to vote for the Management Slate or, at a minimum, to abstain from voting. Upon information and belief, one or more representatives of InvestorCom purported to give various Digirad shareholders explicit information about the preliminary results of the election.
40. |
The Management Slate had full knowledge that it was prohibited from making claims about the results of the proxy solicitation prior to the meeting and that doing so would impeach the integrity of the election. In an April 29, 2013 email to Red Oak that was copied to Mr. Eberwein, Digirads Chief Financial Officer purported to warn Red Oak that making statements to investors about the status of the preliminary vote would constitute predictions about the results of the solicitation, in clear violation of Rule 14a-9. Red Oak should refrain from making these or similar statements to the stockholders for the duration of the solicitation. Digirads management was thus fully aware of the requirements for a valid corporate election at the very time that Eberwein and the Management Slate were doing precisely what they knew to be improper and what they knew would taint the election.
THE MANAGEMENT BOARD REFUSES TO DISCLOSE POOR FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE UNTIL ONE BUSINESS DAY AFTER THE ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
41. |
On May 6, 2013 one business day after the annual meeting Digirad filed its Form 10-Q with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which provided information about Digirads financial performance for the first quarter of 2013, ending March 31, 2013. The Form 10-Q revealed that the companys net revenues declined compared to the year prior. Compared to one year earlier, the companys net losses and net losses per share nearly doubled.
42. |
The severe decline in the companys financial performance was material to shareholders. The fundamental dispute in the contested election of directors concerned the Management Slates poor stewardship of the company and its failure to maximize shareholder value. The Form 10-Q that management purposefully delayed until one business day after the annual meeting reflected managements most recent poor performance in an election that centered on exactly that performance.
43. |
Digirads management knew of the companys poor financial performance well in advance of the May 3 annual meeting and election of directors. The Form 10-Q would have required audit committee review and approval before being issued, which must have occurred prior to the May 3 annual meeting. Management intentionally delayed disclosure of the poor financial performance to shareholders until immediately after the meeting. Management concealed the companys poor performance from shareholders in order to promote its chances for re-election at the May 3 annual meeting.
44. |
Despite all the trickery, machinations, material misrepresentations and material omissions described above, the election of directors was very close. Among all shares eligible to vote, the Management Slate ostensibly prevailed by 40-34%, with a substantial number of shares abstaining. Among shares actually voted at the meeting, the Management Slate won by only about 54-46%. Each of the activities described above, separately and in accumulation, prevented a valid election from being held on May 3, 2013.
COUNT I
RESCIND RESULTS OF THE MAY 3, 2013 ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
45. |
Red Oak incorporates the allegations above.
46. |
The election process by which the Management Slate was elected was marred by the individual defendants breaches of fiduciary duties and inequitable conduct. The election lacked validity and integrity due to Digirads improper attempts to influence shareholders through false and otherwise improper representations regarding the interim voting of proxies prior to the annual meeting. But for the individual defendants misrepresentations, omissions and improper conduct all in violation of the fiduciary duties the Management Slate would not have been elected.
47. |
The results of the May 3, 2013 annual meeting should be voided because Digirad shareholders were denied their right to a valid corporate election of directors and to full and complete disclosure in connection therewith.
48. |
Plaintiff has no adequate remedy at law.
COUNT II
NEW ANNUAL MEETING AND ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
49. |
Red Oak incorporates the allegations above.
50. |
The annual meeting at which the Management Slate was elected was highly tainted by the defendants material misrepresentations and omissions and their improper attempts to influence shareholders through false and otherwise improper representations regarding the interim voting of proxies prior to the annual meeting. But for these misrepresentations, omissions and improper conduct, the Management Slate would not have been elected.
51. |
Digirad should be ordered to hold a new annual meeting as soon as practicable to ensure that Digirad shareholders are given a fair election.
52. |
Plaintiff has no adequate remedy at law.
WHEREFORE, Red Oak respectfully requests the following relief:
1) |
An order voiding the results of the May 3, 2013 election;
2) |
An order compelling Digirad to hold a new 2012 annual election as soon as practicable in the Courts judgment.
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Dated: May 15, 2013 | PRICKETT, JONES & ELLIOTT, P.A. By: /s/ Elizabeth M. McGeever Elizabeth M. McGeever (Bar I.D. #2057) Laina M. Herbert (Bar I.D. #4717) 1310 N. King Street P.O. Box 1328 Wilmington, DE 19899-1328 Tel. (302) 888-6500 emmcgeever@prickett.com lmherbert@prickett.com |
OF COUNSEL: Daniel F. Wake Daniel E. Rohner SANDER INGEBRETSEN & WAKE, P.C. 1660 17th Street, Suite 450 Denver, Colorado 80202 Telephone: (303) 285-5544 Facsimile: (303) 285-5301 Email: dwake@siwlegal.com |
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| Attorneys for Plaintiff |
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