8-A12B 1 d8a12b.htm FORM 8-A Form 8-A

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

 

 

FORM 8-A

 

 

FOR REGISTRATION OF CERTAIN CLASSES OF SECURITIES PURSUANT TO

SECTION 12(b) OR (g) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

 

NOBEL LEARNING COMMUNITIES, INC.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   22-2465204

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

1615 West Chester Pike, West Chester, PA   19382
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

 

 

Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of Each Class

to be so Registered

 

Name of Each Exchange on Which

Each Class is to be Registered

Series A Junior Preferred Stock Purchase Rights   The Nasdaq Global Market

 

 

If this form relates to the registration of a class of securities pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and is effective pursuant to General Instruction A(c), please check the following box.  x

If this form relates to the registration of a class of securities pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act and is effective pursuant to General Instruction A(d), please check the following box.  ¨

 

Securities Act registration statement file number to which this form relates:   Not applicable
  (if applicable)
Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:   None
  (Title of Class)

 

 

 


INFORMATION REQUIRED IN REGISTRATION STATEMENT

 

Item 1. Description of Registrant’s Securities to be Registered.

On July 20, 2008 (the “Declaration Date”), the Board of Directors of Nobel Learning Communities, Inc. (the “Company”) declared a dividend of one right (a “Right”) for each outstanding share of common stock, par value $0.001 per share (“Common Stock”), of the Company. The dividend is payable to stockholders of record at the close of business on July 31, 2008 (the “Record Date”). The description and terms of the Rights are set forth in a Rights Agreement (the “Rights Agreement”) between the Company and StockTrans, Inc., as Rights Agent (the “Rights Agent”). A copy of the Rights Agreement is attached as Exhibit 4.1 hereto, including the Form of Certificate of Designation attached as Exhibit A to the Rights Agreement, the Form of Right Certificate attached as Exhibit B to the Rights Agreement, and the Summary of Rights to Purchase Shares of Preferred Stock attached as Exhibit C to the Rights Agreement, each of which are hereby incorporated by reference. The following summary of the Rights is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Rights Agreement and the exhibits attached thereto.

Each Right entitles the registered holder thereof to purchase from the Company one one-hundredth of a share of preferred stock, designated as Series A Junior Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share (“Preferred Stock”), at a price of $45.00 (subject to adjustment) upon the occurrence of events described below.

The Rights Agreement defines “Acquiring Person” as a person or group of affiliated or associated persons that has (subject to certain limited exceptions) acquired, or obtained the right to acquire, beneficial ownership of 20% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock. A person or group of affiliated or associated persons who beneficially owns 20% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock on or prior to the Declaration Date will not be deemed to be an Acquiring Person at such time. However, such person or group of affiliated or associated persons will become an Acquiring Person, if after the date of the adoption of the Rights Agreement, such person or group becomes the beneficial owner of any additional shares of Common Stock or such person or group’s beneficial ownership decreases below 20% and subsequently increases to 20% or more.

Initially, the Rights are not exercisable and will be attached to all Common Stock certificates representing shares then outstanding and no separate Right Certificates will be distributed. The Rights will detach from the Common Stock and the distribution date (the “Distribution Date”) will occur, upon the earlier of (i) ten days following a public announcement (the “Stock Acquisition Date”) by the Company or an Acquiring Person that a person or group of affiliated or associated persons has become an Acquiring Person, or (ii) ten business days (or such later date that the Board of Directors shall determine) after the commencement of a tender offer or exchange offer that would result in a person or group of affiliated or associated persons becoming an Acquiring Person.

Until the Distribution Date (or earlier redemption or expiration of the Rights), the Rights will be evidenced by the Common Stock certificates outstanding on the Record Date and will be transferred with and only with the Common Stock certificates. New Common Stock certificates issued after the Record Date will contain a notation incorporating the Rights Agreement by

 

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reference. The surrender for transfer of any certificates for Common Stock outstanding will also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the Common Stock represented by such certificate.

The Rights cannot be exercised until the Distribution Date and will expire at the close of business on July 19, 2012, unless earlier redeemed or exchanged by the Company as described below. As soon as practicable after the Distribution Date, Right Certificates will be mailed to record holders of Common Stock as of the close of business on the Distribution Date and, thereafter, the separate Right Certificates alone will represent the Rights.

Only shares of Common Stock issued prior to the Distribution Date will be issued with Rights. Shares of Common Stock issued or sold following the Distribution Date (but before the expiration of the Rights) pursuant to the exercise of stock options or under any employee plan or arrangement, or upon the exercise, conversion, redemption or exchange of other securities issued by the Company prior to the Distribution Date will also be issued Right Certificates representing the appropriate number of Rights in connection with such issuance or sale.

If a person or group of affiliated or associated persons becomes an Acquiring Person (a “Flip-in Event”), each holder of a Right will thereafter have the right to receive, upon exercise, Common Stock (or, in certain circumstances, cash, property or other securities of the Company) having a market value equal to two times the exercise price of the Right. Rights held by an Acquiring Person will be voided upon the occurrence of a Flip-in Event and may not be exercised.

In the event that, after a Flip-in Event, the Company is acquired in a merger or other business combination transaction or 50% or more of its consolidated assets or earning power are sold, proper provisions will be made so that each holder of a Right (other than Rights beneficially owned by an Acquiring Person which will have become void) will thereafter have the right to receive upon the exercise of a Right that number of shares of common stock of the person with whom the Company has engaged in the foregoing transaction (or its parent) that at the time of such transaction have a market value of two times the exercise price of the Right.

At any time after a Flip-in Event, and prior to the acquisition by such Acquiring Person of 50% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, the Board of Directors of the Company may exchange the Rights (other than Rights owned by such Acquiring Person which will have become void), in whole or in part, for shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock, at an exchange ratio of one share of Common Stock, or a fractional share of Preferred Stock equivalent in value thereto, per Right.

At any time prior to a Flip-in Event, the Board of Directors of the Company may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part, at a price of $0.01 per Right (payable, at the option of the Company, in cash, shares of Common Stock or such other form of consideration as the Board of Directors of the Company determines). The redemption of the Rights may be made effective at such time, on such basis and with such conditions as the Board of Directors of the Company in its sole discretion may establish. Immediately upon any redemption of the Rights, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate and the only right of the holders of Rights will be to receive the redemption price.

 

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Shares of Preferred Stock purchasable upon exercise of the Rights will not be redeemable. In the event of liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, the holders of the Preferred Stock will be entitled to a preferential payment of $100 per share of Preferred Stock, plus an amount equal to accrued and unpaid dividends and distributions thereon, whether or not declared. Each share of Preferred Stock will have 100 votes, voting together with the Common Stock.

In the event of any merger, consolidation or other transaction in which outstanding shares of Common Stock are converted or exchanged, each share of Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive 100 times the amount received per share of Common Stock. These rights are protected by customary anti-dilution provisions. Because of the nature of the Preferred Stock’s dividend, liquidation and voting rights, the value of the one one-hundredth interest in a share of Preferred Stock purchasable upon exercise of each Right should approximate the value of one share of Common Stock.

Until a Right is exercised, the holder of a Right will have no rights by virtue of ownership as a stockholder of the Company, such as the right to vote or to receive dividends. While the distribution of the Rights will not be taxable to stockholders or to the Company, stockholders may, depending upon the circumstances, recognize taxable income in the event that the Rights become exercisable for Common Stock (or other consideration) of the Company or for common stock of the acquiring company.

As long as the Rights are redeemable, the Company may, except with respect to the redemption price, amend the Rights Agreement in any manner. After the Rights are no longer redeemable, the Company may, except with respect to the redemption price, amend the Rights Agreement in any manner that does not adversely affect the interests of holders of the Rights.

 

Item 2. Exhibits.

 

Exhibit No.

  

Description

3.1

   The Registrant’s Certificate of Incorporation, as amended and restated. (Filed as Exhibit 3 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 1998 and incorporated herein by reference.)

3.2

   The Registrant’s Amended and Restated By-laws as modified November 15, 2001. (Filed as Exhibit 3.4 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 2001 and incorporated herein by reference.)

3.3

   Certificate of Designation specifying the terms of the Series A Junior Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share. (Filed as Exhibit 3.1 of the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on July 21, 2008 and incorporated herein by reference.)

4.1

   Rights Agreement, dated as of July 20, 2008, between the Company and StockTrans, Inc., which includes as Exhibit A thereto a Form of Certificate of

 

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   Designation for the Series A Junior Preferred Stock, as Exhibit B thereto a Form of Right Certificate and as Exhibit C thereto a Summary of Rights to Purchase Shares of Preferred Stock. (Filed as Exhibit 4.1 of the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on July 21, 2008 and incorporated herein by reference.)

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereto duly authorized.

 

 

Nobel Learning Communities, Inc.

(Registrant)

July 22, 2008   By:  

/s/ George H. Bernstein

  Name:   George H. Bernstein
  Title:   Chief Executive Officer

 

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Exhibit Index

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description

3.1   The Registrant’s Certificate of Incorporation, as amended and restated. (Filed as Exhibit 3 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 1998 and incorporated herein by reference.)
3.2   The Registrant’s Amended and Restated By-laws as modified November 15, 2001. (Filed as Exhibit 3.4 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 2001 and incorporated herein by reference.)
3.3   Certificate of Designation specifying the terms of the Series A Junior Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share. (Filed as Exhibit 3.1 of the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on July 21, 2008 and incorporated herein by reference.)
4.1   Rights Agreement, dated as of July 20, 2008, between the Company and StockTrans, Inc., which includes as Exhibit A thereto a Form of Certificate of Designation for the Series A Junior Preferred Stock, as Exhibit B thereto a Form of Right Certificate and as Exhibit C thereto a Summary of Rights to Purchase Shares of Preferred Stock. (Filed as Exhibit 4.1 of the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on July 21, 2008 and incorporated herein by reference.)

 

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