Daktronics, Inc. Amends and Extends Shareholder Rights Agreement
21 November 2024 - 1:00AM
Daktronics, Inc. (“Daktronics” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ-DAKT), the
leading U.S.-based designer and manufacturer of best-in-class
dynamic video communication displays and control systems for
customers worldwide, today announced that its Board of Directors
(the “Board”) has approved an amendment (the “Second Amendment”) to
the Company’s existing Shareholder Rights Agreement (the “Rights
Agreement”), pursuant to which the expiration date of the Rights
Agreement was extended to November 19, 2025, the exercise price was
changed to $40.00, and the beneficial ownership threshold at which
the rights become exercisable was changed to 15% (or 20% in the
case of a passive, “13G Investor,” as defined in the Rights
Agreement).
As noted in the Company’s press release dated
November 8, 2024, the Board has determined that it is in the best
interests of the Company and its common shareholders to exercise
the Company’s right to convert an initial $7 million in face value
of the $25 million senior second lien secured promissory note (the
“Convertible Note”) held by Alta Fox Capital Management, LLC
(together with its affiliates, “Alta Fox”) into approximately 1.1
million shares of the Company’s common stock. Giving effect to the
conversion, Alta Fox would beneficially own approximately 6% of the
Company’s outstanding shares, based on its most recent disclosure
to the Company.
The Company has engaged in good faith with Alta
Fox regarding Alta Fox’s desire to accelerate the repayment of the
Convertible Note as an alternative to the forced conversion of the
Convertible Note. In its most recent proposal, Alta Fox demanded
that Daktronics pay Alta Fox $79 million – more than three times
the face value of the Convertible Note and approximately
one-and-a-half times its Black-Scholes value – to retire the
Convertible Note. The Board rejected Alta Fox’s proposal as not in
the best interests of the Company and its common shareholders and
notified Alta Fox of its intention to exercise the Company’s right
to force the conversion of the Convertible Note to minimize the
dilution and cost to the Company’s shareholders. Alta Fox has now
threatened to nominate candidates for the Board. Because
Daktronics’ Articles of Incorporation and South Dakota law mandate
cumulative voting in the election of directors, a shareholder who
also owns debt, like Alta Fox – whose interests may not be aligned
with other Daktronics shareholders – may be able to make Board
composition changes even without broad shareholder support.
In extending the expiration date of the Rights
Agreement, the Board considered the risk that Alta Fox, by virtue
of its significant ownership position, may seek to take actions to
advance its interests as a large debtholder, including influencing
the composition of the Board, at the expense of common
shareholders. The extension of the Rights Agreement reflects the
Board’s continued commitment to protecting the interests of the
Company’s shareholders. The Rights Agreement has not been adopted
in response to any specific takeover bid or any similar
proposal.
The Rights Agreement applies equally to all
current and future shareholders and is not intended to deter offers
or preclude the Board from considering offers that are fair and
otherwise in the best interest of the Company’s shareholders.
Under the Rights Agreement, the “Rights” (as
defined in the Rights Agreement) will become exercisable if a
person or group acquires beneficial ownership of 15% (or 20% in the
case of a “13G Investor”) or more of Daktronics outstanding common
stock without the prior approval of the Board. Any existing
shareholders with beneficial ownership of Daktronics stock above
the applicable triggering ownership threshold as of the date of the
Second Amendment are grandfathered at their current ownership
levels so the Rights are not triggered by their current ownership
of shares but they are not permitted to increase their ownership
without triggering the Rights Agreement. The Board intends to
submit the Rights Agreement to shareholders for ratification at the
Company’s upcoming annual meeting of shareholders.
At this time, Daktronics shareholders are not
required to take any action.
A copy of the Second Amendment and a summary of
the Second Amendment will be contained in a Current Report on Form
8-K filed by the Company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission (the “SEC”) (the “Form 8-K”). The Second Amendment
should be read together with the Rights Agreement and the Form
8-K.
About Daktronics
Daktronics has strong leadership positions in,
and is the world's largest supplier of, large-screen video
displays, electronic scoreboards, LED text and graphics displays,
and related control systems. The Company excels in the control of
display systems, including those that require integration of
multiple complex displays showing real-time information, graphics,
animation, and video. Daktronics designs, manufactures, markets and
services display systems for customers around the world in four
domestic business units: Live Events, Commercial, High School Park
and Recreation, and Transportation, and one International business
unit. For more information, visit the Company's website at:
www.daktronics.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
Cautionary Notice: In addition to statements of
historical fact, this news release contains forward-looking
statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995 and is intended to enjoy the protection of that
Act. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on
forward-looking statements, which are often characterized by
terminology such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expects,” “plans,”
“anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “potential,”
“continue,” or “intend,” by the negative of these terms or other
comparable terminology, or by discussions of strategy, plans, or
intentions. These forward-looking statements reflect the Company's
current expectations or beliefs concerning future events. The
Company cautions that these and similar statements involve risk and
uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially
from our expectations, including, but not limited to, changes in
economic and market conditions, management of growth, timing and
magnitude of future contracts and orders, fluctuations in margins,
the introduction of new products and technology, the impact of
adverse weather conditions, increased regulation, and other risks
described in the Company's SEC filings, including its Annual Report
on Form 10-K for its 2024 fiscal year. Forward-looking statements
are made in the context of information available as of the date
stated. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise
such statements to reflect new circumstances or unanticipated
events as they occur except as may be required by applicable
law.
For more information
contact:
INVESTOR RELATIONS:Sheila M. Anderson, Chief Financial
OfficerTel (605) 692-0200Investor@daktronics.com
Alliance Advisors IRCarolyn Capaccio / Jody
BurfeningDAKTIRTeam@lhai.com
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