UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): June 5, 2019 (June 4, 2019)

 

 

RED ROBIN GOURMET BURGERS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

6312 S. Fiddler’s Green Circle, Suite 200N

Greenwood Village, Colorado 80111

(Address of principal executive offices) (zip code)

 

(303) 846-6000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Emerging growth company o

 

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

 

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

 

 

 

 

Item 1.01                          Entry into Material Definitive Agreement.

 

On June 4, 2019 the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. (the “Company”), a Delaware corporation, declared a dividend of one preferred share purchase right (a “Right”) for each outstanding share of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company (the “Common Stock”), to purchase from the Company one one-ten thousandth of a share of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company (the “Preferred Stock”) at a price of $105 per one ten-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock (the “Purchase Price”), subject to adjustment as provided in the Rights Agreement (defined below). The dividend is payable to stockholders of record at the close of business on June 14, 2019 (the “Record Date”). The description and terms of the Rights are set forth in a Rights Agreement, dated as of June 4, 2019, as the same may be amended from time to time (the “Rights Agreement”), between the Company and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, as Rights Agent (the “Rights Agent”).

 

The Board adopted the Rights Agreement to ensure that the Board remains in the best position to perform its fiduciary duties and to enable all stockholders of the Company to receive fair and equal treatment.  The Rights Agreement is also intended to protect the Company and its stockholders from efforts to obtain control of the Company that the Board determines are not in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders, and to enable all stockholders to realize the long-term value of their investment in the Company.  The Rights may cause substantial dilution to any person or group that attempts to acquire the Company without the approval of the Board. As a result, the overall effect of the Rights Agreement and the issuance of the Rights may be to render more difficult or discourage a merger, tender or exchange offer or other business combination involving the Company that is not approved by the Board.

 

The following is a summary of the terms of the Rights Agreement. The summary does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Rights Agreement, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 4.1 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

Effectiveness

 

The Rights Agreement became effective on June 4, 2019 (the “Effective Date”). Upon and following the Effective Date, Rights will be issued in respect of all outstanding shares of Common Stock on the Record Date, and for all shares of Common Stock issued after the Record Date and, subject to the terms described in the Rights Agreement, prior to the earliest of the Distribution Date (as defined below), the redemption of the Rights or the expiration of the Rights.

 

Distribution and Transfer of Rights; Distribution Date; Rights Certificates

 

Subject to certain exceptions specified in the Rights Agreement, the Rights will separate from the Common Stock and become exercisable following the earlier of (i) 10 business days from the earlier of (x) the public announcement that a person or group of affiliated or associated persons has become an Acquiring Person (as defined below) or (y) a majority of the Board becoming aware that a person or group of affiliated or associated persons has become an Acquiring Person, or (ii) such date (prior to such time as any person or group of affiliated persons becomes an Acquiring Person), if any, as may be determined by action of the Board following the commencement of, or public announcement of an intention to make, a tender or exchange offer the consummation of which would result in any person or group of affiliated persons becoming an Acquiring Person (the earlier of such dates being called the “Distribution Date”).  Except in certain situations, a person or group of affiliated or associated persons becomes an “Acquiring Person” upon acquiring beneficial ownership of 10% (20% in the case of a passive institutional investor) or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock. Certain synthetic interests in securities created by derivative positions are treated as beneficial ownership of the number of shares of the Common Stock equivalent to the economic exposure created by the derivative security, to the extent actual shares of Common Stock are directly or indirectly beneficially owned by a counterparty to such derivative security.

 

Prior to the Distribution Date, the Rights will be transferred with and only with the Common Stock. Until the Distribution Date (or earlier expiration of the Rights), new Common Stock certificates issued after the Record Date upon transfer or new issuances of Common Stock will contain a notation incorporating the Rights

 

2

 

Agreement by reference. Until the Distribution Date (or earlier expiration of the Rights), the surrender for transfer of any certificates for shares of Common Stock (or book entry shares of Common Stock) outstanding as of the Record Date, even without such notation or a copy of the Summary of Rights, will also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the shares of Common Stock represented thereby. As soon as practicable following the Distribution Date, separate certificates evidencing the Rights (“Right Certificates”) will be mailed to holders of record of the Common Stock as of the close of business on the Distribution Date and such separate Right Certificates alone will evidence the Rights.

 

The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date. The Rights will expire on June 2, 2020 (the “Final Expiration Date”), unless the Rights are earlier redeemed or exchanged by the Company, in each case as described below, or upon the occurrence of certain transactions.

 

Preferred Stock Purchasable Upon Exercise of Rights

 

Because of the nature of the Preferred Stock’s dividend, liquidation and voting rights, the value of the one ten-thousandth interest in a share of Preferred Stock purchasable upon exercise of each Right should approximate the value of one share of Common Stock.

 

Flip-In Trigger

 

If any person or group of affiliated or associated persons becomes an Acquiring Person, each holder of a Right, other than Rights beneficially owned by the Acquiring Person and certain transferees thereof (which will thereupon become null and void), will thereafter have the right to receive upon exercise of a Right that number of shares of Common Stock having a market value of two times the exercise price of the Right.

 

Flip-Over Trigger

 

If, after a person or group has become an Acquiring Person, 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 and certain transferees thereof which will have become null and 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.

 

Exchange Provisions

 

At any time after any person or group becomes an Acquiring Person and prior to the earlier of one of the events described in the previous paragraph or the acquisition by such Acquiring Person of 50% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, the Board may exchange the Rights (other than Rights owned by such Acquiring Person and certain transferees thereof which will have become null and void), in whole or in part, for shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock (or a series of the Company’s preferred stock having equivalent rights, preferences and privileges), at an exchange ratio of one share of Common Stock, or a fractional share of Preferred Stock (or other preferred stock) equivalent in value thereto, per Right.

 

Redemption of the Rights

 

At any time prior to the earlier of (a) the Distribution Date and (b) the Final Expiration Date, the Board may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part, at a price of $0.001 per Right (the “Redemption Price”) payable, at the option of the Company, in cash, shares of Common Stock or such other form of consideration as the Board shall determine. The redemption of the Rights may be made effective at such time, on such basis and with such conditions as the Board 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.

 

3

 

Amendment of Terms of Rights Agreement and Rights

 

For so long as the Rights are then 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 (other than holders of Rights owned by or transferred to any person who is or becomes an Acquiring Person and certain transferees thereof).

 

Voting Rights; Other Stockholder Rights

 

Until a Right is exercised or exchanged, the holder thereof, as such, will have no rights as a stockholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right to vote or to receive dividends.

 

Anti-Dilution Provisions

 

The Purchase Price payable, and the number of shares of Preferred Stock or other securities or property issuable, upon exercise of the Rights is subject to adjustment from time to time to prevent dilution (i) in the event of a stock dividend on, or a subdivision, combination or reclassification of, the Preferred Stock, (ii) upon the grant to holders of the Preferred Stock of certain rights or warrants to subscribe for or purchase Preferred Stock at a price, or securities convertible into Preferred Stock with a conversion price, less than the then-current market price of the Preferred Stock or (iii) upon the distribution to holders of the Preferred Stock of evidences of indebtedness or assets (excluding regular periodic cash dividends or dividends payable in Preferred Stock) or of subscription rights or warrants (other than those referred to above).

 

The number of outstanding Rights is subject to adjustment in the event of a stock dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock or subdivisions, consolidations or combinations of the Common Stock occurring, in any such case, prior to the Distribution Date.

 

Item 3.03                          Material Modifications to Rights of Security Holders.

 

The information set forth under Item 1.01 above is incorporated by reference into this Item 3.03.

 

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

 

In connection with the adoption of the Rights Agreement, the Board approved a Certificate of Designation of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock (the “Certificate of Designation”).  The Company filed the Certificate of Designation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on June 5, 2019.  A copy of the Certificate of Designation is attached as Exhibit 3.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.  The information set forth under Item 1.01 above is incorporated herein by reference into this Item 5.03.

 

Item 8.01                   Other Events.

 

On June 5, 2019, the Company issued a press release announcing the adoption of the Rights Agreement and the declaration of the dividend of the Rights. A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference.

 

4

 

Item 9.01      Financial Statements and Exhibits

 

(d)       Exhibits.

 

Exhibit No.		Description
3.1		Certificate of Designation of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock of Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc.
4.1		Rights Agreement, dated as of June 4, 2019, between Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, as Rights Agent.
99.1		Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. Press Release dated June 5, 2019.

 

5

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, each of the registrants has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

Date: June 5, 2019

 

	RED ROBIN GOURMET BURGERS, INC.
	By:	/s/ Michael L. Kaplan
		Michael L. Kaplan
		Senior Vice President and Chief Legal Officer

 

6