UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON,
DC 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,
2008
THE
CHILDREN’S PLACE RETAIL STORES, INC.
(Exact
Name of Registrants as Specified in Their Charters)
Delaware
(State
or
Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)
0-23071
|
31-1241495
|
(Commission
File Number)
|
(IRS
Employer Identification No.)
|
915
Secaucus Road, Secaucus, New
Jersey
|
07094
|
(Address
of Principal Executive
Offices)
|
(Zip
Code)
|
(201)
558-2400
(Registrant’s
Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
Not
Applicable
(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 (see
General
Instruction A.2. below):
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))
Item 7.01 |
Regulation
FD Disclosure |
On
June
5, 2008, The
Children's Place Retail Stores, Inc. (the "Company")
issued
a
press release regarding the Company’s sales results for the fiscal month ended
May 31, 2008.
A
copy of
this press release is included as Exhibit 99.1 hereto.
On
May
21, 2008, the Company
and all other parties entered
into a stipulation (the “Stipulation”)
to
settle the stockholder derivative action entitled Nuttall et al. v. Dabah et
al.
and The Children’s Place Retail Stores, Inc., Case No. 2:07-cv-121 (SDW)(MCA)
(the “Action”),
which
as previously disclosed by the Company was filed in the United States District
Court, District of New Jersey (the “Court”)
in
January 2007. The Action alleges misconduct by certain current and former
directors and officers of the Company in connection with the dating of various
option grants. The settlement of the Action is subject to Court approval. On
May
29, 2008, the Court entered a Preliminary Approval Order and scheduled a hearing
to be held before the Court at 2:00 p.m. on July 21, 2008, at the Martin Luther
King Building & U.S. Courthouse, 50 Walnut Street, Room MLK 2A, Newark, New
Jersey 07101 to consider approval of the settlement. In addition, the Court
approved the filing of the attached Notice of Proposed Settlement of Derivative
Litigation, Hearing Thereon, and Right to Appear (the “Notice”)
as an
exhibit to a Form 8-K Current Report by the Company as a means of providing
for
all purposes notice of the proposed settlement to stockholders of the Company.
The
Company and the other defendants have denied and continue to deny all
allegations of misconduct made in the Action and entered into the Stipulation
solely to eliminate the burden, risk and expense of further litigation of,
and
to fully and finally resolve, all claims asserted in the Action. The Company
and
the other defendants maintain that their conduct was at all times proper and
in
compliance with all applicable provisions of law and that they acted in good
faith and in a manner they reasonably believed to be in the best interests
of
the Company and its stockholders. In the Stipulation, the Company acknowledges
that the filing of the Action was among the factors considered by the Company’s
Board of Directors in reaching its January 2007 decision to have the Company
implement various initiatives to improve the Company’s governance, internal
controls and option grant practices, as first disclosed in the Company’s press
release dated Janury 31, 2007. The Company also agreed in the Stipulation to
pay
$700,000 of attorneys’ fees and reimbursement of expenses to plaintiffs’
counsel.
The
foregoing description of the settlement and the Notice does not purport to
be
complete and is qualified in its entirety by the Notice attached as Exhibit
99.1
to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by
reference.
Item 9.01 |
Financial Statement and
Exhibits. |
(d) |
Exhibits. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exhibit 99.1 |
|
Press release, dated June 5, 2008, issued
by
the Company regarding May Sales. |
|
|
|
|
|
Exhibit 99.2 |
|
Notice
of Proposed Settlement of Derivative Litigation, Hearing Thereon, and
Right to Appear. |
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.
|
|
|
Date:
June 5,
2008 |
THE
CHILDREN’S
PLACE RETAIL STORES, INC. |
|
|
|
|
By: |
/s/
Susan
Riley |
|
Name: Susan
Riley
Title:
Executive
Vice President, Finance
and Administration
|
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THE
CHILDREN’S PLACE RETAIL STORES, INC. REPORTS MAY SALES
Secaucus,
New Jersey - June 5, 2008 - The Children’s Place Retail Stores, Inc. (Nasdaq:
PLCE)
today
announced sales of $109.4 million for the four-week period ended May 31,
2008, a
19% increase compared to sales of $91.9 million for the four-week period
ended
June 2, 2007. Comparable store sales increased 10% compared to last year’s 6%
increase. During May 2008, the Company closed one The Children’s Place
store.
|
May
|
Year-to-Date
|
Total
Sales:
-
In Millions
-
Change vs. Year Ago
|
2008
|
2007
|
2008
|
2007
|
$109.4
+19%
|
$91.9
+16%
|
$509.6
+14%
|
$447.9
+12%
|
Comparable
Store Sales:
-
Change vs. Year Ago
|
+10%
|
+6%
|
+6%
|
+3%
|
In
conjunction with today’s May sales release, you are invited to listen to the
Company’s pre-recorded monthly sales call, which will be available beginning at
7:30 a.m. Eastern Time today through Thursday, June 12, 2008. To access the
call, please dial (402) 220-1371 or you may listen through the Investor
Relations section of the Company’s website, www.childrensplace.com.
The
Children’s Place Retail Stores, Inc. is a leading specialty retailer of
children’s merchandise. The Company designs, contracts to manufacture and sells
high-quality, value-priced merchandise under the proprietary “The Children’s
Place” brand name. As of May 31, 2008, the Company owned and operated 905 The
Children’s Place stores and its online store at www.childrensplace.com.
This
press release (and above referenced call) may contain certain forward-looking
statements regarding future circumstances. These forward-looking statements
are
based upon the Company's current expectations and assumptions and are subject
to
various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ
materially. Some of these risks and uncertainties are described in the Company's
filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including in the “Risk
Factors” section of its report on Form 10-K. Risks and uncertainties relating to
the exit of the DSNA business, including the risk that claims may be asserted
against the Company or its subsidiaries other than Hoop, whether or not such
claims have any merit, and the Company's ability to successfully defend such
claims, in addition to the risk that the Company may not be able to access,
if
necessary, additional sources of liquidity or obtain financing on commercially
reasonable terms or at all, the risk that the Company will be unsuccessful
in
gauging fashion trends and changing consumer preferences, the highly competitive
nature of the Company’s business and its dependence on consumer spending
patterns, which may be affected by the downturn in the economy, as well as
risks
and uncertainties relating to other elements of the Company’s strategic review,
could cause actual results, events and performance, to differ materially.
Readers (or listeners on the call) are cautioned not to place undue reliance
on
these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they were
made. The Company undertakes no obligation to release publicly any revisions
to
these forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect events or
circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of
unanticipated events. The inclusion of any statement in this release does
not
constitute an admission by the Company or any other person that the events
or
circumstances described in such statement are material.
CONTACT: |
The
Children’s Place Retail Stores, Inc.
Jane
Singer, Investor Relations, (201)
453-695
|
###
TO:
|
ALL
CURRENT HOLDERS AND BENEFICIAL OWNERS OF COMMON STOCK OF THE CHILDREN’S
PLACE RETAIL STORES, INC. (“TCP” OR THE “COMPANY”) AS OF MAY 21, 2008 (THE
“RECORD DATE”).
|
PLEASE
READ THIS NOTICE CAREFULLY AND IN ITS ENTIRETY. THIS NOTICE RELATES TO A
PROPOSED SETTLEMENT AND DISMISSAL OF LITIGATION AND CONTAINS IMPORTANT
INFORMATION REGARDING YOUR RIGHTS. YOUR RIGHTS MAY BE AFFECTED BY LEGAL
PROCEEDINGS IN THIS LITIGATION. IF THE COURT APPROVES THE SETTLEMENT AND
DISMISSAL OF THE ACTION, SHAREHOLDERS OF TCP WILL BE FOREVER BARRED FROM
CONTESTING THE APPROVAL OF THE PROPOSED SETTLEMENT AND FROM PURSUING THE SETTLED
CLAIMS. THIS
ACTION IS NOT A “CLASS ACTION.”
THUS,
THERE IS NO COMMON FUND ON WHICH YOU CAN MAKE A CLAIM FOR A MONETARY
PAYMENT.
THE
COURT
HAS MADE NO FINDINGS OR DETERMINATIONS RESPECTING THE MERITS OF THIS LITIGATION.
THE RECITATION OF THE BACKGROUND AND CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE SETTLEMENT CONTAINED
HEREIN DOES NOT CONSTITUTE THE FINDINGS OF THE COURT. IT IS BASED ON
REPRESENTATIONS MADE TO THE COURT BY COUNSEL FOR THE PARTIES.
IF
YOU
WERE NOT THE BENEFICIAL OWNER OF TCP COMMON STOCK ON THE RECORD DATE, PLEASE
TRANSMIT THIS DOCUMENT TO SUCH BENEFICIAL OWNER.
THIS
NOTICE IS GIVEN pursuant to an Order of the Court (the “Preliminary Approval
Order”) entered in the above-captioned shareholder derivative action (the
“Action”). The purpose of this Notice is to inform you of a proposed settlement
(the “Settlement”) and of a final settlement hearing (the “Settlement Hearing”),
to be held on July 21, 2008, at 2:00 p.m., before the Honorable Susan D.
Wigenton, United States District Judge for the District of New Jersey (the
“Court”), Martin Luther King Building & U.S. Courthouse, 50 Walnut Street,
Newark, New Jersey 07101.
The
purpose of the Settlement Hearing is to: (i) determine whether the Court
should approve the Settlement as fair, reasonable, adequate and in the best
interests of TCP and Current TCP Stockholders; (ii) determine whether the
Court should enter the Final Judgment Approving Settlement And Order Of
Dismissal pursuant to the Stipulation of Settlement (the “Stipulation”) among
the Parties, dated May 21, 2008; (iii) determine whether the Court should
approve the Fee Award to Plaintiffs’ Counsel; (iv) hear and determine any
validly filed objections by Current TCP Stockholders to the terms of the
Settlement or to Plaintiffs’ Counsel’s Fee Award; and (iv) rule on such
other matters as the Court may deem appropriate.
The
Court
reserves the right to adjourn the Settlement Hearing or any adjournment thereof,
including the consideration of Plaintiffs’ Counsel’s Fee Award, without further
notice of any kind other than oral announcement at the Settlement Hearing or
any
adjournment thereof. Further, the Court reserves the right to approve the
Settlement at or after the Settlement Hearing with such modification(s) as
may
be consented to by the Parties to the Stipulation and without further notice
to
Current TCP Stockholders.
I. |
FACTUAL BACKGROUND OF THE
ACTION |
On
September 7, 2006, the Company announced that it would be delaying the filing
of
its Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended July 29, 2006, as a result
of an internal investigation into the Company’s historical stock option granting
practices commenced by the audit committee (the “Audit Committee”) of the
Company’s board of directors (the “Board”). On November 30, 2006, the
Company announced that the Board had formed a special committee (the “Special
Committee”) to continue the independent investigation commenced by the Audit
Committee. The Special Committee was assisted by independent counsel in its
review of the Company’s stock option practices.
The
Action was initiated on January 9, 2007, when Plaintiff Nuttall filed the
above-captioned shareholder derivative action in the Court. Generally, Nuttall
alleged that the Company’s current and former officers and directors breached
their fiduciary duties to the Company because, among other things, they
allegedly caused backdated, spring-loaded, or otherwise manipulated stock
options to be granted to several of the Company’s senior officers and directors
over a multi-year period.
On
January 31, 2007, the Company issued a press release announcing the results
of
the Special Committee’s investigation. Among other things, the press release
stated that, based on the results of the Special Committee’s independent
investigation and the Company’s own additional review, the Company’s management
concluded that “incorrect measurement dates were used for financial reporting
purposes in respect to option grants.” In the press release, the Company also
announced that, in light of the Special Committee’s findings, it would restate
its previously issued financial statements for fiscal years 2003-2005 and for
the first fiscal quarter of 2006.
On
March
19, 2007, TCP and the Individual Defendants moved to dismiss the Action. On
June
15, 2007, Plaintiff Nuttall filed a First Amended Verified Shareholder
Derivative Complaint. On August 23, 2007, the Court entered an Order setting
a
schedule for Plaintiff Nuttall to file a Second Amended Verified Shareholder
Derivative Complaint, which schedule was based on the anticipated filing of
TCP’s restated financial results. On December 5, 2007, the Company filed its
restatement and, on February 4, 2008, Plaintiff Nuttall filed a Second Amended
Verified Shareholder Complaint. Plaintiff Nuttall was joined in doing so by
Plaintiff Lindeman.
II. |
THE TERMS OF THE
SETTLEMENT |
A. Monetary
Relief
The
filing of the Action was among the factors considered in the Board’s decision to
re-price certain of the Company’s historical option grants and require payment
to the Company of certain monies, and to take other remedial actions as
described below. Specifically, further to the Special Committee’s
recommendations and as announced in the January 31, 2007 press release, the
Company and its former Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”), its former President,
and its former Chief Administrative Officer (“CAO”) agreed to amend each of such
individuals’ outstanding options that vested before 2005 to increase the
exercise price to the trading price on the correct measurement date for the
option grants for financial reporting purposes as determined by the Company.
(Previously, in December 2006, each such individual agreed to increase to the
same extent the exercise price of each outstanding option he held that had
vested after 2005.) In addition, with respect to one option held by one of
such
individuals that previously had been exercised, the individual agreed to pay
to
the Company the difference between the exercise price and the higher amount
of
the trading price on the correct measurement date as determined by the
Company.
Furthermore,
pursuant to the Special Committee’s recommendations, any non-management director
who received an option grant that was not implemented in accordance with best
practices has agreed to increase further the exercise price of such options
to
the average of the highest and lowest closing price of the shares during the
remainder of the year of grant, even though such price may be above the trading
price on the correct measurement date of the grant.
B. Corporate
Governance Relief
The
filing of the Action was among the factors considered in the Board’s decision to
implement, among other things, the following corporate governance and internal
control reforms, which were recommended by the Special Committee, announced
in
the January 31, 2007 press release and thereafter adopted and implemented by
the
Board and management:
|
A. |
The
positions of Chair of the Board and CEO have been separated, and
one of
the independent directors was appointed to serve as non-executive
Chair of
the Board;
|
|
B. |
The
person who served as the Chair of the Board relinquished that position
but
retained his position as the Company’s CEO (until September 24,
2007);
|
|
C. |
The
new position of Executive Vice President, Finance and Administration
has
been established, reporting to the CEO and the Board. Responsibilities
of
this position include serving, along with the CEO, as principal
executive
officer of the Company in making certifications of the Company’s SEC
reports and with respect to similar matters, and supervising the
Company’s
finance, treasury, accounting, legal and human resource
functions;
|
|
D. |
The
person who served as the Company’s CAO, General Counsel and Secretary,
relinquished these responsibilities, but he continued to serve
as a Senior
Vice President with supervisory responsibility for the Company’s real
estate, construction and facilities, store design, and non-merchandise
purchasing (until July 20,
2007);
|
|
E. |
The
Company has retained a new General Counsel, has hired a Senior
Vice
President, Finance, who has become the Chief Financial Officer
(“CFO”),
and has filled substantially all open positions in the accounting
department;
|
|
F. |
The
Board commenced a search to expand the Board to include two (2)
new
independent directors; and
|
|
G. |
The
Board has commenced a comprehensive review, with the assistance
of
independent counsel, of the Company’s governance system and processes and
its internal controls.
|
As
announced in the January 31, 2007 press release and disclosed in the Form 10-K
filed on December 5, 2007, under the supervision of the Compensation Committee
of the Board, the Company has instituted more rigorous policies, procedures
and
practices governing the approval and granting of stock options and other equity
incentive awards and related accounting and internal controls. The Board in
June
2007 adopted a formal Policy Regarding Awards of Equity-Based Incentives to
Executive Officers and Other Employees. Consistent with that policy, procedures,
practices and controls to the following effect will generally be applied to
all
such grants:
|
A. |
Grants
will be dated on the date that all required approvals have been
obtained
or a future date, not later than one month after the approval date,
specified when approval is given. The exercise price for each option
granted will not be less than the closing price of the Company’s stock on
the date of grant;
|
|
B. |
Equity
grants will generally be approved only at duly convened, regularly
scheduled meetings of the Compensation Committee or pursuant to
a formal,
limited delegation by the committee of grant-making authority to
a
committee of specified senior officers, as discussed below. Minutes
of
such meetings will be kept which shall reflect the specifics of
any equity
grants approved at the meeting. If in extenuating circumstances
grants are
to be made by unanimous written consent of the members of the Compensation
Committee, the grant date will be no earlier than the date the
last member
signs the consent and the consent is received by the Company. The
Company
will no longer use “as of” dating for written consents approving equity
grants;
|
|
C. |
All
grants made to executive officers will be specifically approved
by the
Compensation Committee as will grants to employees in other positions
designated by the committee;
|
|
D. |
If
the making of any grants to non-executives is to be delegated to
a
committee of senior officers, the overall terms of such grants
will be
approved in advance by the Compensation Committee. Terms will include
annual limits as to the number of shares subject to all such delegated
grants including a limit as to the number of shares available for
grant to
any particular employee and may include guidelines for grants that
may be
made to specified levels of employees. Actions taken pursuant to
delegated
authority will be required to be in writing, dated and signed by
the
executive(s) delegated authority to make the grant and will be
regularly
reported to the Committee;
|
|
E. |
Annual
grants will be considered and approved by the Compensation Committee
at
its meeting most closely preceding or following the first meeting
of the
Board following the filing of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K.
The same grant date will apply to annual grants made to executive
officers
and other employees;
|
|
F. |
Designated
members of the Company’s legal and accounting staffs will oversee the
documentation, accounting and disclosure of all equity awards.
Standard
forms will be established and used for grant documentation (e.g.,
option agreements and award
notices);
|
|
G. |
Recipients
will be advised of awards within a reasonable time period after
the grant
date; and
|
|
H. |
There
will be no changes to grants after approval, other than to withdraw
a
grant to an individual in its entirety to reflect changes in circumstances
between approval and issuance or to correct clear clerical errors.
Any
other changes will require approval in accordance with the requirements
for making new grants.
|
Furthermore,
as announced in the Form 10-K filed on December 5, 2007, no further equity
grants were made until the new policies, procedures and controls were
instituted. In addition, specifically to address matters identified by
management in assessing the Company’s controls in connection with the Form 10-K
filed on December 5, 2007, as described in detail in Item 9A of the Form 10-K
filed on April 2, 2008, the Company’s management and its Audit Committee since
December 2007 have taken numerous steps to strengthen the Company’s internal
control over financial reporting.
The
Stipulation provides that, subject to Court approval of the Settlement, and
in
consideration for the benefits provided by the Settlement, the Action shall
be
completely discharged and dismissed with prejudice on the merits.
In
addition, upon the Effective Date (as defined in the Stipulation), Plaintiffs
and Plaintiffs’ Counsel, on their own behalf and derivatively on behalf of TCP
(as nominal defendant) and Current TCP Stockholders (in their capacity as
stockholders only), shall be deemed to have, and by operation of the Judgment
shall have, fully, finally, and forever released, relinquished and discharged
all claims (including “Unknown Claims,” as defined below), demands, rights,
liabilities, suits, matters, transactions, issues and causes of action of every
nature and description whatsoever, known or unknown, whether based in federal,
state, local, statutory or common law, or any other law, rule or regulation,
whether or not concealed or hidden, asserted or that might have been asserted
by
Plaintiffs or by Current TCP Stockholders on behalf of TCP, or any of them,
against each and every Defendant in the Action, including their respective
families, parent entities, associates, affiliates or subsidiaries and each
and
all of their respective past, present or future officers, directors,
stockholders, representatives, employees, attorneys, financial or investment
advisors, consultants, accountants, investment bankers, commercial bankers,
engineers, advisors or agents, heirs, executors, trustees, general or limited
partners or partnerships, personal representatives, estates, administrators,
predecessors, successors and assigns, and any and all of Defendants’ Affiliates,
as defined in the Stipulation (collectively, the “Released Persons”), that are
based upon or related in any way to the facts, circumstances, transactions,
events, occurrences, disclosures, statements, omissions, acts or failures to
act
which were alleged or could have been alleged in the Action, including, without
limitation, claims for violations of the federal securities laws, breach of
fiduciary duty, fraud, self-dealing, misrepresentation (whether intentional,
negligent or innocent), omission (whether intentional, negligent or innocent),
mismanagement, gross mismanagement, corporate waste, abuse of control, unjust
enrichment, breach of contract, negligence, gross negligence, or violations
of
any state statutes, Company policies and procedures, rules or regulations or
any
other source of legal or equitable obligation of any kind or description, in
whatever forum (collectively, the “Released Claims”). The term “Released Claims”
does not include the claims asserted in the actions captioned Hall
v. The Children’s Place Retail Stores, Inc., et al.,
No.
07-cv-8252 (S.D.N.Y.), and Noboa
v. The Children’s Place Retail Stores, Inc., et al.,
No.
C-22-08 (N.J. Super., Ch. Div.).
Further,
upon the Effective Date (as defined in the Stipulation), each of the Released
Persons shall be deemed to have, and by operation of the Judgment shall have,
fully, finally, and forever released, relinquished and discharged the Plaintiffs
and Plaintiffs’ Counsel from all claims (including Unknown Claims, as defined
herein) arising out of, relating to, or in connection with the institution,
prosecution, assertion, settlement or resolution of the Action or the Released
Claims. Upon the Effective Date (as defined in the Stipulation), each of the
Released Persons shall be deemed to have, and by operation of the Judgment
shall
have, fully, finally, and forever released, relinquished and discharged nominal
defendant TCP from any claims for indemnification arising directly from the
Action (and no other claims or potential claims against nominal defendant
TCP).
“Unknown
Claims” means any Released Claims which any Plaintiff, TCP, or any Current TCP
Stockholder does not know or suspect to exist in his, her or its favor at the
time of the release of the Released Persons, which, if known by him, her or
it,
might have affected his, her or its settlement with and release of the Released
Persons, or might have affected his, her or its decision not to object to the
Settlement. Plaintiffs, TCP, or Current TCP Stockholders may hereafter discover
facts in addition to or different from those which he, she or it now knows
or
believes to be true with respect to the subject matter of the Released Claims,
but Plaintiffs, TCP, or Current TCP Stockholders shall expressly be deemed
to
have, and by operation of the Judgment shall have, fully, finally, and forever
settled and released any and all Released Claims (including Unknown Claims,
as
defined herein), known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected, contingent or
non-contingent, whether or not concealed or hidden, which now exist, or
heretofore have existed upon any theory of law or equity now existing or coming
into existence in the future, including, but not limited to, conduct that is
negligent, intentional, with or without malice, or a breach of any duty, law
or
rule, without regard to the subsequent discovery or existence of such different
or additional facts. Plaintiffs acknowledge, and Current TCP Stockholders shall
be deemed by operation of the Judgment to have acknowledged, that the foregoing
waiver was separately bargained for and a key element of the settlement, of
which this release is a material and essential part, and expressly waive the
benefits of (i) the provisions of Section 1542 of the California Civil Code,
which provides that:
A
GENERAL
RELEASE DOES NOT EXTEND TO CLAIMS WHICH THE CREDITOR DOES NOT KNOW OR SUSPECT
TO
EXIST IN HIS OR HER FAVOR AT THE TIME OF EXECUTING THE RELEASE, WHICH IF KNOWN
BY HIM OR HER MUST HAVE MATERIALLY AFFECTED HIS OR HER SETTLEMENT WITH THE
DEBTOR
and
(ii)
any and all provisions or rights conferred by any law of any state or territory
of the United States, or principle of common law, which is similar, comparable
or equivalent to California Civil Code § 1542.
If
you
are a Current TCP Stockholder, you will be bound by any judgment entered in
the
Action whether or not you actually receive this Notice.
IV. REASONS
FOR THE SETTLEMENT
Plaintiffs’
Counsel conducted an extensive investigation during the development and
prosecution of the Action. This investigation has included, among other things:
(i) inspecting, reviewing and analyzing the Company’s public filings; (ii)
researching corporate governance issues; (iii) participating in teleconferences
with Defendants’ counsel; (iv) researching the applicable law with respect to
the claims asserted in the Action and the potential defenses thereto; and (v)
employing a financial expert to conduct an analysis of the option grants at
issue.
Plaintiffs
believe that the claims asserted in the Action have merit, but recognize and
acknowledge the expense and length of continued proceedings necessary to
prosecute the Action against Defendants through trial and through appeals.
Plaintiffs’ Counsel have also taken into account the uncertain outcome and the
risk of any litigation, especially in complex shareholder litigation such as
the
Action, as well as the difficulties and delays inherent in such litigation.
Plaintiffs’ Counsel also are mindful of the problems of proof under, and
possible defenses to, the claims asserted in the Action. Based on these
considerations, among others, Plaintiffs’ Counsel believe that the Settlement,
as set forth in the Stipulation, confers substantial benefits upon Plaintiffs,
TCP and Current TCP Stockholders.
Defendants
have denied, and continue to deny, that they have committed or intended to
commit any wrongdoing, violations of law or breaches of duty to TCP or its
stockholders or otherwise, and maintain that their conduct was at all times
proper and in compliance with all applicable provisions of law. Defendants
have
further asserted and continue to assert that, at all relevant times, they acted
in good faith and in a manner they reasonably believed to be in the best
interests of the Company and its stockholders. Defendants have entered into
the
Stipulation solely to eliminate the burden, risk, and expense of further
litigation of the claims settled herein, and to fully and finally resolve all
claims asserted in the Action.
V. |
PLAINTIFFS’ COUNSEL’S FEES
AND
REIMBURSEMENT OF EXPENSES
|
TCP,
on
behalf of all Defendants, has agreed, upon approval by the Court, that in
consideration of Plaintiffs’ Counsel’s efforts in filing, prosecuting and
settling the Action, they shall be paid attorneys’ fees and reimbursement of
expenses in the amount of $700,000 (the “Fee Award”). To date, Plaintiffs’
Counsel have not received any fees, nor have they been reimbursed for their
out-of-pocket expenses.
Further,
based upon Plaintiffs’ Counsel’s belief that the Plaintiffs, through their
prosecution of the Action, brought meaningful benefits to TCP and Current TCP
Stockholders, Plaintiffs’ Counsel intend to seek Court approval of incentive
awards for each in the amount of $2,500 (the “Incentive Award”). The Incentive
Award shall be paid exclusively out of the Fee Award, to the extent the Fee
Award is approved by the Court. Defendants do not oppose the payment of the
Incentive Award.
VI. |
RIGHT TO APPEAR AND
OBJECT |
Any
Current TCP Stockholder may, but is not required to, appear at the Settlement
Hearing and be heard as to whether the proposed Settlement should be approved,
the Action dismissed
with prejudice, and the Fee Award approved; provided,
however,
that,
except for good cause shown as determined by the Court, no Person other than
Plaintiffs’ Counsel and Defendants’ Counsel in the Action shall be heard, and no
papers, briefs, pleadings or other documents submitted by any Person shall
be
considered by the Court, unless (i) a written notice of intention to appear,
containing such Person’s name, legal address, and telephone number; (ii) proof
of ownership of TCP stock, including the date(s) such Person acquired his,
her
or its TCP shares, and a statement as to whether the Person will own TCP common
stock as of the date of the Settlement Hearing; and (iii) a detailed statement
of such Person’s objections to any matters before the Court, including copies of
any papers such Person intends the Court to consider, and the names of any
witness(es) the Person plans to call to testify at the Settlement Hearing,
along
with the subject(s) of their testimony, shall be filed by such Person with
the
Clerk of Court, Martin Luther King Building & U.S. Courthouse, 50 Walnut
Street, Newark, New Jersey 07101, NOT LATER THAN JULY 11, 2008, and, on or
before the date of such filing with the Court, copies of such filings shall
be
served, by hand or by overnight mail, on the following counsel of
record:
The
Weiser Law Firm, P.C.
Attn:
Robert B. Weiser, Esq.
121
N. Wayne Ave., Suite 100
Wayne,
PA 19087
Plaintiffs’
Counsel
|
Weil,
Gotshal & Manges LLP
Attn:
Anthony J. Albanese, Esq.
767
Fifth Avenue
New
York, NY 10153
Counsel
for TCP
|
Any
Person who fails to object in the manner described above shall be deemed to
have
waived the right to object (including any right of appeal) and shall be forever
barred from raising such objection in this or any other action or proceeding,
unless the Court orders otherwise.
Current
TCP Stockholders who have no objection to the Settlement or the Fee Award do
not
need to appear at the Settlement Hearing or take any other action.
If
you
are a Current TCP Stockholder, you will be bound by the final order and judgment
of the Court, and you will be deemed to have released any and all claims that
have or could have been brought in this Action.
If
the
Settlement is not approved, the Action will continue to be prepared for trial
or
other judicial resolution, and the Stipulation and Settlement shall become
null
and void and of no further force or effect.
VII. |
FINAL JUDGMENT APPROVING
THE
SETTLEMENT AND DISMISSAL OF THE
ACTION
|
If
the
Court determines that the Settlement, as provided for in the Stipulation, is
fair, reasonable, adequate and in the best interests of TCP and Current TCP
Stockholders, the Parties will ask the Court to enter a Final Judgment Approving
Settlement And Order of Dismissal, which will, among other things:
1. Approve
the Settlement as fair, reasonable and adequate, and direct the consummation
and
performance of the terms of the Stipulation;
2. Provide
that Plaintiffs and all Current TCP Stockholders shall be deemed to have
released any and all Released Claims (as defined in the Stipulation) in
accordance with the terms of the Stipulation and the Judgment and shall be
forever barred from commencing or prosecuting any action or proceeding against
the Defendants asserting any or all Released Claims;
3. Dismiss
the Action “with prejudice” and without costs to any Party except as expressly
provided in the Stipulation;
4. Provide
that the Judgment has become Final (as defined in the Stipulation), such that
Plaintiffs and all Current TCP Stockholders, or any of them, their successors,
heirs and assigns are barred and enjoined from commencing, prosecuting,
instigating or in any way participating in the commencement or prosecution
of
any action asserting any Released Claims, either directly, representatively,
derivatively, or in any other capacity, against any or all of the Defendants,
which have been or could have been asserted, or which arise out of or relate
in
any way to the Action or are otherwise addressed in the release;
and
5. Reserve
jurisdiction over consummation, performance, enforcement and administration
of
the Settlement.
In
the
event the Settlement is not approved, or such approval does not become Final,
then the Settlement shall be of no further force and effect, and each Party
then
shall be returned to his, her or its respective position prior to the Settlement
without prejudice and as if the Settlement had not been entered
into.
VIII. |
NOTICE TO PERSONS OR ENTITIES
HOLDING
OWNERSHIP ON BEHALF OF OTHERS
|
Brokerage
firms, banks and/or other persons or entities who held shares of TCP common
stock for the benefit of others are directed to send this Notice promptly to
all
of their respective beneficial owners. If additional copies of the Notice are
needed for forwarding to such beneficial owners, any requests for such
additional copies may be made to Plaintiffs’ Counsel: Robert B. Weiser, Esq.,
The Weiser Law Firm, P.C., 121 N. Wayne Avenue, Suite 100, Wayne, PA 19087,
telephone: (866) 934-7372.
The
foregoing description of the Action, the Settlement Hearing, the terms of
the
proposed Settlement and other matters described herein does not purport to
be
comprehensive. Current TCP Stockholders are referred to the Stipulation and
documents publicly filed with the Court in the Action, including the pleadings
and other papers, which you or your attorney may examine during regular business
hours of each business day at the offices of the Clerk of Court, Martin Luther
King Building & U.S. Courthouse, 50 Walnut Street, Newark, New Jersey
07101.
Any
questions you have about the matters in this Notice should be directed by
telephone or in writing to Plaintiffs’ Counsel: Robert B. Weiser, Esq., The
Weiser Law Firm, P.C., 121 N. Wayne Avenue, Suite 100, Wayne, PA 19087,
telephone: (866) 934-7372.
DO
NOT CONTACT THE CLERK OF THE COURT
REGARDING
THIS NOTICE.