Ultimate Annotated Form 8-K

Jan 8, 2017 | Public Companies

The SEC’s Current Report on Form 8-K is used to make prompt disclosure of specified material events or circumstances affecting issuers of securities registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. It is generally required to be filed or furnished within four business days of the occurrence of the triggering event or circumstance. In the M&A context, these may include any or all of the following:

  • signing a material transaction agreement (Item 1.01),
  • terminating a transaction agreement (Item 1.02),
  • closing the deal (Item 2.01),
  • borrowing money to finance the transaction (Item 2.03),
  • incurring costs in connection with selling assets or subsidiaries (Item 2.05),
  • delisting from a stock exchange at closing (Item 3.01),
  • issuing unregistered shares as consideration (Item 3.02),
  • adopting charter or bylaws amendments (Items 3.03 and 5.03),
  • experiencing a change of control (Item 5.01),
  • departure of directors and officers (Item 5.02),
  • holding a stockholder meeting to approve the transaction (Item 5.07) and
  • making selective disclosures of material information (Item 7.01).

For those without a great deal of experience with these requirements, navigating them may be intimidating if not impossible. Frankly, complying with the requirements of Form 8-K is tricky even for those of us who have been doing it for years. Not only must one comply with the facial requirements of the Form and its instructions, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has issued a patchwork of nigh-inscrutable supplemental guidance and requirements in the form of Exchange Act and Securities Act Rules, adopting releases, Compliance and Disclosure Interpretations, telephone interpretations, no-action letters, informal guidance and the Financial Reporting Manual.

Frustrated by this state of affairs, in October 2015, I created a unified source for nearly all SEC Rules and guidance applicable to Form 8-K. I call it The Ultimate Annotated Form 8-K. It includes references (and hyperlinks) to all Rules and guidance needed to comply with Form 8-K’s requirements on an Item-by-Item basis. I guaranty it will make your Form 8-K disclosure compliance much easier in the future.

 

JASSO LOPEZ PRECEDENT DOCUMENT

Document Title:     Ultimate Annotated Form 8-K

Jurisdiction:            Federal

Author:                    Erik A. Lopez, Partner, Jasso Lopez PLLC

Last Updated:         October 3, 2015

Usage Notes:

  1. Provenance. This document is a true and complete copy of the official version of Form 8-K, as adopted by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and in effect on the date of last update of this document (view source).  The official version of Form 8-K contains numerous immaterial formatting and typographical errors, which have been reflected in this document so as to remain true to the original.  (For example, “Section 5.06 -Change in Shell Company Status” should be “Item 5.06 Change in Shell Company Status” to remain consistent with other Items in this Form.)  As prescribed by Rule 12b-10 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”), “[e]very statement or report shall be on the form prescribed therefor by the Commission, as in effect on the date of filing.”
  2. Hyperlinks. For ease of use, all references to provisions of the federal securities laws and regulations embedded within the official version of Form 8-K have been converted to hyperlinks, which direct you to the most up-to-date versions of each provision, as in effect on the date of last update of this document.  Note, however, that links to Rules under the Exchange Act will direct you to the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations version of such Rules in their entirety, including a list of clickable links to individual Rules.  The URLs for Exchange Act Rules are changed frequently, making hyperlinking to them in this Form impracticable.
  3. Supplemental Guidance. Special Jasso Lopez annotations have been incorporated with respect to each Item of this Form.  These annotations provide direct links to supplemental SEC guidance applicable to the specific Item with which they are associated, including relevant adopting releases, Compliance and Disclosure Interpretations, FAQs and the like.
  4. Conditions Regarding Use. While the Jasso Lopez attorney staff have used every effort to be comprehensive in incorporating annotations into this Form, we cannot provide any assurances that all relevant guidance and rules have been included.  This Form is intended for use by experienced securities attorneys.  If you do not have such experience, we encourage you to consult with an attorney who does.  The Jasso Lopez Legal Notices accessible in the header of this web page are specifically incorporated by reference herein.
  5. Suggestions. We welcome any suggestions to improve this Form.  Please email any suggestions to erik@jassolopez.com.

 

©  Jasso Lopez PLLC. No claim to original U.S. government works.

 

 

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 and Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):  [Month] [Day], 201_

 

[COMPANY NAME]

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

     
[State] [X-XXXXX] [XX-XXXXXXX]
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)
(Commission File Number) (IRS Employer
Identification No.)
 
[Address]
[City], [State] [XXXXX]
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
 
[(XXX) XXX-XXXX]
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
 
[Not applicable / Former Name or Address]
(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):

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

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

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

Potential persons who are to respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB control number.

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

 

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS

A. Rule as to Use of Form 8-K.

  1. Form 8-K shall be used for current reports under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, filed pursuant to Rule 13a-11 or Rule 15d-11 and for reports of nonpublic information required to be disclosed by Regulation FD (17 CFR 243.100 and 243.101).
  2. Form 8-K may be used by a registrant to satisfy its filing obligations pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act, regarding written communications related to business combination transactions, or Rule 14a-12(b) or Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act, relating to soliciting materials and pre-commencement communications pursuant to tender offers, respectively, provided that the Form 8-K filing satisfies all the substantive requirements of those rules (other than the Rule 425(c) requirement to include certain specified information in any prospectus filed pursuant to such rule). Such filing is also deemed to be filed pursuant to any rule for which the box is checked. A registrant is not required to check the box in connection with Rule 14a-12(b) or Rule 14d-2(b)) if the communication is filed pursuant to Rule 425. Communications filed pursuant to Rule 425 are deemed filed under the other applicable sections. See Note 2 to Rule 425, Rule 14a-12(b) and Instruction 2 to Rule 14d-2(b)(2).
Jasso Lopez Annotation:

1.     Rule 13a-11 and Rule 15d-11 establish the baseline obligation to file current reports on Form 8-K.

2.     Question 153.04 of the Exchange Act Sections C&DIs indicates that a company may not file current reports without first registering the offer and sale of securities under the Securities Act or a class of securities under the Exchange Act.

3.     A triggering event occurring within four business days before the registrant’s filing of a periodic report may be disclosed in that periodic report, except for filings required to be made under Item 4.01 and Item 4.02 of Form 8-K, which must be reported on Form 8-K. The registrant may disclose triggering events, other than Items 4.01 and 4.02 events, on the periodic report under Item 5 of Part II of Form 10-Q or Item 9B of Form 10-K, as applicable.  See Question 101.01 of the Form 8-K C&DIs.

 

B. Events to be Reported and Time for Filing of Reports.

  1. A report on this form is required to be filed or furnished, as applicable, upon the occurrence of any one or more of the events specified in the items in Sections 1 – 6 and 9 of this form. Unless otherwise specified, a report is to be filed or furnished within four business days after occurrence of the event. If the event occurs on a Saturday, Sunday or holiday on which the Commission is not open for business, then the four business day period shall begin to run on, and include, the first business day thereafter. A registrant either furnishing a report on this form under Item 7.01 (Regulation FD Disclosure) or electing to file a report on this form under Item 8.01 (Other Events) solely to satisfy its obligations under Regulation FD (17 CFR 243.100 and 243.101) must furnish such report or make such filing, as applicable, in accordance with the requirements of Rule 100(a) of Regulation FD (17 CFR 243.100(a)), including the deadline for furnishing or filing such report. A report pursuant to Item 5.08 is to be filed within four business days after the registrant determines the anticipated meeting date.
  2. The information in a report furnished pursuant to Item 2.02 (Results of Operations and Financial Condition) or Item 7.01 (Regulation FD Disclosure) shall not be deemed to be “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, unless the registrant specifically states that the information is to be considered “filed” under the Exchange Act or incorporates it by reference into a filing under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act. If a report on Form 8-K contains disclosures under Item 2.02 or Item 7.01, whether or not the report contains disclosures regarding other items, all exhibits to such report relating to Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 will be deemed furnished, and not filed, unless the registrant specifies, under Item 9.01 (Financial Statements and Exhibits), which exhibits, or portions of exhibits, are intended to be deemed filed rather than furnished pursuant to this instruction.
  3. If the registrant previously has reported substantially the same information as required by this form, the registrant need not make an additional report of the information on this form. To the extent that an item calls for disclosure of developments concerning a previously reported event or transaction, any information required in the new report or amendment about the previously reported event or transaction may be provided by incorporation by reference to the previously filed report. The term previously reported is defined in Rule 12b-2 (17 CFR 240.12b-2).
  4. Copies of agreements, amendments or other documents or instruments required to be filed pursuant to Form 8-K are not required to be filed or furnished as exhibits to the Form 8-K unless specifically required to be filed or furnished by the applicable Item. This instruction does not affect the requirement to otherwise file such agreements, amendments or other documents or instruments, including as exhibits to registration statements and periodic reports pursuant to the requirements of Item 601 of Regulation S-K.
  5. When considering current reporting on this form, particularly of other events of material importance pursuant to Item 7.01 (Regulation FD Disclosure) and Item 8.01 (Other Events), registrants should have due regard for the accuracy, completeness and currency of the information in registration statements filed under the Securities Act which incorporate by reference information in reports filed pursuant to the Exchange Act, including reports on this form.
  6. A registrant’s report under Item 7.01 (Regulation FD Disclosure) or Item 8.01 (Other Events) will not be deemed an admission as to the materiality of any information in the report that is required to be disclosed solely by Regulation FD.
Jasso Lopez Annotation:

1.     Most of the current deadlines for filing Form 8-K were established by the SEC’s Final Rule: Additional Form 8-K Disclosure Requirements and Acceleration of Filing Date (Release No. 33-8400).

2.     Note that Nasdaq Listing Rule IM-5250-1 requires Nasdaq-listed companies to notify the MarketWatch Department of events requiring the filing of a Form 8-K at least ten minutes prior to the release of such information to the public when the public release of the information is made from 7 am to 8 pm ET.  The NYSE Listed Company Manual does not contain an analogous requirement to provide notification in connection with the filing of a Form 8-K but does specify events requiring notice to the Exchange, many of which may also trigger a Form 8-K disclosure obligation.  See Listed Company Manual Section 204.00.

3.     A triggering event occurring within four business days before the registrant’s filing of a periodic report may be disclosed in that periodic report, except for filings required to be made under Item 4.01 and Item 4.02 of Form 8-K, which must be reported on Form 8-K. The registrant may disclose triggering events, other than Items 4.01 and 4.02 events, on the periodic report under Item 5 of Part II of Form 10-Q or Item 9B of Form 10-K, as applicable.  See Question 101.01 of the Form 8-K C&DIs.

4.     Triggering events apply to registrants and subsidiaries, even if an Item does not specifically mention majority-owned subsidiaries (such as Item 2.01), except for those Items that obviously apply only at the registrant level, such as changes in directors and principal officers.  See Question 101.02 of the Form 8-K C&DIs.

 

C. Application of General Rules and Regulations.

  1. The General Rules and Regulations under the Act (17 CFR Part 240) contain certain general requirements which are applicable to reports on any form. These general requirements should be carefully read and observed in the preparation and filing of reports on this form.
  2. Particular attention is directed to Regulation 12B (17 CFR 240.12b-1 et seq.) which contains general requirements regarding matters such as the kind and size of paper to be used, the legibility of the report, the information to be given whenever the title of securities is required to be stated, and the filing of the report. The definitions contained in Rule 12b-2 should be especially noted. See also Regulations 13A (17 CFR 240.13a-1 et seq.) and 15D (17 CFR 240.1 5d-1 et seq.).
Jasso Lopez Annotation:

1.     Rule 12b-2 includes, among others, definitions of “Affiliate,” “Amount,” “Associate,” “Charter,” “Common equity,” “Control,” “Employee,” “Fiscal year,” “Majority-owned subsidiary,” “Material,” “Material weakness,” “Parent,” “Predecessor,” “Previously filed or reported,” “Registrant,” “Share,” “Significant deficiency,” “Significant subsidiary,” “Smaller reporting company” and “Subsidiary.”

2.     Noteworthy Rules include Rule 12b-10 (governing requirements as to proper form), Rule 12b-11 (governing numbers of copies, signatures and binding), Rule 12b-12 (governing requirements as to paper, printing and language), Rule 12b-13 (governing inclusion of numbers and captions, omission of the text of items and instructions and statements as to items being inapplicable), Rule 12b-15 (governing amendments), Rule 12b-20 (requiring additional information not expressly required by an item if necessary to make the required statements not misleading) and Rule 12b-21 (governing the treatment of unknown or difficult to obtain information).

 

D. Preparation of Report.

This form is not to be used as a blank form to be filled in, but only as a guide in the preparation of the report on paper meeting the requirements of Rule 12b-12 (17 CFR 240.12b-12). The report shall contain the number and caption of the applicable item, but the text of such item may be omitted, provided the answers thereto are prepared in the manner specified in Rule 12b-13 (17 CFR 240.12b-13). To the extent that Item 1.01 and one or more other items of the form are applicable, registrants need not provide the number and caption of Item 1.01 so long as the substantive disclosure required by Item 1.01 is disclosed in the report and the number and caption of the other applicable item(s) are provided. All items that are not required to be answered in a particular report may be omitted and no reference thereto need be made in the report. All instructions should also be omitted.

E. Signature and Filing of Report.

Three complete copies of the report, including any financial statements, exhibits or other papers or documents filed as a part thereof, and five additional copies which need not include exhibits, shall be filed with the Commission. At least one complete copy of the report, including any financial statements, exhibits or other papers or documents filed as a part thereof, shall be filed, with each exchange on which any class of securities of the registrant is registered. At least one complete copy of the report filed with the Commission and one such copy filed with each exchange shall be manually signed. Copies not manually signed shall bear typed or printed signatures.

Jasso Lopez Annotation:

1.     Rule 12b-11(d) governs signature requirements for Exchange Act forms.

2.     Item 3.02 of Regulation S-T governs signatures to, or within, electronic submissions.

3.     The term “exchange” as used in this Instruction refers only to domestic exchanges and, accordingly, Form 8-K reports need be furnished only to domestic exchanges.  See Question 101.04 of the Form 8-K C&DIs.

 

F. Incorporation by Reference.

If the registrant makes available to its stockholders or otherwise publishes, within the period prescribed for filing the report, a press release or other document or statement containing information meeting some or all of the requirements of this form, the information called for may be incorporated by reference to such published document or statement, in answer or partial answer to any item or items of this form, provided copies thereof are filed as an exhibit to the report on this form.

Jasso Lopez Annotation:

1.     Rule 12b-23 and Item 10(d) of Regulation S-K govern incorporation by reference.  Note the limitations on double incorporation by reference and incorporation by reference of documents that have been on file with the SEC for more than five years.

2.     Section 234.01 of the Exchange Act Rules C&DIs provides that, where a company is being acquired, the acquiring company may incorporate by reference the acquired company’s Form 10-K financial statements into the acquiring company’s Form 8-K, so long as copies of the pertinent pages of the Form 10-K are filed as an exhibit to the Form 8-K. The consent(s) of the accountant(s) for the acquired company should be filed with the Form 8-K.

3.     A material definitive agreement must be summarized in the body of the Form 8-K even if it is filed as an exhibit to the Form 8-K.  See Question 102.03 of the Form 8-K C&DIs.

 

G. Use of this Form by Asset-Backed Issuers.

The following applies to registrants that are asset-backed issuers. Terms used in this General Instruction G. have the same meaning as in Item 1101 of Regulation AB (17 CFR 229.1101).

  1. Reportable Events That May Be Omitted.

The registrant need not file a report on this Form upon the occurrence of any one or more of the events specified in the following:

(a) Item 2.01, Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets;

(b) Item 2.02, Results of Operations and Financial Condition;

(c) Item 2.03, Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant;

(d) Item 2.05, Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities;

(e) Item 2.06, Material Impairments;

(f) Item 3.01, Notice of Delisting or Failure to Satisfy a Continued Listing Rule or Standard; Transfer of Listing;

(g) Item 3.02, Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities;

(h) Item 4.01, Changes in Registrant’s Certifying Accountant;

(i) Item 4.02, Non-Reliance on Previously Issued Financial Statements or a Related Audit Report or Completed Interim Review;

(j) Item 5.01, Changes in Control of Registrant;

(k) Item 5.02, Departure of Directors or Principal Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Principal Officers;

(l) Item 5.04, Temporary Suspension of Trading Under Registrant’s Employee Benefit Plans; and

(m) Item 5.05, Amendments to the Registrant’s Code of Ethics, or Waiver of a Provision of the Code of Ethics.

  1. Additional Disclosure for the Form 8-K Cover Page.

Immediately after the name of the issuing entity on the cover page of the Form 8-K, as separate line items, identify the exact name of the depositor as specified in its charter and the exact name of the sponsor as specified in its charter.

  1. Signatures.

The Form 8-K must be signed by the depositor. In the alternative, the Form 8-K may be signed on behalf of the issuing entity by a duly authorized representative of the servicer. If multiple servicers are involved in servicing the pool assets, a duly authorized representative of the master servicer (or entity performing the equivalent function) must sign if a representative of the servicer is to sign the report on behalf of the issuing entity.

Jasso Lopez Annotation:

1.     The provisions of Form 8-K governing use of this Form by asset-backed issuers were adopted by the SEC in 2004 pursuant to its Final Rule: Asset-Backed Securities (Release No. 33-8518).

 

 

 

 

INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN THE REPORT

Section 1 – Registrant’s Business and Operations

Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

(a) If the registrant has entered into a material definitive agreement not made in the ordinary course of business of the registrant, or into any amendment of such agreement that is material to the registrant, disclose the following information:

(1) the date on which the agreement was entered into or amended, the identity of the parties to the agreement or amendment and a brief description of any material relationship between the registrant or its affiliates and any of the parties, other than in respect of the material definitive agreement or amendment; and

(2) a brief description of the terms and conditions of the agreement or amendment that are material to the registrant.

(b) For purposes of this Item 1.01, a material definitive agreement means an agreement that provides for obligations that are material to and enforceable against the registrant, or rights that are material to the registrant and enforceable by the registrant against one or more other parties to the agreement, in each case whether or not subject to conditions.

Instructions.

  1. Any material definitive agreement of the registrant not made in the ordinary course of the registrant’s business must be disclosed under this Item 1.01. An agreement is deemed to be not made in the ordinary course of a registrant’s business even if the agreement is such as ordinarily accompanies the kind of business conducted by the registrant if it involves the subject matter identified in Item 601(b)(10)(ii)(A)-(D) of Regulation S-K (17 CFR 229.601(b)(10)(ii)(A)-(D)). An agreement involving the subject matter identified in Item 601(b)(10)(iii)(A) or (B) need not be disclosed under this Item.
  2. A registrant must provide disclosure under this Item 1.01 if the registrant succeeds as a party to the agreement or amendment to the agreement by assumption or assignment (other than in connection with a merger or acquisition or similar transaction).
  3. With respect to asset-backed securities, as defined in Item 1101 of Regulation AB (17 CFR 229.1101), disclosure is required under this Item 1.01 regarding the entry into or an amendment to a definitive agreement that is material to the asset-backed securities transaction, even if the registrant is not a party to such agreement (e.g., a servicing agreement with a servicer contemplated by Item 1108(a)(3) of Regulation AB (17 CFR 229.1108(a)(3)).
Jasso Lopez Annotation:

2.     See Section II.C.1 of the SEC’s Final Rule: Additional Form 8-K Disclosure Requirements and Acceleration of Filing Date (Release No. 33-8400) (the “2004 Adopting Release”) for a helpful discussion of Item 1.01 disclosure obligations.  Also see the SEC’s Proposed Rule: Additional Form 8-K Disclosure Requirements and Acceleration of Filing Date (Release No. 33-8106).  Significant amendments to this Item were adopted by the SEC pursuant to its Final Rule: Executive Compensation and Related Person Disclosure (conforming amendments) (Release No. 33-8732A).

3.     Failure to make a timely filing under this Item does not impact a registrant’s Form S-3 eligibility.  See General Instruction I.A.3(b) to Form S-3.  Failure to make a filing under this Item does impact a registrant’s Form S-8 eligibility.  See General Instruction A.1 to Form S-8.

4.     See General Instruction D of Form 8-K above about omission of the Item 1.01 number and caption if the substantive disclosure is provided elsewhere in the report.

5.     The 2007 Technical Session Between the SEC Staff and the Joint Committee on Employee Benefits offers Staff guidance on Item 1.01 disclosure of plans adopted by a board of directors but subject to stockholder approval.

6.     Footnote 39 of the 2004 Adopting Release clarified the reference to “conditions” in Item 1.01(b), explaining that “a material definitive agreement which is subject to customary closing conditions, such as the delivery of legal opinions or comfort letters, completion of due diligence or regulatory approval, must be disclosed under Item 1.01 when such agreement is enforceable against or by the company despite the fact that such conditions have not yet been satisfied. However, if a company enters into a non-binding letter of intent or memorandum of understanding that also contains some binding, but non-material elements, such as a confidentiality agreement or a no-shop agreement, the letter or memorandum does not need to be filed because the binding provisions are not material.”

7.     According to Question 13 of the Manual of Publicly Available Telephone Interpretations – Third Supplement – I. Regulation M-A – B. Filing of Written Information, providing information in a voluntarily filed Form 8-K does not eliminate the need to file the information under Securities Act Rule 425. Some companies have a practice of filing a merger agreement on Form 8-K as soon as a deal is announced. Public information about the business combination should be located in Rule 425 filings. Although Rule 425 generally does not permit incorporation by reference, the Staff will not require the merger agreement provided on Form 8-K to be repeated in the Form 425 filing, so long as the Form 8-K is filed on EDGAR and the Rule 425 filing contains a brief statement such as: “The merger agreement for Company A’s acquisition of Company B was filed by Company A under cover of Form 8-K today and is incorporated by reference into this filing.” Alternatively, of course, the company may elect to provide this information under Rule 425 only rather than on a Form 8-K. This interpretation also is applicable to a cash deal, where the relevant filing will be under the proxy or tender offer rules instead of Rule 425.

8.     A registrant is not required to disclose an agreement that was not material at the time it was entered into or amended, even if it becomes material at a later date.  However, the registrant must comply with the requirements of Item 601 of Regulation S-K in determining whether to disclose the agreement as an exhibit to a periodic report.  See Question 102.01 of the Form 8-K C&DIs.

9.     If a registrant determines that a placement agency or underwriting agreement is material and must be disclosed under Item 1.01, it may, as under Item 3.02, omit the identity of the underwriters from the disclosure in Form 8-K to remain within the safe harbor of Securities Act Rule 135c.  See Question 102.02 of the Form 8-K C&DIs.

10.   A material definitive agreement must be summarized in the body of the Form 8-K even if it is filed as an exhibit to the Form 8-K.  See Question 102.03 of the Form 8-K C&DIs.

11.   The passage of a rejection deadline following delivery by one party to the other of a renewal notice that extends the term of a material contract requires disclosure under Item 1.01.  See Question 103.03 of the Form 8-K C&DIs.

12.   Section 202.01 of the Form 8-K C&DIs explains that an agreement disclosed under Item 1.01 but not attached as an exhibit to the Form 8-K must be filed as an exhibit to the periodic report for the period in which the agreement was entered into.

 

Item 1.02 Termination of a Material Definitive Agreement.

(a) If a material definitive agreement which was not made in the ordinary course of business of the registrant and to which the registrant is a party is terminated otherwise than by expiration of the agreement on its stated termination date, or as a result of all parties completing their obligations under such agreement, and such termination of the agreement is material to the registrant, disclose the following information:

(1) the date of the termination of the material definitive agreement, the identity of the parties to the agreement and a brief description of any material relationship between the registrant or its affiliates and any of the parties other than in respect of the material definitive agreement;

(2) a brief description of the terms and conditions of the agreement that are material to the registrant;

(3) a brief description of the material circumstances surrounding the termination; and

(4) any material early termination penalties incurred by the registrant.

(b) For purposes of this Item 1.02, the term material definitive agreement shall have the same meaning as set forth in Item 1.01(b).

Instructions.

  1. No disclosure is required solely by reason of this Item 1.02 during negotiations or discussions regarding termination of a material definitive agreement unless and until the agreement has been terminated.
  2. No disclosure is required solely by reason of this Item 1.02 if the registrant believes in good faith that the material definitive agreement has not been terminated, unless the registrant has received a notice of termination pursuant to the terms of agreement.
  3. With respect to asset-backed securities, as defined in Item 1101 of Regulation AB (17 CFR 229.1101), disclosure is required under this Item 1.02 regarding the termination of a definitive agreement that is material to the asset-backed securities transaction (otherwise than by expiration of the agreement on its stated termination date or as a result of all parties completing their obligations under such agreement), even if the registrant is not a party to such agreement (e.g., a servicing agreement with a servicer contemplated by Item 1108(a)(3) of Regulation AB (17 CFR 229.1108(a)(3)).
Jasso Lopez Annotation:

1.     See Section II.C. of the SEC’s Final Rule: Additional Form 8-K Disclosure Requirements and Acceleration of Filing Date (Release No. 33-8400) for a helpful discussion of Item 1.02 disclosure obligations.  Also see the SEC’s Proposed Rule: Additional Form 8-K Disclosure Requirements and Acceleration of Filing Date (Release No. 33-8106).

2.     Failure to make a timely filing under this Item does not impact a registrant’s Form S-3 eligibility.  See General Instruction I.A.3(b) to Form S-3.  Failure to make a filing under this Item does impact a registrant’s Form S-8 eligibility.  See General Instruction A.1 to Form S-8.

3.     Once notice of termination pursuant to the terms of an agreement has been received, the Form 8-K is required, notwithstanding a registrant’s continued efforts to negotiate a continuation of the contract, even if the registrant believes in good faith that the agreement will not ultimately be terminated.  See Question 103.01 of the Form 8-K C&DIs.

4.     Receipt of a non-renewal notice of an automatically renewing agreement triggers an Item 1.02 disclosure, even if the agreement does not terminate for a period of time.  See Question 103.02 of the Form 8-K C&DIs.

5.     The failure of either party to deliver a renewal notice of an expiring contract by a specified deadline does not trigger an Item 1.02 disclosure.  See Question 103.03 of the Form 8-K C&DIs.

 

Item 1.03 Bankruptcy or Receivership.

(a) If a receiver, fiscal agent or similar officer has been appointed for a registrant or its parent, in a proceeding under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code or in any other proceeding under state or federal law in which a court or governmental authority has assumed jurisdiction over substantially all of the assets or business of the registrant or its parent, or if such jurisdiction has been assumed by leaving the existing directors and officers in possession but subject to the supervision and orders of a court or governmental authority, disclose the following information:

(1) the name or other identification of the proceeding;

(2) the identity of the court or governmental authority;

(3) the date that jurisdiction was assumed; and

(4) the identity of the receiver, fiscal agent or similar officer and the date of his or her appointment.

(b) If an order confirming a plan of reorganization, arrangement or liquidation has been entered by a court or governmental authority having supervision or jurisdiction over substantially all of the assets or business of the registrant or its parent, disclose the following;

(1) the identity of the court or governmental authority;

(2) the date that the order confirming the plan was entered by the court or governmental authority;

(3) a summary of the material features of the plan and, pursuant to Item 9.01 (Financial Statements and Exhibits), a copy of the plan as confirmed;

(4) the number of shares or other units of the registrant or its parent issued and outstanding, the number reserved for future issuance in respect of claims and interests filed and allowed under the plan, and the aggregate total of such numbers; and

(5) information as to the assets and liabilities of the registrant or its parent as of the date that the order confirming the plan was entered, or a date as close thereto as practicable.

Instructions.

  1. The information called for in paragraph (b)(5) of this Item 1.03 may be presented in the form in which it was furnished to the court or governmental authority.
  2. With respect to asset-backed securities, disclosure also is required under this Item 1.03 if the depositor (or servicer if the servicer signs the report on Form 10-K (17 CFR 249.310) of the issuing entity) becomes aware of any instances described in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Item with respect to the sponsor, depositor, servicer contemplated by Item 1108(a)(3) of Regulation AB (17 CFR 229.1108(a)(3)), trustee, significant obligor, enhancement or support provider contemplated by Items 1114(b) or 1115 of Regulation AB (17 CFR 229.1114(b) or 229.1115) or other material party contemplated by Item 1101(d)(1) of Regulation AB (17 CFR 1101(d)(1)).

Terms used in this Instruction 2 have the same meaning as in Item 1101 of Regulation AB (17 CFR 229.1101).

Jasso Lopez Annotation:

1.     Previously Item 3, this Item was renumbered by the SEC in 2004 pursuant to its Final Rule: Additional Form 8-K Disclosure Requirements and Acceleration of Filing Date (Release No. 33-8400)

2.     Failure to make a timely filing under this Item does impact a registrant’s Form S-3 eligibility.  See General Instruction I.A.3(b) to Form S-3.  Failure to make a filing under this Item does impact a registrant’s Form S-8 eligibility.  See General Instruction A.1 to Form S-8.

 

Item 1.04 Mine Safety – Reporting of Shutdowns and Patterns of Violations.

(a) If the registrant or a subsidiary of the registrant has received, with respect to a coal or other mine of which the registrant or a subsidiary of the registrant is an operator

  • an imminent danger order issued under section 107(a) of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 (30 U.S.C. 817(a));
  • a written notice from the Mine Safety and Health Administration that the coal or other mine has a pattern of violations of mandatory health or safety standards that are of such nature as could have significantly and substantially contributed to the cause and effect of coal or other mine health or safety hazards under section 104(e) of such Act (30 U.S.C. 814(e)); or
  • a written notice from the Mine Safety and Health Administration that the coal or other mine has the potential to have such a pattern, disclose the following information:

(1) The date of receipt by the issuer or a subsidiary of such order or notice.

(2) The category of the order or notice.

(3) The name and location of the mine involved.

Instructions to Item 1.04.

  1. The term “coal or other mine” means a coal or other mine, as defined in section 3 of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 (30 U.S.C. 802), that is subject to the provisions of such Act (30 U.S.C. 801 et seq).
  2. The term “operator” has the meaning given the term in section 3 of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 (30 U.S.C. 802).
Jasso Lopez Annotation:

1.     This Item was adopted by the SEC in 2012 pursuant to its Final Rule: Mine Safety Disclosure (Release No. 33-9286), which contains additional information about disclosures required under this Item.

2.     Failure to make a timely filing under this Item does not impact a registrant’s Form S-3 eligibility.  See General Instruction I.A.3(b) to Form S-3.  Failure to make a filing under this Item does impact a registrant’s Form S-8 eligibility.  See General Instruction A.1 to Form S-8.

 

Section 2 – Financial Information

Item 2.01 Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets.

If the registrant or any of its majority-owned subsidiaries has completed the acquisition or disposition of a significant amount of assets, otherwise than in the ordinary course of business, disclose the following information:

(a) the date of completion of the transaction;

(b) a brief description of the assets involved;

(c) the identity of the person(s) from whom the assets were acquired or to whom they were sold and the nature of any material relationship, other than in respect of the transaction, between such person(s) and the registrant or any of its affiliates, or any director or officer of the registrant, or any associate of any such director or officer;

(d) the nature and amount of consideration given or received for the assets and, if any material relationship is disclosed pursuant to paragraph (c) of this Item 2.01, the formula or principle followed in determining the amount of such consideration;

(e) if the transaction being reported is an acquisition and if a material relationship exists between the registrant or any of its affiliates and the source(s) of the funds used in the acquisition, the identity of the source(s) of the funds unless all or any part of the consideration used is a loan made in the ordinary course of business by a bank as defined by Section 3(a)(6) of the Act, in which case the identity of such bank may be omitted provided the registrant:

(1) has made a request for confidentiality pursuant to Section 13(d)(1)(B) of the Act; and

(2) states in the report that the identity of the bank has been so omitted and filed separately with the Commission; and

(f) if the registrant was a shell company, other than a business combination related shell company, as those terms are defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.12b-2), immediately before the transaction, the information that would be required if the registrant were filing a general form for registration of securities on Form 10 under the Exchange Act reflecting all classes of the registrant’s securities subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 (15 U.S.C. 78m) or Section 15(d) (15 U.S.C. 78o(d)) of such Act upon consummation of the transaction. Notwithstanding General Instruction B.3. to Form 8- K, if any disclosure required by this Item 2.01(f) is previously reported, as that term is defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.12b-2), the registrant may identify the filing in which that disclosure is included instead of including that disclosure in this report.

Instructions.

  1. No information need be given as to:

(i) any transaction between any person and any wholly-owned subsidiary of such person;

(ii) any transaction between two or more wholly-owned subsidiaries of any person; or

(iii) the redemption or other acquisition of securities from the public, or the sale or other disposition of securities to the public, by the issuer of such securities or by a wholly-owned subsidiary of that issuer.

  1. The term acquisition includes every purchase, acquisition by lease, exchange, merger, consolidation, succession or other acquisition, except that the term does not include the construction or development of property by or for the registrant or its subsidiaries or the acquisition of materials for such purpose. The term disposition includes every sale, disposition by lease, exchange, merger, consolidation, mortgage, assignment or hypothecation of assets, whether for the benefit of creditors or otherwise, abandonment, destruction, or other disposition.
  2. The information called for by this Item 2.01 is to be given as to each transaction or series of related transactions of the size indicated. The acquisition or disposition of securities is deemed the indirect acquisition or disposition of the assets represented by such securities if it results in the acquisition or disposition of control of such assets.
  3. An acquisition or disposition shall be deemed to involve a significant amount of assets:

(i) if the registrant’s and its other subsidiaries’ equity in the net book value of such assets or the amount paid or received for the assets upon such acquisition or disposition exceeded 10% of the total assets of the registrant and its consolidated subsidiaries; or

(ii) if it involved a business (see 17 CFR 210.11-01(d)) that is significant (see 17 CFR 210.11-01(b)).

Acquisitions of individually insignificant businesses are not required to be reported pursuant to this Item 2.01 unless they are related businesses (see 17 CFR 210.3-05(a)(3)) and are significant in the aggregate.

  1. Attention is directed to the requirements in Item 9.01 (Financial Statements and Exhibits) with respect to the filing of:

(i) financial statements of businesses acquired;

(ii) pro forma financial information; and

(iii) copies of the plans of acquisition or disposition as exhibits to the report.

Jasso Lopez Annotation:

1.     Previously Item 2, this Item was renumbered by the SEC in 2004 pursuant to its Final Rule: Additional Form 8-K Disclosure Requirements and Acceleration of Filing Date (Release No. 33-8400).

2.     Sections 2120 and 2130 of the Division of Corporation Finance Financial Reporting Manual provides helpful guidance as to when financial statements of acquired or disposed of businesses are required.

3.     Failure to make a timely filing under this Item does impact a registrant’s Form S-3 eligibility.  See General Instruction I.A.3(b) to Form S-3.  Failure to make a filing under this Item does impact a registrant’s Form S-8 eligibility.  See General Instruction A.1 to Form S-8.

4.     See CF Disclosure Guidance Topic No. 1: Staff Observations in the Review of Forms 8-K Filed to Report Reverse Mergers and Similar Transactions, which offers guidance on disclosures under this Item in the context of reverse merger disclosures.

5.     Under Rule 12g-3(f), successor registrants must make Form 8-K disclosure of the paragraph of section 12 of the Exchange Act under which the class of securities issued by the successor issuer is deemed registered by operation of paragraphs (a), (b), (c) or (d) of that Rule. According to Section 4S. Rule 12g-3 of the Manual of Publicly Available Telephone Interpretations – Supplement, the successor must file a Form 8-K with respect to the succession transaction using the predecessor’s file number.

6.     The purchase by a reporting company of a minority stock interest in a business from an independent third party (which is accounted for under the cost method) would not require the filing of the financial statements of that business with any Form 8-K filed to report the transaction, so long as that minority position did not result in the reporting company’s control of the assets.  See Section 205.02 of the Form 8-K C&DIs.

7.     A wholly-owned subsidiary acquires a significant amount of assets from its parent. Both the subsidiary and the parent are reporting companies. The term “any person” found in Instruction 1 to Item 2.01 refers to the company that has the obligation to file the report. Therefore, while Instruction 1 would not require a filing by the parent, the subsidiary would be required to file the report.  See Section 205.03 of the Form 8-K C&DIs.

8.     An indefinite closing of a portion of a company’s restaurant facilities, coupled with a write-down of its assets in excess of 10 percent, constitutes an “other disposition” for purposes of Instruction 2 to Item 2.01, and thus requires the filing of a Form 8-K.  See Section 205.04 of the Form 8-K C&DIs.

9.     Paragraph (iii) of Instruction 1 to Item 2.01 does not apply to the sale of a subsidiary’s equity, because the subsidiary would not be wholly-owned after the transaction is completed.  See Section 205.05 of the Form 8-K C&DIs.

10.   There are circumstances in which an emerging growth company may present only two years of financial statements for an acquired business, rather than the three years normally required under Regulation S-X.  See JOBS Act Frequently Asked Questions, Question 46.

 

Item 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

(a) If a registrant, or any person acting on its behalf, makes any public announcement or release (including any update of an earlier announcement or release) disclosing material non-public information regarding the registrant’s results of operations or financial condition for a completed quarterly or annual fiscal period, the registrant shall disclose the date of the announcement or release, briefly identify the announcement or release and include the text of that announcement or release as an exhibit.

(b) A Form 8-K is not required to be furnished to the Commission under this Item 2.02 in the case of disclosure of material non-public information that is disclosed orally, telephonically, by webcast, by broadcast, or by similar means if:

(1) the information is provided as part of a presentation that is complementary to, and initially occurs within 48 hours after, a related, written announcement or release that has been furnished on Form 8-K pursuant to this Item 2.02 prior to the presentation;

(2) the presentation is broadly accessible to the public by dial-in conference call, by webcast, by broadcast or by similar means;

(3) the financial and other statistical information contained in the presentation is provided on the registrant’s website, together with any information that would be required under 17 CFR 244.100; and

(4) the presentation was announced by a widely disseminated press release, that included instructions as to when and how to access the presentation and the location on the registrant’s website where the information would be available.

Instructions.

  1. The requirements of this Item 2.02 are triggered by the disclosure of material non-public information regarding a completed fiscal year or quarter. Release of additional or updated material non-public information regarding a completed fiscal year or quarter would trigger an additional Item 2.02 requirement.
  2. The requirements of paragraph (e)(1)(i) of Item 10 of Regulation S-K (17 CFR 229.10(e)(1)(i)) shall apply to disclosures under this Item 2.02.
  3. Issuers that make earnings announcements or other disclosures of material non-public information regarding a completed fiscal year or quarter in an interim or annual report to shareholders are permitted to specify which portion of the report contains the information required to be furnished under this Item 2.02.
  4. This Item 2.02 does not apply in the case of a disclosure that is made in a quarterly report filed with the Commission on Form 10-Q (17 CFR 249.308a) or an annual report filed with the Commission on Form 10-K (17 CFR 249.310).
Jasso Lopez Annotation:

1.     Previously Item 12, this Item was renumbered by the SEC in 2004 pursuant to its Final Rule: Additional Form 8-K Disclosure Requirements and Acceleration of Filing Date (Release No. 33-8400).

2.     Failure to make a timely filing under this Item does not impact a registrant’s Form S-3 eligibility.  See General Instruction I.A.3(b) to Form S-3, Question 115.07 of the Securities Act Forms C&DIs and Question 106.05 of the Form 8-K C&DIs.  Failure to make a filing under this Item does not impact a registrant’s Form S-8 eligibility.  See General Instruction A.1 to Form S-8 and Question 126.12 of the Securities Act Forms C&DIs.  Nonetheless, failure to comply with Item 2.02 of Form 8-K would, of course, be a violation of Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act and the rules thereunder.

3.     See Questions 105.01, 105.02, 105.03, 105.05, 105.06 and 105.07 of the Non-GAAP Financial Measures C&DIs for guidance on Regulation G in the context of Item 2.02 disclosures.

4.     Subject to certain conditions, a website posting of a webcast audio file or presentation materials may exempt a registrant from the requirement to furnish earnings information under Item 2.02.  See Question 106.01 of the Form 8-K C&DIs.

5.     Question 106.02 of the Form 8-K C&DIs provides guidance about Item 2.02 disclosure requirements in the event material, previously undisclosed information of the type described under Item 2.02 is disclosed in a properly noticed earnings call prior to furnishing the registrant’s earnings release on Form 8-K.

6.     The exemption provided by Item 2.02(b) requires information to be posted on the registrant’s website at the time the oral presentation is made or, if the information was disclosed unexpectedly in connection with the Q&A session that was part of an oral presentation, the information must be posted on the registrant’s website promptly after it is disclosed, subject in each case to compliance with Regulation FD.  See Question 106.03 of the Form 8-K C&DIs.

7.     The exemption provided by Item 2.02(b) may be available if a registrant’s quarterly earnings release is attached as an exhibit to its Form 10-Q prior to holding its earnings call.  See Question 106.04 of the Form 8-K C&DIs.

8.     A press release announcing results of operations for a just-completed fiscal quarter, including a registrant’s expected adjusted earnings (a non-GAAP financial measure) for the period, would be subject to Item 2.02.  See Question 106.06 of the Form 8-K C&DIs.

9.     A registrant’s report of “preliminary” earnings and results of operations for a quarter, including estimates, requires the registrant to comply with Item 2.02.  See Question 106.07 of the Form 8-K C&DIs.

10.   Section 206.01 of the Form 8-K C&DIs indicates that the 48-hour safe harbor in Item 2.02(b) is construed literally and is not the equivalent of two business or calendar days.

 

Item 2.03 Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant.

(a) If the registrant becomes obligated on a direct financial obligation that is material to the registrant, disclose the following information:

(1) the date on which the registrant becomes obligated on the direct financial obligation and a brief description of the transaction or agreement creating the obligation;

(2) the amount of the obligation, including the terms of its payment and, if applicable, a brief description of the material terms under which it may be accelerated or increased and the nature of any recourse provisions that would enable the registrant to recover from third parties; and

(3) a brief description of the other terms and conditions of the transaction or agreement that are material to the registrant.

(b) If the registrant becomes directly or contingently liable for an obligation that is material to the registrant arising out of an off-balance sheet arrangement, disclose the following information:

(1) the date on which the registrant becomes directly or contingently liable on the obligation and a brief description of the transaction or agreement creating the arrangement and obligation;

(2) a brief description of the nature and amount of the obligation of the registrant under the arrangement, including the material terms whereby it may become a direct obligation, if applicable, or may be accelerated or increased and the nature of any recourse provisions that would enable the registrant to recover from third parties;

(3) the maximum potential amount of future payments (undiscounted) that the registrant may be required to make, if different; and

(4) a brief description of the other terms and conditions of the obligation or arrangement that are material to the registrant.

(c) For purposes of this Item 2.03, direct financial obligation means any of the following:

(1) a long-term debt obligation, as defined in Item 303(a)(5)(ii)(A) of Regulation S-K (17 CFR 229.303(a)(5)(ii)(A));

(2) a capital lease obligation, as defined in Item 303(a)(5)(ii)(B) of Regulation S-K (17 CFR 229.303(a)(5)(ii)(B));

(3) an operating lease obligation, as defined in Item 303(a)(5)(ii)(C) of Regulation S-K (17 CFR 229.303(a)(5)(ii)(C)); or

(4) a short-term debt obligation that arises other than in the ordinary course of business.

(d) For purposes of this Item 2.03, off-balance sheet arrangement has the meaning set forth in Item 303(a)(4)(ii) of Regulation S-K (17 CFR 229.303(a)(4)(ii)).

(e) For purposes of this Item 2.03, short-term debt obligation means a payment obligation under a borrowing arrangement that is scheduled to mature within one year, or, for those registrants that use the operating cycle concept of working capital, within a registrant’s operating cycle that is longer than one year, as discussed in Accounting Research Bulletin No. 43, Chapter 3A, Working Capital.

Instructions.

  1. A registrant has no obligation to disclose information under this Item 2.03 until the registrant enters into an agreement enforceable against the registrant, whether or not subject to conditions, under which the direct financial obligation will arise or be created or issued. If there is no such agreement, the registrant must provide the disclosure within four business days after the occurrence of the closing or settlement of the transaction or arrangement under which the direct financial obligation arises or is created.
  2. A registrant must provide the disclosure required by paragraph (b) of this Item 2.03 whether or not the registrant is also a party to the transaction or agreement creating the contingent obligation arising under the off-balance sheet arrangement. In the event that neither the registrant nor any affiliate of the registrant is also a party to the transaction or agreement creating the contingent obligation arising under the off-balance sheet arrangement in question, the four business day period for reporting the event under this Item 2.03 shall begin on the earlier of (i) the fourth business day after the contingent obligation is created or arises, and (ii) the day on which an executive officer, as defined in 17 CFR 240.3b-7, of the registrant becomes aware of the contingent obligation.
  3. In the event that an agreement, transaction or arrangement requiring disclosure under this Item 2.03 comprises a facility, program or similar arrangement that creates or may give rise to direct financial obligations of the registrant in connection with multiple transactions, the registrant shall:

(i) disclose the entering into of the facility, program or similar arrangement if the entering into of the facility is material to the registrant; and

(ii) as direct financial obligations arise or are created under the facility or program, disclose the required information under this Item 2.03 to the extent that the obligations are material to the registrant (including when a series of previously undisclosed individually immaterial obligations become material in the aggregate).

  1. For purposes of Item 2.03(b)(3), the maximum amount of future payments shall not be reduced by the effect of any amounts that may possibly be recovered by the registrant under recourse or collateralization provisions in any guarantee agreement, transaction or arrangement.
  2. If the obligation required to be disclosed under this Item 2.03 is a security, or a term of a security, that has been or will be sold pursuant to an effective registration statement of the registrant, the registrant is not required to file a Form 8-K pursuant to this Item 2.03, provided that the prospectus relating to that sale contains the information required by this Item 2.03 and is filed within the required time period under Securities Act Rule 424 (§230.424 of this chapter).
Jasso Lopez Annotation:

1.     This Item was adopted by the SEC pursuant to its Final Rule: Additional Form 8-K Disclosure Requirements and Acceleration of Filing Date (Release No. 33-8400).  Also see the SEC’s Proposed Rule: Additional Form 8-K Disclosure Requirements and Acceleration of Filing Date (Release No. 33-8106).

2.     Failure to make a timely filing under this Item does not impact a registrant’s Form S-3 eligibility.  See General Instruction I.A.3(b) to Form S-3.  Failure to make a filing under this Item does impact a registrant’s Form S-8 eligibility.  See General Instruction A.1 to Form S-8.

3.     The SEC has confirmed that Instruction 2 to this Item does in fact establish an obligation to make disclosures, even under circumstances in which a registrant is not aware of the underlying facts necessitating disclosure.  See Question 107.01 of the Form 8-K C&DIs.

4.     Depending on a registrant’s materiality determination, Item 2.03 disclosure may not be required if a registrant has a long-term debt issuance in a private placement that is coming due and replaces it or refunds it with another long-term debt issuance of the same principal amount and with similar terms in another private placement.  See Question 107.02 of the Form 8-K C&DIs.

 

Item 2.04 Triggering Events That Accelerate or Increase a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement.

(a) If a triggering event causing the increase or acceleration of a direct financial obligation of the registrant occurs and the consequences of the event, taking into account those described in paragraph (a)(4) of this Item 2.04, are material to the registrant, disclose the following information:

(1) the date of the triggering event and a brief description of the agreement or transaction under which the direct financial obligation was created and is increased or accelerated;

(2) a brief description of the triggering event;

(3) the amount of the direct financial obligation, as increased if applicable, and the terms of payment or acceleration that apply; and

(4) any other material obligations of the registrant that may arise, increase, be accelerated or become direct financial obligations as a result of the triggering event or the increase or acceleration of the direct financial obligation.

(b) If a triggering event occurs causing an obligation of the registrant under an off-balance sheet arrangement to increase or be accelerated, or causing a contingent obligation of the registrant under an off-balance sheet arrangement to become a direct financial obligation of the registrant, and the consequences of the event, taking into account those described in paragraph (b)(4) of this Item 2.04, are material to the registrant, disclose the following information:

(1) the date of the triggering event and a brief description of the off-balance sheet arrangement;

(2) a brief description of the triggering event;

(3) the nature and amount of the obligation, as increased if applicable, and the terms of payment or acceleration that apply; and

(4) any other material obligations of the registrant that may arise, increase, be accelerated or become direct financial obligations as a result of the triggering event or the increase or acceleration of the obligation under the off-balance sheet arrangement or its becoming a direct financial obligation of the registrant.

(c) For purposes of this Item 2.04, the term direct financial obligation has the meaning provided in Item 2.03 of this form, but shall also include an obligation arising out of an off-balance sheet arrangement that is accrued under FASB Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 5 Accounting for Contingencies (SFAS No. 5) as a probable loss contingency.

(d) For purposes of this Item 2.04, the term off-balance sheet arrangement has the meaning provided in Item 2.03 of this form.

(e) For purposes of this Item 2.04, a triggering event is an event, including an event of default, event of acceleration or similar event, as a result of which a direct financial obligation of the registrant or an obligation of the registrant arising under an off-balance sheet arrangement is increased or becomes accelerated or as a result of which a contingent obligation of the registrant arising out of an off-balance sheet arrangement becomes a direct financial obligation of the registrant.

Instructions.

  1. Disclosure is required if a triggering event occurs in respect of an obligation of the registrant under an off-balance sheet arrangement and the consequences are material to the registrant, whether or not the registrant is also a party to the transaction or agreement under which the triggering event occurs.
  2. No disclosure is required under this Item 2.04 unless and until a triggering event has occurred in accordance with the terms of the relevant agreement, transaction or arrangement, including, if required, the sending to the registrant of notice of the occurrence of a triggering event pursuant to the terms of the agreement, transaction or arrangement and the satisfaction of all conditions to such occurrence, except the passage of time.
  3. No disclosure is required solely by reason of this Item 2.04 if the registrant believes in good faith that no triggering event has occurred, unless the registrant has received a notice described in Instruction 2 to this Item 2.04.
  4. Where a registrant is subject to an obligation arising out of an off-balance sheet arrangement, whether or not disclosed pursuant to Item 2.03 of this form, if a triggering event occurs as a result of which under that obligation an accrual for a probable loss is required under SFAS No. 5, the obligation arising out of the off-balance sheet arrangement becomes a direct financial obligation as defined in this Item 2.04. In that situation, if the consequences as determined under Item 2.04(b) are material to the registrant, disclosure is required under this Item 2.04.
  5. With respect to asset-backed securities, as defined in 17 CFR 229.1101, disclosure also is required under this Item 2.04 if an early amortization, performance trigger or other event, including an event of default, has occurred under the transaction agreements for the asset-backed securities that would materially alter the payment priority or distribution of cash flows regarding the asset-backed securities or the amortization schedule for the asset-backed securities. In providing the disclosure required by this Item, identify the changes to the payment priorities, flow of funds or asset-backed securities as a result. Disclosure is required under this Item whether or not the registrant is a party to the transaction agreement that results in the occurrence identified.
Jasso Lopez Annotation:

1.     This Item was adopted by the SEC pursuant to its Final Rule: Additional Form 8-K Disclosure Requirements and Acceleration of Filing Date (Release No. 33-8400).  Also see the SEC’s Proposed Rule: Additional Form 8-K Disclosure Requirements and Acceleration of Filing Date (Release No. 33-8106).

2.     Failure to make a timely filing under this Item does not impact a registrant’s Form S-3 eligibility.  See General Instruction I.A.3(b) to Form S-3.  Failure to make a filing under this Item does impact a registrant’s Form S-8 eligibility.  See General Instruction A.1 to Form S-8.

3.     Whether an Item 2.04 disclosure is required if all conditions necessary to an event triggering acceleration or an increase in a direct financial obligation under an agreement have occurred but the counterparty has not declared, or provided notice of, a default depends on whether such a declaration or notice is necessary prior to the increase or the acceleration.  See Question 108.01 of the Form 8-K C&DIs.

4.     Section 208.01 of the Form 8-K C&DIs indicates that a voluntary redemption of convertible notes by a registrant is not a triggering event for purposes of Item 2.04.

5.     A company disagrees with the legitimacy of a notice of default and brings the matter to arbitration, pursuant to its rights under the terms of the applicable loan agreement. The matter is pending with an arbitrator. Notwithstanding its good faith belief that no event of default has taken place and the fact that the arbitrator has yet to rule on the legitimacy of the event of default, the notice of default is a triggering event under Item 2.04. When the company files the Form 8-K, it may include a discussion of the basis for its belief that no event of default has occurred.  See Section 208.02 of the Form 8-K C&DIs.

 

Item 2.05 Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities.

If the registrant’s board of directors, a committee of the board of directors or the officer or officers of the registrant authorized to take such action if board action is not required, commits the registrant to an exit or disposal plan, or otherwise disposes of a long-lived asset or terminates employees under a plan of termination described in paragraph 8 of FASB Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 146, Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities (SFAS No. 146), under which material charges will be incurred under generally accepted accounting principles applicable to the registrant, disclose the following information:

(a) the date of the commitment to the course of action and a description of the course of action, including the facts and circumstances leading to the expected action and the expected completion date;

(b) for each major type of cost associated with the course of action (for example, one-time termination benefits, contract termination costs and other associated costs), an estimate of the total amount or range of amounts expected to be incurred in connection with the action;

(c) an estimate of the total amount or range of amounts expected to be incurred in connection with the action; and

(d) the registrant’s estimate of the amount or range of amounts of the charge that will result in future cash expenditures, provided, however, that if the registrant determines that at the time of filing it is unable in good faith to make a determination of an estimate required by paragraphs (b), (c) or (d) of this Item 2.05, no disclosure of such estimate shall be required; provided further, however, that in any such event, the registrant shall file an amended report on Form 8-K under this Item 2.05 within four business days after it makes a determination of such an estimate or range of estimates.

Jasso Lopez Annotation:

1.      This Item was adopted by the SEC pursuant to its Final Rule: Additional Form 8-K Disclosure Requirements and Acceleration of Filing Date (Release No. 33-8400).  Also see the SEC’s Proposed Rule: Additional Form 8-K Disclosure Requirements and Acceleration of Filing Date (Release No. 33-8106).

2.      Failure to make a timely filing under this Item does not impact a registrant’s Form S-3 eligibility.  See General Instruction I.A.3(b) to Form S-3.  Failure to make a filing under this Item does impact a registrant’s Form S-8 eligibility.  See General Instruction A.1 to Form S-8.

3.      Costs associated with an exit activity are not limited to those addressed in SFAS No. 146.  Other costs that may need to be disclosed pursuant to Item 2.05 are addressed by FASB Statements of Financial Accounting Standards Nos. 87, 88, 106 and 112.  See Question 109.01 of the Form 8-K C&DIs.

4.      In accordance with SFAS No. 146, a registrant is not required to make Item 2.05 disclosure upon committing to an exit plan in which employees will be terminated until the affected employees have been informed.  See Question 109.02 of the Form 8-K C&DIs.

5.      An Item 2.05 filing requirement is triggered when a registrant’s board or board committee, or the registrant’s officer(s) authorized to take such action if board action is not required, commits the registrant to a “plan of termination” that meets the description of such a plan in paragraph 8 of SFAS No. 146, under which material charges will be incurred under generally accepted accounting principles applicable to the registrant under the plan. The “plan of termination” need not fall within an “exit activity,” as defined in SFAS No. 146, or otherwise constitute an “exit or disposal plan” (or part of one), to trigger an Item 2.05 filing requirement.

 

Item 2.06 Material Impairments.

If the registrant’s board of directors, a committee of the board of directors or the officer or officers of the registrant authorized to take such action if board action is not required, concludes that a material charge for impairment to one or more of its assets, including, without limitation, impairments of securities or goodwill, is required under generally accepted accounting principles applicable to the registrant, disclose the following information:

(a) the date of the conclusion that a material charge is required and a description of the impaired asset or assets and the facts and circumstances leading to the conclusion that the charge for impairment is required;

(b) the registrant’s estimate of the amount or range of amounts of the impairment charge; and

(c) the registrant’s estimate of the amount or range of amounts of the impairment charge that will result in future cash expenditures, provided, however, that if the registrant determines that at the time of filing it is unable in good faith to make a determination of an estimate required by paragraphs (b) or (c) of this Item 2.06, no disclosure of such estimate shall be required; provided further, however, that in any such event, the registrant shall file an amended report on Form 8-K under this Item 2.06 within four business days after it makes a determination of such an estimate or range of estimates.

Instruction.

No filing is required under this Item 2.06 if the conclusion is made in connection with the preparation, review or audit of financial statements required to be included in the next periodic report due to be filed under the Exchange Act, the periodic report is filed on a timely basis and such conclusion is disclosed in the report.

Jasso Lopez Annotation:

1.      This Item was adopted by the SEC pursuant to its Final Rule: Additional Form 8-K Disclosure Requirements and Acceleration of Filing Date (Release No. 33-8400).  Also see the SEC’s Proposed Rule: Additional Form 8-K Disclosure Requirements and Acceleration of Filing Date (Release No. 33-8106).

2.      Failure to make a timely filing under this Item does not impact a registrant’s Form S-3 eligibility.  See General Instruction I.A.3(b) to Form S-3.  Failure to make a filing under this Item does impact a registrant’s Form S-8 eligibility.  See General Instruction A.1 to Form S-8.

3.      The exemption described in the Instruction to this Item is available if an impairment conclusion is made at a time that coincides with, but is not “in connection with,” the preparation, review or audit of financial statements.  See Question 110.01 of the Form 8-K C&DIs.

 

Section 3 – Securities and Trading Markets

Item 3.01 Notice of Delisting or Failure to Satisfy a Continued Listing Rule or Standard; Transfer of Listing.

(a) If the registrant has received notice from the national securities exchange or national securities association (or a facility thereof) that maintains the principal listing for any class of the registrant’s common equity (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 12b-2 (17 CFR 240.12b-2)) that:

  • the registrant or such class of the registrant’s securities does not satisfy a rule or standard for continued listing on the exchange or association;
  • the exchange has submitted an application under Exchange Act Rule 12d2-2 (17 CFR 240.12d2-2) to the Commission to delist such class of the registrant’s securities; or
  • the association has taken all necessary steps under its rules to delist the security from its automated inter-dealer quotation system,

the registrant must disclose:

(i) the date that the registrant received the notice;

(ii) the a rule or standard for continued listing on the national securities exchange or national securities association that the registrant fails, or has failed to, satisfy; and

(iii) any action or response that, at the time of filing, the registrant has determined to take in response to the notice.

(b) If the registrant has notified the national securities exchange or national securities association (or a facility thereof) that maintains the principal listing for any class of the registrant’s common equity (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 12b-2 (17 CFR 240.12b-2) that the registrant is aware of any material noncompliance with a rule or standard for continued listing on the exchange or association, the registrant must disclose:

(i) the date that the registrant provided such notice to the exchange or association;

(ii) the rule or standard for continued listing on the exchange or association that the registrant fails, or has failed, to satisfy; and

(iii) any action or response that, at the time of filing, the registrant has determined to take regarding its noncompliance.

(c) If the national securities exchange or national securities association (or a facility thereof) that maintains the principal listing for any class of the registrant’s common equity (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 12b-2 (17 CFR 240.12b-2)), in lieu of suspending trading in or delisting such class of the registrant’s securities, issues a public reprimand letter or similar communication indicating that the registrant has violated a rule or standard for continued listing on the exchange or association, the registrant must state the date, and summarize the contents of the letter or communication.

(d) If the registrant’s board of directors, a committee of the board of directors or the officer or officers of the registrant authorized to take such action if board action is not required, has taken definitive action to cause the listing of a class of its common equity to be withdrawn from the national securities exchange, or terminated from the automated inter-dealer quotation system of a registered national securities association, where such exchange or association maintains the principal listing for such class of securities, including by reason of a transfer of the listing or quotation to another securities exchange or quotation system, describe the action taken and state the date of the action.

Instructions.

  1. The registrant is not required to disclose any information required by paragraph (a) of this Item 3.01 where the delisting is a result of one of the following:
  • the entire class of the security has been called for redemption, maturity or retirement; appropriate notice thereof has been given; if required by the terms of the securities, funds sufficient for the payment of all such securities have been deposited with an agency authorized to make such payments; and such funds have been made available to security holders;
  • the entire class of the security has been redeemed or paid at maturity or retirement;
  • the instruments representing the entire class of securities have come to evidence, by operation of law or otherwise, other securities in substitution therefor and represent no other right, except, if true, the right to receive an immediate cash payment (the right of dissenters to receive the appraised or fair value of their holdings shall not prevent the application of this provision); or
  • all rights pertaining to the entire class of the security have been extinguished; provided, however, that where such an event occurs as the result of an order of a court or other governmental authority, the order shall be final, all applicable appeal periods shall have expired and no appeals shall be pending.
  1. A registrant must provide the disclosure required by paragraph (a) or (b) of this Item 3.01, as applicable, regarding any failure to satisfy a rule or standard for continued listing on the national securities exchange or national securities association (or a facility thereof) that maintains the principal listing for any class of the registrant’s common equity (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 12b-2 (17 CFR 240.12b-2)) even if the registrant has the benefit of a grace period or similar extension period during which it may cure the deficiency that triggers the disclosure requirement.
  2. Notices or other communications subsequent to an initial notice sent to, or by, a registrant under Item 3.01(a), (b) or (c) that continue to indicate that the registrant does not comply with the same rule or standard for continued listing that was the subject of the initial notice are not required to be filed, but may be filed voluntarily.
  3. Registrants whose securities are quoted exclusively (i.e., the securities are not otherwise listed on an exchange or association) on automated inter-dealer quotation systems are not subject to this Item 3.01 and such registrants are thus not required to file a Form 8-K pursuant to this Item 3.01 if the securities are no longer quoted on such quotation system. If a security is listed on an exchange or association and is also quoted on an automated inter-dealer quotation system, the registrant is subject to the disclosure obligations of Item 3.01 if any of the events specified in Item 3.01 occur.
Jasso Lopez Annotation:

1.     This Item was adopted by the SEC pursuant to its Final Rule: Additional Form 8-K Disclosure Requirements and Acceleration of Filing Date (Release No. 33-8400).  Also see the SEC’s Proposed Rule: Additional Form 8-K Disclosure Requirements and Acceleration of Filing Date (Release No. 33-8106).

2.     Failure to make a timely filing under this Item does impact a registrant’s Form S-3 eligibility.  See General Instruction I.A.3(b) to Form S-3.  Failure to make a filing under this Item does impact a registrant’s Form S-8 eligibility.  See General Instruction A.1 to Form S-8.

3.     A registrant’s common stock is traded on the OTC Bulletin Board, which is not an automated inter-dealer quotation system of a registered national securities association, and is not otherwise traded on an exchange. The registrant has applied to list its common stock on the American Stock Exchange. In this instance, an Item 3.01 filing requirement is not triggered upon the registrant’s application for listing on the American Stock Exchange, or upon the approval of the application.  See Section 211.01 of the Form 8-K C&DIs.

 

Item 3.02 Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities.

(a) If the registrant sells equity securities in a transaction that is not registered under the Securities Act, furnish the information set forth in paragraphs (a) and (c) through (e) of Item 701 of Regulation S-K (17 CFR 229.701(a) and (c) through (e)). For purposes of determining the required filing date for the Form 8-K under this Item 3.02(a), the registrant has no obligation to disclose information under this Item 3.02 until the registrant enters into an agreement enforceable against the registrant, whether or not subject to conditions, under which the equity securities are to be sold. If there is no such agreement, the registrant must provide the disclosure within four business days after the occurrence of the closing or settlement of the transaction or arrangement under which the equity securities are to be sold.

(b) No report need be filed under this Item 3.02 if the equity securities sold, in the aggregate since its last report filed under this Item 3.02 or its last periodic report, whichever is more recent, constitute less than 1% of the number of shares outstanding of the class of equity securities sold. In the case of a smaller reporting company, no report need be filed if the equity securities sold, in the aggregate since its last report filed under this Item 3.02 or its last periodic report, whichever is more recent, constitute less than 5% of the number of shares outstanding of the class of equity securities sold.

Instructions.

  1. For purposes of this Item 3.02, “the number of shares outstanding” refers to the actual number of shares of equity securities of the class outstanding and does not include outstanding securities convertible into or exchangeable for such equity securities.
  2. A smaller reporting company is defined under Item 10(f)(1) of Regulation S-K (17 CFR 229.10(f)(1)).
Jasso Lopez Annotation:

1.     This Item was adopted by the SEC pursuant to its Final Rule: Additional Form 8-K Disclosure Requirements and Acceleration of Filing Date (Release No. 33-8400).  Also see the SEC’s Proposed Rule: Additional Form 8-K Disclosure Requirements and Acceleration of Filing Date (Release No. 33-8106).

2.     Failure to make a timely filing under this Item does impact a registrant’s Form S-3 eligibility.  See General Instruction I.A.3(b) to Form S-3.  Failure to make a filing under this Item does impact a registrant’s Form S-8 eligibility.  See General Instruction A.1 to Form S-8.

3.     If a grant of stock options pursuant to an employee stock option plan does not constitute a “sale” or “offer to sell” under Securities Act Section 2(a)(3), the grant need not be reported under Item 3.02.  See Question 112.01 of the Form 8-K C&DIs.

4.     If a registrant sells, in an unregistered transaction, shares of a class of equity securities that is not currently outstanding, the volume threshold under Item 3.02 would be exceeded by such sale.  See Question 112.02 of the Form 8-K C&DIs.

5.     According to Section 212.01 of the Form 8-K C&DIs, an Item 3.02 filing requirement is triggered when a registrant enters into an agreement enforceable against the registrant to issue unregistered equity securities to a third party in exchange for services and the applicable volume threshold is exceeded.

6.     If an Exchange Act reporting, wholly-owned subsidiary receives an additional equity investment from its Exchange Act reporting parent and the volume threshold under Item 3.02 is exceeded, the wholly-owned subsidiary is required to file under Item 3.02 to report the additional equity investment, regardless of whether the wholly-owned subsidiary meets the conditions for the filing of abbreviated periodic reports under General Instruction H of Form 10-Q and General Instruction I of Form 10-K.  See Section 212.02 of the Form 8-K C&DIs.

7.     An Item 3.02 filing requirement is triggered upon an unregistered sale of warrants to purchase equity securities (or an unregistered sale of options outside a stock option plan), if the volume threshold under Item 3.02 is exceeded, or upon an unregistered sale of convertible notes (convertible into equity securities), if the volume threshold under Item 3.02 of the underlying equity security issuable upon conversion is exceeded. Pursuant to Item 701(e) of Regulation S-K, the registrant must disclose the terms of, as applicable, the exercise of the warrants or the options or the conversion of the convertible notes in the Item 3.02 Form 8-K. If the Item 3.02 Form 8-K that discloses the initial sale of the warrants, the options or the convertible notes also discloses the maximum amount of the underlying securities that may be issued through, as applicable, the exercise of the warrants or the options or the conversion of the convertible notes, then a subsequent Item 3.02 Form 8-K filing requirement is not triggered upon the exercise of the warrants or the options or the conversion of the notes.  See Section 212.03 of the Form 8-K C&DIs.

 

Item 3.03 Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders.

(a) If the constituent instruments defining the rights of the holders of any class of registered securities of the registrant have been materially modified, disclose the date of the modification, the title of the class of securities involved and briefly describe the general effect of such modification upon the rights of holders of such securities.

(b) If the rights evidenced by any class of registered securities have been materially limited or qualified by the issuance or modification of any other class of securities by the registrant, briefly disclose the date of the issuance or modification, the general effect of the issuance or modification of such other class of securities upon the rights of the holders of the registered securities.

Instruction.

Working capital restrictions and other limitations upon the payment of dividends must be reported pursuant to this Item 3.03.

Jasso Lopez Annotation:

1.     This Item was adopted by the SEC pursuant to its Final Rule: Additional Form 8-K Disclosure Requirements and Acceleration of Filing Date (Release No. 33-8400).  Also see the SEC’s Proposed Rule: Additional Form 8-K Disclosure Requirements and Acceleration of Filing Date (Release No. 33-8106).

2.     Failure to make a timely filing under this Item does impact a registrant’s Form S-3 eligibility.  See General Instruction I.A.3(b) to Form S-3.  Failure to make a filing under this Item does impact a registrant’s Form S-8 eligibility.  See General Instruction A.1 to Form S-8.

3.     Section 214.01 of the Form 8-K C&DIs provides as follow: Upon adoption of a shareholder rights plan, a registrant undertook to make a dividend of a preferred share purchase right for each outstanding share of common stock. The Plan was adopted by the board on August 9. The certificate of designation related to the preferred share purchase right was filed with the state on August 25. The dividend, not yet declared, will occur only upon certain change in control events. Under Item 3.03(b) of Form 8-K, the triggering event related to the plan occurs not upon adoption of the plan or upon filing of the certificate of designation with the state, but rather upon the issuance of the dividend. The rights of the holders of the registered common stock are not materially limited or qualified until the issuance of, in this case, the preferred share purchase rights. The preferred share purchase rights are not issued until the dividend is declared and the rights are distributed. Although the registrant is not required to file an Item 3.03 Form 8-K until the issuance of the dividend, the registrant must file an Item 1.01 Form 8-K when it enters into the shareholder rights plan if the plan constitutes a material definitive agreement not made in the ordinary course of business.

 

Section 4 – Matters Related to Accountants and Financial Statements

Item 4.01 Changes in Registrant’s Certifying Accountant.

(a) If an independent accountant who was previously engaged as the principal accountant to audit the registrant’s financial statements, or an independent accountant upon whom the principal accountant expressed reliance in its report regarding a significant subsidiary, resigns (or indicates that it declines to stand for re-appointment after completion of the current audit) or is dismissed, disclose the information required by Item 304(a)(1) of Regulation S-K (17 CFR 229.304(a)(1) of this chapter), including compliance with Item 304(a)(3) of Regulation S-K (17 CFR 229.304(a)(3) of this chapter).

(b) If a new independent accountant has been engaged as either the principal accountant to audit the registrant’s financial statements or as an independent accountant on whom the principal accountant is expected to express reliance in its report regarding a significant subsidiary, the registrant must disclose the information required by Item 304(a)(2) of Regulation S-K (17 CFR 229.304(a)(2)).

Instruction.

The resignation or dismissal of an independent accountant, or its refusal to stand for re-appointment, is a reportable event separate from the engagement of a new independent accountant. On some occasions, two reports on Form 8-K are required for a single change in accountants, the first on the resignation (or refusal to stand for re-appointment ) or dismissal of the former accountant and the second when the new accountant is engaged. Information required in the second Form 8-K in such situations need not be provided to the extent that it has been reported previously in the first Form 8-K.

Jasso Lopez Annotation:

1.     Previously Item 4, this Item was renumbered by the SEC in 2004 pursuant to its Final Rule: Additional Form 8-K Disclosure Requirements and Acceleration of Filing Date (Release No. 33-8400).

2.     Failure to make a timely filing under this Item does impact a registrant’s Form S-3 eligibility.  See General Instruction I.A.3(b) to Form S-3.  Failure to make a filing under this Item does impact a registrant’s Form S-8 eligibility.  See General Instruction A.1 to Form S-8.

3.     Question 111.07 of the Regulation S-K C&DIs and Question 114.01 of the Form 8-K C&DIs indicate that, if a principal accountant resigns, declines to stand for re-election or is dismissed because its registration with the PCAOB has been revoked, the registrant must disclose this fact when filing an Item 4.01 Form 8-K to report a change in certifying accountant.

4.     A triggering event occurring within four business days before the registrant’s filing of a periodic report may be disclosed in that periodic report, except for filings required to be made under Item 4.01 and Item 4.02 of Form 8-K, which must be reported on Form 8-K. See Question 101.01 and Section 214.02 of the Form 8-K C&DIs.

5.     If a registrant’s new principal accountant is related in some manner to the former principal accountant, but the new principal accountant is a separate legal entity and is separately registered with the PCAOB, the registrant must make an Item 4.01 disclosure.  See Question 114.02 of the Form 8-K C&DIs.

6.     Whether the entry by a registrant’s principal accountant into a business combination with another accounting firm requires an Item 4.01 disclosure depends on the structure of the combination and other facts and circumstances.  See Question 114.03 of the Form 8-K C&DIs.

7.     Where the former accountant declines to provide a letter stating whether the former accountant agrees with the issuer’s statements concerning the reasons for the change in certifying accountant, the issuer should indicate that fact in the Form 8-K.  See Section 214.01 of the Form 8-K C&DIs.

 

Item 4.02 Non-Reliance on Previously Issued Financial Statements or a Related Audit Report or Completed Interim Review.

(a) If the registrant’s board of directors, a committee of the board of directors or the officer or officers of the registrant authorized to take such action if board action is not required, concludes that any previously issued financial statements, covering one or more years or interim periods for which the registrant is required to provide financial statements under Regulation S-X (17 CFR 210) should no longer be relied upon because of an error in such financial statements as addressed in Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 20, as may be modified, supplemented or succeeded, disclose the following information:

(1) the date of the conclusion regarding the non-reliance and an identification of the financial statements and years or periods covered that should no longer be relied upon;

(2) a brief description of the facts underlying the conclusion to the extent known to the registrant at the time of filing; and

(3) a statement of whether the audit committee, or the board of directors in the absence of an audit committee, or authorized officer or officers, discussed with the registrant’s independent accountant the matters disclosed in the filing pursuant to this Item 4.02(a).

(b) If the registrant is advised by, or receives notice from, its independent accountant that disclosure should be made or action should be taken to prevent future reliance on a previously issued audit report or completed interim review related to previously issued financial statements, disclose the following information:

(1) the date on which the registrant was so advised or notified;

(2) identification of the financial statements that should no longer be relied upon;

(3) a brief description of the information provided by the accountant; and

(4) a statement of whether the audit committee, or the board of directors in the absence of an audit committee, or authorized officer or officers, discussed with the independent accountant the matters disclosed in the filing pursuant to this Item 4.02(b).

(c) If the registrant receives advisement or notice from its independent accountant requiring disclosure under paragraph (b) of this Item 4.02, the registrant must:

(1) provide the independent accountant with a copy of the disclosures it is making in response to this Item 4.02 that the independent accountant shall receive no later than the day that the disclosures are filed with the Commission;

(2) request the independent accountant to furnish to the registrant as promptly as possible a letter addressed to the Commission stating whether the independent accountant agrees with the statements made by the registrant in response to this Item 4.02 and, if not, stating the respects in which it does not agree; and

(3) amend the registrant’s previously filed Form 8-K by filing the independent accountant’s letter as an exhibit to the filed Form 8-K no later than two business days after the registrant’s receipt of the letter.

Jasso Lopez Annotation:

1.     This Item was adopted by the SEC pursuant to its Final Rule: Additional Form 8-K Disclosure Requirements and Acceleration of Filing Date (Release No. 33-8400).  Also see the SEC’s Proposed Rule: Additional Form 8-K Disclosure Requirements and Acceleration of Filing Date (Release No. 33-8106).

2.     Section 4610 of the Division of Corporation Finance Financial Reporting Manual contains helpful guidance as to non-reliance on a previously issued audit report or completed interim review.

3.     Failure to make a timely filing under Section (a) of this Item does not impact a registrant’s Form S-3 eligibility, but failure to make a timely filing under any other Section of this Item does impact a registrant’s Form S-3 eligibility.  See General Instruction I.A.3(b) to Form S-3.  Failure to make a filing under this Item does impact a registrant’s Form S-8 eligibility.  See General Instruction A.1 to Form S-8.

4.     A triggering event occurring within four business days before the registrant’s filing of a periodic report may be disclosed in that periodic report, except for filings required to be made under Item 4.01 and Item 4.02 of Form 8-K, which must be reported on Form 8-K. See Question 101.01 and Section 215.01 of the Form 8-K C&DIs.

5.     If a registrant has reported under Item 4.02(a) that reliance should not be placed on previously issued financial statements because of an error in such financial statements, the issuer does not need to file a second Form 8-K under Item 4.02(b) to indicate that the auditor also has concluded that future reliance should not be placed on its audit report, unless the auditor’s conclusion relates to an error or matter different from that which triggered the registrant’s filing under Item 4.02(a).  See Question 115.01 of the Form 8-K C&DIs.

6.     Item 4.02 does not apply to pro forma financial information.  See Question 115.02 of the Form 8-K C&DIs.

7.     Item 4.02 disclosure is not required if a registrant discovers a material error in its Interactive Data File.  See Question 115.03 of the Form 8-K C&DIs and Question 115.03 of the Interactive Data C&DIs.

 

Section 5 – Corporate Governance and Management

Item 5.01 Changes in Control of Registrant.

(a) If, to the knowledge of the registrant’s board of directors, a committee of the board of directors or authorized officer or officers of the registrant, a change in control of the registrant has occurred, furnish the following information:

(1) the identity of the person(s) who acquired such control;

(2) the date and a description of the transaction(s) which resulted in the change in control;

(3) the basis of the control, including the percentage of voting securities of the registrant now beneficially owned directly or indirectly by the person(s) who acquired control;

(4) the amount of the consideration used by such person(s);

(5) the source(s) of funds used by the person(s), unless all or any part of the consideration used is a loan made in the ordinary course of business by a bank as defined by Section 3(a)(6) of the Act, in which case the identity of such bank may be omitted provided the person who acquired control:

(i) has made a request for confidentiality pursuant to Section 13(d)(1)(B) of the Act; and

(ii) states in the report that the identity of the bank has been so omitted and filed separately with the Commission.

(6) the identity of the person(s) from whom control was assumed;

(7) any arrangements or understandings among members of both the former and new control groups and their associates with respect to election of directors or other matters; and

(8) if the registrant was a shell company, other than a business combination related shell company, as those terms are defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.12b-2), immediately before the change in control, the information that would be required if the registrant were filing a general form for registration of securities on Form 10 under the Exchange Act reflecting all classes of the registrant’s securities subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 (15 U.S.C. 78m) or Section 15(d) (15 U.S.C. 78o(d)) of such Act upon consummation of the change in control, with such information reflecting the registrant and its securities upon consummation of the transaction. Notwithstanding General Instruction B.3. to Form 8-K, if any disclosure required by this Item 5.01(a)(8) is previously reported, as that term is defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.12b-2), the registrant may identify the filing in which that disclosure is included instead of including that disclosure in this report.

(b) Furnish the information required by Item 403(c) of Regulation S-K (17 CFR 229.403(c)).

Jasso Lopez Annotation:

1.     Previously Item 1, this Item was renumbered by the SEC in 2004 pursuant to its Final Rule: Additional Form 8-K Disclosure Requirements and Acceleration of Filing Date (Release No. 33-8400).

2.     Failure to make a timely filing under this Item does impact a registrant’s Form S-3 eligibility.  See General Instruction I.A.3(b) to Form S-3.  Failure to make a filing under this Item does impact a registrant’s Form S-8 eligibility.  See General Instruction A.1 to Form S-8.

3.     See CF Disclosure Guidance Topic No. 1: Staff Observations in the Review of Forms 8-K Filed to Report Reverse Mergers and Similar Transactions, which offers guidance on disclosures under this Item in the context of reverse merger disclosures.

 

Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

(a)(1) If a director has resigned or refuses to stand for re-election to the board of directors since the date of the last annual meeting of shareholders because of a disagreement with the registrant, known to an executive officer of the registrant, as defined in 17 CFR 240.3b-7, on any matter relating to the registrant’s operations, policies or practices, or if a director has been removed for cause from the board of directors, disclose the following information:

(i) the date of such resignation, refusal to stand for re-election or removal;

(ii) any positions held by the director on any committee of the board of directors at the time of the director’s resignation, refusal to stand for re-election or removal; and

(iii) a brief description of the circumstances representing the disagreement that the registrant believes caused, in whole or in part, the director’s resignation, refusal to stand for re-election or removal.

(2) If the director has furnished the registrant with any written correspondence concerning the circumstances surrounding his or her resignation, refusal or removal, the registrant shall file a copy of the document as an exhibit to the report on Form 8-K.

(3) The registrant also must:

(i) provide the director with a copy of the disclosures it is making in response to this Item 5.02 no later than the day the registrant file the disclosures with the Commission;

(ii) provide the director with the opportunity to furnish the registrant as promptly as possible with a letter addressed to the registrant stating whether he or she agrees with the statements made by the registrant in response to this Item 5.02 and, if not, stating the respects in which he or she does not agree; and

(iii) file any letter received by the registrant from the director with the Commission as an exhibit by an amendment to the previously filed Form 8-K within two business days after receipt by the registrant.

(b) If the registrant’s principal executive officer, president, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer, principal operating officer, or any person performing similar functions, or any named executive officer, retires, resigns or is terminated from that position, or if a director retires, resigns, is removed, or refuses to stand for re-election (except in circumstances described in paragraph (a) of this Item 5.02), disclose the fact that the event has occurred and the date of the event.

(c) If the registrant appoints a new principal executive officer, president, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer, principal operating officer, or person performing similar functions, disclose the following information with respect to the newly appointed officer:

(1) the name and position of the newly appointed officer and the date of the appointment;

(2) the information required by Items 401(b), (d), (e) and Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K (17 CFR 229.401(b), (d), (e) and 229.404(a)); and

(3) a brief description of any material plan, contract or arrangement (whether or not written) to which a covered officer is a party or in which he or she participates that is entered into or material amendment in connection with the triggering event or any grant or award to any such covered person or modification thereto, under any such plan, contract or arrangement in connection with any such event.

Instruction to paragraph (c).

If the registrant intends to make a public announcement of the appointment other than by means of a report on Form 8-K, the registrant may delay filing the Form 8-K containing the disclosures required by this Item 5.02(c) until the day on which the registrant otherwise makes public announcement of the appointment of such officer.

(d) If the registrant elects a new director, except by a vote of security holders at an annual meeting or special meeting convened for such purpose, disclose the following information:

(1) the name of the newly elected director and the date of election;

(2) a brief description of any arrangement or understanding between the new director and any other persons, naming such persons, pursuant to which such director was selected as a director;

(3) the committees of the board of directors to which the new director has been, or at the time of this disclosure is expected to be, named; and

(4) the information required by Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K (17 CFR 229.404(a)).

(5) a brief description of any material plan, contract or arrangement (whether or not written) to which the director is a party or in which he or she participates that is entered into or material amendment in connection with the triggering event or any grant or award to any such covered person or modification thereto, under any such plan, contract or arrangement in connection with any such event.

(e) If the registrant enters into, adopts, or otherwise commences a material compensatory plan, contract or arrangement (whether or not written), as to which the registrant’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer, or a named executive officer participates or is a party, or such compensatory plan, contract or arrangement is materially amended or modified, or a material grant or award under any such plan, contract or arrangement to any such person is made or materially modified, then the registrant shall provide a brief description of the terms and conditions of the plan, contract or arrangement and the amounts payable to the officer thereunder.

Instructions to paragraph (e).

  1. Disclosure under this Item 5.02(e) shall be required whether or not the specified event is in connection with events otherwise triggering disclosure pursuant to this Item 5.02. 2. Grants or awards (or modifications thereto) made pursuant to a plan, contract or arrangement (whether involving cash or equity), that are materially consistent with the previously disclosed terms of such plan, contract or arrangement, need not be disclosed under this Item 5.02(e), provided the registrant has previously disclosed such terms and the grant, award or modification is disclosed when Item 402 of Regulation S-K (17 CFR 229.402) requires such disclosure.

(f) If the salary or bonus of a named executive officer cannot be calculated as of the most recent practicable date and is omitted from the Summary Compensation Table as specified in Instruction 1 to Item 402(c)(2)(iii) and (iv) of Regulation S-K, disclose the appropriate information under this Item 5.02(f) when there is a payment, grant, award, decision or other occurrence as a result of which such amounts become calculable in whole or part. Disclosure under this Item 5.02(f) shall include a new total compensation figure for the named executive officer, using the new salary or bonus information to recalculate the information that was previously provided with respect to the named executive officer in the registrant’s Summary Compensation Table for which the salary and bonus information was omitted in reliance on Instruction 1 to Item 402(c)(2)(iii) and (iv) of Regulation S-K (17 CFR 229.402(c)(2)(iii) and (iv)).

Instructions to Item 5.02.

  1. The disclosure requirements of this Item 5.02 do not apply to a registrant that is a wholly-owned subsidiary of an issuer with a class of securities registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act (15 U.S.C. 78l), or that is required to file reports under Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (15 U.S.C. 78o(d)).
  2. To the extent that any information called for in Item 5.02(c)(3) or Item 5.02(d)(3) or Item 5.02(d)(4) is not determined or is unavailable at the time of the required filing, the registrant shall include a statement this effect in the filing and then must file an amendment to its Form 8-K filing under this Item 5.02 containing such information within four business days after the information is determined or becomes available.
  3. The registrant need not provide information with respect to plans, contracts, and arrangements to the extent they do not discriminate in scope, terms or operation, in favor of executive officers or directors of the registrant and that are available generally to all salaried employees.
  4. For purposes of this Item, the term “named executive officer” shall refer to those executive officers for whom disclosure was required in the registrant’s most recent filing with the Commission under the Securities Act (15 U.S.C. 77a et seq.) or Exchange Act (15 U.S.C. 78a et seq.) that required disclosure pursuant to Item 402(c) of Regulation S-K (17 CFR 229.402(c)).
Jasso Lopez Annotation:

1.     Previously Item 9, this Item was substantially expanded and renumbered by the SEC in 2004 pursuant to its Final Rule: Additional Form 8-K Disclosure Requirements and Acceleration of Filing Date (Release No. 33-8400).  Also see the SEC’s Proposed Rule: Additional Form 8-K Disclosure Requirements and Acceleration of Filing Date (Release No. 33-8106).  Significant amendments to this Item were adopted by the SEC pursuant to its Final Rule: Executive Compensation and Related Person Disclosure (conforming amendments) (Release No. 33-8732A).

2.     Failure to make a timely filing under Section (e) of this Item does not impact a registrant’s Form S-3 eligibility, but failure to make a timely filing under any other Section of this Item does impact a registrant’s Form S-3 eligibility.  See General Instruction I.A.3(b) to Form S-3.  Failure to make a filing under this Item does impact a registrant’s Form S-8 eligibility.  See General Instruction A.1 to Form S-8.

3.     The 2008 Technical Session Between the SEC Staff and the Joint Committee on Employee Benefits offers Staff guidance on Item 5.02(b) of Form 8-K disclosures in connection with officer demotions, Item 5.02(b) disclosure in connection with mandatory director resignations triggered by changes in position, disclosure of option grants and appointments of principal officers under Item 5.02(c) of Form 8-K. 

4.     Section 217.11 of the Regulation S-K C&DIs indicates that, where all executive compensation information required to have been disclosed under Item 402(a) of Regulation S-K was not ascertainable at the time of a filing, once determined, such information must be disclosed in a filing under Item 5.02(f).

5.     With respect to any resignation, retirement or refusal to stand for re-election reportable under Item 5.02(b), other than in the corporate governance policy situations addressed in Question 117.15 of the Form 8-K C&DIs, the Form 8-K reporting obligation is triggered by a notice of a decision to resign, retire or refuse to stand for re-election provided by the director, whether or not such notice is written, and regardless of whether the resignation, retirement or refusal to stand for re-election is conditional or subject to acceptance. No disclosure is required solely by reason of Item 5.02(b) of discussions or consideration of resignation, retirement or refusal to stand for re-election.  See Question 117.01 of the Form 8-K C&DIs.  When a director tenders his or her resignation in compliance with a registrant’s corporate governance policy upon occurrence of a specified event, Item 5.02(b) disclosure is only triggered if the company accepts the resignation, though disclosure may be necessary if the registrant is not enforcing its corporate governance policies.  See Question 117.15 of the Form 8-K C&DIs.

6.     Item 5.02(b) disclosure is not triggered when a named executive officer is no longer required to be included in the Summary Compensation Table because of the executive officer’s level of total compensation.  See Question 117.02 of the Form 8-K C&DIs.

7.     Item 5.02(b) disclosure may be triggered by a reassignment of an officer’s duties amounting to a demotion, even if his or her title remains unchanged.  See Question 117.03 of the Form 8-K C&DIs.

8.     Item 5.02(a) disclosure is not triggered solely by a registrant’s decision not to nominate a director for reelection.  A resignation following such a decision or a refusal to stand for reelection, however, would require Item 5.02(a) disclosure.  See Question 117.04 of the Form 8-K C&DIs.

9.     Disclosure under Items 5.02(d) and (e) may be delayed under the Instruction to Item 5.02(c) in connection with the simultaneous appointment of a new CEO to a registrant’s board of directors.  See Question 117.05 of the Form 8-K C&DIs.

10.   Disclosures under Item 5.02(c)(2) must be made with respect to a registrant’s principal accounting officer even if he or she is not considered an executive officer for purposes of Items 401 or 404 of Regulation S-K.  See Question 117.06 of the Form 8-K C&DIs.

11.   Item 5.02(d) disclosure is required upon election or appointment of a director to a registrant’s board, even if his or her term commences at a later date.  See Question 117.07 of the Form 8-K C&DIs.

12.   Board adoption or amendment of a material equity compensation plan in which named executive officers are eligible to participate triggers Item 5.02(e) disclosure obligations, except if the adoption or amendment is subject to shareholder approval.  See Question 117.08 of the Form 8-K C&DIs.

13.   Board adoption of a material cash bonus plan under which named executive officers participate, even when no specific performance criteria, performance goals or bonus opportunities have been communicated to plan participants, triggers Item 5.02(e) disclosure obligations, except if the adoption is subject to shareholder approval.  See Question 117.09 of the Form 8-K C&DIs.

14.   After Item 5.02(e) disclosure of a material cash bonus plan, the board’s establishment of specific performance goals and business criteria for named executive officers does not necessitate additional Item 5.02(e) disclosure so long as the specific performance goals and business criteria are materially consistent with the previously disclosed terms of the plan.  See Question 117.10 of the Form 8-K C&DIs.

15.   Item 5.02(e) disclosure of payment of a material cash award pursuant to a previously-disclosed cash bonus plan is required if the registrant exercised discretion to pay the bonus even though the specific performance criteria were not satisfied and even if the plan provided for the exercise of discretion.  See Question 117.11 of the Form 8-K C&DIs.

16.   Item 5.02(e) disclosure of annual non-equity incentive plan awards does not have to include target levels with respect to specific quantitative or qualitative performance related-factors, or any other factors or criteria involving confidential trade secrets or confidential commercial or financial information, the disclosure of which would result in competitive harm for the registrant.  See Question 117.12 of the Form 8-K C&DIs.

17.   Discretionary bonus payouts consistent with previously disclosed compensation agreements need not be disclosed under Item 5.02(e).  See Question 117.13 of the Form 8-K C&DIs.

18.   Question 117.14 of the Form 8-K C&DIs indicates that termination of an executive compensation plan requires Item 5.02(e) disclosure.

19.   Item 5.02(d)(5) requires a brief description of the newly appointed director’s compensatory and other agreements and arrangements, even if they are consistent with the registrant’s previously disclosed standard agreements and arrangements for non-employee directors. Cross-referencing the registrant’s most recent Item 402 disclosure is permissible.  See Question 117.16 of the Form 8-K C&DIs.

20.   According to Section 217.01 of the Form 8-K C&DIs, for purposes of Item 5.02(a), a disagreement with the process chosen by the Chairman and other board members to address a director’s alleged violation of a company’s policy regarding unauthorized public disclosures and the board’s related decision to ask the director to resign is a disagreement on matters “related to the registrant’s operations, policies or practices.” See In the Matter of Hewlett Packard Company, Release 34-55801 (May 23, 2007).

21.   Section 217.02 of the Form 8-K C&DIs states: When a principal financial officer temporarily turns his or her duties over to another person, a company must file a Form 8-K under Item 5.02(b) to report that the original principal financial officer has temporarily stepped down and under Item 5.02(c) to report that the replacement principal financial officer has been appointed. If the original principal financial officer returns to the position, then the company must file a Form 8-K under Item 5.02(b) to report the departure of the temporary principal financial officer and under Item 5.02(c) to report the “re-appointment” of the original principal financial officer.

22.   A director who is designated by an issuer’s majority shareholder gives notice that he will resign if the majority shareholder sells its entire holdings of issuer stock. This notice triggers an obligation to file an Item 5.02(b) Form 8-K, which should state clearly the nature of the contingency and the extent to which the resigning director can control occurrence of the contingency.  See Section 217.03 of the Form 8-K C&DIs.

23.   Item 5.02(b) does not require a registrant to report the death of a director or listed officer.  See Section 217.04 of the Form 8-K C&DIs.

24.   If, pursuant to a contractual provision in a named executive officer’s employment contract or otherwise, the registrant must notify the named executive officer of the termination of his or her employment a specified number of days prior to the date on which the named executive officer’s employment would end, an Item 5.02(b) Form 8-K filing requirement is triggered on the date the registrant notifies the named executive officer of his or her termination, not on the date the named executive officer’s employment actually ends.  See Section 217.05 of the Form 8-K C&DIs.

25.   A registrant appoints a new principal accounting officer, which triggers an Item 5.02(c) filing requirement. The registrant can decide to delay the filing of the Form 8-K until it makes a public announcement of the appointment, pursuant to the Instruction to paragraph (c) of Item 5.02. The new principal accounting officer replaces the old principal accounting officer, who retired, resigned or was terminated from that position. The retirement, resignation or termination of the old principal accounting officer triggers an Item 5.02(b) filing requirement. The registrant may not delay the filing of the Item 5.02(b) Form 8-K until the filing of the Form 5.02(c) Form 8-K. Rather, the Item 5.02(b) Form 8-K filing obligation is triggered by the old principal accounting officer’s notice of a decision to retire or resign or by the notice of termination, whether or not such notice is written.  See Section 217.06 of the Form 8-K C&DIs.

26.   A director was appointed by board vote and, at the same time, named to the audit committee. Both the appointment of the director to the board and the committee assignment were disclosed under Item 5.02(d). Three months later, the board rotates committee assignments, and the new director is moved from the audit committee to the compensation committee. No new Form 8-K or amendment to the Item 5.02(d) Form 8-K is required by Instruction 2 to Item 5.02 in this situation, provided that the change in committee assignment was not contemplated at the time of the director’s initial election to the board and appointment to the audit committee.  See Section 217.07 of the Form 8-K C&DIs.

27.   Automatic renewal of a named executive officer employment agreement in the absence of notice of non-renewal does not trigger an Item 5.02(e) Form 8-K filing requirement.  See Section 217.08 of the Form 8-K C&DIs.

28.   Foreign private issuers that satisfy the Item 402 of Regulation S-K disclosure requirement by providing compensation disclosure in accordance with Item 402(a)(1) should refer to Instruction 4 to Item 5.02 to determine who is a “named executive officer.” The named executive officers will be those individuals for whom disclosure was provided in the last Securities Act or Exchange Act filing pursuant to Item 6.B or 6.E.2 of Form 20-F.

 

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

(a) If a registrant with a class of equity securities registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act (15 U.S.C. 78l) amends its articles of incorporation or bylaws and a proposal for the amendment was not disclosed in a proxy statement or information statement filed by the registrant, disclose the following information:

(1) the effective date of the amendment; and

(2) a description of the provision adopted or changed by amendment and, if applicable, the previous provision.

(b) If the registrant determines to change the fiscal year from that used in its most recent filing with the Commission other than by means of:

(1) a submission to a vote of security holders through the solicitation of proxies or otherwise; or

(2) an amendment to its articles of incorporation or bylaws,

disclose the date of such determination, the date of the new fiscal year end and the form (for example, Form 10-K or Form 10-Q) on which the report covering the transition period will be filed.

Instructions to Item 5.03.

  1. Refer to Item 601(b)(3) of Regulation S-K (17 CFR 229.601(b)(3)) regarding the filing of exhibits to this Item 5.03.
  2. With respect to asset-backed securities, as defined in 17 CFR 229.1101, disclosure is required under this Item 5.03 regarding any amendment to the governing documents of the issuing entity, regardless of whether the class of asset-backed securities is reporting under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
Jasso Lopez Annotation:

1.     Previously Item 8, this Item was substantially expanded and renumbered by the SEC in 2004 pursuant to its Final Rule: Additional Form 8-K Disclosure Requirements and Acceleration of Filing Date (Release No. 33-8400).  Also see the SEC’s Proposed Rule: Additional Form 8-K Disclosure Requirements and Acceleration of Filing Date (Release No. 33-8106).

2.     Failure to make a timely filing under this Item does impact a registrant’s Form S-3 eligibility.  See General Instruction I.A.3(b) to Form S-3.  Failure to make a filing under this Item does impact a registrant’s Form S-8 eligibility.  See General Instruction A.1 to Form S-8.

3.     Section 280.01 of the Exchange Act Rules C&DIs and Section 218.01 of the Form 8-K C&DIs indicate that a change from a fiscal year ending as of the last day of the month to a 52-53 week fiscal year commencing within seven days of the month end (or from a 52-53 week to a month end) may necessitate the filing of an Item 5.03 disclosure, despite not requiring a transition report.

4.     Restatements of certificates or articles of incorporation, without any substantive amendments or requirement for shareholder approval, do not require Item 5.03 disclosure.  See Question 118.01 of the Form 8-K C&DIs.

 

Item 5.04 Temporary Suspension of Trading Under Registrant’s Employee Benefit Plans.

(a) No later than the fourth business day after which the registrant receives the notice required by section 101(i)(2)(E) of the Employment Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (29 U.S.C. 1021(i)(2)(E)), or, if such notice is not received by the registrant, on the same date by which the registrant transmits a timely notice to an affected officer or director within the time period prescribed by Rule 104(b)(2)(i)(B) or 104(b)(2)(ii) of Regulation BTR (17 CFR 245.104(b)(2)(i)(B) or 17 CFR 245.104(b)(2)(ii)), provide the information specified in Rule 104(b) (17 CFR 245.104(b)) and the date the registrant received the notice required by section 101(i)(2)(E) of the Employment Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (29 U.S.C. 1021(i)(2)(E)), if applicable.

(b) On the same date by which the registrant transmits a timely updated notice to an affected officer or director, as required by the time period under Rule 104(b)(2)(iii) of Regulation BTR (17 CFR 245.104(b)(2)(iii)), provide the information specified in Rule 104(b)(3)(iii) (17 CFR 245.104(b)(2)(iii)).

Jasso Lopez Annotation:

1.     Previously Item 11, this Item was renumbered by the SEC in 2004 pursuant to its Final Rule: Additional Form 8-K Disclosure Requirements and Acceleration of Filing Date (Release No. 33-8400).

2.     Failure to make a timely filing under this Item does impact a registrant’s Form S-3 eligibility.  See General Instruction I.A.3(b) to Form S-3.  Failure to make a filing under this Item does impact a registrant’s Form S-8 eligibility.  See General Instruction A.1 to Form S-8.

3.     According to Question 119.01 of the Form 8-K C&DIs, Item 5.04 does not apply to “blackout periods” for purposes of the notice requirements under ERISA.  Item 5.04 applies only to a notice of a “blackout period” under Section 306(a) of Sarbanes-Oxley and Regulation BTR.

 

Item 5.05 Amendments to the Registrant’s Code of Ethics, or Waiver of a Provision of the Code of Ethics.

(a) Briefly describe the date and nature of any amendment to a provision of the registrant’s code of ethics that applies to the registrant’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller or persons performing similar functions and that relates to any element of the code of ethics definition enumerated in Item 406(b) of Regulations S-K (17 CFR 228.406(b)).

(b) If the registrant has granted a waiver, including an implicit waiver, from a provision of the code of ethics to an officer or person described in paragraph (a) of this Item 5.05, and the waiver relates to one or more of the elements of the code of ethics definition referred to in paragraph (a) of this Item 5.05, briefly describe the nature of the waiver, the name of the person to whom the waiver was granted, and the date of the waiver.

(c) The registrant does not need to provide any information pursuant to this Item 5.05 if it discloses the required information on its Internet website within four business days following the date of the amendment or waiver and the registrant has disclosed in its most recently filed annual report its Internet address and intention to provide disclosure in this manner. If the registrant elects to disclose the information required by this Item 5.05 through its website, such information must remain available on the website for at least a 12-month period. Following the 12-month period, the registrant must retain the information for a period of not less than five years. Upon request, the registrant must furnish to the Commission or its staff a copy of any or all information retained pursuant to this requirement.

Instructions.

  1. The registrant does not need to disclose technical, administrative or other non-substantive amendments to its code of ethics. 2. For purposes of this Item 5.05:

(i) The term waiver means the approval by the registrant of a material departure from a provision of the code of ethics; and

(ii) The term implicit waiver means the registrant’s failure to take action within a reasonable period of time regarding a material departure from a provision of the code of ethics that has been made known to an executive officer, as defined in Rule 3b-7 (17 CFR 240.3b-7) of the registrant.

Jasso Lopez Annotation:

1.     Previously Item 10, this Item was renumbered by the SEC in 2004 pursuant to its Final Rule: Additional Form 8-K Disclosure Requirements and Acceleration of Filing Date (Release No. 33-8400).

2.     Failure to make a timely filing under this Item does impact a registrant’s Form S-3 eligibility.  See General Instruction I.A.3(b) to Form S-3.  Failure to make a filing under this Item does impact a registrant’s Form S-8 eligibility.  See General Instruction A.1 to Form S-8.

 

Section 5.06 -Change in Shell Company Status.

If a registrant that was a shell company, other than a business combination related shell company, as those terms are defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.12b-2), has completed a transaction that has the effect of causing it to cease being a shell company, as defined in Rule 12b-2, disclose the material terms of the transaction. Notwithstanding General Instruction B.3. to Form 8-K, if any disclosure required by this Item 5.06 is previously reported, as that term is defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.12b-2), the registrant may identify the filing in which that disclosure is included instead of including that disclosure in this report.

Jasso Lopez Annotation:

1.     This Item was adopted by the SEC in 2005 pursuant to its Final Rule: Use of Form S-8, Form 8-K, and Form 20-F by Shell Companies (Release No. 33-8587).

2.     Failure to make a timely filing under this Item does impact a registrant’s Form S-3 eligibility.  See General Instruction I.A.3(b) to Form S-3.  Failure to make a filing under this Item does impact a registrant’s Form S-8 eligibility.  See General Instruction A.1 to Form S-8.

 

Item 5.07 Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

If any matter was submitted to a vote of security holders, through the solicitation of proxies or otherwise, provide the following information:

(a) The date of the meeting and whether it was an annual or special meeting. This information must be provided only if a meeting of security holders was held.

(b) If the meeting involved the election of directors, the name of each director elected at the meeting, as well as a brief description of each other matter voted upon at the meeting; and state the number of votes cast for, against or withheld, as well as the number of abstentions and broker non-votes as to each such matter, including a separate tabulation with respect to each nominee for office. For the vote on the frequency of shareholder advisory votes on executive compensation required by section 14A(a)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78n-1) and §240.14a-21(b), state the number of votes cast for each of 1 year, 2 years, and 3 years, as well as the number of abstentions.

(c) A description of the terms of any settlement between the registrant and any other participant (as defined in Instruction 3 to Item 4 of Schedule 14A (17 CFR 240.14a-101)) terminating any solicitation subject to Rule 14a-12(c), including the cost or anticipated cost to the registrant.

(d) No later than one hundred fifty calendar days after the end of the annual or other meeting of shareholders at which shareholders voted on the frequency of shareholder votes on the compensation of executives as required by section 14A(a)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78n-1), but in no event later than sixty calendar days prior to the deadline for submission of shareholder proposals under §240.14a-8, as disclosed in the registrant’s most recent proxy statement for an annual or other meeting of shareholders relating to the election of directors at which shareholders voted on the frequency of shareholder votes on the compensation of executives as required by section 14A(a)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78n-1(a)(2)), by amendment to the most recent Form 8-K filed pursuant to (b) of this Item, disclose the company’s decision in light of such vote as to how frequently the company will include a shareholder vote on the compensation of executives in its proxy materials until the next required vote on the frequency of shareholder votes on the compensation of executives.

Instruction 1 to Item 5.07. The four business day period for reporting the event under this Item 5.07, other than with respect to Item 5.07(d), shall begin to run on the day on which the meeting ended. The registrant shall disclose on Form 8-K under this Item 5.07 the preliminary voting results. The registrant shall file an amended report on Form 8-K under this Item 5.07 to disclose the final voting results within four business days after the final voting results are known. However, no preliminary voting results need be disclosed under this Item 5.07 if the registrant has disclosed final voting results on Form 8-K under this Item.

Instruction 2 to Item 5.07. If any matter has been submitted to a vote of security holders otherwise than at a meeting of such security holders, corresponding information with respect to such submission shall be provided. The solicitation of any authorization or consent (other than a proxy to vote at a stockholders’ meeting) with respect to any matter shall be deemed a submission of such matter to a vote of security holders within the meaning of this item.

Instruction 3 to Item 5.07. If the registrant did not solicit proxies and the board of directors as previously reported to the Commission was re-elected in its entirety, a statement to that effect in answer to paragraph (b) will suffice as an answer thereto regarding the election of directors.

Instruction 4 to Item 5.07. If the registrant has furnished to its security holders proxy soliciting material containing the information called for by paragraph (c), the paragraph may be answered by reference to the information contained in such material.

Instruction 5 to Item 5.07. A registrant may omit the information called for by this Item 5.07 if, on the date of the filing of its report on Form 8-K, the registrant meets the following conditions:

  1. All of the registrant’s equity securities are owned, either directly or indirectly, by a single person which is a reporting company under the Exchange Act and which has filed all the material required to be filed pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) thereof, as applicable; and
  2. During the preceding thirty-six calendar months and any subsequent period of days, there has not been any material default in the payment of principal, interest, a sinking or purchase fund installment, or any other material default not cured within thirty days, with respect to any indebtedness of the registrant or its subsidiaries, and there has not been any material default in the payment of rentals under material long-term leases.
Jasso Lopez Annotation:

1.     Item 5.07 was added to Form 8-K by the SEC’s Final Rule: Proxy Disclosure Enhancements (Release No. 33-9089).  Also see Final Rule: Proxy Disclosure Enhancements; Correction (Release No. 33-9089A), which makes three corrections to Form 8-K, including adding an instruction, which was inadvertently excluded, that corresponds to an instruction contained in Forms 10-Q and 10-K that allows certain wholly-owned subsidiaries to omit the disclosure of stockholder voting results, and amending the regulatory text to make it consistent with the discussion of the amendments to that form contained in Release No. 33-9089.

2.     See the NBCUniversal No-Action Letter for additional information about the omission of information required under Item 5.07 in reliance on Instruction 5.

3.     Failure to make a timely filing under this Item does impact a registrant’s Form S-3 eligibility.  See General Instruction I.A.3(b) to Form S-3.  Failure to make a filing under this Item does impact a registrant’s Form S-8 eligibility.  See General Instruction A.1 to Form S-8.

4.     Question 121A.01 of the Form 8-K C&DIs clarifies that the four business day filing period applicable to Item 5.07 begins the day on which the applicable shareholder meeting ends.

5.     Item 5.07(b) applies to any matter submitted to a vote of security holders, not just director elections.  See Question 121A.02 of the Form 8-K C&DIs.

6.     Item 5.07(b) does not require disclosure of the number of broker non-votes with respect to the advisory vote on the frequency of shareholder advisory votes on executive compensation.  See Question 121A.03 of the Form 8-K C&DIs.

7.     Question 121A.04 of the Form 8-K C&DIs clarifies the means by which registrants may make Item 5.07 disclosures in periodic reports.

 

Item 5.08 Shareholder Director Nominations

(a) If the registrant did not hold an annual meeting the previous year, or if the date of this year’s annual meeting has been changed by more than 30 calendar days from the date of the previous year’s meeting, then the registrant is required to disclose the date by which a nominating shareholder or nominating shareholder group must submit the notice on Schedule 14N (§ 240.14n–101) required pursuant to § 240.14a–11(b)(10), which date shall be a reasonable time before the registrant mails its proxy materials for the meeting. Where a registrant is required to include shareholder director nominees in the registrant’s proxy materials pursuant to either an applicable state or foreign law provision, or a provision in the registrant’s governing documents, then the registrant is required to disclose the date by which a nominating shareholder or nominating shareholder group must submit the notice on Schedule 14N required pursuant to § 240.14a–18.

(b) If the registrant is a series company as defined in Rule 18f–2(a) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (§ 270.18f– 2 of this chapter), then the registrant is required to disclose in connection with the election of directors at an annual meeting of shareholders (or, in lieu of such an annual meeting, a special meeting of shareholders) the total number of shares of the registrant outstanding and entitled to be voted (or if the votes are to be cast on a basis other than one vote per share, then the total number of votes entitled to be voted and the basis for allocating such votes) on the election of directors at such meeting of shareholders as of the end of the most recent calendar quarter.

Jasso Lopez Annotation:

1.     Section 240.14a-11 was vacated by the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit on July 22, 2011 (case) and therefore is not effective.

2.     This Item was adopted by the SEC in 2010 pursuant to its Final Rule: Facilitating Shareholder Director Nominations [Conforming Version] (Release No. 33-9136).

3.     Failure to make a timely filing under this Item does impact a registrant’s Form S-3 eligibility.  See General Instruction I.A.3(b) to Form S-3.  Failure to make a filing under this Item does impact a registrant’s Form S-8 eligibility.  See General Instruction A.1 to Form S-8.

 

Section 6 -Asset-Backed Securities

The Items in this Section 6 apply only to asset-backed securities. Terms used in this Section 6 have the same meaning as in Item 1101 of Regulation AB (17 CFR 229.1101).

Item 6.01 ABS Informational and Computational Material.

Report under this Item any ABS informational and computational material filed in, or as an exhibit to, this report.

Jasso Lopez Annotation:

1.     This Item was adopted by the SEC in 2004 pursuant to its Final Rule: Asset-Backed Securities (Release No. 33-8518).

2.     Failure to make a timely filing under this Item does impact a registrant’s Form S-3 eligibility.  See General Instruction I.A.3(b) to Form S-3.  Failure to make a filing under this Item does impact a registrant’s Form S-8 eligibility.  See General Instruction A.1 to Form S-8.

 

Item 6.02 Change of Servicer or Trustee.

If a servicer contemplated by Item 1108(a)(2) of Regulation AB (17 CFR 229.1108(a)(2)) or a trustee has resigned or has been removed, replaced or substituted, or if a new servicer contemplated by Item 1108(a)(2) of Regulation AB or trustee has been appointed, state the date the event occurred and the circumstances surrounding the change. In addition, provide the disclosure required by Item 1108(d) of Regulation AB (17 CFR 229.1108(c)), as applicable, regarding the servicer or trustee change. If a new servicer contemplated by Item 1108(a)(3) of this Regulation AB or a new trustee has been appointed, provide the information required by Item 1108(b) through (d) of Regulation AB regarding such servicer or Item 1109 of Regulation AB (17 CFR 229.1109) regarding such trustee, as applicable.

Instruction.

To the extent that any information called for by this Item regarding such servicer or trustee is not determined or is unavailable at the time of the required filing, the registrant shall include a statement to this effect in the filing and then must file an amendment to its Form 8-K filing under this Item 6.02 containing such information within four business days after the information is determined or becomes available.

Jasso Lopez Annotation:

1.     This Item was adopted by the SEC in 2004 pursuant to its Final Rule: Asset-Backed Securities (Release No. 33-8518).

2.     Failure to make a timely filing under this Item does impact a registrant’s Form S-3 eligibility.  See General Instruction I.A.3(b) to Form S-3.  Failure to make a filing under this Item does impact a registrant’s Form S-8 eligibility.  See General Instruction A.1 to Form S-8.

 

Item 6.03 Change in Credit Enhancement or Other External Support.

(a) Loss of existing enhancement or support. If the depositor (or servicer if the servicer signs the report on Form 10-K (17 CFR 249.310) of the issuing entity) becomes aware that any material enhancement or support specified in Item 1114(a)(1) through (3) of Regulation AB (17 CFR 229.1114(a)(1) through (3)) or Item 1115 of Regulation AB (17 CFR 229.1115) that was previously applicable regarding one or more classes of the asset-backed securities has terminated other than by expiration of the contract on its stated termination date or as a result of all parties completing their obligations under such agreement, then disclose:

(1) the date of the termination of the enhancement;

(2) the identity of the parties to the agreement relating to the enhancement or support;

(3) a brief description of the terms and conditions of the enhancement or support that are material to security holders;

(4) a brief description of the material circumstances surrounding the termination; and

(5) any material early termination penalties paid or to be paid out of the cash flows backing the asset-backed securities.

(b) Addition of new enhancement or support. If the depositor (or servicer if the servicer signs the report on Form 10-K (17 CFR 249.310) of the issuing entity) becomes aware that any material enhancement specified in Item 1114(a)(1) through (3) of Regulation AB (17 CFR 229.1114(a)(1) through (3)) or Item 1115 of Regulation AB (17 CFR 229.1115) has been added with respect to one or more classes of the asset-backed securities, then provide the date of addition of the new enhancement or support and the disclosure required by Items 1114 or 1115 of Regulation AB, as applicable, with respect to such new enhancement or support.

(c) Material change to enhancement or support. If the depositor (or servicer if the servicer signs the report on Form 10-K (17 CFR 249.310) of the issuing entity) becomes aware that any existing material enhancement or support specified in Item 1114(a)(1) through (3) of Regulation AB or Item 1115 of Regulation AB with respect to one or more classes of the asset-backed securities has been materially amended or modified, disclose:

(1) the date on which the agreement or agreements relating to the enhancement or support was amended or modified;

(2) the identity of the parties to the agreement or agreements relating to the amendment or modification; and

(3) a brief description of the material terms and conditions of the amendment or modification.

Instructions.

  1. Disclosure is required under this Item whether or not the registrant is a party to any agreement regarding the enhancement or support if the loss, addition or modification of such enhancement or support materially affects, directly or indirectly, the asset-backed securities, the pool assets or the cash flow underlying the asset-backed securities.
  2. To the extent that any information called for by this Item regarding the enhancement or support is not determined or is unavailable at the time of the required filing, the registrant shall include a statement to this effect in the filing and then must file an amendment to its Form 8-K filing under this Item 6.03 containing such information within four business days after the information is determined or becomes available.
  3. The instructions to Items 1.01 and 1.02 of this Form apply to this Item.
  4. Notwithstanding Items 1.01 and 1.02 of this Form, disclosure regarding changes to material enhancement or support is to be reported under this Item 6.03 in lieu of those Items.
Jasso Lopez Annotation:

1.     This Item was adopted by the SEC in 2004 pursuant to its Final Rule: Asset-Backed Securities (Release No. 33-8518).

2.     Failure to make a timely filing under this Item does impact a registrant’s Form S-3 eligibility.  See General Instruction I.A.3(b) to Form S-3.  Failure to make a filing under this Item does impact a registrant’s Form S-8 eligibility.  See General Instruction A.1 to Form S-8.

 

Item 6.04 Failure to Make a Required Distribution.

If a required distribution to holders of the asset-backed securities is not made as of the required distribution date under the transaction documents, and such failure is material, identify the failure and state the nature of the failure to make the timely distribution.

Jasso Lopez Annotation:

1.     This Item was adopted by the SEC in 2004 pursuant to its Final Rule: Asset-Backed Securities (Release No. 33-8518).

2.     Failure to make a timely filing under this Item does impact a registrant’s Form S-3 eligibility.  See General Instruction I.A.3(b) to Form S-3.  Failure to make a filing under this Item does impact a registrant’s Form S-8 eligibility.  See General Instruction A.1 to Form S-8.

 

Item 6.05 Securities Act Updating Disclosure.

Regarding an offering of asset-backed securities registered on Form S-3 (17 CFR 239.13), if any material pool characteristic of the actual asset pool at the time of issuance of the asset-backed securities differs by 5% or more (other than as a result of the pool assets converting into cash in accordance with their terms) from the description of the asset pool in the prospectus filed for the offering pursuant to Securities Act Rule 424 (17 CFR 230.424), disclose the information required by Items 1111 and 1112 of Regulation AB (17 CFR 229.1111 and 17 CFR 229.1112) regarding the characteristics of the actual asset pool. If applicable, also provide information required by Items 1108 and 1110 of Regulation AB (17 CFR 229.1108 and 17 CFR 229.1110) regarding any new servicers or originators that would be required to be disclosed under those items regarding the pool assets.

Instruction.

No report is required under this Item if substantially the same information is provided in a post-effective amendment to the Securities Act registration statement or in a subsequent prospectus filed pursuant to Securities Act Rule 424 (17 CFR 230.424).

Jasso Lopez Annotation:

1.     This Item was adopted by the SEC in 2004 pursuant to its Final Rule: Asset-Backed Securities (Release No. 33-8518).

2.     Failure to make a timely filing under this Item does impact a registrant’s Form S-3 eligibility.  See General Instruction I.A.3(b) to Form S-3.  Failure to make a filing under this Item does impact a registrant’s Form S-8 eligibility.  See General Instruction A.1 to Form S-8.

 

Section 7 – Regulation FD

Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure.

Unless filed under Item 8.01, disclose under this item only information that the registrant elects to disclose through Form 8-K pursuant to Regulation FD (17 CFR 243.100 through 243.103).

Jasso Lopez Annotation:

1.     Previously Item 9, this Item was renumbered by the SEC in 2004 pursuant to its Final Rule: Additional Form 8-K Disclosure Requirements and Acceleration of Filing Date (Release No. 33-8400).

2.     The concept of “timely” filing under this Item is inapplicable to a registrant’s Form S-3 eligibility.  See General Instruction I.A.3(b) to Form S-3 and Question 115.07 of the Securities Act Forms C&DIs.  Failure to furnish information under this Item does not impact a registrant’s Form S-8 eligibility.  See General Instruction A.1 to Form S-8 and Question 126.12 of the Securities Act Forms C&DIs.

3.     Question 139.32 of the Securities Act Sections C&DIs indicates that an Exchange Act reporting company conducting an exempt offering under Regulation S and Rule 144A using an offering memorandum that is expected to include material, nonpublic information may not simply file the complete offering memorandum as an exhibit to an Item 7.01 Form 8-K.

 

Section 8 – Other Events

Item 8.01 Other Events.

The registrant may, at its option, disclose under this Item 8.01 any events, with respect to which information is not otherwise called for by this form, that the registrant deems of importance to security holders. The registrant may, at its option, file a report under this Item 8.01 disclosing the nonpublic information required to be disclosed by Regulation FD (17 CFR 243.100 through 243.103).

Jasso Lopez Annotation:

1.     Previously Item 5, this Item was renumbered by the SEC in 2004 pursuant to its Final Rule: Additional Form 8-K Disclosure Requirements and Acceleration of Filing Date (Release No. 33-8400).

2.     Notices pursuant to Securities Act Rule 135c are typically filed under this Item 8.01, rather than Item 7.01, information disclosed under which is deemed “furnished” for purposes of incorporation by reference into Securities Act filings.

3.     This Item does not impact a registrant’s Form S-3 or Form S-8 eligibility.  See General Instruction I.A.3(b) to Form S-3 and General Instruction A.1 to Form S-8.

 

Section 9 – Financial Statements and Exhibits

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

List below the financial statements, pro forma financial information and exhibits, if any, filed as a part of this report.

(a) Financial statements of businesses acquired.

(1) For any business acquisition required to be described in answer to Item 2.01 of this form, financial statements of the business acquired shall be filed for the periods specified in Rule 3-05(b) of Regulation S-X (17 CFR 210.3-05(b)) or Rule 8-04(b) of Regulation S-X (17 CFR 210.8-04(b)) for smaller reporting companies.

(2) The financial statements shall be prepared pursuant to Regulation S-X except that supporting schedules need not be filed. A manually signed accountant’s report should be provided pursuant to Rule 2-02 of Regulation S-X (17 CFR 210.2-02).

(3) With regard to the acquisition of one or more real estate properties, the financial statements and any additional information specified by Rule 3-14 of Regulation S-X (17 CFR 210.3-14) or Rule 8-06 of Regulation S-X (17 CFR 210.8-06) for smaller reporting companies.

(4) Financial statements required by this item may be filed with the initial report, or by amendment not later than 71 calendar days after the date that the initial report on Form 8-K must be filed. If the financial statements are not included in the initial report, the registrant should so indicate in the Form 8-K report and state when the required financial statements will be filed. The registrant may, at its option, include unaudited financial statements in the initial report on Form 8-K.

(b) Pro forma financial information.

(1) For any transaction required to be described in answer to Item 2.01 of this form, furnish any pro forma financial information that would be required pursuant to Article 11 of Regulation S-X (17 CFR 210) or Rule 8-05 of Regulation S-X (17 CFR 210.8-05) for smaller reporting companies.

(2) The provisions of paragraph (a)(4) of this Item 9.01 shall also apply to pro forma financial information relative to the acquired business.

(c) Shell company transactions. The provisions of paragraph (a)(4) and (b)(2) of this Item shall not apply to the financial statements or pro forma financial information required to be filed under this Item with regard to any transaction required to be described in answer to Item 2.01 of this Form by a registrant that was a shell company, other than a business combination related shell company, as those terms are defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.12b-2), immediately before that transaction. Accordingly, with regard to any transaction required to be described in answer to Item 2.01 of this Form by a registrant that was a shell company, other than a business combination related shell company, immediately before that transaction, the financial statements and pro forma financial information required by this Item must be filed in the initial report.

Notwithstanding General Instruction B.3. to Form 8-K, if any financial statement or any financial information required to be filed in the initial report by this Item 9.01(c) is previously reported, as that term is defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.12b-2), the registrant may identify the filing in which that disclosure is included instead of including that disclosure in the initial report.

(d) Exhibits. The exhibits shall be deemed to be filed or furnished, depending on the relevant item requiring such exhibit, in accordance with the provisions of Item 601 of Regulation S-K (17 CFR 229.601) and Instruction B.2 to this form.

Instruction.

During the period after a registrant has reported a business combination pursuant to Item 2.01 of this form, until the date on which the financial statements specified by this Item 9.01 must be filed, the registrant will be deemed current for purposes of its reporting obligations under Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (15 U.S.C. 78m or 78o(d)). With respect to filings under the Securities Act, however, registration statements will not be declared effective and post-effective amendments to registrations statements will not be declared effective unless financial statements meeting the requirements of Rule 3-05 of Regulation S-X (17 CFR 210.3-05) are provided. In addition, offerings should not be made pursuant to effective registration statements, or pursuant to Rules 505 and 506 of Regulation D (17 CFR 230.505 and 230.506) where any purchasers are not accredited investors under Rule 501(a) of that Regulation, until the audited financial statements required by Rule 3-05 of Regulation S-X (17 CFR 210.3-05) are filed; provided, however, that the following offerings or sales of securities may proceed notwithstanding that financial statements of the acquired business have not been filed:

(a) offerings or sales of securities upon the conversion of outstanding convertible securities or upon the exercise of outstanding warrants or rights;

(b) dividend or interest reinvestment plans;

(c) employee benefit plans;

(d) transactions involving secondary offerings; or

(e) sales of securities pursuant to Rule 144 (17 CFR 230.144).

Jasso Lopez Annotation:

1.     Previously Item 7, this Item was renumbered by the SEC in 2004 pursuant to its Final Rule: Additional Form 8-K Disclosure Requirements and Acceleration of Filing Date (Release No. 33-8400).

2.     Rule 12b-30 permits the filing of any additional exhibits as a registrant may desire.

3.     Rule 12b-31 permits the omission of substantially identical exhibits.

4.     Rule 12b-32 governs the incorporation of exhibits by reference.

5.     Sections 2045 and 2050 of the Division of Corporation Finance Financial Reporting Manual contains helpful guidance about the age of required financial statements.

6.     Failure to make a timely filing under this Item does impact a registrant’s Form S-3 eligibility.  See General Instruction I.A.3(b) to Form S-3.  Failure to make a filing under this Item does impact a registrant’s Form S-8 eligibility.  See General Instruction A.1 to Form S-8.

7.     See CF Disclosure Guidance Topic No. 1: Staff Observations in the Review of Forms 8-K Filed to Report Reverse Mergers and Similar Transactions, which offers guidance on disclosures under this Item in the context of reverse merger disclosures.

8.     Section 234.01 of the Exchange Act Rules C&DIs provides that, where a company is being acquired, the acquiring company may incorporate by reference the acquired company’s Form 10-K financial statements into the acquiring company’s Form 8-K, so long as copies of the pertinent pages of the Form 10-K are filed as an exhibit to the Form 8-K. The consent(s) of the accountant(s) for the acquired company should be filed with the Form 8-K.

9.     Question 146.13 of the Regulation S-K C&DIs, Question 101.04 of the Form 8-K C&DIs and Question 101.04 of the Interactive Data C&DIs provide that a registrant may voluntarily submit an interactive data file with a Form 8-K, subject to compliance with Item 601(b)(101)(ii) of Regulation S-K.

10.   Question 125.11 of the Securities Act Forms C&DIs provides that the financial statements of a target company included in a Form 8-K reporting the consummation of a business acquisition must comply with the Regulation S-X provisions applicable to the combined company, even if the acquired company alone satisfied the definition of “smaller reporting company” under Item 10(f)(1) of Regulation S-K.

11.   Question 129.01 of the Form 8-K C&DIs indicates that the automatic 71-day extension of time in Item 9.01 is available only with respect to acquisitions, not dispositions.

12.   Item 20.D. of Industry Guide 5 requires, inter alia, an undertaking to file every three months post-effective amendments containing financial statements of acquired properties. Even if the automatic 71-day extension of time to file the financial statements for an acquired property is applicable to a Form 8-K, this extension does not apply to the Guide 5 post-effective amendment. Accordingly, the post-effective amendment must be filed when required by Item 20 of Guide 5, and must contain the required financial statements. This is the same position as that taken before the Form 8-K extensions were made automatic.  See Section 229.01 of the Form 8-K C&DIs.

13.   During the pendency of a 71-day extension applicable to a Form 8-K, Securities Act offerings may not be made except as provided in the Instruction to Item 9.01. The Staff has been asked whether this provision applies to real estate limited partnership offerings, thus prohibiting sales from being made until financials for properties acquired during the offering period have been filed (even when the quarterly post-effective amendment is not yet due). The amendment to Form 8-K was not intended to change the procedure established in Item 20.D. of Industry Guide 5. Accordingly, when properties are acquired during the offering period, the registrant may continue sales activities notwithstanding the pendency of an 8-K extension, so long as the quarterly post-effective amendments containing the financials are filed when required.  See Section 229.02 of the Form 8-K C&DIs.

14.   Section 229.03 of the Form 8-K C&DIs states: The Instruction to Item 9.01 of Form 8-K addresses the status of transactions in securities registered under the Securities Act and Rule 144 sales during the pendency of an extension, but does not address the status of such sales after a denial of a request for waiver of financial statements. This question will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis.

15.   Item 17(b)(7) of Form S-4 states generally that the financials of acquired companies that were not previously Exchange Act reporting companies need be audited only to the extent practicable, unless the Form S-4 prospectus is to be used for resales by any person deemed an underwriter within the meaning of Rule 145(c), in which case such financials must be audited. The Staff was asked whether a resale pursuant to Rule 145(d), in lieu of the Form S-4 prospectus, would require the financials to be audited. The Staff noted that Rule 145(d) is not included in the Instruction to Item 9.01 regarding sales pursuant to Rule 144 during the 71-day extension period for filing financials. As the audited financials for the acquired company would be required pursuant to Item 9.01, a resale pursuant to Rule 145(d) would not be permitted until they are filed.  See Section 229.04 of the Form 8-K C&DIs and Section 539.04 of the Securities Act Rules C&DIs.

16.   There are circumstances in which an emerging growth company may present only two years of financial statements for an acquired business, rather than the three years normally required under Regulation S-X.  See JOBS Act Frequently Asked Questions, Question 46.

 

SIGNATURES

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:  [Month] [Day], 201_

[COMPANY]
By:
[Name]
[Title]

 

Jasso Lopez Annotation:

1.     Rule 12b-11(d) governs signature requirements for Exchange Act forms.

2.     Item 3.02 of Regulation S-T governs signatures to, or within, electronic submissions.

 

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit Number Description
[X.X] [Exhibit description].