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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549


FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) February 22, 2005

SINA Corporation


(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
         
Cayman Islands   000-30698   52-2236363
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation or
organization)
  (Commission File Number)   (I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

Room 1802, United Plaza, 1468 Nan Jing Road West
Shanghai 20040, China


(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code   (86-21) 6289 5678

Not Applicable


(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

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

    o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
 
    o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
 
    o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
 
    o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
 
 

 


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Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement
Item 3.03 Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders
Item 8.01 Other Events
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits
SIGNATURE
EXHIBIT INDEX
EXHIBIT 4.1
EXHIBIT 99.1


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Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

          On February 22, 2005 (the “Rights Issuance Authorization Date”), the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of SINA Corporation (the “Company”) authorized the issuance of one right (a “Right”) for each outstanding ordinary share, par value $0.133 per share, of the Company (the “Ordinary Shares”) to shareholders of record at the close of business on March 7, 2005 (the “Record Date”). Each Right entitles the registered holder to purchase from the Company one Ordinary Share at a Purchase Price of $150 per Ordinary Share, subject to adjustment (the “Purchase Price”). The description and terms of the Rights are set forth in a Rights Agreement (the “Rights Agreement”), dated as of February 22, 2005, between the Company and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, a New York bank, as Rights Agent.

          Initially, the Rights will be attached to all Ordinary Shares then outstanding, and no separate certificates evidencing the Rights (the “Rights Certificates”) will be distributed. Subject to certain exceptions specified in the Rights Agreement, the Rights will separate from the Ordinary Shares and a distribution date (the “Distribution Date”) will occur upon the earlier of (i) 10 business days following a public announcement that a person or group of affiliated or associated persons (an “Acquiring Person”) has acquired beneficial ownership of 10% or more of the Company’s Ordinary Shares (the “Share Acquisition Date”), other than as a result of repurchases of shares by the Company or purchases by certain Exempt Persons (as defined below) or (ii) 10 business days (or such later date as the Board shall determine) following the commencement of a tender offer or exchange offer that would result in a person or group becoming an Acquiring Person. An “Exempt Person” means any of the following: (a) Shanda Interactive Entertainment Limited, a Cayman Islands limited company, (b) Skyline Media Limited, a British Virgin Islands limited company, (c) Skyline Capital International Limited, a British Virgin Islands limited company, (d) Shanda Media Limited, a British Virgin Islands limited company, and (e) Tianqiao Chen, a citizen of the Peoples Republic of China, but, with respect to clauses (a) through (e) of this paragraph, each such Exempt Person shall be considered an Exempt Person only to the extent that the Ordinary Shares beneficially owned by each such Exempt Person do not exceed the number of shares (A) which both (1) are beneficially owned by such Exempt Person on the Rights Issuance Authorization Date and (2) have been publicly disclosed as being beneficially owned by such Exempt Person (in a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission or in a press release of such Exempt Person) on or prior to the Rights Issuance Authorization Date, plus (B) any additional Ordinary Shares representing, in the aggregate for all persons in clauses (a) through (e) of this paragraph (together with their Affiliates and Associates), not more than one half of one percent (0.5%) of the Ordinary Shares then outstanding.

          Until the Distribution Date, (i) the Rights will be evidenced by the Ordinary Share certificates and will be transferred with and only with such Ordinary Share certificates, (ii) new Ordinary Share certificates issued after the Record Date will contain a notation incorporating the Rights Agreement by reference and (iii) the surrender for transfer of any certificates for Ordinary Shares outstanding will also constitute the

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transfer of the Rights associated with the Ordinary Shares represented by such certificate. Pursuant to the Rights Agreement, the Company reserves the right to require prior to the occurrence of a Triggering Event (as defined below) that, upon any exercise of Rights, a number of Rights be exercised so that only whole Ordinary Shares will be issued.

          The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date and will expire at 5:00 P.M. (New York City time) on February 22, 2015 (the “Final Expiration Date”), unless the Rights Agreement is earlier terminated or such date is extended or the Rights are earlier redeemed or exchanged by the Company as described below.

          As soon as practicable after the Distribution Date, Rights Certificates will be mailed to holders of record of the Ordinary Shares as of the close of business on the Distribution Date and, thereafter, the separate Rights Certificates alone will represent the Rights.

          In the event that a Person becomes an Acquiring Person, each holder of a Right will thereafter have the right to receive, upon exercise, Ordinary Shares (or, in certain circumstances, cash, property or other securities of the Company) having a value equal to two times the Purchase Price of the Right. Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, following the occurrence of the event described in this paragraph, all Rights that are, or (under certain circumstances specified in the Rights Agreement) were, beneficially owned by any Acquiring Person will be null and void. However, Rights are not exercisable following the occurrence of the event set forth above until such time as the Rights are no longer redeemable by the Company as set forth below.

          For example, at a Purchase Price of $150 per Right, each Right not owned by an Acquiring Person (or by certain related parties) following the event described in the preceding paragraph would entitle its holder to purchase $300 worth of Ordinary Shares (or other consideration, as noted above) for $150. Assuming that the Ordinary Shares had a per share value of $50 at such time, the holder of each valid Right would be entitled to purchase six Ordinary Shares for $150.

          In the event that, at any time following the Share Acquisition Date, (i) the Company engages in a merger, amalgamation or other business combination transaction in which the Company is not the surviving corporation, (ii) the Company engages in a merger, amalgamation or other business combination transaction in which the Company is the surviving corporation and the Ordinary Shares of the Company are changed or exchanged, or (iii) 50% or more of the Company’s assets, cash flow or earning power is sold or transferred, each holder of a Right (except Rights which have previously been voided as set forth above) shall thereafter have the right to receive, upon exercise, ordinary shares of the acquiring company having a value equal to two times the Purchase Price of the Right. The events set forth in this paragraph and in the second preceding paragraph are referred to as the “Triggering Events.”

          At any time after a person becomes an Acquiring Person and prior to the acquisition by such person or group of 50% or more of the outstanding Ordinary Shares,

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the Board may exchange the Rights (other than Rights owned by such person or group which have become void), in whole or in part, for Ordinary Shares at an exchange ratio of one Ordinary Share per Right (subject to adjustment).

          The Purchase Price payable, and the number of Ordinary Shares or other securities or property issuable, upon exercise of the Rights are subject to adjustment from time to time to prevent dilution (i) in the event of a stock dividend on, or a subdivision, combination or reclassification of, the Ordinary Shares, (ii) if holders of the Ordinary Shares are granted certain rights or warrants to subscribe for Ordinary Shares or convertible securities at less than the current market price of the Ordinary Shares, or (iii) upon the distribution to holders of the Ordinary Shares of evidences of indebtedness or assets (excluding regular quarterly cash dividends) or of subscription rights or warrants (other than those referred to above).

          With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the Purchase Price will be required until cumulative adjustments amount to at least one percent (1%) of the Purchase Price. No fractional Ordinary Shares will be issued and, in lieu thereof, an adjustment in cash will be made based on the market price of the Ordinary Shares on the last trading date prior to the date of exercise.

          At any time until 10 business days following the Share Acquisition Date, the Company may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part, at a price of $0.001 per Right (payable in cash, Ordinary Shares or other consideration deemed appropriate by the Board) or amend the Rights Agreement to change the Final Expiration Date to another date, including, without limitation, an earlier date. Immediately upon the action of the Board ordering redemption of the Rights, the Rights will terminate and the only right of the holders of Rights will be to receive the $0.001 redemption price.

          Until a Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will have no separate rights as a shareholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right to vote or to receive dividends in respect of the Rights. While the distribution of the Rights will not be taxable to shareholders or to the Company, shareholders may, depending upon the circumstances, recognize taxable income in the event that the Rights become exercisable for Ordinary Shares (or other consideration) of the Company or for ordinary shares of the acquiring company or in the event of the redemption of the Rights as set forth above.

          Any of the provisions of the Rights Agreement may be amended by the Board prior to the Distribution Date. After the Distribution Date, the provisions of the Rights Agreement may be amended by the Board in order to cure any ambiguity, to make changes that do not adversely affect the interests of holders of the Rights, or to shorten or lengthen any time period under the Rights Agreement. The foregoing notwithstanding, no amendment may be made at such time as the Rights are not redeemable.

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          This summary description of the Rights Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Rights Agreement, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 4.1 and incorporated herein by reference.

Item 3.03 Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders.

          See the disclosure set forth under “Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement,” which is incorporated into this Item 3.03 by reference.

Item 8.01 Other Events.

          On February 22, 2005, the Company issued a press release announcing the adoption of a shareholder rights plan. The description of the press release set forth under this Item 8.01 is qualified in its entirety by reference to the press release, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(c) Exhibits.

     The following exhibits are filed with this report:

     
Exhibit    
Number   Description
 
   
4.1
  Rights Agreement dated as of February 22, 2005 between SINA Corporation and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as Rights Agent.
 
   
99.1
  Press Release of SINA Corporation, dated February 22, 2005.

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SIGNATURE

     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.

             
    SINA CORPORATION
 
           
Date: February 24, 2005
  By:   /s/ Charles Chao    
           
      Charles Chao    
      Chief Financial Officer    

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EXHIBIT INDEX

     
Exhibit    
Number   Description
 
   
4.1
  Rights Agreement dated as of February 22, 2005 between SINA Corporation and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as Rights Agent.
 
   
99.1
  Press Release of SINA Corporation, dated February 22, 2005.

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