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

October 20, 2014

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported)

 

 

HUTCHINSON TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

 

 

 

Minnesota   001-34838   41-0901840

(State of

Incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

40 West Highland Park Drive N.E.,

Hutchinson, Minnesota

  55350
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)

(320) 587-3797

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

Not Applicable

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

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

¨ 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))

 

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

 

 

 


Item 1.01. Material Definitive Agreement.

Securities Purchase Agreement

On October 20, 2014, we entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) under which we agreed to sell at face value $37.5 million aggregate principal amount of 8.50% Convertible Senior Notes due 2019 (the “8.50% Convertible Notes”) to Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. (the “Buyer”).

Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, the Buyer or any other holder of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the 8.50% Convertible Notes may require us to repurchase up to $7.5 million aggregate principal amount of the 8.50% Convertible Notes, plus accrued but unpaid interest thereon, at any time during the period ending 120 days following the date the 8.50% Convertible Notes are issued. Accordingly, $7.5 million of the proceeds to our company from the sale of the 8.50% Convertible Notes will be escrowed until the put right has expired.

The sale of the 8.50% Convertible Notes pursuant to the Purchase Agreement is expected to close on October 23, 2014, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions. The Purchase Agreement contains certain representations, warranties and covenants of each party, including indemnification by our company in favor of the Buyer.

The 8.50% Convertible Notes will be issued under an indenture and supplemental indenture between our company and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee. They will bear interest at 8.50% per annum, payable semi-annually in arrears on April 30 and October 31 of each year, and will mature in 2019. The 8.50% Convertible Notes will be convertible into common stock at the option of the Holder.

Houlihan Lokey LLP acted as placement agent in connection with the sale of the 8.50% Convertible Notes pursuant to a placement agreement with customary terms.

Exchange Agreement

On October 20, 2014, we entered into a letter agreement (the “Exchange Agreement”) with Liberty Harbor Master Fund I, L.P. (the “Holder”) providing for the exchange of $15 million aggregate principal amount of our 8.50% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due 2017 held by the Holder (the “Exchanged Notes”) for (a) 2,500,000 shares of our common stock and (b) warrants to purchase an additional 2,500,000 shares of our common stock on a cashless basis at an exercise price of $0.01 per share. The Exchanged Notes will be cancelled, resulting in a corresponding reduction of the aggregate amount of the 8.50% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due 2017 outstanding and a discharge of the related indebtedness as of the date of closing.

The transactions under the Exchange Agreement are expected to close on October 23, 2014, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions and the escrow by our company of at least $35 million of cash that will be restricted solely for the repayment, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition for value of our 8.50% Convertible Senior Notes due 2026, plus accrued but unpaid interest thereon.

The Exchange Agreement contains certain representations, warranties and covenants of each party, including indemnification by our company in favor of the Holder. In addition to the Exchanged Notes, the Holder and its affiliates are the current holders of all of our outstanding 10.875% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due 2017 and are the current holders of a majority of our outstanding 8.50% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due 2017.


Rights Agreement Amendment

On October 20, 2014, we entered into a Fourth Amendment to Rights Agreement with Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as Rights Agent, relating to the Rights Agreement, dated as of July 29, 2010, between our company and the Rights Agent (as previously amended, the “Rights Agreement”). The Fourth Amendment provides that, in connection with the common share purchase rights of our company and in addition to existing exceptions, no person or group will become an Acquiring Person (as defined in the Rights Agreement) (a) solely as a result of beneficial ownership of our common stock issuable (but not issued) pursuant to the 8.50% Convertible Notes issued pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, (b) subject to certain limitations, if such person would not have been an Acquiring Person but for the exchange of Exchanged Notes for our common stock pursuant to the Exchange Agreement, or (c) solely as a result of holding unexercised warrants to purchase our common stock issued pursuant to the Exchange Agreement.

The text of the Fourth Amendment is provided as Exhibit 4.1 to this current report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference. This summary of the Fourth Amendment does not purport to be complete and is qualified by reference to the text of the Fourth Amendment.

 

Item 2.02. Result of Operations and Financial Condition.

The information in Exhibit 99.2 regarding our preliminary results of operations and financial condition for the fiscal 2014 fourth quarter is incorporated by reference herein. In accordance with Instruction B.2. to Form 8-K, all such information incorporated by reference into this Item 2.02, including Exhibit 99.2, is to be considered filed, and not furnished, for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

 

Item 3.03. Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders.

The information regarding the Fourth Amendment to Rights Agreement in Item 1.01 is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 8.01. Other Events.

Press Releases

On October 20, 2014, we issued a press release announcing the transactions identified in Item 1.01 above and our commitment to repay, repurchase or redeem all of our outstanding 8.50% Convertible Senior Notes due 2026 for cash. The text of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this current report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

On October 20, 2014, we issued a press release regarding our preliminary fiscal 2014 fourth quarter results. The text of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.2 to this current report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

Risk Factor

We are providing the following additional risk factor for the purpose of updating the risk factor disclosure contained in our public filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including those discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 29, 2013.

The future success of our optical image stabilization actuator remains uncertain.

We recently started manufacturing an optical image stabilization actuator for use in a smartphone for the Chinese market scheduled for release in the fall of 2014. This new product is in the early stages of low-volume production. We face significant manufacturing challenges as we ramp our first production line to volume and we may not meet the market’s product requirements, attain our manufacturing goals or achieve our cost targets. Our manufacturing process is capital intensive. We have very limited operating and marketing experience in the smartphone camera market. We do not know whether the product will generate sufficient revenue to offset expenditures related to product development and manufacturing start-up or become profitable. We do not know whether this product will be accepted by the market, the rate at which it will be accepted, if at all, or whether our product will be competitive with existing products already in the market or new technologies that may be introduced in the future. There can be no assurance that our investment in this new product line will not negatively impact our operating results and financial condition.

 

2


Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

 

  4.1    Fourth Amendment to Rights Agreement, dated as of October 20, 2014, between Hutchinson Technology Incorporated and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as Rights Agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 5 to the Registration Statement on Form 8-A/A filed October 20, 2014 (file no. 001-34838))
99.1    Press Release dated October 20, 2014 (filed herewith)
99.2    Press Release dated October 20, 2014 (filed herewith)

 

3


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.

 

  HUTCHINSON TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED

Date: October 20, 2014

  /s/ David P. Radloff
  David P. Radloff
  Vice President and Chief Financial Officer


EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit
No.

  

Description

  

Manner of Filing

  4.1    Fourth Amendment to Rights Agreement, dated as of October 20, 2014, between Hutchinson Technology Incorporated and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as Rights Agent    Incorporated by Reference
99.1    Press Release dated October 20, 2014    Filed Electronically
99.1    Press Release dated October 20, 2014    Filed Electronically

Press Release dated October 20, 2014

Exhibit 99.1

Hutchinson Technology Announces Convertible Debt Offering and Private Exchange

HUTCHINSON, Minn., October 20, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) – Hutchinson Technology Incorporated (Nasdaq: HTCH) (“Hutchinson Technology”) today announced the pricing of a registered direct offering of $37.5 million aggregate principal amount of its unsecured 8.50% Convertible Senior Notes due 2019 (the “Convertible Notes”). The Convertible Notes will bear interest at a rate of 8.50% per year. Interest will be payable semi-annually in arrears on April 30 and October 31, beginning on April 30, 2015. The Convertible Notes will mature on October 31, 2019. The offering is expected to close on October 23, 2014, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions. Certain beneficial holders of the Convertible Notes have the right to require Hutchinson Technology to repurchase for cash up to $7.5 million aggregate principal amount of the Convertible Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any (the “Partial Put Right”), during the 120-day period commencing on October 23, 2014.

After deducting estimated offering expenses, Hutchinson Technology expects to receive net proceeds of approximately $35.75 million, of which $7.5 million will be used to fund an escrow for the benefit of certain beneficial holders in connection with the Partial Put Right. Hutchinson Technology will use the proceeds from the offering and cash on hand to fund the repayment, repurchase or redemption of its existing 8.50% Convertible Senior Notes due 2026. Hutchinson Technology has agreed to escrow $35 million for this purpose.

Houlihan Lokey Capital, Inc. is acting as placement agent for the offering of the Convertible Notes.

A shelf registration statement (File No. 333-189269), including a prospectus, with respect to the offering was previously filed by Hutchinson Technology with the Securities and Exchange Commission and declared effective on June 21, 2013. A prospectus supplement relating to the offering will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The offering will be made only by means of the prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. Any offer or sale of the Convertible Notes will be made only by means of the written prospectus supplement forming part of the effective registration for the offering of the Convertible Notes.

Hutchinson Technology also announced an agreement providing for the exchange with a certain holder of $15 million aggregate principal amount of its outstanding 8.50% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due 2017 (the “Exchanged Notes”) for 2.5 million shares of Hutchinson Technology’s common stock and warrants to purchase an additional 2.5 million shares of Hutchinson Technology’s common stock on a cashless basis at an exercise price of $0.01 per share. The Exchanged Notes will be cancelled, resulting in a corresponding reduction of the aggregate principal amount of the 8.50% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due 2017. The private exchange is scheduled to close on October 23, 2014, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any state or jurisdiction.

About Hutchinson Technology

Hutchinson Technology is a global supplier of critical precision component technologies. As a key supplier of suspension assemblies for disk drives, we help customers improve overall disk drive performance and meet the demands of an ever-expanding digital universe. Through our new business development initiatives, we focus on leveraging our unique precision manufacturing capabilities in new markets to improve product performance, reduce size, lower cost, and reduce time to market.


Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This announcement contains forward-looking statements regarding the above-referenced financing transactions and use of proceeds from the offering of the Convertible Notes. The company does not undertake to update its forward-looking statements. These statements involve risks and uncertainties. The company’s actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of factors described from time to time in the company’s reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

INVESTOR CONTACT:    MEDIA CONTACT:
Chuck Ives    Connie Pautz
Hutchinson Technology Inc.    Hutchinson Technology Inc.
320-587-1605    320-587-1823

Press Release dated October 20, 2014

Exhibit 99.2

HUTCHINSON TECHNOLOGY REPORTS PRELIMINARY FOURTH QUARTER RESULTS

Results Improve on Volume Growth, Restructuring Benefits and Operational Performance

Company Announces Financing Transactions

Hutchinson, Minn., Oct. 20, 2014 — Hutchinson Technology Incorporated (NASDAQ: HTCH) today reported preliminary results for its fiscal 2014 fourth quarter ended September 28, 2014. The company shipped 117.1 million suspension assemblies in the fourth quarter, above the company’s previously announced guidance of 110 million to 115 million suspension assemblies and up 20% from 97.5 million in the preceding quarter. Rick Penn, Hutchinson Technology’s president and chief executive officer, said that increases in customers’ hard disk drive production levels and the company’s improved participation on several disk drive programs led to the sequential increase in shipments.

Net sales for the quarter totaled approximately $70.3 million compared with $59.8 million in the preceding quarter. Average selling price of $0.58 was flat compared with the preceding quarter. The company estimates that its gross margin for the fiscal 2014 fourth quarter was 12% to 13% of net sales compared to 6% of net sales in the preceding quarter. Penn said that the effects of higher volume, the company’s cost reduction efforts and improved operational performance contributed to the margin improvement in the fourth quarter. The company’s Thailand operation accounted for 78% of assembly production in the fourth quarter, up from 64% in the preceding quarter.

Cash and investments totaled $38.9 million at the end of the fiscal 2014 fourth quarter compared to $40.2 million at the end of the preceding quarter. Outstanding borrowings on the company’s revolving line of credit were $9.5 million at the end of the fourth quarter compared to $4.8 million at the end of the preceding quarter. The additional borrowing was driven by working capital needs, including an increase in accounts receivable due to the increase in net sales.

In its fiscal 2015 first quarter, the company said that it currently expects a modest sequential increase in suspension assembly shipments. Further details on the company’s results and outlook will be provided in its fourth quarter results announcement and conference call.

The company also announced the pricing of a registered direct offering of $37.5 million of its 8.50% Convertible Senior Notes due 2019 and an agreement to privately exchange $15 million of the company’s outstanding 8.50% Senior Secured Second Lien Notes due 2017 for 2.5 million shares of its common stock and warrants exercisable for an additional 2.5 million shares of its common stock. Details of these transactions are contained in a separate news release that the company issued today.


The company also announced that it is pursuing added liquidity through additional first lien financing of up to $15 million. Additionally, the company is in discussions with a customer who has offered to consider providing an advance payment within the range of $10 million to $15 million in the company’s fiscal 2015 first quarter for suspension assemblies expected to ship to that customer in the fiscal 2015 second quarter.

“These financing actions position us to address the outstanding balance of our existing 8.50% convertible notes due 2026 that can be put back to us in January 2015,” said Penn. “We thank our customers for their ongoing commitment and support, and we look forward to pursuing the opportunities in front of us and delivering improved financial results in fiscal 2015.”

Fiscal 2014 Fourth Quarter Results to be Reported on November 5, 2014

The company announced it will report its fiscal 2014 fourth quarter financial results on Wednesday, November 5, 2014, after the close of the market. A subsequent conference call for the investment community will take place at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (4:00 p.m. Central Time) on that date.

Individual investors and news media may participate in the conference call via a webcast, which will be accessible live and on an archived basis on Hutchinson Technology’s website at www.htch.com/investors. The webcast also will be distributed by Thomson StreetEvents to both institutional and individual investors at www.earnings.com.

About Hutchinson Technology

Hutchinson Technology is a global supplier of critical precision component technologies. As a key supplier of suspension assemblies for disk drives, we help customers improve overall disk drive performance and meet the demands of an ever-expanding digital universe. Through our new business development initiatives, we focus on leveraging our unique precision manufacturing capabilities in new markets to improve product performance, reduce size, lower cost, and reduce time to market.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This announcement contains forward-looking statements regarding demand for and shipments of the company’s products, and the company’s operating performance, financial results and financing actions. The company does not undertake to update its forward-looking statements. These statements involve risks and uncertainties. The company’s actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of changes in market demand and market consumption of disk drives or suspension assemblies, changes in demand for its products, market acceptance of new products, the company’s ability to produce suspension assemblies at levels of precision, quality, volume and cost its customers require, changes in product mix, changes in customers yields, changes in storage capacity requirements, changes in expected data density, changes in the company’s ability to operate its assembly operation in Thailand, changes in the company’s ability to reduce costs and other factors described from time to time in the company’s reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

INVESTOR CONTACT:    MEDIA CONTACT:
Chuck Ives    Connie Pautz
Hutchinson Technology Inc.    Hutchinson Technology Inc.
320-587-1605    320-587-1823