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UNITED STATES |
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION |
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WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 |
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FORM 8-K |
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CURRENT REPORT |
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PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) |
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OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
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July 6, 2006 |
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(Date of report) |
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June 30, 2006 |
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(Date of earliest event reported) |
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Sothebys |
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(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) |
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Delaware |
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1-9750 |
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38-2478409 |
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(State or other |
(Commission |
(I.R.S. Employer |
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jurisdiction of |
File Number) |
Identification No.) |
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incorporation or |
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organization) |
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1334 York Avenue, |
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New York, NY |
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10021 |
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(Address of principal executive offices) |
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(Zip Code) |
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(212) 606-7000 |
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(Registrants telephone number, including area code) |
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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: |
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Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
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Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
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Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
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Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Item 3.03 Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders.
On June 30, 2006, Sothebys Holdings, Inc., a Michigan corporation (Sothebys Michigan), completed its reincorporation into the State of Delaware (the Reincorporation). The Reincorporation and related proposals were approved by the shareholders of Sothebys Michigan at the annual meeting of shareholders held on May 8, 2006. The Reincorporation was completed by means of a merger of Sothebys Michigan with and into Sothebys Delaware, Inc., a Delaware corporation (Sothebys Delaware) and wholly-owned subsidiary of Sothebys Michigan incorporated for the purpose of effecting the Reincorporation, with Sothebys Delaware being the surviving corporation. Sothebys Delaware was renamed Sothebys upon completion of the merger.
In the merger, each outstanding share of Sothebys Michigan Class A Limited Voting Common Stock (Sothebys Michigan Stock) was converted into one share of Common Stock of Sothebys Delaware (Sothebys Delaware Stock). As a result, holders of Sothebys Michigan Stock are now holders of Sothebys Delaware Stock, and their rights as holders thereof are governed by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and the Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws of Sothebys Delaware. For a description of the differences between the rights of holders of Sothebys Michigan Stock and Sothebys Delaware Stock, see Comparison of Shareholder Rights Before and After the Reincorporation in Sothebys Michigans Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission) on April 11, 2006, which description is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
The Reincorporation did not result in any change in the business or principal facilities of Sothebys Michigan. Upon completion of the merger, the address of Sothebys principal executive offices is 1334 York Avenue, New York, NY 10021. Sothebys Michigans management and board of directors continue as the management and board of directors of Sothebys Delaware. Sothebys Delaware Stock will continue to trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol BID. Shareholders are not required to exchange their existing stock certificates, which now represent an equivalent number of shares of Sothebys Delaware Stock.
Item 5.03 Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.
As noted under Item 3.03 above, on June 30, 2006, Sothebys Michigan completed the Reincorporation and was merged with and into Sothebys Delaware, with Sothebys Delaware being the surviving corporation. In the merger, Sothebys Delaware was renamed Sothebys. As a result of the Reincorporation, the Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws of Sothebys Delaware will govern the surviving corporation. For a description of the terms of Sothebys Delawares certificate of incorporation and By-Laws, see Comparison of Shareholder Rights Before and After the Reincorporation in Sothebys Michigans Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, filed with the Commission on April 11, 2006, which description is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. Copies of Sothebys Delawares Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws, as amended upon completion of the merger, are attached hereto as Exhibits 3.1 and 3.2, respectively.
Item 8.01 Other Events
In connection with the completion of the Reincorporation and by operation of Rule 12g-3(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act), the Sothebys Delaware Stock is deemed registered under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and Sothebys Delaware has succeeded to Sothebys Michigans attributes as the registrant with respect thereto.
On June 30, Sothebys issued the press release filed as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K announcing the completion of the Reincorporation.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits
(c) Exhibits
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3.1 |
Certificate of Incorporation of Sothebys, as amended through June 30, 2006 |
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3.2 |
By-Laws of Sothebys, adopted as of March 31, 2006 |
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4.4 |
First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of June 30, 2006, between Sothebys and Wilmington Trust Company, as successor trustee (Supplemental to Indenture dated as of February 5, 1999 between Sothebys Holdings, Inc. and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as trustee, as filed in the Companys current report on Form 8-K on February 10, 1999 with the Securities and Exchange Commission) |
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10.29 |
Guaranty of Lease made as of June 30, 2006 by Sothebys, as Guarantor, to 1334 York Avenue L.P., as Landlord |
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99.1 |
Sothebys press release announcing the completion of the Reincorporation, dated June 30, 2006 |
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Company has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
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SOTHEBYS |
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By: |
/s/ Michael L. Gillis |
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Michael L. Gillis |
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Senior Vice President, |
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Controller and Chief |
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Accounting Officer |
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Date: |
July 6, 2006 |
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