MARQUETTE ELECTRONICS INC
8-K, 1996-08-26
ELECTROMEDICAL & ELECTROTHERAPEUTIC APPARATUS
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<PAGE>
 
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

               Current Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
                           The Securities Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) August 22, 1996
                                                ----------------

                        Marquette Medical Systems, Inc.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

       Wisconsin                   0-18724                   39-1046671   
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    (State or other              (Commission             (I.R.S. Employer 
     jurisdiction                File Number)           Identification No.)
   of incorporation)

        8200 West Tower Avenue, Milwaukee, Wisconsin         53223
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        (Address of principal executive offices)           (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code  (414) 355-5000
                                                  -----------------------------

                          Marquette Electronics, Inc.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         (Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)




<PAGE>
 
ITEM 5.   OTHER EVENTS

     (a)  In connection with the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Marquette Electronics, Inc. (the
"Company") is hereby filing cautionary statements identifying important factors
that could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those
reflected in forward looking statements of the Company made by, or on behalf of,
the Company.

     (b)  On August 15, 1996, at the annual meeting of shareholders, the
shareholders approved the amendment of the Registrant's Amended and Restated
Articles of Incorporation to change the Registrant's name from Marquette
Electronics, Inc. to Marquette Medical Systems, Inc. and to authorize 30,000,000
shares of Preferred Stock, without par value, issuable in series.

     (c)  On August 15, 1996, at the annual meeting of shareholders, the
shareholders approved an amendment to the Registrant's Stock Option Plan for
Employees of Marquette Electronics, Inc. increasing the number of shares of
Class A Common Stock issuable thereunder from 2,500,000 shares to 3,500,000
shares.

ITEM 7.   FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS.

     (a)  Financial Statements
               None

     (b)  Proforma Financial Statements
               None

     (c)  Exhibits

     99.1 Cautionary Statement for the Purposes of the "Safe Harbor" Provisions
of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

     99.2 Articles of Amendment to the Amended and Restated Articles of
Incorporation of Marquette Electronics, Inc.





     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.

                              MARQUETTE MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.
                              (Registrant)

  August 22, 1996             By: /s/ Timothy C. Mickelson
- -----------------------           -----------------------------
       (Date)                     Timothy C. Mickelson
                                  President

                                       

<PAGE>
 
                                                                    Exhibit 99.1
                                                                    ------------

     Cautionary Statement for the Purposes of the "Safe Harbor" Provisions of
     the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

     Marquette Medical Systems, Inc. (the "Company") desires to take advantage
of the new "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform
Act of 1995 (the "Reform Act") and is filing this Form 8-K in order to do so.
Information provided by the Company from time to time may contain certain
"forward looking" information, as that term is defined in the Reform Act and in
releases made by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). The
following cautionary statements are being made pursuant to the provisions of the
Reform Act. The Company cautions that forward looking statements or projections
that may be made orally or in writing are made subject to uncertainties. The
accuracy of such forward looking statements are not guarantees of and may be
affected by general economic conditions, the impact of competitive products,
services and pricing, and demand and market acceptance risks of current and new
products and services, potential risks. Uncertainties and risks that the Company
believes could cause actual financial results of the Company to differ
materially from those in or implied by the forward looking statements include,
but are not limited to, the following:

     (a)  Changes in environmental laws applicable to the Company's businesses
and facilities may increase costs of doing business, including increased
permitting, construction and administrative costs.

     (b)  Damage to the Company's facilities or equipment that cannot be quickly
rebuilt or replaced could hinder or prevent the Company from manufacturing its
products.

     (c)  Changes in the amount, type and cost of the financing which is
currently available to the Company could have a material adverse effect on the
financial results and operations of the Company.

     (d)  The Company depends on the continuing services of its current
management. The loss or retirement of one or more of its key executives could
have a material adverse effect on the financial results and operations of the
Company if suitable replacements cannot be retained. The Company anticipates
that as its operations increase in size and scope, additional qualified
personnel will be required. There is no assurance that the Company will be
successful in attracting and retaining such qualified employees.

<PAGE>
 
     (e)  Many of the Company's products are employed during the course of
treatment of patients who are severely ill. From time to time, patients on whom
the Company's products are being used will have sustained and will continue to
sustain injury or death related to their medical treatment or condition. This
has and is expected to continue to lead to product liability claims against the
Company. Some of those claims may be large. The Company presently carries
product liability insurance coverage in amounts which the Company feels are
sufficient to protect the Company. However, it is possible that this coverage
could prove to be insufficient to cover claims which might be made against the
Company. The availability and costs of such coverage varies from time to time
and can be affected by the number and nature of the product liability claims.
There is no assurance that the Company will always be able to obtain adequate
product liability coverage at an acceptable price or that it will be able to
obtain such insurance at all.

     (f)  Greater than anticipated costs and delays in connection with the
development, introduction and market acceptance of the Company's products could
adversely impact the Company's financial results and operations.

     (g)  Delays or other difficulties in the development or introduction of
products by any of the Company's strategic partners or by companies
participating in joint development could negatively impact or delay the shipment
by the Company of products associated with such programs.

     (h)  A significant portion of the Company's revenue is from sales of
products outside the United States. The Company's financial results could be
adversely affected by such factors as changes in foreign currency exchange
rates, trade protection measures, policies with respect to currency and fiscal
controls, longer accounts receivable collection patterns, changes in regional
worldwide economic or political conditions, import and other charges or taxes,
unstable governments and legal systems, nationalizations and intergovernmental
disputes.

     (i)  Increased competition for the Company's products in the United States
and abroad, including intensification of price competition, advances in
technology, the entry of new competitors and the introduction of new products by
new and existing competitors, could result in lower selling prices of the
Company's products. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to
offset such downward price pressure through corresponding cost reductions.

     (j)  The medical device industry is characterized by rapidly evolving
technology and innovative products. Competitors could succeed in developing
technologies and products that are more effective than those currently produced
by the Company or that would render some of the Company's products obsolete or
non-competitive.
<PAGE>
 
     (k)  The lead times for the purchase of the components utilized in the
production of the Company's products could increase, resulting in a loss or
delay of orders.

     (l)  Increased costs for certain components utilized in the production of
the Company's products could adversely impact the Company's financial results.

     (m)  Contracts which are with the federal government or state or local
governments and are funded on a periodic basis periodically face funding
constraints or are contingent upon approval of continued funding. In the event
that such funding is not approved, these contracts are subject to cancellation.

     (n)  Increasing cost consciousness of health care providers and the
emphasis on managed care and control of costs may in the future lead to a
reduction in the average selling price for some of the Company's products which
could adversely affect the Company's gross margin.

     (o)  The Food and Drug Administration regulates the development, testing,
manufacturing, packaging, distribution and marketing in the United States of
most of the products manufactured and sold by the Company. Certain states also
regulate the manufacture of medical devices. The medical device amendments of
1976 to the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, as well as subsequent
amendments to that Act, require product clearances by the FDA as to newly-
introduced medical devices, such clearance procedures being time consuming and
costly. Difficulties with which the Company may encounter during the clearance
process may add to the delays and costs of introducing products and could
require significant changes to developed products or, perhaps, abandonment of a
product that has been developed through the expenditure of considerable time and
expense.

     (p)  Sales of medical devices outside of the United States are subject to
foreign regulatory requirements that vary widely from country to country. The
time required to obtain clearance to sell medical devices in foreign countries
may be longer or shorter than that required for FDA clearance. The European
union has recently developed a new approach to the regulation of medical
products that may significantly change the situation in those countries. The
receipt or denial of FDA clearance for a particular product may affect the
receipt or denial of regulatory clearance for that product in certain other
countries.

     (q)  Changes in the law or new interpretations of existing laws may have a
significant effect on the definition of permissible or impermissible activities,
the relative costs associated with doing business and the amount of
reimbursement by both government and third party payers. In addition, economic
forces, regulatory influences and political initiatives are subjecting the
health care industry to fundamental changes. Health care reform proposals have
been formulated by the current administration and by members of
<PAGE>
 
Congress. Federal, state and local government representatives are likely to
continue to review and assess alternative health care delivery systems and
payment methods and ongoing public debate of these issues can be expected. There
can be no assurance that any such efforts or reforms will not have an adverse
affect on the business, results of operations or financial condition of the
Company.

     (r)  In January, 1996, the Company acquired all of the outstanding shares
of stock of E for M Corporation. The Company believes that the acquisition will
provide an opportunity for cost savings through consolidation of facilities and
operations and for revenue and earnings growth rates greater than those possible
for either company alone. The achievement of these goals, however, is dependent
upon the successful integration of the two companies that have previously
operated independently. The successful integration of the operations of the
companies will require the dedication of substantial management resources. There
can be no assurance that difficulties encountered in integrating the operations
of the companies will be overcome or that the goals and benefits expected from a
successful integration will be realized. Difficulties encountered in connection
with the integration could have an adverse affect on the business, results of
operations or financial condition of the Company going forward.



<PAGE>
 
                                                                    Exhibit 99.2
                                                                    ------------


                            ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT TO
                            ------------------------
               AMENDED AND RESTATED ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION OF
               --------------------------------------------------
                          MARQUETTE ELECTRONICS, INC.
                          ---------------------------

     I.   The name of the Corporation is Marquette Electronics, Inc.

     II.  The text of each amendment adopted is as follows:

          (a)  Article 1 is amended by deleting Article 1 in its entirety and
inserting in lieu thereof a new Article 1, as follows:

     Article 1.  The name of the Corporation shall be Marquette Medical Systems,
Inc.

          (b)  Articles 4 and 5 are amended by deleting Articles 4 and 5 in
their entirety and inserting in lieu thereof, new Articles 4 and 5 as follows:

          Article 4.  The total number of shares of all classes which it shall
     have authority to issue is One Hundred Ten Million (110,000,000) shares
     consisting of and designated as Thirty Million (30,000,000) Class A Common
     Shares, Ten ($.10) cents par value, Fifty Million (50,000,000) Class C
     Common Shares, One ($.01) cent par value, and Thirty Million (30,000,000)
     Preferred Shares, without par value.

          Article 5.  The preferences, limitations and relative rights of each
     class of shares are:

     (a)  Class A Common Shares and Class C Common Shares:
          -----------------------------------------------

          (1)  Dividends
               ---------

               Dividends payable in cash may be declared on the Class A Common
          Shares without the declaration of any dividend on the Class C Common
          Shares, but no such dividend may be declared on the Class C Common
          Shares unless a dividend payable at the same time and in an amount one
          hundred (100) times as great per share is concurrently declared on the
          Class A Common Shares then outstanding.

          (2)  Liquidation Rights
               ------------------

               (i)  In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up
          of the corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary, the holders of
          all of the Common Shares then
<PAGE>
 
          outstanding shall be entitled to be paid out of the assets of the
          corporation available for distribution to its shareholders, whether
          such assets are capital surplus or earnings, based on the number of
          Common Shares held by each holder, provided that the amount
          distributed with respect to each Class A Common Share shall be one
          hundred (100) times as great as the amount distributed with respect to
          each Class C Common Share.

               (ii)  A consolidation or merger of the corporation with or into
          any other corporation or corporations shall not be deemed to be
          liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the corporation as those
          terms are used in this Paragraph (2).

          (3)  Reorganizations
               ---------------

               In the event of a consolidation or merger of the corporation with
          or into any other corporation or any other form of reorganization
          (other than a sale of assets) in which the corporation is not the
          surviving entity, the amount distributable with respect to or the
          number of shares or other securities of the surviving entity or other
          consideration payable or distributable with respect to each Class A
          Common Share shall be one hundred (100) times as great as the amount
          distributed or paid with respect to each Class C Common Share.

          (4)  Voting Rights
               -------------

               (A)  Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, each holder
          of any of the Common Shares shall be entitled to one vote for each
          share thereof held and except as required by the statutes of the State
          of Wisconsin, the holders of Class A Common Shares and Class C Common
          Shares shall vote together and not as separate classes.

               (B)  The voting requirements of Subsections 180.1003(3),
          180.1103(3), 180.1202(3), 180.1402(3) and 180.1404(2) of the Wisconsin
          Business Corporation Law shall apply and govern the shareholder vote
          required on a proposal concerning a subject covered by Subsection
          180.1003(3), 180.1103(3), 180.1202(3), 180.1402(3) and 180.1404(2).

               (C)  Inapplicability of Wisconsin Business Corporation Law
                    -----------------------------------------------------
                    Section 180.1131
                    ----------------

               The voting rights of the respective classes of shareholders of
          this corporation otherwise entitled to vote hereunder and, the manner
          in which such voting rights may be exercised shall not be governed by
          Wisconsin
<PAGE>
 
          Business Corporation Law Section 180.1131 notwithstanding that the
          subject matter to be voted upon might otherwise be subject thereto.

          (5)  Right of First Refusal -- Class C Common Shares
               -----------------------------------------------

               No holder of the Class C Common Shares may sell, encumber or
          transfer for value, any Class C Common Shares without first depositing
          the certificate(s) evidencing such shares with the Corporation, duly
          endorsed for transfer, and simultaneously notifying the Corporation,
          in writing, of the proposed transaction including the identity of the
          transferee and the price or other consideration to be paid. Within
          thirty (30) days following such deposit and notification, the
          Corporation may purchase such Class C Common Shares by paying to the
          holder of such shares the lower of the price offered by the proposed
          transferee, or one (1c) cent per share by delivery of the purchase
          price to the holder of such shares, failing which the shares evidenced
          by the certificate(s) so deposited may be sold in accordance with the
          proposed transaction. The Corporation shall not be obliged to accept,
          transfer or to re-register certificates evidencing any Class C Common
          Shares without an affidavit of the transferor and transferee or other
          evidence to the effect that such transfer is without value. A transfer
          for value, for purposes of this paragraph, shall include a transfer by
          any person which is part of a series of transfers or transactions in
          which the transferee, or a party or entity related to, or affiliated
          with, the transferee provides value, directly or indirectly, to the
          transferor or a person or entity related to, or affiliated with, the
          transferor.

     (b)  Preferred Shares
          ----------------

          (1)  The Preferred Shares may be issued from time to time in one or
     more series. The Board of Directors is hereby authorized, by filing an
     Articles of Amendment to the Corporation's Articles of Incorporation,
     without vote of shareholders and in accordance with Section 180.0602 of the
     Wisconsin Business Corporation Law (a "Preferred Shares Amendment"), to fix
     or alter from time to time, the designation, powers, preferences and rights
     of the shares of each such series, and the qualifications, limitations or
     restrictions thereof so far as not inconsistent with the provisions of this
     Article 5 and to the full extent now or hereafter permitted by the laws of
     the State of Wisconsin, including the following:

               (A) The distinctive designation of such series and the number of
          shares which shall constitute such series,
<PAGE>
 
          which number may be increased (except where otherwise provided by the
          Board of Directors in creating such series) or decreased (but not
          below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) from time to time
          by like action of the Board of Directors;

               (B)  The annual rate or rates of dividends payable on shares of
          such series, whether dividends shall be cumulative and, if so, the
          date or dates from which dividends shall be cumulative on the shares
          of such series, the preferences, restrictions, limitations and
          conditions upon the payment of dividends, and the dates on which
          dividends, if declared, shall be payable;

               (C)  Whether shares of such series shall be redeemable and, if
          so, the terms and conditions of such redemption, including the date or
          dates upon or after which they shall be redeemable, and the amount per
          share payable in case of redemption, which amount may vary under
          different conditions and at different redemption dates;

               (D)  The rights of the shares of such series in the event of
          voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the
          corporation, and the relative rights of priority, if any, of payment
          of shares of such series;

               (E)  Whether shares of such series shall have a purchase,
          retirement or sinking fund for the purchase, retirement, or redemption
          of shares of such series and, if so, the terms and provisions thereof;

               (F)  Whether shares of such series shall have conversion
          privileges and, if so, the terms and provisions thereof, including
          provision for adjustment of the conversion rate in such events as the
          Board of Directors shall determine;

               (G)  Whether shares of such series shall have voting rights, in
          addition to voting rights provided by law, and, if so, the terms and
          provisions thereof; and

               (H)  Any other preferences and relative, participating, optional
          or other special rights, and qualifications, limitations or
          restrictions thereof.

          (2) The holders of the Preferred Shares of each series shall be
     entitled to receive dividends, when and as declared by the Board of
     Directors from the funds legally therefor, as they may be entitled to in
     accordance with the Preferred Share Amendment adopted by the Board of
     Directors providing for the
<PAGE>
 
     issuance of such series, payable on such dates as may be fixed in such
     Amendment. So long as there shall be outstanding any shares of Preferred
     Shares of any series entitled to cumulative dividends pursuant to any such
     Preferred Share Amendment providing for the issue of such series, no
     dividend, whether in cash or property, shall be paid or declared, nor shall
     any distribution be made on the Common Shares (Class A or Class C), nor
     shall any Common Shares be purchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired for
     value by the Corporation (except as provided in Section 5) if at the time
     of making such payment, declaration, distribution, purchase, redemption or
     acquisition, the Corporation shall be in default with respect to any
     dividend payable on or obligation to maintain a purchase, retirement or
     sinking fund with respect to or to redeem shares of Preferred Shares of any
     series. The foregoing provisions of this Subsection (b)(2) shall not,
     however, apply to a dividend payable in Common Shares or to the acquisition
     of Common Shares in exchange for or through the application of the proceeds
     of the sale of shares of Common Shares. Subject to the foregoing and to any
     further limitations prescribed in accordance with the provisions of this
     Section (b) of this Article 5, the Board of Directors may declare, out of
     any funds legally available therefor, dividends upon the then outstanding
     Common Shares and the Preferred Shares of any series shall not be entitled
     to participate therein.

          (3)  In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation,
     dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, the holders of the Preferred
     Shares of each series shall be entitled to receive, out of the assets of
     the Corporation available for distribution to its stockholders before any
     distribution of assets shall be made to the holders of the Common Shares,
     the amount per share, if any, fixed by the Board of Directors in the
     Preferred Shares Amendment, plus in each such case an amount equal to any
     cumulative dividends thereon to the date of final distribution to the
     holders of the Preferred Shares, and the holders of the Common Shares shall
     be entitled, to the exclusion of the holders of the Preferred Shares of any
     and all series to participate ratably in all the assets of the Corporation
     then remaining in accordance with their respective rights and preferences.
     If upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation the
     assets available for distribution shall be insufficient to pay the holders
     of all outstanding shares of Preferred Shares the full amounts to which
     they shall be entitled, the holders of Preferred Shares of all series shall
     participate ratably in any distribution of assets according to the
     respective amounts which would be payable in respect of the Preferred
     Shares held by them upon such distribution if all amounts payable in
     respect of the Preferred Shares of all series were paid in full. Neither
     the statutory merger nor consolidation of the Corporation into or with any
     other
<PAGE>
 
     corporation, nor the statutory merger or consolidation of any other
     corporation into or with the Corporation, nor a sale, transfer or lease of
     all or any part of the assets of the Corporation, shall be deemed to be a
     liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the corporation within the
     meaning of this Subsection (3).

          (4)  The Corporation, at the option of the Board of Directors, may
     redeem the whole or any part of the Preferred Shares of any series at the
     price or prices and on the terms and conditions provided in the Preferred
     Shares Amendment adopted by the Board of Directors providing for the issue
     of such series.

          (5)  Anything herein or in any Preferred Shares Amendment adopted by
     the Board of Directors providing for the issue of any series of Preferred
     Shares contained to the contrary notwithstanding, the rights of the holders
     of all classes of stock of the Corporation in respect of dividends and
     purchase, retirement or sinking funds, if any, shall at all times be
     subject to the power of the Board of Directors from time to time to set
     aside such reserves and to make such other provisions, if any, as the Board
     of Directors shall deem to be necessary or advisable for working capital,
     for expansion of the Corporation's business (including the acquisition of
     real and personal property for the purpose) and for any other purpose of
     the Corporation.

          (6)  Except as otherwise provided by the statutes of the State of
     Wisconsin or by the Preferred Shares Amendment adopted by the Board of
     Directors providing for the issue of any series of Preferred Shares, the
     holders of the Preferred Shares shall have no right to vote. The holders of
     the Preferred Shares shall not be entitled to receive notice of any meeting
     of shareholders at which they are not entitled to vote or consent.

          (7)  Except as otherwise provided by the statutes of the State of
     Wisconsin or by the Preferred Shares Amendment adopted by the Board of
     Directors providing for the issue of any series of Preferred Shares, the
     vote of the holders of all or any portion of the Preferred Shares, as a
     class, shall not be required for any action whatsoever to be taken or
     authorized by the shareholders of the Corporation, including any amendment
     of the Articles of Incorporation.

     (c)  Waiver of Preemptive Rights
          ---------------------------

          No holder of any of the shares of this Corporation shall be entitled,
     as of right, to purchase or subscribe for any unissued stock of any class,
     or any additional shares of any class to be issued by reason of any
     increase of the authorized
<PAGE>
 
     shares of the Corporation of any class, or bonds, certificates of
     indebtedness, debentures or other securities convertible into shares of the
     Corporation, or carrying any right to purchase any stock of any class and
     any unissued shares, or such additional authorized issue of any shares or
     other securities convertible into shares or carrying any rights to purchase
     such shares may be issued and disposed of, pursuant to resolutions of the
     Board of Directors, to such persons, firms, corporations or associations
     and upon such other terms as may be deemed advisable by the Board of
     Directors in the exercise of its discretion.

     III. Each of the amendments was adopted on the 15th day of August, 1996, in
accordance with Section 180.1003 of the Wisconsin Business Corporation Law.

     Executed in duplicate this 15th day of August, 1996.



                           /s/ Timothy C. Mickelson
                          -------------------------------------------
                          Timothy C. Mickelson, President



This document was drafted by
Melvin S. Newman


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