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: May 18, 1998
(Date of earliest event reported)
INTELLIGENT CONTROLS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Maine 1-13628 01-0354107
(State or other jurisdiction of (Commission (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization) File No.) Identification No.)
74 Industrial Park Road, Saco, Maine 04072
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)
Registrant's telephone number: (207) 283-0156
Item 5. Other Events.
On May 18, 1998, Intelligent Controls, Inc. ("INCON" or the "Registrant")
consummated a settlement agreement pertaining to certain litigation filed
against INCON by John D. Knight, a former executive. The tentative terms of
such settlement were described in the Quarterly Report on Form 10-QSB for
the Registrant's fiscal quarter ended March 28, 1998.
The settlement involved the payment by INCON to Mr. Knight of (i) $40,000
plus (ii) an amount ($607,660) equivalent to repurchase of 248,240 option
shares from him at $3.25 per share, minus the exercise price for the
underlying options ($1.25 per share for 100,000 shares and $.50 per share
for 148,240 shares). The options were granted to Mr. Knight between 1986
and 1989. The repurchase price of $3.25 per share equals the price at which
INCON recently repurchased 475,000 shares of stock from other shareholders
pursuant to an issuer tender offer that terminated May 1, 1998.
The payment to Mr. Knight was funded from recent sales of 1,638,462 shares
of common stock to two investment funds affiliated with Ampersand Ventures,
in Wellesley, Massachusetts and 76,923 shares of common stock pursuant to a
restricted stock arrangement with INCON's new President and Chief Executive
Officer. Both sales occurred at $3.25 per share.
The settlement with Mr. Knight involves no admission of liability by INCON,
except that the Registrant has acknowledged that Mr. Knight exercised his
incentive stock option for 100,000 shares within three months after
termination of his employment. Both parties have executed general releases
as part of the terms of settlement.
Item 6. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(c) Exhibits.
99.1 Settlement Agreement and Mutual Release, dated May
13, 1998 and consummated May 18, 1998
99.2 Press release dated May 21, 1998, regarding
settlement of the Knight litigation
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.
INTELLIGENT CONTROLS, INC.
Date: May 22, 1998 By: /s/ Roger E. Brooks
President and Chief
Executive Officer
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
Exhibit
Number Description
- ------- --------------------------------------------
99.1 Settlement Agreement and Mutual Release, dated May
13, 1998 and consummated May 18, 1998
99.2 Press release dated May 21, 1998, regarding
settlement of the Knight litigation
SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT AND MUTUAL RELEASE
This Settlement Agreement and Mutual Release (the "Agreement") is made
and entered between JOHN D. KNIGHT ("Knight") and INTELLIGENT CONTROLS, INC.
("INCON") for the purpose of settling all claims between Knight and INCON
arising out of Knight's employment with INCON, including those which are
subject to pending litigation in the Cumberland County Superior Court,
Docket No. CV-96-770.
WHEREAS, Knight and INCON wish to resolve this litigation and all
claims therein without further expense and without any admission of
liability on the part of any party;
WITNESSETH:
In consideration of the covenants set forth herein and for valuable
consideration, the sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, Knight and
INCON agree as follows:
1. INCON will pay Knight $407,660 in respect to paragraphs 4 and 5 of
the Mediation Memorandum dated April 13, 1998.
2. INCON acknowledges Knight's exercise of the Incentive Stock
Options in the full amount of 100,000 shares of INCON stock at the price of
$1.25 per share pursuant to the Incentive Stock Option Agreement dated July
30, 1987. INCON acknowledges that Knight exercised these options by his
timely tender of funds to INCON in the amount of $125,000 within 90 days of
his termination from INCON. INCON shall issue Knight 100,000 shares of
INCON stock.
3. Knight agrees to sell, and INCON will re-purchase the 100,000
shares of INCON shares of stock from Mr. Knight at a price of $3.25 per
share.
4. INCON shall pay to Knight an additional $40,000 in cash.
5. It is understood and agreed that Knight may have certain tax
liabilities as a result of the transactions set forth above, and the
responsibility for these liabilities is Knight's and not INCON's.
6. It is further understood and agreed that the transaction whereby
Knight acquires the 100,000 shares of INCON stock for $1.25 per share shall
be scheduled by the parties in such a way as to accomplish these
transactions without any cash needing to pass from Knight to INCON for the
purchase of said stock. In addition, to the extent there are any additional
non-tax-related costs to Knight as a result of the transaction set forth
above, they will be calculated 24 hours prior to the time of the closing,
and must be approved in writing by Knight or his counsel before the closing.
If any additional costs are approved by Knight, they will be offset from
the final amount to be paid to Knight at the time of the closing.
7. It is further understood and agreed that the parties will close on
all transactions set forth in Paragraphs 1 - 6 above, as soon as practicable
after May 10, 1998, but in no event later than May 15, 1998.
8. INCON and Knight agree that the "Confidentiality and Non-
Competition Agreement" dated December 29, 1986, the "Confidentiality and
Non-Solicitation Agreement" dated February 28, 1991, and Exhibit A executed
by INCON on March 26, 1997, and by Knight on April 21, 1997, expire on the
date this document is executed. Neither INCON nor Knight will have any
further obligation thereunder.
9. Knight and INCON agree to execute a stipulation to entry of
judgment stating that Knight's payment to INCON of $125,000, together with
notice to INCON for the Incentive Stock Options on September 27, 1996,
exercised those stock options and that INCON has agreed to issue the share
certificate for the 100,000 shares of INCON stock with respect to which
Knight exercised those stock options on September 27, 1996.
10. Knight represents that he has reviewed INCON's most recent Form
10-KSB filed on March 27, 1998, the definitive Proxy Statement filed on
March 30, 1998, and Schedule 13E-4 filed on March 30, 1998, and has
otherwise conducted such investigation as he considers appropriate in
connection with his investment decision concerning the disposition of his
shares and related option rights pursuant to this Agreement.
11. Knight and INCON agree to execute a Stipulation to Dismiss all
claims and counterclaims against each other, with prejudice, each party to
bear its own costs and attorney's fees.
12. Release by Knight. Knight hereby forever releases and discharges
INCON and Ampersand Ventures, their divisions, subsidiaries, parents and/or
related companies, and their predecessors, affiliates, successors and
assigns and all of their agents, employees, attorneys, officers, directors
and shareholders and all persons acting by or through, under or in concert
with any of them, and each of them (hereafter "the Releasees"), of and from
any and all claims, complaints, liabilities, obligations, promises,
agreements, controversies, damages, actions, causes of action, suits,
rights, demands, costs, losses, injuries, charges, debts and expenses or
claims for attorney's fees of any kind or nature whatsoever, known or
unknown, which Knight now has or claims to have, or which Knight at any time
had or claimed to have had, against each or any of the Releasees, as of or
prior to the date of this Agreement. This Release and Discharge includes
but is not limited to any and all claims of any kind whatsoever, resulting,
arising out of or connected directly or indirectly to Knight's previous
employment with INCON and/or its affiliates or subsidiaries and the subject
matter of the lawsuit pending in the Superior Court, Cumberland County,
Docket No. CV-96-770. Knight specifically releases and discharges the
Releasees from any claim he has or may have under the Age Discrimination and
Employment Act ("ADEA"), the Employee Retirement Income Security Act
("ERISA"), and all other federal or state laws related to his employment.
Knight acknowledges that he has reviewed this Agreement with his own
attorney before signing the Agreement. Knight also acknowledges that he has
been given twenty-one (21) days to decide whether or not to sign this
Agreement. Knight also understands that if he signs this Agreement he has
seven (7) days to revoke the Agreement if he desires. This Release is
binding upon Knight's heirs, successors and assigns and the
administrator/executor of Knight's estate. Knight does not release, and it
is hereby agreed that Knight has preserved, all rights which he has pursuant
to (a) the "Mandatory Indemnification of Directors and Officers" set forth
in Article VI, Section 6.1; (b) the "Advance Payment of Expenses" set forth
in Article VI, Section 6.3; (c) the "Non-Exclusive Remedy Benefit" provision
set forth in Article VI, Section 6.4; (d) the "Insurance" provision set
forth in Article VI, Section 6.5; and (e) any other benefit or right to
which Knight might be entitled pursuant to the By-Laws of Intelligent
Controls, Inc., in effect on June 28, 1996.
13. Release by INCON. In consideration of the promises and
undertakings of Knight herein, INCON, its divisions, subsidiaries, parent
and/or related companies, its predecessors, affiliates, successors and
assigns and all of its agents, employees, attorneys, officers, directors,
and persons acting by or through, under or in concert with any of them, and
each of them (hereafter the INCON Releasors) hereby release and forever
discharge Knight, his heirs, successors, and assigns, from any and all
claims, demands, rights, and causes of action of whatsoever kind or nature,
arising from or by reason of any and all known and unknown, foreseen and
unforeseen, damages, including, but not limited to, any claim for payment of
health insurance premiums and all claims alleged or which could have been
alleged in a civil action pending in Cumberland County Superior Court,
entitled John D. Knight v. Intelligent Controls, Inc., with docket number
CV-96-770, and from any and all claims, demands, rights and causes of
action, of whatsoever kind or nature, arising out of any conduct of Knight
in his capacity as an employee, officer, director, or shareholder of INCON
or arising out of any contract between INCON and Knight, including, but not
limited to, the Confidentiality and Non-Competition Agreement, the
Confidentiality and Non-Solicitation Agreement, and Exhibit A, more fully
described in paragraph 8 of this Agreement. INCON further agrees to
indemnify Knight against any actions by shareholders, officers, directors,
and employees of INCON arising out of his employment with INCON, including,
but not limited to his actions as an officer and director of INCON.
14. Entire Agreement. This Settlement Agreement and Release
constitutes the entire agreement between the parties pertaining to the
subject matter contained herein. There are no covenants, promises,
undertakings or understandings outside of this Agreement. No supplement,
modification, or amendment of this Agreement shall be binding unless
executed in writing by the parties sought to be bound.
15. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be enforced according to the
laws of the State of Maine.
16. No Admission of Liability. This Agreement shall not in any way be
construed as an admission of liability by any party, except that INCON
agrees that Knight exercised the Incentive Stock Options with respect to
100,000 shares of INCON stock on September 27, 1996.
17. Non Assignment. Knight and INCON warrant that they have not
assigned any claims of the type identified in the above Settlement and
Mutual Release to any other person or entity.
Dated this 13th day of May, 1998.
/s/ Keith J. Johnson /s/ John D. Knight
Witness John D. Knight
Dated this 21st day of May, 1998.
INCON
/s/ Sharon Binette By: /s/ Roger E. Brooks
Witness Its President
NEWS RELEASE
Contact: Roger E. Brooks
Sharon Binette
(207) 283-0156
May 21, 1998
INTELLIGENT CONTROLS SETTLES LITIGATION
SACO, Maine, May 21, 1998 - Intelligent Controls, Inc. (INCON, Amex symbol
ITC) announced today the settlement of litigation filed by a former executive
in 1996.
Following termination of his employment in June 1996, John Knight filed suit
alleging that the Company owed him $287,100 in unpaid bonus payments over a
six and a half year period under his 1986 Employment Agreement, plus $574,200
in punitive damages. Knight had also challenged the Company's refusal to
allow his post-termination exercise of certain stock options for 248,240
shares. The Company had denied the allegations and asserted certain
counterclaims against Knight.
The parties agreed to dismiss the lawsuit in return for a $40,000 payment by
the Company to Knight, plus an additional payment equivalent to a repurchase
of the 248,240 shares from him at $3.25 per share, minus the aggregate
exercise price for his options. The $3.25 per share price is the same price
the Company offered to other shareholders in its recently completed tender
offer. As part of the terms of settlement, the Company has acknowledged that
Knight validly exercised certain of his stock options.
Said INCON's newly elected President and CEO, Roger Brooks: "I am pleased
that this litigation has been resolved after so long. The payment to Mr.
Knight is essentially equivalent to $40,000 over the value of the shares he
has surrendered to the Company. Due to the nature of the transaction, we
expect about a $470,000 one-time charge to earnings in the second quarter,
after giving effect to the resulting tax deduction. The settlement should
have no effect on future periods, other than to avoid ongoing litigation costs
and to free up some management time for more productive activities."
Intelligent Controls, Inc., based in Saco, Maine, is a leading supplier of
automatic tank gauging systems and line leak detection equipment for the
petroleum industry as well as general predictive maintenance instrumentation
for the power utility market and other industrial applications.
Additional information about Intelligent Controls, Inc. can be found on the
Internet at www.intelcon.com.
