As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February , 1999
Registration No. 333-
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
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FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
PORTA SYSTEMS CORP.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware 11-2203988
(State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization) Identification No.)
575 Underhill Boulevard
Syosset, New York 11791
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
Porta Systems Corp. Stock Purchase Program
Porta Systems Corp. Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Porta Systems Corp. Employee Stock Bonus Plan
(Full Title of Plans)
Porta Systems Corp.
575 Underhill Boulevard
Syosset, New York 11791
(516) 364-9300
(Name, address and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Copies to:
Warren H. Esanu, Esq.
Esanu Katsky Korins & Siger, LLP
605 Third Avenue
New York, New York 10158
(212) 953-6000
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
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Proposed Proposed
Title of maximum maximum
securities Amount offering aggregate
to be to be price offering Amount of
registered registered per unit price registration fee
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Common Stock issued
pursuant to Porta
Systems Corp. Stock
Purchase Program 186,000 $1.50 $279,000 $77.56
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Common Stock to be
issued pursuant to the
Porta Systems Employee
Stock Purchase Plan 1,000,000 $2.25(1) $2,250,000 $625.50
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Common Stock to be
issued pursuant to the
Porta System Employee
Stock Bonus Program 100,000 $2.25(1) $225,000 $62.55
================================================================================
(1) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee in
accordance with Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
based on the average of the high and low price of the Common Stock on the
American Stock Exchange on February 8, 1999.
This Registration Statement also serves as Post-Effective Amendment No. 1
to Registration Statement on Form S-8, File No. 333-68321, which covered our
1996 Stock Option Plan and our 1998 Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan.
================================================================================
<PAGE>
PROSPECTUS
186,000 Shares
PORTA SYSTEMS CORP.
Common Stock
This prospectus relates to 186,000 shares of common stock of Porta Systems
Corp., a Delaware corporation, which may be sold from time to time by the
Selling Stockholders named under the caption "Selling Stockholders." We will
issue the shares to the Selling Stockholders pursuant to our Stock Purchase
Program. We will receive $1.50 per share for each share that we sell pursuant to
the Stock Purchase Program. We will not receive any of the proceeds from the
sale of shares owned by the Selling Stockholders. We are paying the cost of this
registration statement, which is estimated at approximately $5,000. The Selling
Stockholders will pay for their own selling and other expenses in connection
with the sale of their shares.
The Selling Stockholders may sell their shares from time to time in
transactions (which may include block transactions) on the American Stock
Exchange or in negotiated transactions, a combination of such methods of sale or
otherwise. The Selling Stockholders may sell their shares at fixed prices which
may be changed, at market prices, in negotiated transactions, or by a
combination of fixed, negotiated and open market prices. The Selling
Stockholders may also transfer their shares by gift, by will or by the laws
governing the distribution of property not covered by a will.
The Selling Stockholders may sell their shares through broker-dealers, who
may act as brokers or may purchase the shares as principals for their own
account and then sell the shares from time to time on the American Stock
Exchange or otherwise on their own behalf. The Selling Stockholders may pay such
broker-dealers compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or
commissions. The purchasers of the shares may also pay commissions or other
compensation when they purchase shares. The compensation paid to a particular
broker-dealer may exceed the commissions it normally receives. We are not aware
of any arrangements by any Selling Stockholder for the sale of any of the shares
included in this Prospectus.
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THE PURCHASE OF THE SHARES IS A HIGH RISK INVESTMENT. YOU SHOULD ONLY PURCHASE
THE SHARES IF YOU CAN AFFORD TO SUSTAIN A LOSS OF YOUR ENTIRE INVESTMENT. SEE
"RISK FACTORS," WHICH BEGIN ON PAGE 3.
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NEITHER THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR ANY STATE SECURITIES
COMMISSION HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED OF THESE SECURITIES OR DETERMINED WHETHER
THIS PROSPECTUS IS TRUTHFUL OR COMPLETE. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A
CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
The date of this Prospectus is February ___, 1999
<PAGE>
AVAILABLE INFORMATION
We file annual, quarterly, and periodic reports, proxy statements and
other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission using the SEC's
EDGAR system. You may inspect these documents and copy information from them at
the SEC's Public Reference Section, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C.
20549, where copies of such material can also be obtained at prescribed rates.
The SEC can be reached at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information. The SEC
maintains a Web site that contains reports, proxy and information statements and
other information regarding registrants that file electronically with the SEC.
The address of such site is http//www.sec.gov. Such reports, proxy statements
and other information can also be inspected at the offices of the American Stock
Exchange, Inc., 86 Trinity Place, New York, New York 10006-1881, on which our
Common Stock is listed.
We have filed a registration statement with the SEC relating to the
offering of the shares. The registration statement contains information which is
not included in this Prospectus. You may inspect or copy the registration
statement at the SEC's public reference facilities or its Web site.
We furnish our stockholders with annual reports containing audited
financial statements and with such other periodic reports as we from time to
time deems appropriate or as may be required by law. We use the calendar year as
our fiscal year.
YOU SHOULD RELY ONLY ON THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS AND
THE INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE REFERRED YOU TO. WE HAVE NOT AUTHORIZED ANY PERSON
TO PROVIDE YOU WITH ANY INFORMATION THAT IS DIFFERENT.
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
We have filed the following documents with the SEC. We are incorporating
these documents in this Prospectus, and they are part of this Prospectus.
(1) Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1997;
(2) Amendment No. 1 to Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 1997;
(3) Our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31,
1998, June 30, 1998 and September 30, 1998;
(4) Our Proxy Statement for our 1998 Annual Meeting of Stockholders;
(5) Our Current Report on Form 8-K, dated January 2, 1998, as filed with
the SEC on February 6, 1998; and
(6) The description of our Common Stock contained in our Registration
Statement on Form 8-A, filed on April 26, 1977, which became
effective on April 26, 1977.
We are also incorporating by reference in this Prospectus all documents
which we file pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15 of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, after the date of this Prospectus. Such
documents are incorporated by reference in this Prospectus and are a part this
Prospectus from the date we file the documents with the SEC.
If we file with the SEC any document that contains information which is
different from the information contained in this Prospectus, you may rely only
on the most recent information which we have filed with the SEC.
We will provide a copy of the documents referred to above without charge
if you request the information from us. However, we may charge you for the cost
of providing any exhibits to any of these documents unless we specifically
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<PAGE>
incorporate the exhibits in this Prospectus. You should contact Mr. Edward B.
Kornfeld, Senior Vice President - Operations and Chief Financial Officer, Porta
Systems Corp., 575 Underhill Boulevard, Syosset, New York 11791, telephone (516)
364-9300 if you wish to receive any of such material.
RISK FACTORS
You are cautioned that the statements in this Prospectus, including
statements in documents incorporated by reference in this Prospectus, that are
not descriptions of historical facts may be forward looking statements that are
subject to risks and uncertainties. In particular, statements in this
Prospectus, including any material incorporated by reference in this Prospectus,
that state our intentions, beliefs, expectations, strategies, predictions or any
other variations thereof or comparable phraseology of our future activities or
other future events or conditions are "forward-looking statements" as that term
is defined under the Federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements are
subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, including, but not limited
to, those identified under "Risk Factors," those described in Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Conditions and Results of Operations in our
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1997, our Form 10-Q for the quarter
ended September 30, 1998, and in any other filings which are incorporated by
reference in this Prospectus, as well as general economic conditions, any one or
more of which could cause actual results to differ materially from those stated
in such statements.
An investment in our Common Stock involves a high degree of risk. If you
purchase any shares of Common Stock, you should consider carefully, along with
other factors, the following risks and should consult with your own legal, tax
and financial advisors with respect thereto.
We recently incurred losses from our operations. We incurred losses in
1997, 1995 and 1994. We incurred a net loss of $6.9 million, or $2.22 per share
(basic and diluted), on sales of $62.2 million, for 1997. Although we generated
income before extraordinary gains of $1.3 million, or $.57 per share ($.23 per
share on a diluted basis), on sales of $58.0 million for the 1996, prior to
1996, we sustained significant losses (before extraordinary gain) of $32.8
million, or $22.45 per share, on sales of $61.2 million for 1995, and $40.0
million, or $27.51 per share, on sales of $69.0 million for 1994. The loss in
1997 reflects a primarily non-cash charge of $11.5 million taken as a result of
the reduction to $3.65 from $6.55 in the conversion price of our Zero Coupon
Senior Subordinated Notes due January 2, 1998 and the conversion of those Zero
Coupon Notes into Common Stock at the reduced conversion price. The losses in
1995 and 1994 reflect declining gross margins, resulting from our illiquidity
and other cash problems, and reflected (i) our inability to purchase materials
efficiently and to obtain materials from certain suppliers, (ii) the
underabsorption of significant overhead costs allocated to costs of sales
compared with our standard costing methods, (iii) the need to rework inventory
in order to fulfill customer orders and (iv) the losses and cash expenditures
from unprofitable business units. In the first quarter of 1996, we sold our
fiber optics division, which had been operating at a loss. For the nine months
ended September 30, 1998, we had a net income of $1.3 million, or $.14 per share
($.13 per share on a diluted basis), on sales of $45.2 million. However, we may
sustain losses in the future.
We have significant need to finance our working capital requirements. At
September 30, 1998, we had working capital of $12.7 million. Our working capital
improved from December 31, 1997 as a result of (a) increased accounts
receivable, (b) reduced in the principal amount of our 6% Convertible
Subordinated Debentures and (iii) lower balances of accounts payable, accrued
expenses and accrued commissions.
Although we have positive working capital, we remain dependent on our
lines of credit to operate our business. Our revolving credit agreement with
Foothill Capital Corporation has been our principal source of funding for our
operations since November 1994, and we will need to extend the line or find
another lender. We may not be able to extend our loan agreement with Foothill,
which expires in January 2001, or enter into acceptable agreements with other
lenders to finance our working capital needs. At September 30, 1998, we owed
Foothill $10.7 million in addition to standby letters of credit of approximately
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<PAGE>
$9.0 million and notes payable of $2.8 million. Our obligations to Foothill are
secured by a security interest in substantially all of our assets. In addition,
in January 1998, we borrowed $6.0 million from a group of investors to whom we
issued our 12% debentures due January 3, 2000. If we are unable to extend or
refinance these obligations, which mature in January 2000 and in January 2001,
our business and operations will be materially and adversely affected.
We are heavily dependent on sales overseas for our revenues. Approximately
71%, 70% and 73% of our sales for 1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively, were made
to foreign telephone operating companies. In foreign markets, we face
considerable competition from other United States and foreign telephone
equipment manufacturers most of which are larger and have substantially greater
financial resources than us. In selling to customers in foreign countries, we
are exposed to inherent risks not normally present in the case of our sales to
United States customers, including greater difficulty in meeting customers'
technical requirements, extended delays in completing and customer final payment
for our Operational Support Systems contracts, and political and economic
change. In addition, if we establish facilities in foreign countries, we face
risks associated with currency devaluation, difficulties in either converting
local currency into dollars or transferring funds to the United States, local
tax and currency regulations and political instability. Furthermore, we often
market Operational Support Systems to lesser developed countries, which may be
unable to fund the purchase without the assistance of the World Bank, a United
Nations affiliate, or a similar organization, which both delays and complicates
the execution of a contract and the timing of payments. Also, the economies of
lesser developed countries are often unstable and, as a result, such countries
may be unable to perform their obligations.
We rely on heavily on a few customers for most of our sales. From 1995 to
1997, almost half of our sales were from our five largest customers. During
1997, 1996 and 1995, our five largest customers accounted for sales of $30.6
million, or approximately 49% of sales, $27.8 million, or approximately 48% of
sales, and $31.5 million, or approximately 52% of sales, respectively. Our
largest customer is British Telecommunications, plc. Sales to British
Telecommunications for 1997, 1996 and 1995 amounted to approximately $13.9
million, $11.3 million and $17.3 million, respectively, or approximately 22%,
20% and 28%, respectively, of our sales for such years. Therefore, any
significant interruption or decline in sales to British Telecommunications may
have a materially adverse effect upon our operations. During 1996, sales to
Philippines Long Distance Telephone were $7.0 million, or approximately 12% of
sales. During 1995, sales to the Korea Telephone Company were $7.7 million, or
approximately 13% of sales. No other customer accounted for 10% or more of our
sales for any of such years. Approximately 64% and 33% of accounts receivable at
December 31, 1997 and 1996, respectively, are due from our five largest
customers.
In November 1996, we amended our supply agreement with British
Telecommunications pursuant to which we sold line connecting/protecting products
to British Telecommunications. The amended agreement lowered our selling prices
to British Telecommunications for existing products and reduced our gross margin
for new products sold to British Telecommunications. Pursuant to the amended
agreement, we are no longer the exclusive supplier of these products to British
Telecommunications. The amended contract also provides for a cross-license
which, in effect, enables British Telecommunications to use certain of our
proprietary information to modify or enhance products provided to British
Telecommunications and permits those products to be manufactured by British
Telecommunications or others for its own purposes.
In addition, the former Bell operating companies continue to be the
ultimate purchasers of a significant portion of our products sold in the United
States, while sales to foreign telephone operating companies constitute the
major portion of our foreign sales. Our contracts with these customers require
no minimum purchases. Significant customers for our signal processing products
include the major domestic aerospace companies, Department of Defense service
depots and original equipment manufacturers in the medical imaging and process
control equipment industries. We sell both catalog and custom designed products
to these customers.
We have difficulties with Operational Support System contracts. We
experience delays in purchaser acceptance of the Operational Support Systems and
our receipt of final contract payments in
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connection with a number of foreign sales. In addition, we have no steady or
predictable flow of orders for Operational Support Systems. The Operational
Support System is complex system and, in most applications, incorporate features
designed to respond to a purchaser's operational requirements and the particular
characteristics of the purchaser's telephone system. As a result, the
negotiation of a contract for an Operational Support System is an individualized
and highly technical process. Contracts for these systems frequently provide for
manufacturing, delivery, installation, testing and purchaser acceptance phases
which take place over periods of up to a year or more. Such contracts typically
contain performance guarantees by us and clauses imposing penalties on us if
"in-service" dates are not met. The installation, testing and purchaser
acceptance phases of these contracts may last longer than contemplated by the
contracts and, accordingly, amounts due under the contracts may not be collected
for extended periods.
Our competitors are larger and have vastly greater financial resources. We
compete directly with a number of large and small telephone equipment
manufacturers in the United States, with Lucent Technologies, Inc. continuing to
be our principal United States competitor. Lucent's greater resources, extensive
research and development facilities, long-standing equipment supply
relationships with the regional "baby bell" companies and history of
manufacturing and marketing products similar in function to those produced by us
continue to be significant factors in our competitive environment. Furthermore,
in the past, competitors have used our financial difficulties as a sales tool.
Our industry is characterized by intense competition, rapid technological
change and a movement to private ownership of telecommunications equipment. In
competing for telephone operating company business, the purchase price of
equipment and associated operating expenses have become significant factors,
along with product design and long-standing equipment supply relationships. In
the customer premises equipment market, we operate in a market characterized by
distributors and installers of equipment and by commodity pricing.
We rely primarily on the performance and design characteristics of our
products and we try to offer our products at prices and with warranties that
will make our products competitive. Access to current technological advances is
important to our ability to market our products. Our business could be adversely
affected if we cannot get access to or offer products which incorporate such
technology.
In connection with overseas sales of our line connecting/protecting
equipment, we have met with significant competition from United States and
foreign manufacturers of comparable equipment and expects this competition to
continue. In addition to Lucent, a number of our overseas competitors have
significantly greater resources than us.
We compete directly with a number of substantial domestic and
international companies with respect to our sales of Operational Support
Systems. In meeting this competition, we rely primarily on the features of our
line testing equipment, our ability to customize systems and our endeavors to
offer such equipment at prices and with warranties that will make us
competitive.
We rely on certain key employees. We may be dependent upon the continued
employment of certain key employees, including our senior executive officers.
Our failure to retain such employees may have a material adverse effect upon our
business.
We are subject to litigation. In July 1996, certain of our stockholders
and warrant holders, who acquired their securities in connection with our
acquisition of Aster Corporation, sued us and certain of our present and former
directors in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, New York County. These
plaintiffs alleged that we breached an agreement with them and that the
directors breached their fiduciary duty to them. These claims were based on the
allegation that we failed to register certain restricted shares and warrants
owned by the plaintiffs. The plaintiffs seek damages of $413,000; however,
counsel for the plaintiff have advised us that additional plaintiffs may be
added and, as a result, the amount of damages claimed may be substantially
greater than the amount presently claimed. We believe that the defendants have
valid defenses to the claims. The case is in the discovery stage.
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<PAGE>
In July 1996, the SEC issued an order directing a private investigation of
us to determine whether there has been a violation of Federal securities laws.
The SEC indicated to our counsel that the investigation relates to the position
of the SEC staff that the independence of our auditors for 1995, KPMG Peat
Marwick LLP, was tainted because our former interim president and chief
operating officer, Edward R. Olson, was at that time the President of KPMG
BayMark Strategies LLC, an affiliate of Peat Marwick. We are continuing to
cooperate with the SEC's investigation. We retained BDO Seidman, LLP to reaudit
our 1995 financial statements, which reaudit resulted in no changes to our 1995
financial statements as audited by KPMG Peat Marwick. We do not believe that the
investigation will result in any material liability on our part. The SEC has not
contacted us regarding this investigation since November 1996.
We may have problems with the year 2000 issue. Many existing computer
programs use only two digits to identify a year in a date field. These programs
were designed and developed without considering the impact of the upcoming
change in the century. If not corrected, many computer applications could fail
or create erroneous results by or at the year 2000. This issue is referred to as
the "Year 2000 issue" or "Y2K." We initiated a company-wide program to prepare
our computer systems and applications to deal with the Year 2000 issue. We
expect to incur internal staff costs and other expenses to prepare our systems
for the year 2000. We expect both to replace existing systems and to upgrade
other systems. The total cost of this effort is still being evaluated.
Maintenance or modification costs will be expensed as incurred. Although we do
not expect such costs to be material, it is possible that our actual costs may
significantly exceed our expectations.
We do not pay dividends on Common Stock. We have not paid dividends on our
Common Stock and do not anticipate paying dividends in the foreseeable future.
We presently intend to retain future earnings, if any, in order to provide funds
for use in the operation and expansion of our business and, accordingly, do not
anticipate paying cash dividends on our Common Stock in the foreseeable future.
In addition, our agreement with Foothill prohibits payment of dividends.
USE OF PROCEEDS
We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of the shares. To the
extent that we receive any proceeds from the purchase of any shares issued or to
be issued to the Selling Stockholders, we will use such proceeds for working
capital and general corporate purposes.
SELLING STOCKHOLDERS
The following table sets forth, as of February 8, 1999, (i) the name of
each Selling Stockholder, (ii) the nature of any position, office or other
material relationship, if any, which each Selling Stockholder has had with us or
any of our affiliates within the last three years, (iii) the number of shares of
Common Stock owned by each Selling Stockholder prior to the offering, (iv) the
number of shares of Common Stock offered for each Selling Stockholder's account,
(v) the number of shares of Common Stock owned by each Selling Stockholder after
completion of the offering, and (vi) the percentage owned by each Selling
Stockholder after completion of the offering.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Shares of
Common Stock
Shares of Offered For Shares of
Common Stock Account of Common Stock Percentage
Owned Prior Selling Owned After Owned
Selling Stockholder to Offering(1) Stockholder Offering After Offering(2)
------------------- -------------- ----------- -------- -----------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
William V. Carney(2),(4) 243,423 16,000 227,423 *
Seymour Joffe(5) 160,863 6,667 154,196 *
</TABLE>
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<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Shares of
Common Stock
Shares of Offered For Shares of
Common Stock Account of Common Stock Percentage
Owned Prior Selling Owned After Owned
Selling Stockholder to Offering(1) Stockholder Offering After Offering(2)
------------------- -------------- ----------- -------- -----------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Michael A. Tancredi(6) 98,827 10,000 88,827 *
Warren H. Esanu(2),(3),(7) 96,500 20,000 76,500 *
Herbert H. Feldman(2),(3),(8) 56,000 20,000 36,000 *
Stanley Kreitman(2),(3),(9) 56,500 20,000 36,500 *
Lloyd I. Miller III(3),(10) 1,991,730 20,000 1,971,730 20.7%
Robert Schreiber(3),(11) 54,000 20,000 34,000 *
Edward B. Kornfeld(12) 100,000 12,000 88,000 *
John J. Gazzo(13) 43,020 9,333 33,687 *
Ron Wilkins(14) 42,000 12,000 30,000 *
</TABLE>
(1) Assumes exercise of all of such Selling Stockholder's options and
securities convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of
Common Stock including stock being purchased under the Stock Purchase
Program.
(2) Member of the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors.
(3) Member of the Audit and Compensation Committees of the Board of Directors.
(4) Mr. Carney has been Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer
since October 1996. He was Vice Chairman from 1988 to October 1996, Senior
Vice President from 1989 to October 1996, Chief Technical Officer since
1990 and Secretary from 1977 to October 1996 and 1,186 shares of Common
Stock pledged to Porta Systems to secure certain obligations to Porta
Systems. He also served as Senior Vice President-Mechanical Engineering
from 1988 to 1989, Senior Vice President-Connector Products from 1985 to
1988, Senior Vice President-Manufacturing from 1984 to 1985 and Senior
Vice President-Operations from 1977 to 1984. Includes 183,150 shares of
Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of options held by Mr. Carney,
1,186 shares of Common Stock pledged to Porta Systems to secure certain
obligations to Porta Systems and 16,000 shares of Common Stock purchased
under the Stock Purchase Program.
(5) Mr. Joffe was elected President and Chief Operating Officer in October of
1996. Mr. Joffe, who served as director of Porta Systems from 1987 to
1992, has most recently served Porta Systems as senior consultant to its
Operations Support Systems business. Includes 3,500 shares of Common Stock
owned by Mr. Joffe's wife, 19,196 shares of Common Stock owned by Joffe
Marketing International, Inc., and 127,500 shares of Common Stock issuable
upon the exercise of options held by Mr. Joffe. Joffe Marketing
International is owned 80% by Mr. Joffe and 20% by an unrelated Party. Mr.
Joffe disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares owned by (a) Joffe
Marketing International except to the extent of his equity interest
therein and (b) his wife. Includes 6,667 shares of Common Stock purchased
under the Stock Purchase Program.
(6) Mr. Tancredi has been Senior Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer since
January 1997. He has been Vice President-Administration since 1995 and
Treasurer since 1978, having served as Vice President-Finance and
Administration from 1989 to 1995 and Vice-President-Finance from
1984-1989. Includes 77,170 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the
exercise of options held by Mr. Tancredi, 798 shares of Common Stock
pledged to Porta Systems to secure certain obligations to Porta Systems
and 10,000 shares of Common Stock purchased under the Stock Purchase
Program.
(7) Mr. Esanu was Chairman of the Board of Porta Systems from March 1996 to
October 1996 and director from 1989 to 1996, and re-appointed to the Board
of Directors in April of 1997. He has been of counsel to Esanu Katsky
Korins & Siger, LLP, which is counsel to Porta Systems, for more than the
past three years. Includes 46,500 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the
exercise of (a) options held by Mr. Esanu and (b) a warrant held by Elmira
Realty Management Corp. Pension and Profit Sharing
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<PAGE>
Plan. Under the terms of this pension plan, Mr. Esanu has sole voting and
dispositive power with respect to the shares issuable upon the exercise of
the warrant. Includes 20,000 shares of Common Stock purchased under the
Stock Purchase Program.
(8) Mr. Feldman has been a director of Porta Systems since 1989. Represents
36,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of options held
by Mr. Feldman and 20,000 shares of Common Stock purchased under the Stock
Purchase Program.
(9) Mr. Kreitman has been a director of Porta Systems since 1970. Represents
36,500 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of options held
by Mr. Kreitman and 20,000 shares of Common Stock purchased under the
Stock Purchase Program.
(10) Mr. Miller has been a director of Porta Systems since March 1998. Includes
2,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of options held by
Mr. Miller and 20,000 shares of Common Stock purchased under the Stock
Purchase Program.
(11) Mr. Schreiber has been a director of Porta Systems since April 1997.
Includes 34,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of
options held by Mr. Schreiber and 20,000 shares of Common Stock purchased
under the Stock Purchase Program.
(12) Mr. Kornfeld has been Senior Vice President-Operations since 1996 and has
been Vice President-Finance and Chief Financial Officer since October
1995. Represents 88,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise
of options held by Mr. Kornfeld and 12,000 shares of Common Stock
purchased under the Stock Purchase Program.
(13) Mr. Gazzo has been Senior Vice President since March 1996. He was Vice
President-Marketing of Porta Systems from April 1993 until March 1996 and
was general manager of its Porta Electronics Division from November 1989
to April 1993; he was Porta Systems' Vice President-Research and
Development from March 1984 to November 1989 and was Vice
President-Engineering from February 1978 to February 184. Includes 19,900
shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of options held by Mr.
Gazzo, 9,333 shares of Common Stock purchased under the Stock Purchase
Program and 798 shares of Common Stock pledged to Porta Systems to secure
certain obligations to Porta Systems.
(14) Mr. Wilkins has been Senior Vice President and Managing Director of OSS
Division since September 1998. Represents 12,000 shares purchased under
the Stock Purchase Program and 30,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon
the exercise of an option held by Mr. Wilkins.
INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL
Warren H. Esanu, one of our directors, is of counsel to Esanu Katsky
Korins & Siger, LLP, our counsel. Mr. Esanu has subscribed for 20,000 shares
pursuant to our Stock Purchase Program and we granted him options to purchase
34,000 shares under our stock option plans. The options granted under our 1998
stock option plan have an exercise price of $3.25 as to 15,000 shares of Common
Stock, and the options granted under the 1996 stock option plan have exercise
prices of $3.85, $1.4188 and $1.50 as to an aggregate of 19,000 shares of Common
Stock.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
The Selling Stockholders may sell the shares from time to time in
transactions (which may include block transactions) on the American Stock
Exchange, in negotiated transactions or both. They may sell the shares at fixed
prices which may be changed, at market prices or in negotiated transactions, a
combination of such methods of sale or otherwise. The Selling Stockholders may
also transfer shares by gift, by will or by the laws governing the distribution
of property not covered by a will.
The Selling Stockholders may sell the shares directly to purchasers,
through broker-dealers acting as agents for the Selling Stockholders or to
broker-dealers who may purchase securities as principals for their own account.
The Selling Stockholders pay the broker-dealers a brokerage fee or a discount
from the sales price. The purchaser of the shares may also pay a brokerage fee
or other charge. The compensation to a particular broker-dealer may exceed the
commissions they normally receive. We do not know of any arrangements by any
Selling Stockholder for the sale of any of the shares.
The Selling Stockholders and broker-dealers, if any, acting in connection
with such sales might be deemed to be "underwriters" within the meaning of
Section 2(11) of the Securities Act of 1933 and any commission received by them
and any profit on the resale of the securities might be deemed to be
underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act of 1933.
8
<PAGE>
The Selling Stockholders understand that the anti-manipulative rules under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which are set forth in Regulation M, may
apply to its sales in the market. We have furnished the Selling Stockholders
with a copy of Regulation M, and we have informed them that they should deliver
a copy of this Prospectus when they sell any shares.
LEGAL MATTERS
The validity of the Common Stock offered hereby has been passed upon by
Esanu Katsky Korins & Siger, LLP, legal counsel to Porta Systems. Mr. Warren H.
Esanu, one of our directors, is of counsel to Esanu Katsky Korins & Siger, LLP.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements incorporated by reference in this
Prospectus and elsewhere in the Registration Statement to the extent and for the
periods indicated in their report have been audited by BDO Seidman, LLP,
independent certified public accountants, and are included herein in reliance
upon the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing in giving
such report.
9
<PAGE>
PART II
INFORMATION REQUESTED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Relevance.
The following documents have been filed by Porta Systems Corp. (the
"Company") with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") (File No.
1-8191) and are incorporated herein by reference:
(1) Porta Systems' Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 1997;
(2) Amendment No. 1 to Porta Systems' Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the year ended December 31, 1997;
(3) Porta Systems' Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the fiscal
quarters ended March 31, 1998, June 30, 1998 and September 30, 1998;
(4) Porta Systems' Current Report on Form 8-K, dated January 2,
1998, as filed with the SEC on February 6, 1998;
(5) All other reports filed by Porta Systems pursuant to Section
13(a) and 15(d) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
(the "Exchange Act"), since December 31, 1997; and
(6) The description of Porta Systems' Common Stock contained in
Porta Systems' Registration Statement on Form 8-A, filed on April 26,
1977, which became effective on April 26, 1977.
All documents subsequently filed pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and
15 of the Exchange Act prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which
indicates that all securities hereby have been sold or which deregisters
securities then remaining unsold shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference
in this Registration Statement and to be a part hereof from the date of filing
of such documents.
The exhibit index appears on page II-2 of this Registration Statement.
Item 4. Description of Securities.
Not applicable.
Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.
Warren H. Esanu, a director of Porta Systems, is of counsel to Esanu
Katsky Korins & Siger, LLP, counsel to Porta Systems. Mr. Esanu has subscribed
for 20,000 shares pursuant to our Stock Purchase Program and we granted him
options to purchase 34,000 shares under our stock option plans. The options
granted under our 1998 stock option plan have an exercise price of $3.25 as to
15,000 shares of Common Stock, and the options granted under our 1996 stock
option plan have a strike price of $3.85, $1.4188 and $1.50 as to an aggregate
of 19,000 shares of Common Stock.
Item 6. Indemnification of Officers and Directors.
Under the Delaware General Corporation Law ("DGCL"), a corporation may
indemnify any director, officer, employee or agent against expense (including
attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement in connection
with any specified threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding,
whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action
by or in the right of the corporation) if such person acted in good faith and in
a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best
interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal proceeding, had
no reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful.
II-1
<PAGE>
Porta Systems' Certificate of Incorporation provides, among other things,
that Porta Systems shall indemnify, to the fullest extent permitted under the
DGCL as it may be amended from time to time, any person who is or was a director
or officer of Porta Systems and who is or was a party or is threatened to be
made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding,
whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action
by or in the right of Porta Systems), by reason of the fact that such person (i)
is or was a director or officer of Porta Systems, or (ii) is or was serving at
the request of Porta Systems as director, officer, employee, agent of another
corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise (including
service with respect to employee benefit plans), against all expense, liability
and loss (including attorneys' fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes or
penalties and amounts paid or to be paid in settlement) actually and reasonably
incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding. This
indemnification continues as to a person who has ceased to be a director or
officer of Porta Systems and inures to the benefit of such person's heirs,
executors and administrators. The right of indemnification under the Certificate
of Incorporation is deemed to be a contract right.
Porta Systems also maintains directors and officers liability insurance
("D&O Insurance"). The D&O Insurance covers any person who has been or is an
officer or director of Porta Systems or of any of its subsidiaries for all
expense, liability and loss (including attorneys' fees, investigation costs,
judgments, fines, penalties and amounts paid or to be paid in settlement)
actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action,
suit or proceeding.
Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed.
Not applicable.
Item 8. Exhibits
4.1 Porta Systems Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
4.2 Porta Systems Stock Purchase Program
4.3 Porta Systems Employee Stock Bonus Program
5.1 Opinion of Esanu Katsky Korins & Siger, LLP.
23.1 Consent of BDO Seidman, LLP.
23.2 Consent of Esanu Katsky Korins & Siger, LLP (contained in Exhibit 5.1
hereto).
24.1 Power of Attorney (included on the signature page).
Item 9. Undertakings.
(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being
made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:
(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act");
(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising
after the effective date of the Registration Statement (or the most
recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in
the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set
forth in the Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the
total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which
was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the
estimated
II-2
<PAGE>
maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus
filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the
changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in
the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the "Calculation
of Registration Fee" table in the effective registration statement;
(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan
of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration
statement or any material change to such information in the
registration statement;
provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not
apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective
amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed
with or furnished to the SEC by the Registrant pursuant to Section
13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by
reference in the registration statement.
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new
registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial
bona fide offering thereof.
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective
amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at
the termination of the offering.
(b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Act, each filing of the registrant's annual
report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and,
where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's annual report
pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference
in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(h) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Act may
be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant
pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been
advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public
policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event
that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the
payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or
controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action,
suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person
in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless
in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling
precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether
such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and
will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
II-3
<PAGE>
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of Syosset, State of New York on this 11th day of
February, 1999.
Porta Systems Corp.
/s/ William V. Carney
-------------------------------------------
William V. Carney, Chairman of the Board
and Chief Executive Officer
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
this registration statement has been signed by the following persons on behalf
of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated. Each person
whose signature appears below hereby authorizes William V. Carney, Seymour Joffe
and Edward B. Kornfeld or any of them acting in the absence of the others, as
his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution
and resubstitution for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all
capacities to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments)
to this registration statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto
and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
Signature Title Date
- --------- ----- ----
/s/ William V. Carney Chairman of the Board, February 11, 1999
- ----------------------------- Chief Executive Officer
William V. Carney and Director
(Principal Executive Officer)
/s/ Edward B. Kornfeld Senior Vice President and February 11, 1999
- ----------------------------- Chief Financial Officer
Edward B. Kornfeld
(Principal Financial
and Accounting Officer)
/s/ Seymour Joffe Director February 11, 1999
- -----------------------------
Seymour Joffe
/s/ Michael A. Tancredi Director February 11, 1999
- -----------------------------
Michael A. Tancredi
/s/ Warren H.Esanu Director February 11, 1999
- -----------------------------
Warren H. Esanu
/s/ Herbert H. Feldman Director February 11, 1999
- -----------------------------
Herbert H. Feldman
/s/ Stanley Kreitman Director February 11, 1999
- -----------------------------
Stanley Kreitman
/s/ Lloyd I. Miller Director February 11, 1999
- -----------------------------
Lloyd I. Miller, III
/s/ Robert Schreiber Director February 11, 1999
- -----------------------------
Robert Schreiber
Exhibit 4.1
PORTA SYSTEMS CORP. EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
ARTICLE I
INTRODUCTION
1.01 Purpose. The Porta Systems Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the "Plan") is
intended to provide a method whereby employees of Porta Systems Corp. (the
"Company") and its Eligible Subsidiary Corporations (as defined below) will have
an opportunity to acquire a proprietary interest in the Company through the
purchase of shares of the Common Stock of the Company.
1.02 Rules of Interpretation. It is the intention of the Company to have the
Plan qualify as an "employee stock purchase plan" under Section 423 of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), although the Company
makes no undertaking nor representation to maintain such qualification. The
provisions of the Plan shall be construed so as to extend and limit
participation in a manner consistent with the requirements of that section of
the Code.
ARTICLE II
DEFINITIONS
2.01 "Compensation" shall mean the gross cash compensation (including, wage,
salary and overtime earnings) paid by the Company or any Eligible Subsidiary
Corporation to a participant in accordance with the terms of employment, but
excluding all bonus payments, expense allowances and compensation paid in a form
other than cash.
2.02 "Committee" shall mean the individuals described in Article XI.
2.03 "Eligible Subsidiary Corporation" shall mean each Subsidiary Corporation
the employees of which are entitled to participate in the Plan, as listed or
referred to on Schedule 2.03 hereto.
2.04 "Employee" shall mean any person employed by the Company or any Eligible
Subsidiary Corporation, including any full-time, part-time or temporary
employee.
2.05 "Plan Representative" shall mean any person designated from time to time by
the Committee to receive certain notices and take certain other administrative
actions relating to participation in the Plan.
2.06 "Subsidiary Corporation" shall mean any corporation (other than the
Company) in an unbroken chain of corporations beginning with the Company, as
described in Section 424(f) of the Code.
<PAGE>
ARTICLE III
ELIGIBILITY AND PARTICIPATION
3.01 Initial Eligibility. Each Employee who shall have completed six consecutive
months of employment with the Company or any Eligible Subsidiary Corporation and
shall be employed by the Company or any Eligible Subsidiary Corporation on the
date his or her participation in the Plan is to become effective shall be
eligible to participate in Offerings (as defined below) under the Plan which
commence after such six-month period has concluded. Persons who are not
Employees shall not be eligible to participate in the Plan. All Employees who
participate in the Plan shall have the same rights and privileges under the Plan
except for differences which are consistent with Section 423(b)(5) of the Code
and the regulations thereunder.
3.02 Restrictions on Participation. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to
the contrary, no Employee shall be granted an option to purchase shares of
Common Stock under the Plan:
(a) if, immediately after the grant, such Employee would own stock and/or hold
outstanding options to purchase stock possessing 5% or more of the total
combined voting power or value of all classes of stock of the Company or of any
of its Subsidiary Corporations (for purposes of this paragraph, the rules of
Section 424(d) of the Code shall apply in determining stock ownership of any
Employee); or
(b) which permits such Employee's rights to purchase stock under all Employee
stock purchase plans of the Company to accrue at a rate which exceeds $25,000 of
fair market value of the stock (determined at the time such option is granted)
for each calendar year in which such option is outstanding at any time.
3.03 Commencement of Participation. An eligible Employee may become a
participant by completing an authorization for payroll deductions on the form
provided by the Company and filing the completed form with the Plan
Representative on or before the filing date set therefor by the Committee, which
date shall be at least 30 days prior to the Offering Commencement Date for the
next following Offering (as such terms are defined below). Payroll deductions
for a participant shall commence on the next following Offering Commencement
Date after the Employee's authorization for payroll deductions becomes effective
and shall continue until termination of the Plan or the participant's earlier
termination of participation in the Plan. Each participant in the Plan shall be
deemed to continue participation until termination of the Plan or such
participant's earlier termination of participation in the Plan pursuant to
Article VIII below.
ARTICLE IV
STOCK SUBJECT TO THE PLAN AND OFFERINGS
4.01 Stock Subject to the Plan. Subject to the provisions of Section 12.04 of
the Plan, the
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<PAGE>
Company's Board of Directors shall reserve initially for issuance under the Plan
an aggregate of one million (1,000,000) shares of the Company's common stock
(the "Common Stock"), which shares shall be authorized but unissued shares of
Common Stock. The Company's Board of Directors may from time to time reserve
additional shares of authorized and unissued Common Stock for issuance pursuant
to the Plan; provided, however, that at no time shall the number of shares of
Common Stock reserved be greater than permitted by applicable law.
4.02 Offerings. The Plan will be implemented by successive quarterly offerings
of the Company's Common Stock (the "Offerings"). The first Offering shall begin
on May 1, 1999 and end on July 31, 1999. Each successive Offering shall begin on
the day following the last day of the previous Offering and end three months
later on the final day of the calendar month following the calendar month after
the calendar month in which the first day of the Offering occurs. The first day
of each Offering shall be deemed the "Offering Commencement Date" and the last
day the "Offering Termination Date" for such Offering.
ARTICLE V
PAYROLL DEDUCTIONS
5.01 Amount of Deduction. The form described in Section 3.03 will permit a
participant to elect payroll deductions of zero percent (O%), any whole
percentage from one percent (1%) through twelve percent (12%) or twelve and
one-half percent (12.5%) of such participant's Compensation for each pay period
during an Offering.
5.02 Participant's Account. All payroll deductions made for a participant shall
be credited to an account established for such participant under the Plan. A
participant may not make any separate cash payment into such account.
5.03 Changes in Payroll Deductions. A participant may reduce or increase future
payroll deductions (within the limits described in Section 5.01) by filing with
the Plan Representative a form provided by the Company for such purpose. The
effective date of any increase or reduction in future payroll deductions will be
the first day of the next pay period succeeding processing of the change form.
ARTICLE VI
GRANTING OF OPTION
6.01 Number of Option Shares. On the Commencement Date of each Offering, each
participating Employee shall be deemed to have been granted an option to
purchase a maximum number of shares of Common Stock equal to (a) the sum of (x)
(i) that percentage of the Employee's Compensation
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<PAGE>
which the Employee has elected to have withheld (but not in any case in excess
of 12.5%) multiplied by (ii) the Employee's Compensation during the Offering and
(y) the amount of any accumulated payroll deductions from a prior Offering held
for the purchase of Common Stock pursuant to Section 7.03 below divided by (b)
the applicable Option Price determined as provided in Section 6.02 below.
6.02 Option Price. The option price of stock purchased with payroll deductions
made during any Offering (the "Offering Price") for a participant therein shall
be the lower of:
(a) the greater of (x) 85% of the closing price of the stock on the Offering
Commencement Date for such Offering or the nearest prior business day on which
trading occurred on the American Stock Exchange and (y) the average of the
prices of the stock on the last five days preceding the Offering on which
trading occurred on the American Stock Exchange; or
(b) the greater of (x) 85% of the closing price on the Offering Termination Date
for such Offering or the nearest prior business day on which trading occurred on
the American Stock Exchange and (y) the average of the prices of the stock on
the last five days of the Offering on which trading occurred on the American
Stock Exchange. For purposes of determining the average of the prices of stock
over a five-day period, the price of the stock for any day shall be the average
of the highest price and the lowest price at which the stock was traded on the
American Stock Exchange on that day.
ARTICLE VII
EXERCISE OF OPTION
7.01 Automatic Exercise. Each Plan participant's option for the purchase of
stock with payroll deductions made during any Offering will be deemed to have
been exercised automatically on the applicable Offering Termination Date for the
purchase of the number of full shares of Common Stock which the accumulated
payroll deductions in the participant's account at the time will purchase at the
applicable Option Price (but not in excess of the number of shares for which
outstanding options have been granted to the participant pursuant to Section
6.01).
7.02 Withdrawal of Account. No participant in the Plan shall be entitled to
withdraw any amount from the accumulated payroll deductions in his or her
account; provided, however, that a participant's accumulated payroll deductions
shall be refunded to the participant as and to the extent specified in Section
8.01 below upon termination of such participant's participation in the Plan.
7.03 Fractional Shares. Fractional shares of Common Stock will not be issued
under the Plan. Any accumulated payroll deductions which would have been used to
purchase fractional shares, unless refunded pursuant to Section 7.02 above, will
be held for the purchase of Common Stock in the next following Offering, without
interest.
7.04 Exercise of Options. During a participant's lifetime, options held by such
participant shall
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<PAGE>
be exercisable only by such participant.
7.05 Delivery of Stock. As promptly as practicable after the Offering
Termination Date of each Offering, the Company will deliver to each participant
in such Offering, as appropriate, the shares of Common Stock purchased therein
upon exercise of such participant's option. The Company may deliver such shares
in certificated or book entry form, at the Company's sole election.
7.06 Stock Transfer Restrictions. The Plan is intended to satisfy the
requirements of Section 423 of the Code. A participant will not obtain the
benefits of this provision if such participant disposes of shares of Common
Stock acquired pursuant to the Plan within two (2) years from the Offering
Commencement Date or within one (1) year from the date such Common Stock is
purchased by the participant, whichever is later.
ARTICLE VIII
WITHDRAWAL
8.01 In General. A participant may stop participating in the Plan at any time by
giving written notice to the Plan Representative. Upon processing of any such
written notice, no further payroll deductions will be made from the
participant's Compensation during such Offering or thereafter, unless and until
such participant elects to resume participation in the Plan by providing written
notice to the Plan Representative pursuant to Section 3.03 above. Such
participant's payroll deductions accumulated prior to processing of such notice
shall be applied toward purchasing full shares of Common Stock in the
then-current Offering as provided in Section 7.01 above. Any cash balance
remaining after the purchase of shares in such Offering shall be refunded
promptly to such participant.
8.02 Effect on Subsequent Participation. A participant's withdrawal from any
Offering will not have any effect upon such participant's eligibility to
participate in any succeeding Offering or in any similar plan which may
hereafter be adopted by the Company and for which such participant is otherwise
eligible.
8.03 Termination of Employment. Upon termination of a participant's employment
with the Company or any Eligible Subsidiary Corporation (as the case may be) for
any reason, including retirement or death, the participant's payroll deductions
accumulated prior to such termination, if any, shall be applied toward
purchasing full shares of Common Stock in the then-current Offering, and any
cash balance remaining after the purchase of shares in such Offering shall be
refunded to him or her, or, in the case of his or her death, to the person or
persons entitled thereto under Section 12.01, and his or her participation in
the Plan shall be deemed to be terminated.
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<PAGE>
ARTICLE IX
INTEREST
9.01 Payment of Interest. No interest will be paid or allowed on any money paid
into the Plan or credited to the account of or distributed to any participant
Employee.
ARTICLE X
STOCK
10.01 Participant's Interest in Option Stock. No participant will have any
interest in shares of Common Stock covered by any option held by such
participant until such option has been exercised as provided in Section 7.01
above.
10.02 Registration of Stock. Shares of Common Stock purchased by a participant
under the Plan will be registered in the name of the participant, or, if the
participant so directs by written notice to the Plan Representative prior to the
Offering Termination Date applicable thereto, in the names of the participant
and one such other person as may be designated by the participant, as joint
tenants with rights of survivorship or as tenants by the entireties, to the
extent permitted by applicable law.
10.03 Restrictions on Exercise. The Board of Directors may, in its discretion,
require as conditions to the exercise of any option that the shares of Common
Stock reserved for issuance upon the exercise of such option shall have been
duly listed, upon official notice of issuance, upon a stock exchange or market,
and that either:
(a) a registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, with
respect to said shares shall be effective, or
(b) the participant shall have represented at the time of purchase, in form and
substance satisfactory to the Company, that it is his or her intention to
purchase the shares for investment and not for resale or distribution.
ARTICLE XI
ADMINISTRATION
11.01 Appointment of Committee. The Board of Directors shall appoint a committee
(the "Committee") to administer the Plan, which shall consist solely of no fewer
than three "nonemployee directors (as defined in Rule 16b-3(a)(3) promulgated
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended).
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<PAGE>
11.02 Authority of Committee. Subject to the express provisions of the Plan, the
Committee shall have plenary authority in its discretion to interpret and
construe any and all provision of the Plan, to adopt rules and regulations for
administering the Plan, and to make all other determinations deemed necessary or
advisable for administering the Plan. The Committee's determination of the
foregoing matters shall be conclusive.
11.03 Rules Governing the Administration of the Committee. The Board of
Directors may from time to time appoint members of the Committee in substitution
for or in addition to members previously appointed and may fill vacancies,
however caused, in the Committee. The Committee may select one of its members as
its chairman, shall hold its meetings at such times and places as it shall deem
advisable, and may hold telephonic meetings. All determinations of the Committee
shall be made by a majority of its members. A decision or determination reduced
to writing and signed by a majority of the members of the Committee shall be as
fully effective as if it had been made by a majority vote at a meeting duly
called and held. The Committee may appoint a secretary and shall make such rules
and regulations for the conduct of its business as it shall deem advisable.
ARTICLE XII
MISCELLANEOUS
12.01 Designation of Beneficiary. A participant may file with the Plan
Representative a written designation of a beneficiary who is to receive any
shares of Common Stock and/or cash under the Plan upon the participant's death.
Such designation of beneficiary may be changed by the participant at any time by
written notice to the Plan Representative. Upon the death of a participant and
receipt by the Company of proof of identity and existence at the participant's
death of a beneficiary validly designated by the participant under the Plan, and
subject to Article VIII above concerning withdrawal from the Plan, the Company
shall deliver such shares of Common Stock and/or cash to such beneficiary. In
the event of the death of a participant lacking a beneficiary validly designated
under the Plan who is living at the time of such participant's death, the
Company shall deliver such shares of Common Stock and/or cash to the executor or
administrator of the estate of the participant, or if no such executor or
administrator has been appointed (to the knowledge of the Company), the Company,
in its discretion, may deliver such shares of Common Stock and/or cash to the
spouse or to any one or more dependents of the participant, in each case without
any further liability of the Company whatsoever under or relating to the Plan.
No beneficiary shall, prior to the death of the participant by whom he or she
has been designated, acquire any interest in the shares of Common Stock and/or
cash credited to the participant under the Plan.
12.02 Transferability. Neither payroll deductions credited to any participant's
account nor any option or rights with regard to the exercise of an option or to
receive Common Stock under the Plan may be assigned, transferred, pledged, or
otherwise disposed of in any way by the participant other than by will or the
laws of descent and distribution. Any such attempted assignment, transfer,
pledge or other disposition shall be without effect, except that the Company
may, in its discretion, treat such act as an election to withdraw from
participation in the Plan in accordance with Section 8.01.
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<PAGE>
12.03 Use of Funds. All payroll deductions received or held by the Company under
the Plan may be used by the Company for any corporate purpose. The Company shall
not be obligated to segregate such payroll deductions.
12.04 Adjustment Upon Changes in Capitalization.
(a) If, while any options are outstanding under the Plan, the outstanding shares
of Common Stock of the Company have increased, decreased, changed into, or been
exchanged for a different number or kind of shares or securities of the Company
through any reorganization, merger, recapitalization, reclassification, stock
split, reverse stock split or similar transaction, appropriate and proportionate
adjustments may be made by the Committee in the number and/or kind of shares
which are subject to purchase under outstanding options and in the Option Price
or Prices applicable to such outstanding options. In addition, in any such
event, the number and/or kind of shares which may be offered in the Offerings
described in Article IV hereof shall also be proportionately adjusted. No such
adjustments shall be made for or in respect of stock dividends. For purposes of
this paragraph, any distribution of shares of Common Stock to shareholders in an
amount aggregating 20% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock shall
be deemed a stock split, and any distribution of shares aggregating less than
20% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock shall be deemed a stock dividend.
(b) Upon the dissolution or liquidation of the Company, or upon a
reorganization, merger or consolidation of the Company with one or more
corporations as a result of which the Company is not the surviving corporation,
or upon a sale of substantially all of the property or capital stock of the
Company to another corporation, the holder of each option then outstanding under
the Plan will thereafter be entitled to receive at the next Offering Termination
Date, upon the exercise of such option, for each share as to which such option
shall be exercised, as nearly as reasonably may be determined, the cash,
securities and/or property which a holder of one share of the Common Stock was
entitled to receive upon and at the time of such transaction. The Board of
Directors shall take such steps in connection with such transactions as the
Board shall deem necessary to assure that the provisions of this Section 12.04
shall thereafter be applicable, as nearly as reasonably may be determined, in
relation to the said cash, securities and/or property as to which each such
holder of any such option might hereafter be entitled to receive.
12.05 Amendment and Termination. The Board of Directors shall have complete
power and authority to terminate or amend the Plan; provided, however, that the
Board of Directors shall not, without the approval of the shareholders of the
Company, alter (i) the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock which may be
issued under the Plan (except pursuant to Section 12.04 above), or (ii) the
class of employees eligible to receive options under the Plan, other than to
designate additional Subsidiary Corporations as Eligible Subsidiary
Corporations, and provided further, however, that no termination, modification,
or amendment of the Plan may, without the consent of an Employee then having an
option under the Plan to purchase shares of Common Stock, adversely affect the
rights of such Employee under such option.
12.06 Effective Date. The Plan shall become effective as of January 21, 1999
subject to approval by the holders of a majority of the shares of Common Stock
present and represented at any special
-8-
<PAGE>
or annual meeting of the shareholders of the Company duly held within 12 months
after adoption of the Plan. If the Plan is not so approved, the Plan shall not
become effective.
12.07 No Employment Rights. The Plan does not, directly or indirectly, create in
any person any right with respect to continuation of employment by the Company
or any Subsidiary Corporation, and it shall not be deemed to interfere in any
way with the Company's or any Subsidiary Corporation's right to terminate, or
otherwise modify, any employee's employment at any time.
12.08 Effect of Plan. The provisions of the Plan shall, in accordance with its
terms, be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, all successors of each
Employee participating in the Plan, including, without limitation, such
Employee's estate and the executors, administrators or trustees thereof, heirs
and legatees, and any receiver, trustee in bankruptcy or representative of
creditors of such Employee.
12.09 Governing Law. The law of the State of New York will govern all matters
relating to this Plan except to the extent superseded by the federal laws of the
United States.
12.10 Committee Rules for Foreign Jurisdictions. The Committee may adopt rules
or procedures relating to the operation and administration of the Plan to
accommodate the specific requirements of local laws and procedures; provided,
however, that any such rules or procedures do not result in an Offering Price
which is less than the lesser of an amount equal to 85% of the fair market value
of the stock on the Offering Commencement Date or 85% of the value of the stock
on the Offering Termination Date. Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, the Committee is specifically authorized to adopt rules and
procedures regarding handling of payroll deductions, payment of interest,
conversion of local currency, payroll tax, withholding procedures and handling
of stock certificates which vary with local requirements.
Schedule 2.03 to Porta Systems Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Eligible Subsidiary Corporations
1. Porta Systems Ltd., U.K.
-9-
PORTA SYSTEMS CORP.
Stock Purchase Program
The purpose of the Stock Purchase Program (the "Program") of Porta Systems
Corp., a Delaware corporation (the "Corporation"), is to increase the direct
equity in investment in the Corporation of the participating senior executive
officers and directors (the "Participants") of this Corporation and to permit
Participants to purchase shares of the Corporation's common stock, par value
$.01 per share ("Common Stock"), through payroll deductions for officers or
deductions from directors' fees for directors who are not officers ("outside
directors").
The number of shares of Common Stock ("Subscribed Shares") to be purchased
by each Participant is determined by dividing the Participant's Applicable
Compensation by one and 50/100 dollars ($1.50), being the fair value per share
of Common Stock on the date of the adoption of the Program. The Applicable
Compensation shall be (a) ten percent (10%) of salary with respect to
Participants who are officers and (b) thirty thousand dollars ($30,000) with
respect to Participants who are outside directors.
Set forth below is a list of the Participants and the Applicable
Compensation and number of Subscribed Shares being purchased by each
Participant.
Participant Applicable Compensation Subscribed Shares
- ----------- ----------------------- -----------------
William V. Carney $ 24,000 16,000
Seymour Joffe 10,000 6,667
Edward B. Kornfeld 18,000 12,000
Ron Wilkins 18,000 12,000
Michael A. Tancredi 15,000 10,000
John Gazzo 14,000 9,333
Howard D. Brous 30,000 20,000
Warren H. Esanu 30,000 20,000
Herbert H. Feldman 30,000 20,000
Stanley Kreitman 30,000 20,000
Lloyd I. Miller, III 30,000 20,000
Robert Schreiber 30,000 20,000
-------- -------
$279,000 186,000
======== =======
Payment for the purchase price (the "Purchase Price") of the Subscribed
Shares by Participants who are officers of the Corporation shall be made by
paying, through a reduction insalary, an amount equal to ten percent (10%) of
the gross compensation payable to the Participant for each payroll commencing
with the November 27, 1998 payroll, until the purchase price for the Subscribed
Shares shall be paid in full; provided, however, that, to the extent that the
Purchase Price shall not be paid by February 28, 2000, the unpaid portion of the
Purchase Price shall be paid in full as a deduction from the salary payable in
the first payroll in March 2000. In
<PAGE>
no event shall the payments made by any Participant exceed the Applicable
Compensation. Each Participant shall be responsible for paying or providing for
all withholding taxes payable with respect to the payment for the Purchase Price
of his Subscribed Shares.
Each Participant who is an outside director of the Corporation shall pay
the Purchase Price of his Subscribed Shares, by paying, through a reduction in
directors fees' payable to such Participant, an amount equal to all of the
directors fees payable to such Participant commencing with the fees payable with
respect to the Director fees due on January 1, 1999, until the Purchase Price
for his Subscribed Shares shall have been paid in full; provided, however, that,
to the extent that the Purchase Price shall not be paid by February 28, 2000,
the unpaid portion of the Purchase Price shall be paid in full on March 15,
2000.
In the event that any Participant ceases, for any reason, including the
death of the Participant, to be an officer or director of the Corporation prior
to payment in full of the Purchase Price for his Subscribed Shares, the unpaid
portion of the Purchase Price shall be due and payable one hundred twenty (120)
days after the date of the Participant ceases to be an officer or director for
any reason.
The Subscribed Shares shall be issued to the Participants as soon as
practical after January 1, 1999; provided, that the certificate for such
Subscribed Shares shall be held by the Corporation, along with a stock power
executed by the Participant. Such shares shall be held as security for the
payment by the Participant of the Purchase Price; provided, however, that the
obligation of the Participant to pay the Purchase Price shall be a full recourse
obligation of the Participant. Upon receipt by the Corporation of the full
payment of the Purchase Price, the Corporation shall deliver the certificate for
the Subscribed Shares and return the stock power to the Participant. No shares
shall be issued prior to the effectiveness of a registration statement on Form
S-8 pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
The Program shall be administered by the Compensation Committee of the
Board of Directors.
The officers of the Corporation shall execute a purchase agreement with
each Participant in such form as shall be approved by the Board of Directors or
the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors.
-2-
Exhibit 4.3
PORTA SYSTEMS CORP.
Employee Stock Bonus Plan
The purpose of the Employee Stock Bonus Plan (the "Plan") of Porta Systems
Corp., a Delaware corporation (the "Corporation"), is to provide a method for
the Corporation to recognize contributions to the Corporation's business by its
employees through the grant of shares of the Corporation's common stock, par
value $.01 per share ("Common Stock"). A maximum of one hundred thousand
(100,000) shares of Common Stock are reserved for issuance pursuant to the Plan.
Stock grants pursuant to the plan may be given by any officer of the
Corporation holding a position of Senior Vice President or higher ("Senior
Executive Officer") to employees who are neither officers nor directors of the
Corporation. Such stock grants shall be given in the discretion of a Senior
Executive Officer for such number of shares of Common Stock as he or she may
deem appropriate. However, no stock grant pursuant to the Plan may exceed five
hundred (500) shares and no employee may receive stock grants which, in the
aggregate, exceed five hundred (500) shares. Withholding taxes on such grants
will be made through payroll deductions from such employee's salary.
No shares shall be granted under the Plan prior to the effectiveness of a
registration statement on Form S-8 pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended.
Exhibit 5.1
February 11, 1999
Securities and Exchange Commission
450 Fifth Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20549
Re: Porta Systems Corp.
Gentlemen:
We refer to the registration statement on Form S-8 (the "Registration
Statement") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), filed by
Porta Systems Corp., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), with the Securities
and Exchange Commission. Terms defined in the Registration Statement and not
otherwise defined in this opinion shall have the same meanings in here as in the
Registration Statement.
We have examined the originals or photocopies or certified copies of such
records of the Company, certificates of officers of the Company and public
officials, and other documents as we have deemed relevant and necessary as a
basis for the opinion hereinafter expressed. In such examination, we have
assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents
submitted to us as certified copies or photocopies and the authenticity of the
originals of such latter documents.
We are aware that Section 12.06 of the Porta Systems Corp. Employee Stock
Purchase Plan (the "Purchase Plan") provides that the Purchase Plan was approved
by the Company's Board of Directors, subject to stockholder approval which has
not been obtained, and, accordingly, no shares of Common Stock may be issued
thereunder until and unless stockholder approval required by the Purchase Plan
is obtained.
Based on our examination mentioned above and, with respect to the Purchase
Plan, subject to stockholder approval as provided therein, we are of the opinion
that the shares of Common Stock issued or to be issued, from time to time, in
connection with the Porta Systems Corp. Stock Purchase Program, the
<PAGE>
Securities and Exchange Commission
February 11, 1999
Page 2
Purchase Plan and the Porta Systems Corp. Employee Stock Bonus Plan
(collectively, the "Plans") are duly authorized and, when issued in accordance
with terms of the applicable Plan, will be validly issued, fully paid and
non-assessable.
Please note that Warren H. Esanu, Esq., who is of counsel to this firm, is
a director of the Company.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as Exhibit 5.1 to the
Registration Statement and to the reference to our firm under "Legal Matters" in
the related Prospectus. In giving the foregoing consent, we do not hereby admit
that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7
of the Act or the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
Very truly yours,
/s Esanu Katsky Korins & Siger, LLP
------------------------------------
ESANU KATSKY KORINS & SIGER, LLP
Exhibit 23.1
Consent of Independent Certified Public Accountants
Porta Systems Corp.
Syosset, New York
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Prospectus
constituting a part of this Registration Statement of our report dated March 9,
1998, relating to the financial statements of Porta Systems Corp. (the
"Company") appearing in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K (and Amendment
No. 1 thereto) for the year ended December 31, 1997.
We also consent to the reference to us under the caption "Experts" in the
Prospectus.
/s/ BDO Seidman, LLP
- ------------------------
BDO Seidman, LLP
Melville, New York
February 11, 1999
