<PAGE>
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 (Date of earliest event reported) November 4, 1998
----------------------
ST. JOHN KNITS, INC.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
California 1-11752 95-2245070
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(State or other jurisdiction (Commission (IRS Employer
of incorporation) File Number) Identification No.)
17422 Derian Avenue, Irvine, California 92614
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code (949) 863-1171
------------------------------
Not Applicable
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)
<PAGE>
ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS
- ------ ------------
On November 4, 1998, the Board of Directors of St. John Knits, Inc.
(the "Company") declared a dividend of one preferred share purchase right (a
"Right") for each outstanding share of Common Stock, no par value (the "Common
Shares"), of the Company. The dividend is payable on November 18, 1998 (the
"Record Date") to the shareholders of record on that date. Each Right entitles
the registered holder to purchase from the Company one one-hundredth of a share
of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the
"Preferred Shares"), of the Company at a price of $85.00 per one one-hundredth
of a Preferred Share (the "Purchase Price"), subject to adjustment. The
description and terms of the Rights are set forth in a Rights Agreement (the
"Rights Agreement") between the Company and Harris Trust Company of California,
as Rights Agent (the "Rights Agent").
Until the earlier to occur of (i) 10 days following a public
announcement that a person or group of affiliated or associated persons (an
"Acquiring Person") have acquired beneficial ownership of 15% or more of the
outstanding Common Shares or (ii) 10 business days (or such later date as may be
determined by action of the Board of Directors prior to such time as any person
or group of affiliated persons becomes an Acquiring Person) following the
commencement of, or announcement of an intention to make, a tender offer or
exchange offer the consummation of which would result in the beneficial
ownership by a person or group of 15% or more of the outstanding Common Shares
(the earlier of such dates being called the "Distribution Date"), the Rights
will be evidenced, with respect to any of the Common Share certificates
outstanding as of the Record Date, by such Common Share certificate with a copy
of the Summary of Rights attached thereto.
The Rights Agreement provides that, until the Distribution Date (or
earlier redemption or expiration of the Rights), the Rights will be transferred
with and only with the Common Shares. Until the Distribution Date (or earlier
redemption or expiration of the Rights), new Common Share certificates issued
after the Record Date upon transfer or new issuance of Common Shares will
contain a notation incorporating the Rights Agreement by reference. Until the
Distribution Date (or earlier redemption or expiration of the Rights), the
surrender for transfer of any certificates for Common Shares outstanding as of
the Record Date, even without such notation or a copy of the Summary of Rights
being attached thereto, will also constitute the transfer of the Rights
associated with the Common Shares represented by such certificate. As soon as
practicable following the Distribution Date, separate certificates evidencing
the Rights ("Right Certificates") will be mailed to holders of record of the
Common Shares as of the close of business on the Distribution Date and such
separate Right Certificates alone will evidence the Rights.
The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date. The
Rights will expire on November 18, 2008 (the "Final Expiration Date"), unless
the Final Expiration Date is extended or unless the Rights are earlier redeemed
or exchanged by the Company, in each case, as described below.
The Purchase Price payable, and the number of Preferred Shares or
other securities or property issuable, upon exercise of the Rights are subject
to adjustment from time to time to prevent dilution (i) in the event of a stock
dividend on, or a subdivision, combination or
2
<PAGE>
reclassification of, the Preferred Shares, (ii) upon the grant to holders of the
Preferred Shares of certain rights or warrants to subscribe for or purchase
Preferred Shares at a price, or securities convertible into Preferred Shares
with a conversion price, less than the then-current market price of the
Preferred Shares or (iii) upon the distribution to holders of the Preferred
Shares of evidences of indebtedness or assets (excluding regular periodic cash
dividends paid out of earnings or retained earnings or dividends payable in
Preferred Shares) or of subscription rights or warrants (other than those
referred to above).
The number of outstanding Rights and the number of one one-hundredths
of a Preferred Share issuable upon exercise of each Right are also subject to
adjustment in the event of a stock split of the Common Shares or a stock
dividend on the Common Shares payable in Common Shares or subdivisions,
consolidations or combinations of the Common Shares occurring, in any such case,
prior to the Distribution Date.
Preferred Shares purchasable upon exercise of the Rights will not be
redeemable. Each Preferred Share will be entitled to an aggregate dividend of
100 times the dividend declared per Common Share, but at least a preferential
quarterly dividend payment of $1 per share. In the event of liquidation, the
holders of the Preferred Shares will be entitled to an aggregate payment of 100
times the payment made per Common Share, but at least a preferential liquidation
payment of $100 per share. Each Preferred Share will have 100 votes, voting
together with the Common Shares. Finally, in the event of any merger,
consolidation or other transaction in which Common Shares are exchanged, each
Preferred Share will be entitled to receive 100 times the amount received per
Common Share. These rights are protected by customary antidilution provisions.
Because of the nature of the Preferred Shares' dividend, liquidation
and voting rights, the value of the one one-hundredth interest in a Preferred
Share purchasable upon exercise of each Right should approximate the value of
one Common Share.
In the event that the Company is acquired in a merger or other
business combination transaction or 50% or more of its consolidated assets or
earning power are sold after a person or group has become an Acquiring Person,
proper provision will be made so that each holder of a Right will thereafter
have the right to receive, upon the exercise thereof at the then current
exercise price of the Right, that number of shares of common stock of the
acquiring company which at the time of such transaction will have a market value
of two times the exercise price of the Right. In the event that any person or
group of affiliated or associated persons becomes an Acquiring Person, proper
provision shall be made so that each holder of a Right, other than Rights
beneficially owned by the Acquiring Person (which will thereafter be void), will
thereafter have the right to receive upon exercise that number of Common Shares
having a market value of two times the exercise price of the Right.
At any time after any person or group becomes an Acquiring Person and
prior to the acquisition by such person or group of 50% or more of the
outstanding Common Shares, the Board of Directors of the Company may exchange
the Rights (other than Rights owned by such person or group which will have
become void), in whole or in part, at an exchange ratio of one Common Share, or
one one-hundredth of a Preferred Share (or of a share of a class or series of
3
<PAGE>
the Company's preferred stock having equivalent rights, preferences and
privileges), per Right (subject to adjustment).
With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the Purchase Price will be
required until cumulative adjustments require an adjustment of at least 1% in
such Purchase Price. No fractional Preferred Shares will be issued (other than
fractions which are integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a Preferred
Share, which may, at the election of the Company, be evidenced by depositary
receipts) and in lieu thereof, an adjustment in cash will be made based on the
market price of the Preferred Shares on the last trading day prior to the date
of exercise.
At any time prior to the first date of public announcement of an
acquisition by a person or group of affiliated or associated persons of
beneficial ownership of 15% or more of the outstanding Common Shares, the Board
of Directors of the Company may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part, at
a price of $.01 per Right (the "Redemption Price"). The redemption of the
Rights may be made effective at such time on such basis with such conditions as
the Board of Directors in its sole discretion may establish. Immediately upon
any redemption of the Rights, the right to exercise the Rights will terminate
and the only right of the holders of Rights will be to receive the Redemption
Price.
Until a Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will have no
rights as a shareholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right
to vote or to receive dividends.
A copy of the Rights Agreement has been filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission as Exhibit 2 to the Registration Statement on Form 8-A dated
November 12, 1998. A copy of the Rights Agreement is available free of charge
from the Company. This summary description of the Rights does not purport to be
complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Rights Agreement,
which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 7. EXHIBITS
- ------ --------
Reference is made to the Exhibit Index annexed hereto and made a part
hereof.
4
<PAGE>
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
Date: November 9, 1998
ST. JOHN KNITS, INC.
By: /s/ Roger G. Ruppert
----------------------------------
Roger G. Ruppert
Senior Vice President - Finance,
Chief Financial Officer
5
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit No. Name of Item
- ---------- ------------
3.1 Certificate of Determination of Preferences of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock of St. John Knits, Inc.
4.1 Rights Agreement dated as of November 9, 1998, between St.
John Knits, Inc. and Harris Trust Company of California, as
Rights Agent, including as exhibits thereto the terms of the
designated Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock and
Form of Right Certificate (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 2 to the Registration Statement on Form 8-A, dated
November 12, 1998, filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission by St. John Knits, Inc. (the "Form 8-A")).
20.1 Press Release, dated November 4, 1998.
20.2 Form of Summary of Rights to be sent to holders of shares of
Common Stock, no par value, of St. John Knits, Inc.
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3 to the Form 8-A).
6
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 3.1
CERTIFICATE OF DETERMINATION OF
PREFERENCES
OF
SERIES A JUNIOR PARTICIPATING PREFERRED STOCK
OF
ST. JOHN KNITS, INC.
(Pursuant to Section 401 of the General
Corporation Law of the State of California)
---------------------------
The undersigned, Bob Gray and Roger G. Ruppert, hereby certify that
(1) Bob Gray is the duly elected and acting Chairman of the Board and Chief
Executive Officer and Roger G. Ruppert is the duly elected and acting Chief
Financial Officer of St. John Knits, Inc., a California corporation (hereinafter
called the "Corporation"), and (2) under authority given by the Corporation's
Restated Articles of Incorporation, the Board of Directors has duly adopted the
following recitals and resolutions:
WHEREAS, the Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Corporation
provide for a class of shares known as Preferred Stock, issuable from time to
time in one or more series;
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Corporation is authorized to
determine or alter the rights, preferences, privileges, and restrictions granted
to or imposed on any wholly unissued series of Preferred Stock, to fix the
number of shares constituting any such series, and to determine the designation
thereof, or any of them;
WHEREAS, the Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Corporation
provide that the Corporation is authorized to issue Two Million (2,000,000)
shares of Preferred Stock; and
WHEREAS, the Corporation has not issued any shares of such Preferred
Stock and the Board of Directors of the Corporation desires to determine the
rights, preferences, privileges, and restrictions relating to this initial
series of Preferred Stock and the number of shares constituting and the
designation of said series;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Directors hereby
determines the designation of, number of shares constituting, and the rights,
preferences, privileges, and restrictions relating to said series of Preferred
Stock as follows:
Section 1. Designation and Amount. The shares of such series shall
----------------------
be designated as "Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock" (the "Series A
Preferred Stock") and the number of shares constituting the Series A Preferred
Stock shall be 400,000. Such
<PAGE>
number of shares may be increased or decreased by resolution of the Board of
Directors; provided, that no decrease shall reduce the number of shares of
Series A Preferred Stock to a number less than the number of shares then
outstanding plus the number of shares reserved for issuance upon the exercise of
outstanding options, rights or warrants or upon the conversion of any
outstanding securities issued by the Corporation convertible into Series A
Preferred Stock.
Section 2. Dividends and Distributions.
---------------------------
(A) Subject to the rights of the holders of any shares of any
series of Preferred Stock (or any similar stock) ranking prior and superior
to the Series A Preferred Stock with respect to dividends, the holders of
shares of Series A Preferred Stock, in preference to the holders of shares
of Common Stock, no par value (the "Common Shares"), of the Corporation,
and of any other junior stock, shall be entitled to receive, when, as and
if declared by the Board of Directors out of funds legally available for
the purpose, quarterly dividends payable in cash on the first day of March,
June, September and December in each year (each such date being referred to
herein as a "Quarterly Dividend Payment Date"), commencing on the first
Quarterly Dividend Payment Date after the first issuance of a share or
fraction of a share of Series A Preferred Stock, in an amount per share
(rounded to the nearest cent) equal to the greater of (a) $1 or (b) subject
to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, 100 times the
aggregate per share amount of all cash dividends, and 100 times the
aggregate per share amount (payable in kind) of all non-cash dividends or
other distributions, other than a dividend payable in Common Shares or a
subdivision of the outstanding Common Shares (by reclassification or
otherwise), declared on the Common Shares since the immediately preceding
Quarterly Dividend Payment Date or, with respect to the first Quarterly
Dividend Payment Date, since the first issuance of any share or fraction of
a share of Series A Preferred Stock. In the event the Corporation shall at
any time declare or pay any dividend on the Common Shares payable in Common
Shares, or effect a subdivision or combination or consolidation of the
outstanding Common Shares (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment
of a dividend in Common Shares) into a greater or lesser number of Common
Shares, then in each such case the amount to which holders of shares of
Series A Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event
under clause (b) of the preceding sentence shall be adjusted by multiplying
such amount by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of Common
Shares outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of
which is the number of Common Shares that were outstanding immediately
prior to such event.
(B) The Corporation shall declare a dividend or distribution on
the Series A Preferred Stock as provided in paragraph (A) of this Section
immediately after it declares a dividend or distribution on the Common
Shares (other than a dividend payable in Common Shares); provided that, in
the event no dividend or distribution shall have been declared on the
Common Shares during the period between any Quarterly Dividend Payment Date
and the next subsequent Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, a dividend of $1
per share on the Series A Preferred Stock shall nevertheless be payable on
such subsequent Quarterly Dividend Payment Date.
-2-
<PAGE>
(C) Dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative on
outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock from the Quarterly Dividend
Payment Date next preceding the date of issue of such shares, unless the
date of issue of such shares is prior to the record date for the first
Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, in which case dividends on such shares
shall begin to accrue from the date of issue of such shares, or unless the
date of issue is a Quarterly Dividend Payment Date or is a date after the
record date for the determination of holders of shares of Series A
Preferred Stock entitled to receive a quarterly dividend and before such
Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, in either of which events such dividends
shall begin to accrue and be cumulative from such Quarterly Dividend
Payment Date. Accrued but unpaid dividends shall not bear interest.
Dividends paid on the shares of Series A Preferred Stock in an amount less
than the total amount of such dividends at the time accrued and payable on
such shares shall be allocated pro rata on a share-by-share basis among all
such shares at the time outstanding. The Board of Directors may fix a
record date for the determination of holders of shares of Series A
Preferred Stock entitled to receive payment of a dividend or distribution
declared thereon, which record date shall be not more than 60 days prior to
the date fixed for the payment thereof.
Section 3. Voting Rights. The holders of shares of Series A
-------------
Preferred Stock shall have the following voting rights:
(A) Subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set
forth, each share of Series A Preferred Stock shall entitle the holder
thereof to 100 votes on all matters submitted to a vote of the shareholders
of the Corporation. In the event the Corporation shall at any time declare
or pay any dividend on the Common Shares payable in Common Shares, or
effect a subdivision or combination or consolidation of the outstanding
Common Shares (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a
dividend in Common Shares) into a greater or lesser number of Common
Shares, then in each such case the number of votes per share to which
holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock were entitled immediately
prior to such event shall be adjusted by multiplying such number by a
fraction, the numerator of which is the number of Common Shares outstanding
immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of
Common Shares that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.
(B) Except as otherwise provided herein, in any other Certificate
of Determination creating a series of Preferred Stock or any similar stock,
or by law, the holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock and the
holders of Common Shares and any other capital stock of the Corporation
having general voting rights shall vote together as one class on all
matters submitted to a vote of shareholders of the Corporation.
(C) Except as set forth herein, or as otherwise provided by law,
holders of Series A Preferred Stock shall have no special voting rights and
their consent shall not be required (except to the extent they are entitled
to vote with holders of Common Shares as set forth herein) for taking any
corporate action.
-3-
<PAGE>
Section 4. Certain Restrictions.
--------------------
(A) Whenever quarterly dividends or other dividends or
distributions payable on the Series A Preferred Stock as provided in
Section 2 are in arrears, thereafter and until all accrued and unpaid
dividends and distributions, whether or not declared, on shares of Series A
Preferred Stock outstanding shall have been paid in full, the Corporation
shall not:
i) declare or pay dividends, or make any other
distributions, on any shares of stock ranking junior (either as to
dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the
Series A Preferred Stock;
ii) declare or pay dividends, or make any other
distributions, on any shares of stock ranking on a parity (either as
to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with the
Series A Preferred Stock, except dividends paid ratably on the Series
A Preferred Stock and all such parity stock on which dividends are
payable or in arrears in proportion to the total amounts to which the
holders of all such shares are then entitled;
iii) redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for
consideration shares of any stock ranking junior (either as to
dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the
Series A Preferred Stock, provided that the Corporation may at any
time redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire shares of any such junior
stock in exchange for shares of any stock of the Corporation ranking
junior (either as to dividends or upon dissolution, liquidation or
winding up) to the Series A Preferred Stock; or
iv) redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for
consideration any shares of Series A Preferred Stock, or any shares of
stock ranking on a parity with the Series A Preferred Stock, except in
accordance with a purchase offer made in writing or by publication (as
determined by the Board of Directors) to all holders of such shares
upon such terms as the Board of Directors, after consideration of the
respective annual dividend rates and other relative rights and
preferences of the respective series and classes, shall determine in
good faith will result in fair and equitable treatment among the
respective series or classes.
(B) The Corporation shall not permit any subsidiary of the
Corporation to purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares
of stock of the Corporation unless the Corporation could, under paragraph
(A) of this Section 4, purchase or otherwise acquire such shares at such
time and in such manner.
Section 5. Reacquired Shares. Any shares of Series A Preferred
-----------------
Stock purchased or otherwise acquired by the Corporation in any manner
whatsoever shall be retired and cancelled promptly after the acquisition
thereof. All such shares shall upon their cancellation become authorized but
unissued shares of Preferred Stock and may be reissued as part of a new series
of Preferred Stock subject to the conditions and restrictions on issuance set
forth herein, in
-4-
<PAGE>
the Restated Articles of Incorporation, or in any other Certificate of
Determination creating a series of Preferred Stock or any similar stock or as
otherwise required by law.
Section 6. Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up. Upon any
--------------------------------------
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, no distribution shall
be made (1) to the holders of shares of stock ranking junior (either as to
dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the Series A
Preferred Stock unless, prior thereto, the holders of shares of Series A
Preferred Stock shall have received an aggregate amount per share, subject to
the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, equal to 100 times the
aggregate amount to be distributed per share to holders of Common Shares, plus
an amount equal to accrued and unpaid dividends and distributions thereon,
whether or not declared, to the date of such payment, provided that the holders
of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive at least a
preferential liquidation payment of $100 per share plus an amount equal to
accrued and unpaid dividends and distributions thereon, whether or not declared,
to the date of such payment, or (2) to the holders of shares of stock ranking on
a parity (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up)
with the Series A Preferred Stock, except distributions made ratably on the
Series A Preferred Stock and all such parity stock in proportion to the total
amounts to which the holders of all such shares are entitled upon such
liquidation, dissolution or winding up. In the event the Corporation shall at
any time declare or pay any dividend on the Common Shares payable in Common
Shares, or effect a subdivision or combination or consolidation of the
outstanding Common Shares (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a
dividend in Common Shares) into a greater or lesser number of Common Shares,
then in each such case the aggregate amount to which holders of shares of Series
A Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event under the
proviso in clause (1) of the preceding sentence shall be adjusted by multiplying
such amount by a fraction the numerator of which is the number of Common Shares
outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the
number of Common Shares that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.
Section 7. Consolidation, Merger, etc. In case the Corporation shall
--------------------------
enter into any consolidation, merger, combination or other transaction in which
the Common Shares are exchanged for or changed into other stock or securities,
cash and/or any other property, then in any such case each share of Series A
Preferred Stock shall at the same time be similarly exchanged or changed into an
amount per share, subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth,
equal to 100 times the aggregate amount of stock, securities, cash and/or any
other property (payable in kind), as the case may be, into which or for which
each Common Share is changed or exchanged. In the event the Corporation shall
at any time declare or pay any dividend on the Common Shares payable in Common
Shares, or effect a subdivision or combination or consolidation of the
outstanding Common Shares (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a
dividend in Common Shares) into a greater or lesser number of Common Shares,
then in each such case the amount set forth in the preceding sentence with
respect to the exchange or change of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be
adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction, the numerator of which is the
number of Common Shares outstanding immediately after such event and the
denominator of which is the number of Common Shares that were outstanding
immediately prior to such event.
-5-
<PAGE>
Section 8. No Redemption. The shares of Series A Preferred Stock
-------------
shall not be redeemable.
Section 9. Rank. The Series A Preferred Stock shall rank, with
----
respect to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets, junior to
all other series of the Corporation's Preferred Stock.
Section 10. Amendment. The Restated Articles of Incorporation of the
---------
Corporation shall not be amended in any manner which would materially alter or
change the powers, preferences or special rights of the Series A Preferred Stock
so as to affect them adversely without the affirmative vote of the holders of at
least two-thirds of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock, voting
together as a single class.
* * * * * *
The number of shares constituting Series A Junior Participating Preferred
Stock is 400,000, none of which has been issued.
-6-
<PAGE>
The undersigned Bob Gray, the Chairman of the Board and Chief
Executive Officer, and Roger G. Ruppert, the Chief Financial Officer, of St.
John Knits, Inc., each declares under penalty of perjury under the laws of the
State of California that the matters set out in the foregoing Certificate are
true of his own knowledge.
Executed at Irvine, California, on November 9, 1998.
/s/ Bob Gray
-----------------------------------
Name: Bob Gray
Title: Chairman of the Board and
Chief Executive Officer
/s/ Roger G. Ruppert
-----------------------------------
Name: Roger G. Ruppert
Title: Chief Financial Officer
-7-
<PAGE>
[ST. JOHN LETTERHEAD]
St. John Announces Shareholder Rights Plan
IRVINE, Calif. - (BUSINESS WIRE) - Nov. 4, 1998 - Bob Gray, chairman and
chief executive officer of St. John Knits Inc. (NYSE: SJK), Wednesday announced
that its Board of Directors has adopted a shareholder rights plan.
The Rights will be issued as a dividend to shareholders of record on Nov.
18, 1998.
Generally, the plan provides that if a person or group acquires more than
15% of the company's stock, holders of the Rights will be entitled to purchase
the company's stock at half of market value. The plan also provides that if the
company is acquired in a merger or other business combination after a person or
group acquires more than 15% of the company's stock, holders of the Rights will
be entitled to purchase the acquirer's stock at half of market value. Subject
to certain restrictions, the company will be entitled to redeem the Rights for a
nominal amount at any time until the first date of public announcement that a
15% position in the company has been acquired. Details will be mailed to
shareholders of the company on or about Nov. 20, 1998. The company said that
the shareholder rights plan was not adopted in response to any specific effort
to acquire control of the company.
The company, with headquarters in Irvine, is a leading designer,
manufacturer and marketer of women's clothing and accessories, sold principally
under the St. John, Griffith & Gray, SJK by St. John and Marie Gray trade names.
In addition, the company's Retail Division operates seventeen retail boutiques
and nine outlet stores. Through a majority owned subsidiary, Amen Wardy Home,
the company also operates five home furnishing boutiques.
CONTACT: St. John Knits Inc., Irvine
Roger G. Ruppert, 949/863-1171
-1-
