Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934
Filed by the Registrant [X]
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [ ]
Check the appropriate box:
[X] Preliminary Proxy Statement
[ ] Confidential, for use of the Commission only (as permitted by Rule
14a-6(e)(2))
[ ] Definitive Proxy Statement [ ] Definitive Additional Materials
[ ] Soliciting Material Pursuant to section 240.14a-11(c) or section
240.14a-12
PARADIGM TECHNOLOGY, INC.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
Not Applicable
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
[X] No fee required.
[ ] Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.
1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
-------------------------------------------------------------------
2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
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3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
pursuant to Exchange Act rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which
the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
-------------------------------------------------------------------
4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
-------------------------------------------------------------------
5) Total fee paid:
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[ ] Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
[ ] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act
Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was
paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement
number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
1) Amount Previously Paid:
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4) Date Filed:
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<PAGE>
PARADIGM TECHNOLOGY, INC.
NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
FRIDAY, MAY 1, 1998
TO OUR STOCKHOLDERS:
The Special Meeting of Stockholders (the "Special Meeting") of Paradigm
Technology, Inc. (the "Company") will be held at 694 Tasman Drive, Milpitas,
California 95035, on May 1, 1998 at 10:00 a.m. for the purpose of considering
and acting upon the following proposals:
(1) To approve an amendment to the Company's Certificate of
Incorporation to effect a reverse stock split of the Company's Common
Stock in a ratio of ten-for-one, the par value will remain at $0.01 per
share;
(2) To approve an amendment to the Company's Certificate of
Incorporation to increase the number of authorized shares of Common
Stock of the Company to 50,000,000, par value $0.01 per share; and
(3) To transact such other business as may properly come before the
meeting or any postponement or adjournment thereof.
These items are discussed in the following pages which are made part of
this Notice. Only stockholders of record as of the close of business on March
20, 1998 will be entitled to vote at the Special Meeting and at any
postponements or adjournments thereof. A list of stockholders entitled to vote
will be available at 694 Tasman Drive, Milpitas, California 95035 for ten (10)
days prior to the Special Meeting.
The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ending December
31, 1997 accompanies this Notice of Special Meeting and Proxy Statement.
By Order of the Board of Directors
MICHAEL R. GULETT
President and Chief Executive Officer
Milpitas, California
March 27, 1998
YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO ATTEND THE MEETING IN PERSON. WHETHER OR NOT YOU
PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING, PLEASE SIGN AND RETURN THE ACCOMPANYING PROXY CARD
IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.
<PAGE>
PARADIGM TECHNOLOGY, INC.
694 TASMAN DRIVE
MILPITAS, CA 95035
(408) 954-0500
--------------
PROXY STATEMENT
---------------
SPECIAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
FRIDAY, MAY 1, 1998
The enclosed proxy is solicited by the Board of Directors (the "Board")
of Paradigm Technology, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company") for use at
the Special Meeting of Stockholders (the "Special Meeting") of the Company to be
held on May 1, 1998 at 10:00 a.m. at the principal executive offices of the
Company located at 694 Tasman Drive, Milpitas, California 95035, and at any
postponement or adjournment thereof, for the purposes set forth in the attached
Notice. This Proxy Statement and the accompanying form of proxy are being mailed
to stockholders on or about March 27, 1998.
VOTING RIGHTS
Each holder of Common Stock is entitled to one vote for each share held
as of the record date. The holders of the 5% Series A Convertible Redeemable
Preferred Stock, 5% Series B Convertible Redeemable Preferred Stock and 5%
Series C Convertible Preferred Stock shall be entitled to one vote for each
share of Common Stock issued upon conversion of the 5% Series A Convertible
Redeemable Preferred Stock, 5% Series B Convertible Redeemable Preferred Stock
and 5% Series C Convertible Preferred Stock, respectively, as of the record
date. For action to be taken at the Special Meeting, a majority of the shares
entitled to vote must be represented at the meeting in person or by proxy. The
affirmative vote of the majority of the shares represented and voting is the
minimal approval necessary (i) to approve an amendment to the Certificate of
Incorporation to effect a reverse stock split of the Company's Common Stock in a
ratio of 10-for-1, the par value will remain $0.01 per share and (ii) to approve
an amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation to increase the number of
authorized shares of Common Stock of the Company to 50,000,000, par value $0.01
per share. If the stockholders approve the amendment to the Certificate of
Incorporation to effectuate a ten-for-one reverse stock split, the Company will
not amend the Certificate of Incorporation to increase the number of authorized
shares of Common Stock of the Company. Because abstentions with respect to any
matter are treated as shares present or represented and entitled to vote for the
purposes of determining whether that matter has been approved by stockholders,
abstentions have the same effect as negative votes. Broker non-votes and shares
as to which proxy authority has been withheld with respect to any matter are not
deemed to be present or represented for purposes of determining whether
stockholder approval of that matter has been obtained.
PROXIES
Stockholders of record of the Company as of the close of business on
March 20, 1998 have the right to receive notice of and to vote at the Special
Meeting. As of the close of business on March 20, 1998, the Company had
___________ shares of Common Stock outstanding held by ______ stockholders of
record.
When proxies are properly dated, executed and returned, the shares they
represent will be voted at the Special Meeting in accordance with the
instructions of the stockholder. If no specific instructions are given, the
shares will be voted FOR approval of an amendment to the Company's Certificate
of Incorporation to effect a reverse stock split of the Company's Common Stock
in a ratio of ten-for-one, the par value will remain $0.01 per
-1-
<PAGE>
share and FOR approval of an amendment to the Company's Certificate of
Incorporation to increase the number of authorized shares of Common Stock to
50,000,000, par value $0.01 per share. If the stockholders approve the amendment
to the Certificate of Incorporation to effectuate a ten-for-one reverse stock
split, the Company will not amend the Certificate of Incorporation to increase
the number of authorized shares of Common Stock of the Company.
Any person giving a proxy has the power to revoke it at any time before
its exercise by (i) filing with the Secretary of the Company a signed written
statement revoking his or her proxy or (ii) submitting an executed proxy bearing
a date later than that of the proxy being revoked. A proxy may also be revoked
by attendance at the Special Meeting and the election to vote in person.
Attendance at the Special Meeting will not by itself constitute the revocation
of a proxy.
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
ALLIANT PARTNERS
James Kochman, a director of the Company, is a partner of Alliant
Partners ("Alliant") (formerly, Bentley, Hall, Von Gehr International), an
investment banking firm which performed investment banking services for the
Company during the twelve (12) months ended December 31, 1997. Compensation to
Alliant during 1997 was $6,000, which did not exceed 5% of Alliant's
consolidated gross revenues for its most recent fiscal year. Alliant may also
perform investment banking services for the Company from time to time in the
future.
-2-
<PAGE>
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The following table sets forth certain information regarding beneficial
ownership of the Company's Common Stock as of March 6, 1998 by: (i) each person
known to the Company to beneficially own more than five percent (5%) of the
Company's Common Stock, (ii) each of the Company's directors, (iii) each of the
Named Executive Officers, and (iv) all directors and executive officers of the
Company as a group. Except as indicated in the footnotes to this table, the
persons named in the table have sole voting and investment power with respect to
all shares of Common Stock shown as beneficially owned by such person subject to
community property laws where applicable.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Shares
Beneficially
Name of Beneficial Owner Owned Percent
------------------------ ------------ -------
<S> <C> <C>
Lyford Ltd.(1)
28 Hagvura
Karni-Shomron, Israel ................................................. 2,046,112 13.7%
Vintage Products, Inc.(2)
Arlozorv Street
Telaviv, Israel ....................................................... 3,421,646 23.0
Chiang Lam(3).......................................................... 1,250,000 8.3
ACMA Limited(4)
17 Jurong Port Road
Singapore 2261......................................................... 1,250,000 8.3
Michael R. Gulett(5)................................................... 219,875 1.4
Philip Siu(6).......................................................... 94,875 *
James L. Kochman(7).................................................... 31,250 *
Richard Morley(8)...................................................... 39,125 *
James Boswell(9)....................................................... 34,064 *
George J. Collins(10).................................................. 6,250 *
David G. Campbell(11).................................................. 28,250 *
Suneel Rajpal(12)...................................................... 13,250 *
All directors and executive officers as a group (8 persons)(13)........ 466,939 3.1
- ----------
* Less than one percent (1%).
(1) Represents up to 2,046,112 shares of Common Stock issuable upon
conversion of the Company's 5% Series B Convertible Redeemable
Preferred Stock (the "Series B Preferred Stock"). For purposes of
determining the number of shares of Common Stock owned by Lyford Ltd.,
the number of shares of Common Stock calculated to be issuable upon
conversion of the Series B Preferred Stock is based on a conversion
price of $.3434. Such conversion price is arbitrarily selected and is
82% of the average closing bid price over the five consecutive trading
days preceding March 6, 1998 of $.4188. The number of shares of Common
Stock issuable upon conversion of the Series B Preferred Stock is
subject to adjustment depending on the date of the conversion thereof
and could be materially less or more than such estimated amount
depending on factors which cannot be predicted by the Company
including, among other things, the future market price of the Common
Stock. The natural persons who share beneficial ownership of the shares
of Common Stock owned by Lyford Ltd. are unknown to the Company. John
Gainsford is a director of Lyford who has voting and investment power
with respect to the shares held by Lyford.
(2) Represents up to 3,421,646 shares of Common Stock issuable upon
conversion of the Company's 5% Series A Convertible Redeemable
Preferred Stock and 5% Series C Convertible Preferred Stock (the
"Preferred Stock"). For purposes of determining the number of shares of
Common Stock owned by Vintage Products, Inc., the number of shares of
Common Stock calculated to be issuable upon conversion of the Preferred
Stock is based on a conversion price of $.3434. Such conversion price
is arbitrarily selected and is 82% of the average closing bid price
over the five consecutive trading days preceding March 6, 1998 of
$.4188. The number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion
of the Preferred Stock is subject to adjustment
-3-
<PAGE>
depending on the date of the conversion thereof and could be materially
less or more than such estimated amount depending on factors which
cannot be predicted by the Company including, among other things, the
future market price of the Common Stock. The natural persons who share
beneficial ownership of the shares of Common Stock owned by Vintage are
unknown to the Company. John Gainsford and Brian Bell are directors of
Vintage who share voting and investment power with respect to the
shares held by Vintage.
(3) Includes 1,050,000 shares held by ACMA and 200,000 shares issuable upon
exercise of outstanding warrants. Mr. Lam is a consultant and advisor
to ACMA. Mr. Lam disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares held by
ACMA.
(4) Includes 200,000 shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding warrants.
ACMA is a publicly held Singapore Corporation. The directors of ACMA
who share voting and investment power with respect to the shares held
by ACMA are as follows: Quek Sim Pin, Executive Chairman; Tan Chee Jin;
Tan Seng Tjie; Rai Rajen, Managing Director; Low Seow Chye; Kwok Chee
Wai; Tan Keng Lin; and Chou Kong Seng, Finance Director. See note 3
above.
(5) Includes 207,375 shares subject to stock options that are exercisable or
will become exercisable within 60 days of March 6, 1998.
(6) Includes 94,875 shares subject to stock options that are exercisable or
will become exercisable within 60 days of March 6, 1998.
(7) Includes 31,250 shares subject to stock options that are exercisable or
will become exercisable within 60 days of March 6, 1998.
(8) Includes 11,625 shares subject to stock options that are exercisable or
will become exercisable within 60 days of March 6, 1998.
(9) Includes 34,064 shares subject to stock options that are exercisable or
will become exercisable within 60 days of March 6, 1998.
(10) Includes 6,250 shares subject to stock options that are exercisable or will
become exercisable within 60 days of March 6, 1998.
(11) Includes 22,625 shares subject to stock options that are exercisable or
will become exercisable within 60 days of March 6, 1998.
(12) Includes 13,250 shares subject to stock options that are exercisable or
will become exercisable within 60 days of March 6, 1998.
(13) Includes 421,314 shares subject to stock options that are exercisable or
will become exercisable within 60 days of March 6, 1998.
</TABLE>
-4-
<PAGE>
PROPOSAL NUMBER ONE
APPROVAL OF A TEN-FOR-ONE REVERSE
STOCK SPLIT OF THE COMPANY'S COMMON STOCK
INTRODUCTION
In March 1998, the Board of Directors of the Company approved, subject
to stockholders' approval solicited hereby, a proposal to amend the Company's
Certificate of Incorporation to effect a reverse stock split of the Company's
Common Stock of 10-for-1 the "Reverse Split."
The directors propose to amend the Company's Certificate of
Incorporation to reclassify the Common Stock of the Company to effect a
ten-for-one reverse stock split, such that for every ten (10) pre-amendment
common shares held by a stockholder, such holder would be entitled to one (1)
post-amendment common share, fractional shares being rounded up to the nearest
full post-amendment share, and outstanding warrants and options to purchase
stock being adjusted accordingly. The Reverse Split will become effective upon
the filing with the Secretary of State of Delaware of an amendment to the
Company's Certificate of Incorporation.
Adjustments to the corporate financial statements to reflect the
reclassification and reverse split are expected to be minimal. The immediate
effect in the market would be expected to increase the trading price per share
tenfold, and to decrease the number of post-amendment shares involved in a trade
to one-tenth of the pre-amendment number of shares that would have been involved
in an identical trade. Outstanding pre-amendment shares of 14,881,039 would
become approximately 1,488,104 outstanding post-amendment shares.
PURPOSE OF REVERSE SPLIT
The Company's Common Stock is listed on The Nasdaq SmallCap Market (the
"SCM"). On March 6, 1998, the closing price was $.375.
The Nasdaq Stock Market ("Nasdaq"), the National Association of
Securities Dealers, and the Securities and Exchange Commission have approved
substantial changes in Nasdaq initial listing and maintenance requirements which
became effective on February 23, 1998. These changes materially enhance the
quantitative threshold criteria necessary to qualify for initial entry and
continued listing on Nasdaq. In addition, corporate governance requirements,
formerly applicable to the Nasdaq National Market System, for the first time,
have been extended to the SCM. These changes require that companies listed on
the SCM maintain (i) $2,000,000 in net tangible assets (total assets less total
liabilities and goodwill), a market capitalization of $35,000,000, or $500,000
in net income for two of the last three years, (ii) a $1,000,000 market value
for the public float, (iii) two market-makers, and (iv) a minimum bid price of
$1.00 per share. (As of March 6, 1998, the single new maintenance requirement
not met by the Company is the minimum bid price per share of its Common Stock,
the most recent average closing bid prices over five consecutive trading days
preceding March 6, 1998 ranged between $.41 and $.63 per share.)
After the new maintenance requirements became effective, the Company
was notified that it is not in compliance with the new minimum bid price
requirement and that the Company would have 90-calendar days, which expire May
28, 1998, in order to regain compliance. The Company may regain compliance if
its securities trade at or above the minimum bid price requirement for at least
10-consecutive trade days. If after 90 days the Company has not regained
compliance, Nasdaq will issue a delisting letter and the Company may request a
hearing at that time, which will generally stay delisting until the hearing has
been completed.
If the Company's securities are delisted from Nasdaq, trading, if any,
of the Company's securities would thereafter have to be conducted in the
non-Nasdaq over-the-counter market. In such event, an investor could find it
more difficult to dispose of, or to obtain accurate quotations as to the market
value of, the Company's securities. In addition, if the Common Stock were to
become delisted from trading on Nasdaq and the trading price of the Common Stock
were to remain below $5.00 per share, trading in the Company's Common Stock
would also be
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<PAGE>
subject to the requirements of certain rules promulgated under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which require additional disclosure by
broker-dealers in connection with any trades involving a stock defined as a
penny stock (generally, any non-Nasdaq equity security that has a market price
of less than $5.00 per share, subject to certain exceptions.) The additional
burdens imposed upon broker-dealers by such requirements could discourage
broker-dealers from effecting transactions in the Common Stock, which could
severely limit the market liquidity of the Common Stock and the ability of
investors to trade the Company's Common Stock.
Based upon current market conditions and in light of the new Nasdaq
maintenance requirements, management has determined that the reclassification
and reverse split is in the best interest of the Company's stockholders. The
reclassification and reverse split would be effected by management by filing an
amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company with the Delaware
Secretary of State as soon as practicable after approval by the stockholders.
Holders of the Common Stock have no preemptive or other subscription
rights.
PRINCIPAL EFFECTS OF THE REVERSE SLIT
If the stockholders approve Proposal One, the Company's Certificate of
Incorporation will be amended to replace the existing provision relating to the
Company's authorized capital with the following provision relating thereto.
Accordingly, Article IV of the Certificate of Incorporation shall be further
amended to read as follows:
Authorized Capital. The total number of shares of Common Stock which
this Corporation is authorized to issue is 25,000,000. The total number of
shares of Preferred Stock which this Corporation is authorized to issue to
5,000,000. All of the shares of Common Stock and Preferred Stock shall have a
par value of $.01 per share. Each ten (10) shares of the Company's Common Stock
issued as of the date and time immediately preceding [insert Date which Amended
Certificate is filed], the effective date of a reverse stock split (the "Split
Effective Date") shall be automatically changed and reclassified, as of the
Split Effective Date and without further action, into one (1) fully paid and
nonassessable share of the Company's Common Stock; provided, however, that any
fractional interest resulting from such change and classification shall be
rounded upward to the nearest whole share.
If the reverse stock split as set forth in this Proposal One is
approved and the proposed amendment to the Company's Certificate of
Incorporation to increase the authorized number of shares of Common Stock is
approved, the Board of Directors will only effectuate the Reverse Split and will
not increase the authorized number of Common Stock (the number of Common Stock
authorized will remain at 25,000,000). The par value will remain at $0.01 per
share if the reverse stock split is approved. If, on the other hand, the reverse
split is not approved, but the proposed amendment to the Certificate of
Incorporation to increase the authorized number of shares of Common Stock is
approved as set forth in Proposal Two, it will have the effect of authorizing
the Board of Directors to amend the Certificate of Incorporation to increase the
authorized number of shares of Common Stock to 50,000,000 shares.
See Proposal Number Two of this Proxy Statement.
If the stockholders approve Proposal One, the above amendment to the
Company's Certificate of Incorporation shall become effective upon the filing of
an amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation with the Delaware Secretary of
State.
The proposed Reverse Split will not affect any stockholder's
proportionate equity interest in the Company or the rights, preferences,
privileges or priorities of any stockholder, other than an adjustment which may
occur due to the rounding up of fractional shares. Likewise, the proposed
Reverse Split will not affect the total stockholders' equity of the Company or
any components of stockholders' equity as reflected on the financial statements
of the Company except (i) to change the numbers of the issued and outstanding
shares of capital stock and (ii) for an adjustment which will occur due to the
costs incurred by the Company in connection with this Proxy Statement and the
implementation of such of the Proposals as are approved by the stockholders.
However, because the number of shares of capital stock that the Company is
authorized to issue will not be decreased in proportion to the ten-for-one
-6-
<PAGE>
decrease in the number of issued shares, the number of shares which are
authorized but unissued, and the percentage of ownership of the Company
represented by such shares if they are issued in the future in the discretion of
the Board of Directors, effectively will be increased.
EFFECT OF THE REVERSE SPLIT
The following table illustrates the principal effects on the Company's
capital stock of the Reverse Split:
<TABLE>
NUMBER OF SHARES OF CAPITAL STOCK
Prior to After
Common Reverse Split(1) Reverse Split(1)
- ------ ---------------- ----------------
<S> <C> <C>
Authorized 25,000,000 25,000,000
Issued and outstanding(1) 14,881,039 1,488,104
Available for future issuance 10,118,961 23,511,896
Preferred
- ---------
Authorized 5,000,000 5,000,000
Issued and outstanding 183 183
Available for future issuance 4,999,817 4,999,817
- ----------
(1) Excludes (i) 1,039,764 shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding
options as of March 6, 1998 (103,976 shares after the Reverse Split),
(ii) 395,000 shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding warrants as
of March 6, 1998 (39,500 shares after the Reverse Split) and (iii) 183
shares of Preferred Stock which as of March 6, 1998 is estimated to be
convertible into approximately 5,467,758 shares of Common Stock
(5467,758 after the Reverse Split).
</TABLE>
EXCHANGE OF SHARES; NO FRACTIONAL SHARES
Pursuant to the proposed Reverse Split, every ten (10) shares of issued
Common Stock would be converted and reclassified into one (1) share of
post-split Common Stock, and any fractional interests resulting from such
reclassification would be rounded upward to the nearest whole share. For
example, a holder of one hundred (100) shares prior to the Split Effective Date
would be the holder of ten (10) shares at the Split Effective Date, and the
holder of thirty-eight (38) shares prior to the Split Effective Date would be
the holder of four (4) shares at the Split Effective Date. All shares held by a
stockholder will be aggregated and one new stock certificate will be issued,
unless the transfer agent is otherwise notified by the stockholder. The proposed
Reverse Split would become effective immediately on the Split Effective Date.
Stockholders will be notified by the transfer agent on or after the Split
Effective Date that the Reverse Split has been effected. The Company's transfer
agent, ChaseMellon Shareholder Services LLC, will act as the Company's exchange
agent (the "Exchange Agent") for stockholders in implementing the exchange of
their certificates.
As soon as practicable after the Split Effective Date, stockholders
will be notified and provided the opportunity (but shall not be obligated) to
surrender their certificates to the Exchange Agent in exchange for certificates
representing post-split Common Stock. Stockholders will not receive certificates
for shares of post-split Common Stock unless and until the certificates
representing their shares of pre-split Common Stock are surrendered and they
provide such evidence of ownership of such shares as the Company or the Exchange
Agent may require. Stockholders should not forward their certificates to the
Exchange Agent until they have received notice from the
-7-
<PAGE>
Company that the Reverse Split has become effective. Beginning on the Split
Effective Date, each certificate representing shares of the Company's pre-split
Common Stock will be deemed for all corporate purposes to evidence ownership of
the appropriate number of shares of post-split Common Stock.
No service charge will be payable by stockholders in connection with
the exchange of certificates, all costs of which will be borne and paid by the
Company. The Company will file an application with Nasdaq to list the
post-split Common Stock.
CHANGE OF CONVERSION RATIO FOR CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK AND NOTICE TO HOLDERS
OF SUCH STOCK
Pursuant to the authority conferred on it by the Certificate of
Incorporation of the Company, the Board of Directors of the Company adopted
certain resolutions dated January 9, 1997, July 11, 1997 and November 14, 1997,
respectively (the "Board Resolutions"), pursuant to which the Company issued 5%
Series A Convertible Redeemable Preferred Stock (the "Series A Preferred
Stock"), 5% Series B Convertible Redeemable Preferred Stock (the "Series B
Preferred Stock"), and 5% Series C Convertible Preferred Stock (the "Series C
Preferred Stock"). The Series A Preferred Stock, Series B Preferred Stock and
Series C Preferred Stock are all convertible into shares of the Company's Common
Stock as is determined by dividing (A) the sum of (1) $10,000 plus (2) the
amount of all accrued but unpaid or accumulated dividends on the shares of
Preferred Stock being converted (3) multiplied by 10 by (B) the conversion price
in effect at the time of conversion for each of the Series A Preferred Stock,
the Series B Preferred Stock and the Series C Preferred Stock. The conversion
price is equal to the lower of (i) $2.25, $1.375 and $.59 for the Series A
Preferred Stock, Series B Preferred Stock and Series C Preferred Stock,
respectively, or (ii) eighty-two percent (82%) of the average closing bid price
of a share of Common Stock as quoted on the SCM over the five (5) consecutive
trading days immediately preceding the date of the conversion.
In accordance with the terms of those Board Resolutions, the conversion
ratios for Series A Preferred Stock, Series B Preferred Stock and Series C
Preferred Stock will be adjusted concurrently with the Split Effective Date so
that each record owner of Series A Preferred Stock, Series B Preferred Stock and
Series C Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive upon conversion thereof,
the number of shares of Common Stock that he would have owned or be entitled to
receive after the Reverse Split had such holder exercised his or her option to
convert immediately prior to the Split Effective Date. The Company will send to
each record owner of Series A Preferred Stock, Series B Preferred Stock and
Series C Preferred Stock, notice of such adjustments setting forth the new
conversion ratio for each such class.
CERTAIN FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES
A summary of the federal income tax consequences of the Reverse Split
as contemplated in Proposal One is set forth below. The discussion is based on
present federal income tax law. The discussion is not intended to be, nor should
it be relied on as, a comprehensive analysis of the tax issues arising from or
relating to the proposed Reverse Split. Income tax consequences to stockholders
may vary from the federal tax consequences described generally below.
STOCKHOLDERS SHOULD CONSULT THEIR OWN TAX ADVISORS AS TO THE EFFECT OF THE
CONTEMPLATED REVERSE SPLIT UNDER APPLICABLE FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL INCOME TAX
LAWS.
The proposed Reverse Split constitutes a "recapitalization" to the
Company and its stockholders to the extent that issued shares of Common Stock
are exchanged for a reduced number of shares of Common Stock. Therefore, neither
the Company nor its stockholders will recognize any gain or loss for federal
income tax purposes as a result thereof.
The shares of Common Stock to be issued to each stockholder will have
an aggregate basis, for computing gain or loss, equal to the aggregate basis of
the shares of such stock held by such stockholder immediately prior to the Split
Effective Date. A stockholder's holding period for the shares of Common Stock to
be issued will include the holding period for the shares of Common Stock held
thereby immediately prior to the Split Effective Date provided that such shares
of stock were held by the stockholder as capital assets on the Split Effective
Date.
-8-
<PAGE>
VOTING REQUIREMENTS
Each holder of Common Stock is entitled to one vote per share held. The
holders of a majority of the shares of the Common Stock issued and outstanding
constitutes a quorum. The affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company entitled to vote and present
in person or by proxy at the Special Meeting is required for approval of
Proposal One, provided that the number of shares present in person or by proxy
constitutes a quorum. In the event that a quorum is not present or represented
at the Special Meeting, the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting present
in person or by proxy shall have power to adjourn the Special Meeting until a
quorum shall be present or represented. Proxies solicited by the Board of
Directors will be voted for approval of the Proposal One. Stockholders are not
entitled to cumulate votes.
A stockholder voting through a proxy who abstains with respect to
approval of Proposal One shall be considered to have casted a negative vote with
respect to Proposal One, but shall be treated as present and entitled to vote on
the approval of Proposal Two at the Special Meeting; provided, however, that a
stockholder (including a broker) who does not give authority to a proxy to vote
on the approval of Proposal Two shall not be considered present and entitled to
vote on Proposal Two.
RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD
The Board of Directors recommends a vote "FOR" the proposal to amend
the Company's Certificate of Incorporation to effectuate a ten-for-one reverse
stock split. Unless a contrary choice is specified, proxies solicited by the
Board of Directors will be voted FOR approval of the amendment the Certificate
of Incorporation to effectuate a ten-for-one reverse stock split.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" THE APPROVAL
OF THE AMENDMENT TO THE COMPANY'S CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
TO EFFECTUATE A TEN-FOR-ONE REVERSE STOCK SPLIT.
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<PAGE>
PROPOSAL NUMBER TWO
APPROVAL TO AMEND THE COMPANY'S CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF AUTHORIZED SHARES OF COMMON STOCK
INTRODUCTION
The Company's Certificate of Incorporation currently authorizes the
issuance of twenty-five million (25,000,000) shares of Common Stock, par value
$0.01 per share, and five million (5,000,000) shares of Preferred Stock, par
value $0.01 per share. The Board of Directors in March 1998, adopted a
resolution proposing that the Certificate of Incorporation be amended to
increase the authorized number of shares of Common Stock to fifty million
(50,000,000), subject to stockholder approval of the amendment, in the event the
reverse stock split as set forth in Proposal Number One is not approved.
CURRENT SHARE ALLOCATION. As of March 6, 1998, the Company had
approximately 14,881,039 shares of Common Stock outstanding and approximately
1,448,000 shares reserved for issuance under the Company's employee stock plans,
of which, currently, approximately 1,039,764 are covered by outstanding options
and approximately 600,000 are available for grant or purchase. The Company has
also reserved 395,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of
outstanding warrants and approximately 5,500,000 shares of Common Stock based
upon what the Company has projected to be the approximate number of Common
shares currently issuable upon conversion of the Company's Preferred Stock.
Based upon the foregoing number of outstanding and reserved shares of Common
Stock, the Company currently has approximately 1,136,197 shares remaining
available for other purposes.
PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
The Board of Directors has adopted resolutions setting forth (i) the
proposed amendment to the second sentence of Article IV of the Company's
Certificate of Incorporation (the "Amendment"); (ii) the advisability of the
Amendment; and (iii) a call for submission of the Amendment for approval by the
Company's stockholders at the Special Meeting.
The following is the text of the second paragraph of Article IV of the
Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as proposed to be amended:
The total number of shares of Common Stock which this Corporation is
authorized to issue is 50,000,000. The total number of shares of Preferred Stock
which this Corporation is authorized to issue is 5,000,000. All of the shares of
Common Stock and Preferred Stock shall have a par value of $.01 per share.
PURPOSE AND EFFECT OF THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT
The Board of Directors believes that the availability of additional
authorized but unissued shares will provide the Company with the ability to
fulfill its obligations under existing agreements by enabling it to fully
convert all of the outstanding shares of Preferred Stock. It will also provide
the Company with the flexibility to issue Common Stock for other proper
corporate purposes which may be identified in the future, such as to raise
equity capital and to adopt additional employee benefit plans or reserve
additional shares for issuance under such plans.
No additional action or authorization by the Company's stockholders
would be necessary prior to the issuance of such additional shares, unless
required by applicable law or the rules of any stock exchange or national
securities association trading system on which the Common Stock is then listed
or quoted. The Company reserves the right to seek a further increase in
authorized shares from time to time in the future as considered appropriate by
the Board of Directors.
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<PAGE>
Under the Company's Certificate of Incorporation, the Company's
stockholders do not have preemptive rights with respect to Common Stock. Thus,
should the Board of Directors elect to issue additional shares of Common Stock,
existing stockholders would not have any preferential rights to purchase such
shares. In addition, if the Board of Directors elects to issue additional shares
of Common Stock, such issuance could have a dilutive effect on the earnings per
share, voting power, and share holdings of current stockholders.
The proposed Amendment to increase the authorized number of shares of
Common Stock could, under certain circumstances, have an anti-takeover effect,
although this is not the intention of this proposal. For example, in the event
of a hostile attempt to take over control of the Company, it may be possible for
the Company to endeavor to impede the attempt by issuing shares of the Common
Stock, thereby diluting the voting power of the other outstanding shares and
increasing the potential cost to acquire control of the Company. The Amendment
therefore may have the effect of discouraging unsolicited takeover attempts. By
potentially discouraging initiation of any such unsolicited takeover attempt,
the proposed Amendment may limit the opportunity for the Company's stockholders
to dispose of their shares at the higher price generally available in takeover
attempts or that may be available under a merger proposal. The proposed
Amendment may have the effect of permitting the Company's current management,
including the current Board of Directors, to retain its position, and place it
in a better position to resist changes that stockholders may wish to make if
they are dissatisfied with the conduct of the Company's business. However, the
Board of Directors is not aware of any attempt to take control of the Company
and the Board of Directors has not presented this proposal with the intent that
it be utilized as a type of anti-takeover device.
If the proposed Amendment to increase the authorized number of shares
of Common Stock is approved, and the reverse stock split as set forth in
Proposal One is approved, the Board of Directors will only effectuate the
Reverse Split and will NOT increase the authorized number of Common Stock (the
number of Common Stock authorized will remain at 25,000,000). If, on the other
hand, the reverse split is not approved, but the proposed Amendment to increase
the authorized number of shares of Common Stock is approved, it will have the
effect of authorizing the Board of Directors to amend the Certificate of
Incorporation to increase the authorized number of shares of Common Stock to
50,000,000 shares. See Proposal Number One of this Proxy Statement.
VOTE NECESSARY TO APPROVE THE AMENDMENT
Each holder of Common Stock is entitled to one vote per share held. The
holders of a majority of the shares of the Common Stock issued and outstanding
constitutes a quorum. The affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company entitled to vote and present
in person or by proxy at the Special Meeting is required for approval of
Proposal Two, provided that the number of shares present in person or by proxy
constitutes a quorum. In the event that a quorum is not present or represented
at the Special Meeting, the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting present
in person or by proxy shall have power to adjourn the Special Meeting until a
quorum shall be present or represented. Proxies solicited by the Board of
Directors will be voted for approval of the Proposal Two. Stockholders are not
entitled to cumulate votes.
A stockholder voting through a proxy who abstains with respect to
approval of Proposal Two shall be considered to have cast a negative vote with
respect to Proposal Two, but shall be treated as present and entitled to vote on
the approval of Proposal One at the Special Meeting; provided, however, that a
stockholder (including a broker) who does not give authority to a proxy to vote
on the approval of Proposal One shall not be considered present and entitled to
vote on Proposal One.
RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD
The Board of Directors recommends a vote "FOR" the proposal to amend
the Company's Certificate of Incorporation to increase the number of authorized
shares of Common Stock from twenty-five million (25,000,000) to fifty million
(50,000,000). Unless a contrary choice is specified, proxies solicited by the
Board of Directors will be voted FOR approval of the Amendment.
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<PAGE>
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" THE APPROVAL
OF THE AMENDMENT TO THE COMPANY'S CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF AUTHORIZED SHARES OF COMMON STOCK.
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<PAGE>
OTHER MATTERS
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE. Item 13. Financial and Other
Information incorporates information by reference contained in the Company's
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ending December 31, 1997.
PROPOSALS INTENDED TO BE PRESENTED AT THE NEXT ANNUAL MEETING.
Proposals of security holders intended to be presented at the Company's 1998
Annual Meeting of Stockholders must have been received by the Company for
inclusion in the Company's proxy statement and form of proxy no later than
December 19, 1997.
OTHER MATTERS. Management knows of no business that will be presented
for consideration at the Special Meeting other than as stated in the Notice of
Meeting. If, however, other matters are properly brought before the meeting, it
is the intention of the persons named in the accompanying form of proxy to vote
the shares represented thereby on such matters in accordance with their best
judgment.
PROXY SOLICITATION. The expense of solicitation of proxies will be
borne by the Company. In addition to solicitation of proxies by mail, certain
officers, directors and Company employees who will receive no additional
compensation for their services may solicit proxies by telephone, telegraph or
personal interview. The Company may retain a proxy solicitation firm and, if it
does so, would pay approximately $10,000 in fees plus a reasonable amount to
cover expenses. The Company is required to request brokers and nominees who hold
stock in their name to furnish this proxy material to beneficial owners of the
stock and will reimburse such brokers and nominees for their reasonable
out-of-pocket expenses in so doing.
By Order of the Board of Directors.
MICHAEL R. GULETT
President and Chief Executive Officer
Milpitas, California
March 27, 1998
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<PAGE>
PROXY
PARADIGM TECHNOLOGY, INC.
694 TASMAN DRIVE
MILPITAS, CALIFORNIA 95035
PROXY SOLICITED BY BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR SPECIAL MEETING--MAY 1, 1998
The undersigned hereby appoints MICHAEL GULETT and EMEKA CHUKWU, or
each of them, proxies, each with the power of substitution, to vote the shares
of the undersigned at the Special Meeting of Stockholders of PARADIGM
TECHNOLOGY, INC. on May 1, 1998, and any adjournments or postponements thereof,
upon all matters that may properly come before the meeting. Without otherwise
limiting the foregoing general authorization, the proxies are instructed to vote
as indicated herein.
This proxy, which is solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors,
will be voted FOR the matters described in paragraphs 1 and 2 unless the
stockholder specifies otherwise, in which case it will be voted as specified. If
you wish to vote in accordance with the Board of Directors' recommendations,
please sign the proxy. You need not mark any boxes. In their discretion, the
proxies are authorized to vote upon such other business as may properly come
before the meeting.
(continued and to be signed on reverse side)
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<PAGE>
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE FOLLOWING MATTERS TO COME
BEFORE THE MEETING:
<TABLE>
<C> <C>
1. To approve the amendment to the Company's 2. To approve the amendment of the Company's
Certificate of Incorporation to effectuate a Certificate of Incorporation to increase the
ten-for one reverse stock split. number of authorized shares of Common Stock.
FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN
/ / / / / / / / / / / /
Dated: __________________________________________, 1998
________________________________________________________
Signature(s) of Stockholder or Stockholders, (Executors,
Administrators, Trustees, etc. should give full title.)
</TABLE>
WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE SPECIAL MEETING, YOU ARE URGED TO MARK,
SIGN, DATE AND PROMPTLY RETURN THIS PROXY, USING THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.
-FOLD AND DETACH HERE-
