CAPRIUS, INC.
10 Forest Avenue
Paramus, New Jersey 07652
March 14, 2011
Dear Stockholder:
You are cordially invited to attend a special meeting of stockholders of Caprius, Inc. (“Caprius”) to be held on April 21, 2011, at 9:00 a.m., New York time, at the offices of Carter Ledyard & Milburn LLP at 2 Wall Street (18th Floor), New York, N.Y. Holders of record of Caprius Common Stock and Preferred Stock outstanding at the close of business on March 11, 2011 will be entitled to notice of and to vote at the special meeting. Notice of the special meeting and the related proxy statement is enclosed. We urge you to read the accompanying proxy statement carefully as it sets forth details of the proposed merger and other important information related to the merger (the “Merger”).
At the special meeting, you will be asked to adopt the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of November 10, 2010 (the “Merger Agreement”), among Caprius, Vintage Capital Group, LLC (“Vintage”), and Capac Co., a newly-formed wholly-owned subsidiary of Vintage. As a result of the Merger contemplated by the Merger Agreement, Caprius will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Vintage. This is a going-private transaction.
If the Merger is completed, at the effective time of the Merger, the conversion of our capital stock (other than any shares owned by Vintage or Capac Co., by Caprius as treasury stock, or by any stockholders who have properly exercised their appraisal rights with respect to such shares) would be as follows (and without interest and less any applicable withholding tax):
(i) if you are a holder of our common stock, you will be entitled to receive $0.065 per share in cash for each share of Common Stock you hold;
(ii) if you are a holder of our Series E Convertible Preferred Stock (“Series E Preferred”), you will be entitled to receive $40.625 in cash in exchange for each share of Series E Preferred which you hold, which per share consideration represents the common-equivalent consideration for such Series E Preferred based on its current conversion ratio of 625 shares of our common stock per share and the per common share merger consideration of $0.065; and
(iii) if you are a holder of our Series F Convertible Preferred Stock (“Series F Preferred”), you will be entitled to receive $6.50 in cash in exchange for each share of Series F Preferred which you hold, which per share consideration represents the common-equivalent consideration for such Series F Preferred based on its current conversion ratio of 100 shares of our common stock per share and the per common share merger consideration of $0.065.
The receipt of cash in exchange for shares of our common stock or preferred stock in the Merger will constitute a taxable transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes. A copy of the Merger Agreement is included as Annex A to the attached proxy statement.
A special committee of the Caprius board of directors, consisting of two non-employee independent directors, negotiated and reviewed the terms and conditions of the proposed Merger and, after considering the fairness opinion of an investment bank, the analysis of its financial advisor and other factors, unanimously recommended to the Caprius board of directors that it approve and adopt the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby. The Caprius board of directors, after considering various factors including the recommendation of the special committee and the fairness opinion of the special committee’s financial advisor, (i) determined that the Merger is advisable, and in the best interests of, Caprius and the unaffiliated stockholders of Caprius, (ii) authorized, approved and declared advisable the Merger Agreement, the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, (iii) resolved that the Merger Agreement be submitted to Caprius stockholders for their consideration and (iv) recommended that the Caprius stockholders vote to adopt the Merger Agreement. The Caprius board of directors recommends that you vote “FOR” the proposal to adopt the Merger Agreement and “FOR” the proposal to adjourn the special meeting, if necessary.
The completion of the Merger is subject to various conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement, including adoption of the Merger Agreement by the affirmative vote of holders of a majority in voting power of the outstanding shares of common stock and preferred stock, voting as a single class on an as-converted basis, at the special meeting. The Caprius stockholders will have statutory appraisal rights in accordance with the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. The transaction is not subject to a financing condition.
In the materials accompanying this letter, you will find a Notice of Special Meeting of Stockholders, a proxy statement relating to the actions to be taken by stockholders at the special meeting and a proxy card. Included in the proxy statement is the opinion of the special committee’s financial advisor, Hempstead & Co., Incorporated, relating to the fairness, from a financial point of view, of the consideration provided in the Merger. The proxy statement contains important information about the Merger Agreement and the Merger. We encourage you to read the entire proxy statement (including its annexes) carefully.
Whether or not you plan to attend the special meeting, please complete, date, sign and return, as promptly as possible, the enclosed proxy by mail in the accompanying reply envelope, or submit your proxy by telephone or the Internet. Stockholders who attend the meeting may revoke their proxies and vote in person. Your vote is very important regardless of the number of shares of common stock or preferred stock that you own. If you fail to submit a proxy or vote in person, or fail to instruct your broker how to vote, it will have the same effect as a vote against the proposal to adopt the Merger Agreement.
Thank you for your cooperation and continued support.
Very truly yours,
Dwight Morgan
President and Chief Executive Officer
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities regulatory agency has approved or disapproved the Merger, passed upon the merits or fairness of the Merger or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of the disclosure in this document. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The attached proxy statement is dated March 14, 2011 and is first being mailed to stockholders on or about March 17, 2011.
CAPRIUS, INC.
10 Forest Avenue
Paramus, New Jersey 07652
NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON APRIL 21, 2011
To the Stockholders of Caprius, Inc.:
A Special Meeting of Stockholders of Caprius, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Caprius,” “we” or “us”), will be held on April 21, 2011, at the offices of Carter Ledyard & Milburn LLP at 2 Wall Street (18th Floor), New York, N.Y. at 9:00 a.m., New York time (the “Special Meeting”), for the following purposes:
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1.
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To consider and vote on a proposal to adopt the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of November 10, 2010 (“Merger Agreement”), by and among Caprius, Vintage Capital Group, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Vintage”), and Capac Co., a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Vintage (“Merger Sub”).
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To consider and vote on a proposal to adjourn the Special Meeting to a later date or time, if necessary or appropriate, to solicit additional proxies in favor of the proposal to adopt the Merger Agreement.
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To consider and vote on such other business as may properly come before the Special Meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof.
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A copy of the Merger Agreement is attached as Annex A to the accompanying proxy statement. Pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, Merger Sub will merge with and into Caprius, which we refer to as the “Merger.” At the effective time of the Merger, with respect to the issued and outstanding Caprius capital stock immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger (other than shares held by Caprius in treasury, shares held by Vintage or Merger Sub and shares owned by stockholders who have properly exercised appraisal rights with respect to such shares),
(i) each share of our common stock par value $0.01 per share (“Common Stock”), will be converted into the right to receive $0.065 in cash;
(ii) each share of our Series E Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Series E Preferred”), will be converted into the right to receive $40.625 in cash, which per share consideration represents the common-equivalent consideration for the Series E Preferred based on its current conversion ratio of 625 shares of Common Stock per share and the per common share merger consideration of $0.065; and
(iii) each share of our Series F Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Series F Preferred” and together with the Series E Preferred, the “Preferred Stock”) will be converted into the right to receive $6.50 in cash, which per share consideration represents the common-equivalent consideration for the Series F Preferred based on its current conversion ratio of 100 shares of Common Stock per share and the per common share merger consideration of $0.065;
all of which will be without interest and subject to applicable withholding tax.
Only holders of record of Common Stock and of Preferred Stock as of the close of business on March 11, 2011 are entitled to notice of and to vote at the Special Meeting and or any adjournment or postponement thereof. In voting on the proposals, the Common Stock and the Preferred Stock (on an as-converted basis) vote as a single class. The adoption of the Merger Agreement requires the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority in voting power of the outstanding shares of Common Stock and Preferred Stock entitled to vote on the proposal to adopt the Merger Agreement, voting as a single class. As of the record date, Vintage held 9,371,243 shares of Common Stock, constituting approximately 40% of the voting power of the shares entitled to vote at the Special Meeting, and also a warrant exercisable into 7,275,930 additional shares of Common Stock.
Under Delaware law, in connection with the Merger, our stockholders are entitled to seek appraisal of their shares and obtain payment in cash for the fair value thereof, but only if they submit a written demand for an appraisal before the vote is taken on the Merger Agreement and comply with applicable provisions of Delaware law. A copy of the Delaware statutory provisions relating to appraisal rights is attached as Annex C to the accompanying proxy statement and a summary of these provisions can be found in the section entitled “Appraisal Rights” in the proxy statement.
Your vote is important. Therefore, your failure to vote in person at the Special Meeting or to submit a signed proxy card or to submit your proxy by telephone or Internet will have the same effect as a vote by you “AGAINST” the adoption of the Merger Agreement. Approval of the proposal to adjourn the Special Meeting, if necessary or appropriate, to solicit additional proxies requires the affirmative vote of holders of a majority in voting power of the shares present in person or by proxy at the Special Meeting and entitled to vote on the proposal. Properly executed proxy cards with no instructions indicated on the proxy card will be voted “FOR” the proposal to adopt the Merger Agreement and “FOR” the proposal to adjourn the Special Meeting, if necessary or appropriate, to solicit additional proxies in favor of the proposal to adopt the Merger Agreement. Even if you plan to attend the Special Meeting in person, we recommend that you complete, sign, date and return the enclosed proxy or submit your proxy by telephone or Internet prior to the Special Meeting to ensure that your shares will be represented if you become unable to attend. If you attend the Special Meeting, you may revoke your proxy and vote in person if you wish, even if you have previously returned your proxy card. If you hold your shares through a bank, broker or other custodian, you should follow the instructions for voting provided by your bank, broker or other custodian and, if you intend to vote your shares in person at the Special Meeting, you must first obtain a legal proxy from such custodian.
No person has been authorized to give any information or to make any representations other than those set forth in the proxy statement in connection with the solicitation of proxies made hereby, and if given or made, such information must not be relied upon as having been authorized by Caprius.
We urge you to read the accompanying proxy statement carefully as it sets forth details of the proposed Merger and other important information related to the Merger.
By Order of the Board of Directors
Dwight Morgan
President and Chief Executive Officer
Paramus, New Jersey
March 14, 2011
IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR STOCKHOLDER MEETING TO BE HELD ON APRIL 21, 2011.
The Proxy Statement is available at our website at www.caprius.com.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SUMMARY
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1
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Purpose of the Stockholder Vote
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1
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The Parties to the Merger
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1
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The Merger Agreement and Merger Consideration
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2
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Going-Private Transaction
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2
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Important Considerations
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2
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Solicitation of Other Offers
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4
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Conditions to the Completion of the Merger
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4
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Termination of the Merger Agreement
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5
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Fees and Expenses
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6
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Limited Remedies
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6
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Appraisal Rights
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6
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Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences
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7
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Market Price of Caprius Common Stock
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7
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The Special Meeting
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7
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Additional Information
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9
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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE SPECIAL MEETING AND THE MERGER
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10
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SPECIAL FACTORS
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15
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Background of the Merger
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15
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Reasons for the Merger; Fairness of the Merger; Recommendations of the Special Committee and our Board of Directors
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17
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Opinion of Hempstead & Co. Incorporated to the Special Committee
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22
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Certain Effects of the Merger
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28
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Purpose and Reasons of the Vintage Reporting Persons for the Merger
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29
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Position of the Vintage Reporting Persons Regarding the Fairness of the Merger
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30
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Plans for the Company after the Merger
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31
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Effect on the Company’s Business if the Merger is Not Completed
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31
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Financing
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32
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Treatment of Common Stock and Preferred Stock
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32
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Treatment of Stock Options and Warrants
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32
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Deregistration of Caprius Common Stock
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33
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Interests of Our Directors and Executive Officers in the Merger
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33
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Fees and Expenses
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35
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Financial Projections
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35
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Appraisal Rights
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36
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Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences
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37
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Regulatory Approval
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39
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CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
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40
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THE PARTIES TO THE MERGER
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42
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THE SPECIAL MEETING
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43
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Date, Time, Place and Purpose of the Special Meeting
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43
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Our Board’s Recommendation
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43
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Record Date, Notice and Quorum
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44
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Required Vote
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44
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Revocability of Proxy
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44
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Persons Making the Solicitation
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45
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Adjournments and Postponements
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45
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Transfer or Sale of Shares
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45
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Securities Ownership of Directors and Executive Officers
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46
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Other Matters
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46
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Questions and Additional Information
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46
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PROPOSAL NO. 1: THE MERGER
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47
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THE MERGER AGREEMENT
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47
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General; The Merger
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47
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Completion and Effectiveness of the Merger
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47
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Consideration to be Received Pursuant to the Merger; Treatment of Equity Awards
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48
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Payment for Caprius Common Stock and Preferred Stock in the Merger
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49
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Representations and Warranties
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49
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Agreements Relating to Caprius’ Interim Operations
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50
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Solicitation of Other Offers
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51
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Special Meeting of Caprius Stockholders; Recommendation of the Board
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52
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Access to Information
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53
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Indemnification and Insurance of our Directors and Officers
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53
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Filings; Other Actions
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53
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Conditions to Completion of the Merger
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54
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Termination of the Merger Agreement
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54
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Effects of Terminating the Merger Agreement
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55
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Limited Remedies
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56
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Fees and Expenses
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56
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Amendment of the Merger Agreement and Extension and Waiver
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56
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General Provisions
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56
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APPRAISAL RIGHTS
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57
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PROPOSAL NO. 2: ADJOURNMENT OF THE SPECIAL MEETING
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60
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MARKET PRICE OF CAPRIUS COMMON STOCK
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61
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SUMMARIZED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
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62
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SECURITIES OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
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63
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CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS
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65
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Arrangements with our Executive Officers
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65
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Compensation of Members of the Special Committee
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65
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Indemnification Under the Merger Agreement
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65
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Certain Relationships between Vintage and Caprius
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66
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Purchases by Vintage
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SUBMISSION OF STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS
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67
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OTHER MATTERS
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HOUSEHOLDING OF SPECIAL MEETING MATERIALS
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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
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68
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Annex A
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Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of November 10, 2010, by and among Caprius, Inc., Vintage Capital Group, LLC, and Capac Co.
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A-1
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Annex B
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Opinion of Hempstead & Co. Incorporated, dated November 10, 2010.
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B-1
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Annex C
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Section 262 of the Delaware General Corporation Law.
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C-1
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SUMMARY
The following summary highlights only selected information from this proxy statement and may not contain all of the information that may be important to you. Accordingly, we encourage you to read this proxy statement carefully in its entirety, including the annexes and the other documents referred to or incorporated by reference in this proxy statement. Each item in this summary includes a page reference directing you to a more complete description of that topic. See “Where You Can Find More Information” on page 68 of this proxy statement.
Purpose of the Stockholder Vote
You are being asked to consider and vote upon a proposal to adopt the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of November 10, 2010, (the “Merger Agreement”), by and among Caprius, Inc. (“Caprius”, the “Company” or “we,” “us,” “our” and similar terms), Vintage Capital Group, LLC (“Vintage”) and Capac Co. (“Merger Sub”), and the Merger contemplated thereby, at a special meeting to be held on April 21, 2011 (the “Special Meeting”). Only holders of record of our outstanding voting capital stock on March 11, 2011 (the “Record Date”) are entitled to notice of and to vote at the Special Meeting. See “The Special Meeting” beginning on page 43 and “The Merger Agreement” beginning on page 47 of this proxy statement.
The Parties to the Merger (See page 42)
Caprius, Inc.
Caprius, Inc. is a Delaware corporation engaged in the infectious medical waste disposal business through our wholly-owned subsidiary MCM Environmental Technologies, Inc. which developed, markets and sells the SteriMed and SteriMed Junior compact on-site systems that simultaneously shred and chemically disinfect regulated medical waste under our proprietary registered bio-degradable chemical known as Ster-Cid. The SteriMed Systems are sold in both the domestic and international markets. We conduct our business from our offices in Paramus, New Jersey as well as in Michigan and Israel.
Vintage Capital Group, LLC and Capac Co.
Vintage is a Delaware limited liability company engaged in principal investment activities, including in operating business and early stage investments through equity investments, debt purchases, restructurings and turnarounds, debtor in possession financing and sale-leaseback transactions. Vintage, with a capital base exceeding $150 million, combines decades of investment, operating and management skills. It is based in Los Angeles, California. Merger Sub was formed solely for the purpose of entering into the Merger Agreement and consummating the transactions contemplated thereby, and has not carried on any business or activities to date, except activities incidental to its formation and in connection with the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby. Vintage and Merger Sub are private companies. For information about Vintage and its equity owners the Fred C. Sands Children’s Trust, the Fred C. Sands Family Revocable Trust and Fred C. Sands (collectively, the “Vintage Reporting Persons”), see “The Parties to the Merger” on page 42 of this proxy statement.
In September 2009, Vintage entered into a secured loan arrangement with Caprius. As of February 28, 2011, Vintage had advanced approximately $5.5 million in cash to Caprius, exclusive of an additional $1.97 million of capitalized obligations (including approximately $975,000 of interest) owed to Vintage, pursuant to a Senior Secured Promissory Note (the “Vintage Note”). The maturity date of the Vintage Note initially was December 16, 2010. On December 16, 2010, the maturity date was extended to February 1, 2011. On January 31, 2011, the maturity date was further extended to the earlier of (i) April 30, 2011 or (ii) the termination of the Merger Agreement. The Vintage loan arrangement included affirmative and negative covenants by Caprius, including restrictions on extraordinary corporate transactions, such as mergers. As of the Record Date, Vintage directly owned 9,371,243 shares of Caprius common stock, representing approximately 40% of the voting power of our capital stock entitled to vote at the Special Meeting, and also held warrants exercisable for 7,275,930 additional shares of Caprius common stock at an exercise price of $0.01 per share (the “Vintage Warrant”). Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, Vintage agreed to limit its exercise of the Vintage Warrant for purposes of the approval of the Merger and the Merger Agreement to not more than 40% of the voting power of our capital stock as of the Record Date for the Special Meeting. See “Certain Relationships” beginning on page 65 of this proxy statement.
The Merger Agreement and Merger Consideration (See page 47)
Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, at the effective time of the Merger, Merger Sub will be merged with and into Caprius with Caprius continuing as the surviving corporation and becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary of Vintage. We sometimes use the term “surviving corporation” in this proxy statement to refer to Caprius as the surviving corporation following the Merger. Pursuant to the Merger (other than shares held by us in treasury, shares owned by Vintage or Merger Sub and shares owned by stockholders who have properly exercised appraisal rights under Section 262 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (which we refer to as the “DGCL”)), (i) each share of Caprius common stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Common Stock”), will be automatically be cancelled and converted into the right to receive $0.065 per share in cash, (ii) each share of our Series E Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Series E Preferred”) will be converted into the right to receive $40.625 in cash, which per share consideration for the Series E Preferred represents the common-equivalent consideration for such Series E Preferred based on its current conversion ratio of 625 shares of our Common Stock; and (iii) each share of our Series F Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Series F Preferred”) will be converted into the right to receive $6.50 in cash, which per share consideration for the Series F Preferred represents the common-equivalent consideration for such Series F Preferred based on its current conversion ratio of 100 shares of our Common Stock $0.065, all without interest and less any applicable withholding tax. We refer to the foregoing consideration, collectively, as the “Merger Consideration.”
We are working toward completing the conditions to the Merger contained in the Merger Agreement. The completion of the Merger is subject to various conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement, including fulfillment of the customary closing conditions, adoption of the Merger Agreement by the affirmative vote of holders of a majority in voting power of the outstanding shares of Common Stock and Preferred Stock entitled to vote thereon at the Special Meeting and completion of the Merger by June 30, 2011. However, we cannot predict the exact timing of the completion of the Merger or whether the Merger will be completed. See “The Merger Agreement – Conditions to Completion of the Merger” beginning on page 54 of this proxy statement.
Going-Private Transaction
The proposed Merger will be a “going-private” transaction. If the Merger is completed, Caprius will cease to be a publicly-trading company. You will no longer have any interest in Caprius’ future earnings, if any, or growth. Following consummation of the Merger, the registration of the Common Stock and our reporting obligations with respect to the Common Stock under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) will be terminated upon application to the SEC. In addition, the shares of Common Stock will no longer trade on the Pink OTC Market (commonly known as the “Pink Sheets”). See “Special Factors-Deregistration of Caprius Common Stock” on page 33 of this proxy statement.
Important Considerations
Recommendation of the Special Committee of Caprius’s Board of Directors (See page 18)
Our Board of Directors (the “Board”) established a special committee (the “Special Committee”) on October 6, 2010 by a resolution of the Board, to consider, examine, explore, review, analyze and negotiate the terms and conditions of a proposal made by Vintage for the Merger transaction. The Special Committee consists of the Company’s two non-employee independent directors, Kenneth Leung and Roger Miller. The Special Committee has unanimously:
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approved the terms of the Merger Agreement, including the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement; and
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recommended that the Board approve and adopt the Merger Agreement, and the transactions contemplated thereby.
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Opinion of Hempstead & Co. Incorporated to the Special Committee (See page 22)
On November 10, 2010, Hempstead & Co. Incorporated (“Hempstead”) rendered an oral opinion to the Special Committee and the full Board (which was confirmed in writing by delivery of its written opinion dated the same date), as to the fairness of the Merger Consideration to be received by the unaffiliated holders of our Common Stock and Preferred Stock on an assumed converted basis in the Merger, from a financial point of view.
Hempstead’s opinion was addressed to the Board and only covered the fairness, from a financial point of view, of the Merger Consideration to be received by the unaffiliated holders of our shares in the Merger, and does not address any other aspect or implication of the Merger. The summary of Hempstead’s opinion in this proxy statement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of its written opinion, which is included as Annex B to this proxy statement, and sets forth the procedures followed, assumptions made, qualifications and limitations on the review undertaken and other matters considered by Hempstead in preparing its opinion. We encourage our stockholders to carefully read the full text of Hempstead’s written opinion. However, neither Hempstead’s opinion nor the summary of its opinion and the related analyses set forth in this proxy statement are intended to be, and do not constitute advice or a recommendation to the Special Committee, our Board or any stockholder as to how to act or vote with respect to the Merger or related matters. A more detailed description of the opinion of Hempstead is set forth in the section entitled “Special Factors – Opinion of Hempstead & Co. Incorporated to the Special Committee” beginning on page 22 of this proxy statement.
Recommendation of the Caprius Board of Directors (See page 20)
Our Board has:
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determined that the Merger is advisable, and in the best interests of, Caprius and its unaffiliated stockholders;
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approved the Merger Agreement, including the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, and declared the same to be advisable, and in the best interests of, Caprius and its unaffiliated stockholders;
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resolved that the Merger Agreement be submitted for consideration by the holders of Caprius Common Stock and Preferred Stock at a special meeting of stockholders; and
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recommended that you vote “FOR” the proposal to adopt the Merger Agreement and “FOR” the proposal to adjourn the Special Meeting, if necessary or appropriate, to solicit additional proxies if there are insufficient votes at the Special Meeting to adopt the Merger Agreement.
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We have four directors on our Board, including two directors, Kenneth Leung and Roger Miller, who are not employees of the Company. None of our directors is affiliated with Vintage.
Having taken into consideration the determination of the Special Committee and the Caprius Board as to the fairness of the Merger, and the delivery by Hempstead of its opinion to the Caprius Board, the Vintage Reporting Persons reasonably believe that the Merger is fair to the unaffiliated stockholders of Caprius.
Financing (See page 32)
As part of the Merger Agreement, Vintage and Merger Sub represented and warranted to us that they have all of the funds necessary ($914,000) to consummate the Merger on the terms and conditions in the Merger Agreement, which will be funded with cash Vintage has on hand.
Interests of Our Directors and Executive Officers in the Merger (See page 33)
In considering the recommendation of our Board that you adopt the Merger Agreement, you should be aware that certain of our directors and executive officers may have interests in the transaction that are different from, or are in addition to, your interests as a stockholder, including the following:
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the Merger Agreement provides for post-Merger indemnification arrangements for each of Caprius’s current and former directors and officers, as well as continuation of directors and officers insurance coverage for their services to Caprius; and
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two directors of Caprius, Dwight Morgan and George Aaron, are employees of Caprius and, upon the Merger, Mr. Morgan’s employment agreement will be amended and Mr. Aaron will continue his “at will” employment.
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Solicitation of Other Offers (See page 51)
Under the Merger Agreement, during the period from the date of the Merger Agreement through December 15, 2010 (the “No-Shop Period Start Date”), the Company, and our officers, directors, employees and representatives, were permitted to initiate, solicit and encourage third parties to make an Acquisition Proposal (as defined in the Merger Agreement) to acquire the Company. Any third party solicited prior to the No-Shop Period Start Date who made an Acquisition Proposal that the Board or the Special Committee believed in good faith to constitute a Superior Proposal (as defined in the Merger Agreement), was deemed an “Excluded Party.” Commencing on the No-Shop Period Start Date and continuing until the earlier of stockholder approval or the termination of the Merger Agreement, the Company has the right to negotiate and consider a Superior Proposal from an Excluded Party, but the Company cannot initiate, solicit or encourage any other party to make an Acquisition Proposal. If the Company receives an unsolicited Acquisition Proposal after the No-Shop Period Start Date but prior to obtaining stockholder approval of the Merger and the Merger Agreement that the Board determines in good faith after consultation with its financial advisors and legal counsel is, or would reasonably be expected to lead to, a Superior Proposal and the Board determines in good faith after consultation with its legal counsel that it would reasonably be expected to be a breach of the Board’s fiduciary duties to fail to engage in discussions or negotiations with the person or group making such Acquisition Proposal, Caprius is permitted to engage in such discussions or negotiations. In the event the Merger Agreement is terminated by reason of our entry into an agreement with respect to a Superior Proposal, we would have to pay the greater of (i) a termination fee in the amount of $61,000 and (ii) fees and expenses incurred by Vintage in connection with the Merger up to $100,000. See “The Merger Agreement – Effects of Terminating the Merger Agreement” beginning on page 55 of this proxy statement.
Prior to the No-Shop Period Start Date, KPMG Corporate Finance LLC (“KPMG Corporate Finance”), as financial advisor to the Special Committee, undertook solicitation of entities which might make an Acquisition Proposal. KPMG Corporate Finance completed a broad solicitation process, however, no solicited party submitted a competing proposal to acquire the Company.
Conditions to the Completion of the Merger (See page 54)
Conditions to Each Party’s Obligation to Effect the Merger. Each party’s obligation to effect the Merger is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the following conditions:
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adoption of the Merger Agreement by Caprius’s stockholders at the Special Meeting to be called after the Company files the requisite proxy material with the SEC;
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the absence of any law, statute, rule, regulation, order, decree, ruling, judgment, injunction or arbitration award of any governmental entity which prohibits or prevents the consummation of the Merger; and
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all necessary consents, approvals and authorizations of any governmental entity having been obtained.
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Conditions to Caprius’s Obligation to Effect the Merger. The obligation of Caprius to effect the Merger is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the following additional conditions:
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the representations and warranties of Vintage and Merger Sub contained in the Merger Agreement must be true and correct as of November 10, 2010 and as of the effective time of the Merger as if made at such time (except that to the extent such representations and warranties speak as of a specified date, they need only be true and correct as of such date);
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Vintage and Merger Sub must have performed in all material respects their respective obligations under the Merger Agreement required to be performed by them at or prior to the effective time of the Merger; and
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Caprius shall have received confirmation from its insurance agent or carrier that for six years after the date of the Merger, a directors and officers insurance policy shall be in place with at least the same coverage and containing terms and conditions comparable to the current policies.
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Conditions to Vintage’s and Merger Sub’s Obligation to Effect the Merger. The obligation of Vintage and Merger Sub to effect the Merger is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the following additional conditions:
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the representations and warranties of Caprius contained in the Merger Agreement must be true and correct as of November 10, 2010 and as of the effective time of the Merger as if made at such time (except that to the extent such representations and warranties speak as of a specified date, they need only be true and correct as of such date);
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Caprius must have performed in all material respects its obligations under the Merger Agreement required to be performed by it at or prior to the effective time of the Merger;
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all stock options and warrants (other than the Vintage Warrant) to purchase Caprius Common Stock shall terminate upon consummation of the Merger in accordance with their terms, and Caprius shall obtain the consent of the requisite holders of warrants to provide for such termination; and
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there must not have occurred and be continuing any Company Material Adverse Effect (as described under the section entitled “The Merger Agreement – Representations and Warranties” beginning on page 49 of this proxy statement), or any event or development that would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
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Termination of the Merger Agreement (See page 54)
The Merger Agreement may be terminated and the Merger abandoned at any time prior to the effective time of the Merger, whether prior to or after the adoption of the Merger Agreement by the Caprius stockholders:
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by mutual written consent of Vintage and Caprius
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by either Vintage or Caprius, if:
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the Merger has not been consummated on or before June 30, 2011, subject to extension under certain conditions, provided that a party may not terminate the Merger Agreement if the Merger has not been consummated by June 30, 2011 principally due to its breach of any representation, covenant or warranty or failure to perform any obligations under the Merger Agreement required to be performed by it at or prior to the effective time of the Merger;
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any governmental entity has issued an order, decree or ruling or taken any other action permanently restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, and such order, decree, ruling or other action or order shall have become final and non-appealable; or
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the approval by Caprius stockholders required for consummation of the Merger shall not have been obtained by reason of the failure to obtain the required vote at the Special Meeting or any adjournment thereof.
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Vintage also may terminate the Merger Agreement if:
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Caprius has breached any material covenant or agreement contained in the Merger Agreement, or any of Caprius’s representations and warranties contained in the Merger Agreement was untrue as of November 10, 2010 or is not capable of being true as of the effective time of the Merger and such breach or inaccuracy shall not have been cured within 5 business days after Vintage gives written notice thereof; or
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in the event that (i) the Special Committee or Caprius’ Board shall change their recommendation; (ii) Caprius fails to comply with any of the limitations on solicitation of other offers, (iii) the Board fails upon Vintage’s or Merger Sub’s request to reconfirm its recommendation of the Merger and the Merger Agreement, (iv) Caprius enters into an agreement related to a Superior Proposal or (v) a person or group (other than Vintage, Merger Sub or their affiliates) becomes the beneficial owner of 15% or more of Caprius Common Stock.
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Caprius may also terminate the Merger Agreement if:
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Caprius enters into an agreement with respect to a Superior Proposal (as described in the section entitled “The Merger Agreement –Solicitation of Other Offers” beginning at page 51 of this proxy statement); or
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Vintage or Merger Sub has breached any material covenant or agreement contained in the Merger Agreement, or any representation and warranty of Vintage or Merger Sub contained in the Merger Agreement shall have become untrue and is not cured within five business days after Caprius gives written notice thereof.
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Fees and Expenses (See pages 35 and 56)
In the event the Merger Agreement is terminated by us or by Vintage by reason of the exercise of certain termination rights, we are required to reimburse Vintage for its expenses, up to a maximum of $100,000. If the Merger Agreement is terminated under certain circumstances, including by reason of our entry into an agreement regarding a Superior Proposal, we would pay Vintage a termination fee of $61,000; provided that if Vintage is entitled to both a termination fee and expense reimbursement, the total amount we would have to pay will not exceed $100,000.
Vintage has agreed to reimburse our expenses, but not to exceed $50,000, in the event we prevail in an action for specific performance of the Merger Agreement.
Limited Remedies (See page 56)
The maximum aggregate liability of Caprius is limited to the greater of the termination fee and expense reimbursement. We are not entitled to seek any damages or recovery of any kind against Vintage, Merger Sub, or any of their respective affiliates in connection with the Merger Agreement or the transactions contemplated thereby. However, each party is entitled to seek an injunction, specific performance or other equitable relief to prevent material breaches of the Merger Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms thereof.
Appraisal Rights (See page 57)
Under Section 262 of the DGCL (a copy of which is attached hereto as Annex C), our stockholders are entitled to appraisal rights in connection with the Merger, provided that stockholders meet all of the conditions set forth in Section 262. If the Merger is consummated, dissenting stockholders who follow the procedures described in Section 262 within the appropriate time periods will be entitled to have the value of their shares of stock determined by the Delaware Court of Chancery and to receive the “fair value” of such shares in cash as determined by the Delaware Court of Chancery, together with interest, if any, in lieu of the Merger Consideration that such stockholder would otherwise be entitled to receive pursuant to the Merger Agreement. These rights are known as appraisal rights. If a stockholder wishes to exercise appraisal rights in connection with the Merger, the stockholder must not submit a proxy or otherwise vote in favor of the proposal to adopt the Merger Agreement, must continuously be the holder of record of such shares through the effective time of the Merger and must meet the conditions described in Section 262.
The rules and procedures relating to appraisal rights provisions of Section 262 are summarized in “Appraisal Rights” beginning at page 57 of this proxy statement.
Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences (See page 37)
The conversion of shares of our Common Stock and Preferred Stock into the right to receive the respective per share cash Merger Consideration will be a taxable transaction to our stockholders for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
Market Price of Caprius Common Stock (See page 61)
Shares of Caprius Common Stock are traded on the Pink OTC Market (commonly known as the “Pink Sheets”) under the ticker symbol “CAPI.” The closing price of our shares on the Pink Sheets on November 5, 2010, the last trading day prior to Vintage proposing the Merger Consideration was $0.03. The closing price of our shares of Common Stock on the Pink Sheets on November 10, 2010, the last trading day prior to our public announcement of the Merger Agreement, was $0.02 per share. On March 9, 2011, the closing price of our shares of Common Stock on the Pink Sheets was $0.06 per share. We have not paid any cash dividends on our Common Stock. The Preferred Stock is not publicly traded. You are encouraged to obtain current market quotations for shares of Common Stock.
The Special Meeting (See page 43)
Date, Time and Place
The Special Meeting of our stockholders will be held on April 21, 2011, at 9:00 a.m., New York time, at the offices of Carter Ledyard & Milburn LLP at 2 Wall Street (18th Floor), New York, N.Y.
Record Date, Notice and Quorum
Holders of Caprius Common Stock and Preferred Stock at the close of business on March 11, 2011, the Record Date for the Special Meeting, will be entitled to receive notice of and to vote at the Special Meeting and any adjournments or postponements thereof. As of the Record Date, there were outstanding 14,803,108 shares of Common Stock, 4,200 shares of Series E Preferred and 60,000 shares of Series F Preferred. Each share of outstanding Common Stock is entitled to one vote, each share of Series E Preferred is entitled to 625 votes per share and each share of Series F Preferred is entitled to 100 votes per share on each matter properly brought before the Special Meeting, voting together as one class comprised of an aggregate of 23,428,108 votes. The presence in person or by proxy of the holders of shares of stock having a majority of the votes which could be cast by the holders of all outstanding shares of Common Stock and Preferred Stock entitled to vote at the Special Meeting is required to constitute a quorum for the purpose of considering the proposals.
The Proposals
At the Special Meeting, you will be asked to vote upon proposals to (1) adopt the Merger Agreement, (2) adjourn the Special Meeting, if necessary or appropriate, to solicit additional proxies in favor of the proposal to adopt the Merger Agreement if there are insufficient votes at the Special Meeting to adopt the Merger Agreement and (3) consider and vote upon such other business as may properly come before the Special Meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof.
Required Vote
Approval of the proposal to adopt the Merger Agreement requires the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority in voting power of the outstanding shares of Common Stock and Preferred Stock (voting on an as-converted into Common Stock basis) entitled to vote thereon, voting as a single class. Approval of the proposal to adjourn the Special Meeting, if necessary or appropriate, to solicit additional proxies in favor of the proposal to adopt the Merger Agreement requires the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority in voting power of the shares of Common Stock and Preferred Stock (voting on an as-converted into Common Stock basis), or a total of 11,714,055 votes, present in person or represented by proxy at the Special Meeting and entitled to vote thereon, voting as a single class. The vote of a majority of unaffiliated stockholders is not required under Delaware law and is not required by the Merger Agreement. Failure to vote your shares of Common Stock and Preferred Stock, including as a result of broker non-votes and abstentions, will have the same effect as voting against the proposal to adopt the Merger Agreement.
At the Record Date, Vintage was the record holder of 9,371,243 shares of our Common Stock, equal to approximately 40% of the voting power of our outstanding shares of Common Stock and Preferred Stock, voting as one class. Vintage has informed us that it intends to vote its shares of Common Stock in favor of the proposal to adopt the Merger Agreement. Accordingly, other stockholders holding at least 2,342,812 shares (or approximately 10.1% of the outstanding shares) must vote in favor of the proposal to obtain approval of the Merger.
Voting and Proxies
If your shares are registered directly in your name with our transfer agent, American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, your are considered the stockholder of record with respect to those shares. Any stockholder of record entitled to vote at the Special Meeting may submit a proxy by returning the enclosed proxy card by mail, or may vote in person at the Special Meeting. If you intend to submit your proxy by mail it must be received by us or our proxy solicitor prior to the commencement of the Special Meeting.
If your shares are held on your behalf in “street name” by a bank, broker or other nominee, you are considered the beneficial owner of such shares. As a beneficial owner of shares, you must provide the nominee who holds your shares with specific voting instructions or obtain a proxy from the nominee for you to vote the shares directly Please provide voting instructions to the nominee that holds your shares by carefully following their instructions If the nominee does not receive voting instructions from you, the nominee will inform our inspector of election that it does not have the authority to vote on the Merger with respect to your shares. This is generally referred to as a “broker non-vote.” Broker non-votes will not be counted for purposes of determining whether a quorum is present. ABSTENTIONS AND BROKER NON-VOTES WILL HAVE THE EFFECT OF A VOTE “AGAINST” THE PROPOSAL TO ADOPT THE MERGER AGREEMENT.
The persons named in the accompanying proxy will also have discretionary authority to vote on proposal to adjourn the Special Meeting. Even if you plan to attend the Special Meeting, after carefully reading and considering the information contained in this proxy statement, if you hold your shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock in your own name as the stockholder of record, please have your shares voted at the Special Meeting by completing, signing, dating and returning the enclosed proxy card or by using the telephone number or Internet address printed on your proxy card.
If you return your signed proxy card, but do not mark the boxes showing how you wish to vote, your shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock represented by such proxy card will be voted “FOR” the proposal to adopt the Merger Agreement and “FOR” the proposal to adjourn the Special Meeting, if applicable.
Revocability of Proxy
Any stockholder of record who executes and returns a proxy card (or submits a proxy via telephone or Internet) may revoke the proxy at any time before it is voted at the Special Meeting by attending the Special Meeting and voting in person. Your attendance at the Special Meeting will not, by itself, revoke your proxy. To revoke your proxy, you must vote in person at the Special Meeting. If you hold your shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock in your name as a stockholder of record, you may also revoke the proxy by notifying our Chief Financial Officer at the following address: Caprius, Inc., Attention: Chief Financial Officer, 10 Forest Avenue, Paramus, New Jersey 07652. Further, your proxy may be revoked by submitting a later-dated proxy card, or, if you voted by telephone or Internet, by submitting a subsequent proxy by telephone or Internet.
In the event that you have instructed a broker, bank or other custodian to vote your shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock, you have to follow the directions received from your broker, bank or other custodian and change those instructions in order to revoke your proxy.
Transfer or Sale of Shares
If you held your shares of Common Stock and Preferred Stock on March 11, 2011, the Record Date for the Special Meeting, but sell or otherwise transfer your shares prior to the effective time of the Merger, you will not have the right to receive the Merger Consideration for those shares. The right to receive the Merger Consideration when the Merger becomes effective will pass to the person who as of the effective time of the Merger owns the shares of our Common Stock or Preferred Stock that you previously owned. The voting rights with respect to shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock owned by you on the record date for the Special Meeting but subsequently sold or transferred by you would depend upon any arrangements with the purchaser or transferee of the shares.
Solicitation of Proxies; Costs
This proxy solicitation is being made and paid for by Caprius on behalf of our Board. We will pay all expenses of this solicitation, including the cost of preparing and mailing this document. In addition to solicitation by use of the mails, proxies may be solicited by our directors, officers and employees in person or by telephone, telegram, electronic mail, facsimile transmission or other means of communication. Those persons will not be additionally compensated for solicitation activities, but may be reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses in connection with any solicitation. We also may reimburse custodians, nominees and fiduciaries for their expenses in sending proxies and proxy material to beneficial owners.
We have retained Georgeson, Inc. (“Georgeson”) to assist with the solicitation of proxies for a fee of $6,000, plus reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses. Georgeson may solicit proxies by personal interview, mail, telephone, and electronic communications, and will request brokerage houses and other custodians, nominees, and fiduciaries to forward soliciting material to the beneficial owners of the Common Stock and Preferred Stock held on the Record Date by such persons.
We will also request brokers and other fiduciaries to forward proxy solicitation material to the beneficial owners of shares of our Common Stock and Preferred Stock that the brokers and fiduciaries hold of record. We will reimburse them for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses.
Caprius Stock Ownership of Directors and Executive Officers
As of the Record Date, our directors and executive officers, as a group, beneficially owned and were entitled to vote an aggregate of approximately 268,536 shares of Common Stock, representing approximately 1.1% of the voting power of capital stock entitled to vote at the Special Meeting. These directors and executive officers have informed us that they intend to vote the shares of Common Stock that they own “FOR” the proposal to adopt the Merger Agreement and “FOR” the proposal to adjourn the Special Meeting, if necessary or appropriate, to solicit additional proxies if there are insufficient votes at the Special Meeting to adopt the Merger Agreement. The members of the Special Committee do not have significant share holdings.
Additional Information
For additional information about the Merger, assistance in submitting proxies or voting shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock, or additional copies of the proxy statement or enclosed proxy card, please contact our Chief Financial Officer at the following address or telephone number: Caprius, Inc., Attention: Chief Financial Officer, 10 Forest Avenue, Paramus, New Jersey 07652, (201) 342-0900.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE SPECIAL MEETING AND THE MERGER
The following questions and answers are intended to address briefly some questions you may have regarding the Special Meeting and the proposed Merger. These questions and answers may not address all questions that may be important to you as a stockholder of Caprius. Please refer to the “Summary” and the more detailed information contained elsewhere in this proxy statement and the annexes, as well as the additional documents referred to or incorporated in this proxy statement, which you should read carefully in their entirety. See “Where You Can Find More Information” on page 68 of this proxy statement.
Q: When and where is the Special Meeting?
A: The Special Meeting of our stockholders will be held on April 21, 2011, at the offices of Carter Ledyard & Milburn LLP at 2 Wall Street (18th Floor), New York, N.Y., at 9:00 a.m., New York time.
Q What am I being asked to vote on?
A: At the Special Meeting, you will be asked to vote upon proposals to (1) adopt the Merger Agreement, (2) adjourn the Special Meeting, if necessary or appropriate, to solicit additional proxies in favor of the proposal to adopt the Merger Agreement if there are insufficient votes at the Special Meeting to adopt the Merger Agreement and (3) consider and vote upon such other business as may properly come before the Special Meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof.
Q: How does the Caprius Board recommend that I vote?
A: Our Board, including those directors who are not employees of Caprius, have unanimously recommended that you vote “FOR” the proposal to adopt the Merger Agreement and “FOR” the proposal to adjourn the Special Meeting, if necessary or appropriate. In making its recommendation, our Board considered the unanimous recommendation of a Special Committee, consisting of two non-employee independent directors, the report and “fairness” opinion of Hempstead and the Special Committee’s determination that the Merger Agreement is advisable, and in the best interests of, Caprius and its unaffiliated stockholders.
We have four directors on our Board, including two directors, Kenneth Leung and Roger Miller, who are not employees of Caprius. The other two of our directors, George Aaron and Dwight Morgan, are our employees, but are not affiliated with Vintage.
Q: What is the proposed transaction?
A: The proposed transaction is the acquisition of Caprius by Vintage. If the Merger Agreement is adopted by our stockholders and the other closing conditions in the Merger Agreement are satisfied or waived, Merger Sub will merge with and into Caprius, Caprius will be the surviving corporation after the Merger and will be wholly-owned by Vintage.
Q: What will I receive in the Merger?
A: Each share of our Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger (other than shares held by us in treasury, shares held by Vintage or Merger Sub and shares held by stockholders who have properly exercised appraisal rights with respect to such shares) will be converted into the right to receive $0.065 per share in cash. Each share of our Series E Preferred (other than shares of Series E Preferred owned by stockholders who have properly exercised appraisal rights with respect to such shares) will be converted into the right to receive $40.625 in cash. The per share merger consideration for the Series E Preferred represents the common-equivalent consideration for such Series E Preferred based on its current conversion ratio of 625 shares of our common stock per share of our Series E Preferred and the per common share merger consideration of $0.065. Each share of our Series F Preferred (other than shares of Series F Preferred owned by stockholders who have properly exercised appraisal rights with respect to such shares) will be converted into the right to receive $6.50 in cash. The per share merger consideration for the Series F Preferred represents the common-equivalent consideration for such Series F Preferred based on its current conversion ratio of 100 shares of our common stock per share of our Series F Preferred and the per common share merger consideration of $0.065. In each case, such consideration will be paid without interest and subject to applicable withholding tax. We refer to the foregoing consideration, collectively, as the “Merger Consideration.”
Q: What will happen to the Common Stock or Preferred Stock that I currently own after completion of the Merger?
A: Following completion of the Merger, your shares of Caprius Common Stock or Preferred Stock will be cancelled and will represent only the right to receive the Merger Consideration, without interest and less any applicable withholding tax, unless appraisal rights were properly sought. Trading in Caprius Common Stock on the Pink Sheets will cease, price quotations for the Common Stock will no longer be available following completion of the Merger and the Common Stock will cease to be registered under the Exchange Act. You will no longer have any equity in Caprius, nor will you acquire any equity interest in Vintage. In addition, the accrued dividend on the Series E Preferred and the Series F Preferred will be cancelled by virtue of the Merger.
Q: When do you expect the Merger to be completed?
A: If our stockholders adopt the Merger Agreement, and assuming that the other conditions to the Merger are satisfied or waived, we believe that the Merger will be completed during the second quarter of 2011. The outside date to complete the Merger is June 30, 2011. However, we cannot predict the exact timing of the completion of the Merger or whether the Merger would be completed. See “The Merger Agreement – Conditions to Completion of the Merger” beginning on page 54 of this proxy statement.
Q: Am I entitled to appraisal rights?
A: Yes. Under Delaware law, Caprius stockholders are entitled to appraisal rights in connection with the Merger, subject to complying with the procedures for exercising the same. These procedures are described in more detail under the section entitled “Appraisal Rights,” beginning on page 57 of this proxy statement. A copy of the Delaware appraisal rights statute is attached as Annex C to this proxy statement.
Q: What happens if the Merger is not completed?
A: If the Merger Agreement is not adopted by Caprius’s stockholders or if the Merger is not completed for any other reason, Caprius stockholders will not receive any payment for their shares and will continue as stockholders. Caprius will remain a public company, and shares of Caprius Common Stock will continue to be listed and traded on the Pink Sheets and registered under the Exchange Act, and Vintage will remain our primary secured lender and major beneficial owner of our Common Stock. We cannot predict what our capital needs would be or what the status of the Vintage loans would be at that time. Under specified circumstances, we may be required to pay Vintage a termination fee and expenses as described under the section entitled “The Merger Agreement—Effects of Terminating the Merger Agreement,” beginning on page 55 of this proxy statement.
Q. Will the Merger be taxable to me?
A. Generally, yes. For U.S. federal income tax purposes, generally the Caprius stockholders (other than Vintage) will recognize a taxable gain or loss as a result of the Merger measured by the difference, if any, between $0.065 per share of Common Stock, $40.625 per share of Series E Preferred and $6.50 per share of Series F Preferred and your adjusted tax basis in that share. This gain or loss will be a long-term capital gain or loss if you have held your shares for more than one year at the effective time of the Merger. See “Special Factors-Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences” beginning at page 37 of this proxy statement.
Q: What vote of our stockholders is required to adopt the Merger Agreement and to approve the proposal to adjourn the Special Meeting?
A: The affirmative vote of holders of a majority in voting power of the outstanding shares of Caprius Common Stock and Preferred Stock (voting on an as-converted into Common Stock basis), entitled to vote thereon, voting as a single class, is required to approve the proposal to adopt the Merger Agreement. The total votes in the class is 23,428,108. Approval of the proposal to adjourn the Special Meeting to solicit additional proxies, if necessary or appropriate, requires the affirmative vote of holders of a majority in voting power of the shares present in person or by proxy at the Special Meeting and entitled to vote thereon, voting as a single class, or 11,714,055 shares. At the close of business on the Record Date, Vintage owned 9,371,243 shares of our Common Stock, equal to approximately 40% of the voting power of the shares entitled to vote at the Special Meeting. Vintage has informed us that it will vote in favor of the proposal to adopt the Merger Agreement. Accordingly, other stockholders holding at least 2,342,812 shares (or 10.1% of the outstanding shares) must vote in favor of the proposal to obtain approval of the Merger. The vote of a majority of unaffiliated stockholders is not required under Delaware law and is not required by the Merger Agreement. If a quorum is not present at the Special Meeting, it may be adjourned by the affirmative vote of holders of a majority in voting power of the shares present in person or by proxy at the Special Meeting.
Q: Who can vote and attend the Special Meeting?
A: The holders of record of Common Stock and the holders of record of Preferred Stock as of the close of business on the Record Date for the Special Meeting are entitled to receive notice of, to attend and to vote at the Special Meeting and any adjournments or postponements thereof. Each share of Common Stock is entitled to one vote, each share of Series E Preferred is entitled to 625 votes and Series F Preferred is entitled to 100 votes, voting as one class, on each matter properly brought before the Special Meeting.
Q: What will happen if I abstain from voting or fail to vote?
A: With respect to the proposal to adopt the Merger Agreement, if you abstain from voting on the proposal, fail to cast your vote in person or by proxy or, if you hold your shares in “street name,” fail to give voting instructions to the record holder of your shares, it will have the same effect as a vote against the proposal to adopt the Merger Agreement.
With respect to the proposal to adjourn the Special Meeting, if necessary or appropriate, to solicit additional proxies, if you abstain from voting on the proposal, it will have the same effect as a vote against the proposal. If you fail to cast your vote in person or by proxy or, if you hold your shares in “street name” and fail to give voting instructions to the record holder of your shares, it will have no effect on the outcome of the vote on the proposal to adjourn the Special Meeting, if necessary or appropriate.
Q: How do I cast my vote if my shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock are held of record?
A: If you are a stockholder of record on the Record Date, you may vote in person or authorize a proxy for the Special Meeting. You can authorize your proxy by completing, signing, dating and returning the enclosed proxy card in the accompanying pre-addressed, postage-paid envelope, or, if you prefer, by following the instructions on your proxy card for telephonic or Internet proxy authorization.
Q: How do I cast my vote if my shares of Common Stock and Preferred Stock are held in “street name”?
A: If you hold your shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock in “street name” through a broker, bank or other custodian, your broker, bank or custodian will not vote your shares unless you provide instructions on how to vote. You must obtain a voting instruction card from the broker, bank or other custodian that is the record holder of your shares and provide your broker, bank or other custodian with instructions as to how to vote your shares, in accordance with the voting directions provided by your broker, bank or custodian. Additionally, if your shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock are held in “street name” and you intend to vote your shares in person at the Special Meeting you must first obtain a legal proxy from such bank, broker or other custodian. The inability of your broker, bank or other custodian to vote your shares, often referred to as a “broker non-vote,” will have the same effect as a vote against the proposal to adopt the Merger Agreement and will have no effect on the proposal to adjourn the Special Meeting for the purpose of soliciting additional proxies. If your shares are held in “street name,” please refer to the voting instruction card used by your broker, bank or other custodian, or contact them directly, to see if you may submit voting instructions using the telephone.
Q: How will proxy holders vote my shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock?
A: If you properly authorize a proxy prior to the Special Meeting, your shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock will be voted as you direct. If you authorize a proxy but no direction is otherwise made, your shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock will be voted “FOR” the proposal to adopt the Merger Agreement and “FOR” the proposal to adjourn the Special Meeting. The proxy holders will vote in their discretion upon such other matters as may properly come before the Special Meeting or any adjournments or postponements of the Special Meeting.
Q: What happens if I sell my shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock before the Special Meeting?
A: If you held your shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock on March 11, 2011, the Record Date for the Special Meeting, but sell or transfer any of your shares prior to the Special Meeting, you will not retain your right to right to receive the Merger Consideration for those shares. The right to receive the Merger Consideration when the Merger becomes effective will pass to the person who as of the time of the Merger owns the shares of our Common Stock or Preferred Stock that you previously owned.
Q: Can I change my vote after I have mailed my signed proxy card?
A: Yes. If you own shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock as a record holder on March 11, 2011, the Record Date for the Special Meeting, you may revoke a previously authorized proxy at any time prior to its exercise by delivering a properly executed, later-dated proxy card, by authorizing your proxy by telephone or Internet at a later date than your previously authorized proxy, following the instructions that appear on the enclosed proxy card or by voting in person at the Special Meeting. Attendance at the Special Meeting will not, in itself, constitute revocation of a previously authorized proxy. If you own shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock in “street name,” you may revoke or change previously granted voting instructions by following the instructions provided by the bank, broker or other custodian that is the registered owner of the shares.
Q: Should I send in my certificates representing shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock now?
A: No. Shortly after the Merger is completed, you will receive a letter of transmittal with instructions informing you how to send your share certificates to the paying agent in order to receive the Merger Consideration. You should use the letter of transmittal to exchange your shares of Common Stock and Preferred Stock for the Merger Consideration following the Merger. DO NOT SEND ANY SHARE CERTIFICATES WITH YOUR PROXY.
Q: Where can I find more information about Caprius?
A: We file certain information with the SEC. You may read and copy this information at the SEC’s public reference facilities. This information is also available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and on our website at www.Caprius.com. Information contained on our website is not part of, or incorporated into, this proxy statement. You can also request copies of these documents from us. See “Where You Can Find More Information” on page 68.
Q: Who will solicit and pay the cost of soliciting proxies?
A: We will bear the cost of soliciting proxies for the Special Meeting. Our Board is soliciting your proxy on our behalf. Our directors, officers and employees may solicit proxies by telephone, telegram, facsimile and electronic mail, by mail or in person. They will not be paid any additional amounts for soliciting proxies. We also will request that banking institutions, brokerage firms, custodians, trustees, nominees, fiduciaries and other like parties forward the solicitation materials to the beneficial owners of Common Stock held of record by such person, and we will, upon request of such record holders, reimburse forwarding charges and out-of-pocket expenses. We have retained Georgeson to assist with the solicitation of proxies for a fee of $6,000, plus reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses. Georgeson may solicit proxies by personal interview, mail, telephone, and electronic communications, and will request brokerage houses and other custodians, nominees, and fiduciaries to forward soliciting material to the beneficial owners of the Common Stock held on the record date by such persons.
Q: Who can help answer my other questions?
A: If you have additional questions about the Special Meeting or the Merger, you should contact our Chief Financial Officer at the following address or telephone number: Caprius, Inc., Attention: Chief Financial Officer, 10 Forest Avenue, Paramus, New Jersey 07652, (201) 342-0900, or by contacting Georgeson at 877-255-0134. If you hold your shares through a broker, bank or other custodian, you also should call your broker, bank or other custodian for additional information.
SPECIAL FACTORS
Background of the Merger
Between June 2008 and September 2009, our business activities were substantially reduced while we were seeking to raise capital and reduce overall operating costs. Substantial amounts of capital were required to fund current operations for the development, manufacture and marketing of our SteriMed Systems.
On September 16, 2009, we entered into a Securities Purchase and Sale Agreement (the “Vintage Loan Agreement”) and related agreements with Vintage that provided for it to make advances to us up to an aggregate amount of $3 million, with interest at the rate of 14% per annum, and default interest at the rate of 17% per annum, pursuant to the Vintage Note, due December 16, 2010. Pursuant to Amendment No. 1, dated as of September 8, 2010, Amendment No. 2, dated as of November 4, 2010, Amendment No. 3, dated as of November 18, 2010, Amendment No. 4, dated as of December 16, 2010, and Amendment No. 5, dated as of March 9, 2011, to the Vintage Loan Agreement, the maximum loan availability was increased to $6.7 million. As of February 28, 2011, Vintage had advanced approximately $5.5 million in cash to us, exclusive of an additional $1.97 million of capitalized obligations (including interest of approximately $975,000) owed to Vintage. Our obligation to Vintage is evidenced by the Vintage Note which bears interest at a default rate of 17% per annum. The maturity date of the Vintage Note initially was December 16, 2010. On December 16, 2010, the maturity date was extended to February 1, 2011. On January 31, 2011, the maturity date was further extended to the earlier of (i) April 30, 2011 or (ii) the termination of the Merger Agreement. The Vintage Loan Agreement is secured by a first lien on the assets of Caprius and its subsidiaries, including the intellectual property, and contains extensive affirmative and negative covenants with respect to our business operations and transactions, including a prohibition on us or any of our subsidiaries being acquired, merging, consolidating or amalgamating with or into any entity, or permitting any entity to acquire all or a substantial part of our assets.
As part of the initial Vintage Loan Agreement, we also entered into an Investment Monitoring Agreement providing for an Operating Committee composed of two persons designated by each of Vintage and us for the purpose of reviewing budgets, strategic planning, financial performance and similar matters, and that committee also has the right to make recommendations to our Board.
On January 22, 2010, as a post-closing obligation under the Vintage Loan Agreement, we issued a warrant to Vintage (the “Vintage Warrant”) to purchase a number of shares that would be equal to up to 40% of our outstanding Common Stock on a fully-diluted basis at an exercise price of $0.01 per share for a term of seven years. Based upon the capitalization as of February 28, 2011, the Vintage Warrant would be exercisable into 16,647,173 shares of Common Stock. In the Merger Agreement, Vintage agreed to limit its exercise of the Vintage Warrant for purposes of the approval of the Merger and the Merger Agreement to not more than 40% of our voting stock as of the Record Date of the Special Meeting; however, Vintage retained the right to exercise the Vintage Warrant, in whole or in part, for any purpose other than approval of the Merger and the Merger Agreement. On March 8, 2011, Vintage exercised the Vintage Warrant as to 9,371,243 shares of Common Stock. As part of the grant of the Vintage Warrant, we granted Vintage certain preemptive rights and observer rights for meetings of our Board pursuant to an Equity Rights Agreement, and also agreed to register the shares of Common Stock underlying the Vintage Warrant under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), pursuant to a Registration Rights Agreement.
On September 28, 2010, Vintage presented an acquisition proposal (the “Vintage Proposal”) to our Board, offering to engage in a “going-private” merger through a wholly-owned subsidiary to be formed by Vintage. Vintage did not propose any per share merger price at that time, instead stating that it first wanted our Board to concur with the concept of the acquisition transaction, after which Vintage would propose the per share price consideration. The Vintage Proposal anticipated that the closing conditions would include us receiving an opinion of an independent banking firm with respect to the fairness from a financial point of view of the merger price to our unaffiliated stockholders. Vintage also stated that it desired our Board to respond to its proposal within ten days.
On October 6, 2010, our Board met to discuss the Vintage Proposal and other matters. After a discussion about the Vintage Proposal, including the Vintage loan maturity date of December 16, 2010, the low likelihood that other sources of debt or equity capital would be found, and the nature of the covenants imposed on us under the Vintage Loan Agreement, our Board decided to pursue the Vintage Proposal, and communicated such to Vintage. The Board determined that the negotiations with Vintage should be conducted by a committee of independent directors, being Kenneth Leung and Roger Miller, to be called the “Special Committee,” and that the Special Committee would have the authority to retain its own financial advisors and legal counsel.
On October 19, 2010, the Special Committee and its counsel Goodwin Proctor held a telephonic meeting to discuss comments to the Vintage Proposal, the proposed timing of the transaction, the mechanics and the timing of the “go-shop” process and other related matters. Later that day, the Special Committee, its counsel, representatives of Vintage and Vintage’s counsel discussed timing.
Later on October 19, 2010, counsel to the Special Committee and counsel to Vintage negotiated terms of the Vintage Proposal, including the scope of Caprius’ representations and warranties, terms of the “go-shop” provisions and termination provisions and the voting threshold.
On October 22, 2010, the Special Committee and its counsel held a telephonic meeting to formally retain KPMG Corporate Finance to advise the Special Committee, to assist in the negotiations and to conduct the “go shop” market check on behalf of the Company, and Hempstead to render a fairness opinion.
Prior to the selection of Hempstead and KPMG Corporate Finance as its financial advisors with respect to the fairness opinion and financial advice, respectively, members of the Special Committee interviewed six other financial advisors. After performing extensive due diligence and after multiple conversations with all potential financial advisors, the Special Committee determined to retain Hempstead and KPMG Corporate Finance based on considerations of both current expertise and expense.
On October 25, 2010, Vintage distributed a draft Merger Agreement, leaving the pricing information blank, to the Special Committee and its legal counsel and advisors, who forwarded it to us and Company legal counsel for review.
On November 2, 2010, the Special Committee held a telephonic meeting with its counsel and representatives of Hempstead and KPMG Corporate Finance and discussed, among other matters, timing and schedules, information requests and the “go-shop” process.
From November 3, 2010 through November 10, 2010, Vintage, Caprius and the Special Committee, together with their respective counsel, engaged in negotiations regarding the Merger Agreement, including the Merger Consideration, termination rights and fees, “go-shop” and non-solicitation provisions, the scope of the representations and warranties, the required voting approval and directors and officers indemnification and insurance. During this period, the formal agreement on these and other items was reached over the course of several discussions between and among these parties.
On November 8, 2010, at a meeting between the Special Committee and Vintage, and their respective representatives, Vintage proposed a merger price of $0.03 per share in cash for each share of Common Stock and of Preferred Stock, on an as-converted basis, as of the effective date of the Merger (other than shares owned by Vintage or Merger Sub, treasury shares held by Caprius and shares owned by any stockholders who properly exercise appraisal rights with respect to such shares) and responded to comments made by the Special Committee to the draft Merger Agreement. The Vintage representatives discussed their rationale for the Vintage price proposal. The Special Committee members and their advisors then met separately to discuss the Vintage proposal and a counterproposal, and the parties agreed to continue their discussions the following day, November 9, 2010.
In the morning of November 9, 2010, the Special Committee, its financial advisors and counsel met to prepare a counterproposal. Later that day, representatives of Vintage, its financial advisors and counsel joined the meeting. The parties continued to negotiate the merger price per share, and agreed to a merger price of $0.065 per share in cash for each share of Common Stock and for each share of Series E Preferred and Series F Preferred on an as-converted basis.
On November 10, 2010, the Special Committee met to review the terms of the Merger Agreement and related documents and to consider approval of the Merger Agreement and the Merger. The Special Committee’s counsel, Goodwin Proctor, described the provisions of the Merger Agreement and reviewed the Special Committee members’ fiduciary duties and responsibilities in connection with the proposed transaction. Hempstead presented its oral opinion, subsequently confirmed in writing, that, as of November 10, 2010, and based on and subject to the factors and assumptions set forth in the opinion, the total Merger Consideration to be paid by Vintage as specified in the Merger Agreement, $0.065 per share of Common Stock and Preferred Stock (on an as-converted to Common Stock basis), was fair from a financial point of view to the Caprius stockholders. KPMG Corporate Finance also orally commented on the Merger to the Special Committee and concluded that the transaction was in the best interests of the unaffiliated Caprius stockholders. The Special Committee, after considering, among other items, the terms of the Merger Agreement, the oral opinion of Hempstead and the advice of KPMG Corporate Finance, approved the Merger and Merger Agreement and agreed to recommend the Merger to the full Board.
Following the Special Committee meeting on November 10, 2010, Caprius held a meeting of the full Board. After Hempstead rendered the fairness opinion, KPMG Corporate Finance provided its commentary, members of the Board, Caprius’ counsel Carter Ledyard & Milburn LLP, the financial advisors of the Special Committee, and its counsel Goodwin Proctor, considered and discussed the factors described below under “- Reasons for the Merger; Recommendation of the Special Committee and the Board of Directors”, the directors deliberated and unanimously determined that the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, including the Merger, are advisable and fair to, and in the best interests of Caprius and its unaffiliated stockholders. The Board authorized and approved the Merger Agreement, directed that the Merger Agreement be submitted for consideration by our stockholders and recommended that the stockholders adopt the Merger Agreement. Hempstead subsequently delivered its written fairness opinion. We have four directors on our Board, including two directors, Kenneth Leung and Roger Miller, who are not employees of the Company, and two directors, George Aaron and Dwight Morgan, who are our employees but are not affiliated with Vintage.
Following the November 10, 2010 Special Committee and Board meetings, the parties and their representatives finalized the definitive documentation and entered into the Merger Agreement. On the morning of November 11, 2010, we issued a press release announcing that the parties had entered into the Merger Agreement, and on November 12, 2010, we filed a Form 8-K with the SEC describing the entry into the Merger Agreement, and included the Merger Agreement and the press release as exhibits thereto.
Pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, for a period from November 10, 2010 (the date the Merger Agreement was entered into) until December 15, 2010, we were entitled to solicit and consider other offers or proposals for a possible acquisition of the Company.
During this solicitation period, the Special Committee, through KPMG Corporate Finance, conducted a solicitation of interest regarding a possible acquisition of Caprius. Between November 15, 2010 and December 15, 2010, KPMG Corporate Finance contacted approximately 137 parties regarding a potential alternative transaction with Caprius and provided to all interested parties an information memorandum on Caprius and with instructions on participating in the bid process. The 137 parties contacted consisted of companies in the medical waste or environmental disposal industries and financial buyers. The meetings and discussions with potential acquirors were focused on due diligence issues raised.
On November 23, 2010, the Special Committee held a telephonic meeting with its counsel and representatives of KPMG Corporate Finance who updated the Special Committee on the “go-shop” process. The Special Committee continued holding telephonic meetings with its financial and legal advisors on a weekly basis during the “go-shop” period to discuss the status of the solicitation activities. The Special Committee also received regular updates regarding parties that had been contacted. The “go-shop” period ended at 5:00 pm, EST, on December 15, 2010 and KPMG Corporate Finance completed the “go-shop” process that day. Despite KPMG Corporate Finance’s broad solicitation process, none of the contacted parties submitted a bid to acquire Caprius.
Reasons for the Merger; Fairness of the Merger; Recommendations of the Special Committee and our Board of Directors
Our Board of Directors
As discussed in greater detail below, our Board believes that the Merger Agreement and the Merger (which is the Rule 13e-3 going private transaction for which a Schedule 13E-3 Transaction Statement has been filed with the SEC), upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement, are substantively and procedurally fair to us and our unaffiliated stockholders. Our Board includes Dwight Morgan, who is and is currently expected to continue as our President and Chief Executive Officer, under an amended employment agreement, and George Aaron, who is and is currently expected to continue as our Vice President, International Sales, after the Merger. Neither Mr. Morgan nor Mr. Aaron has or will after the Merger have an equity interest in Vintage. The recommendation of our Board is based, in part, upon the unanimous recommendation of the Special Committee.
The Special Committee
The Special Committee was authorized to determine whether the proposed Merger is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders, and to make a determination as to the conditions to commencing discussions with any other party or parties regarding such a transaction. The Special Committee is comprised of two directors, Kenneth Leung and Roger Miller, who both meet the independence requirements of the SEC and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.
Recommendation of the Special Committee
The Special Committee, by unanimous vote at a meeting held on November 10, 2010:
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approved the Merger Agreement, including the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement; and
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recommended that the Board approve and adopt the Merger Agreement, and the transactions contemplated thereby.
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The Special Committee considered the following material factors in approving the Merger Agreement and making its determination and recommendation:
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the value of the cash consideration to be paid to the Caprius stockholders upon consummation of the Merger;
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the current and historical market prices of Caprius Common Stock and the fact that the price of $0.065 per share represented a 157% premium over the trailing 30 day weighted average price of our Common Stock for the period ended November 10, 2010 (the closing price of Caprius Common Stock on November 10, 2010, the last trading day prior to our public announcement of the Merger Agreement was $0.02 per share);
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the financial analyses and valuation factors reviewed by Hempstead with the Special Committee, which were adopted by the Special Committee. These factors are set forth in more detail under the subheadings “Discounted Cash Flow Analysis”, “Comparable Company Analysis”, Comparable Transaction Analysis”, “Premium Paid Analysis”, “Net Book Value Analysis”, and “Prior Purchases Review” under “– Opinion of Hempstead & Co., Incorporated to the Special Committee”;
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the oral opinion of Hempstead to the Special Committee on November 10, 2010 (which was confirmed in writing by delivery of Hempstead’s written opinion dated the same date), as to the fairness, from a financial point of view, of the Merger Consideration of $0.065 in cash per share to be received by the unaffiliated stockholders of Caprius in the Merger, as of November 10, 2010 and based upon and subject to the procedures followed, assumptions made, qualifications and limitations on the review undertaken and other matters considered by Hempstead in preparing its opinion. A more detailed description of the opinion of Hempstead is set forth below under “– Opinion of Hempstead & Co. Incorporated to the Special Committee”;
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the oral advice provided by KPMG Corporate Finance as to the terms of the Merger;
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the efforts made to consider all strategic alternatives reasonably available to Caprius in face of Vintage’s position and to obtain the maximum value for the unaffiliated stockholders from Vintage’s initial offer of $.03 per share;
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the Special Committee’s understanding of our business, historical and current financial performance, competitive and operating environment, operations, prior capital raising efforts, capital resources necessary to finance the business, management strength and future prospects and uncertainties related to our business;
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the risk that another attractive acquisition transaction may not be available to us if we declined this transaction;
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the risk of Caprius being unable to repay the Vintage Loan by December 16, 2010, the maturity date in the event we declined this transaction;
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the fact that Vintage, as our principal source of funds since September 2009, holds a senior secured position as to all of our assets, and the loan documents impose stringent affirmative and negative covenants on us, including prohibitions on mergers, consolidations or sales of all or any substantial part of our assets;
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the potential consequences of foreclosure by Vintage if we did not enter into a merger agreement with Vintage and were unable to repay the Vintage obligation by maturity, December 16, 2010, or a bankruptcy filing by Caprius, and the possibility that, after a foreclosure, stockholder value could be reduced to zero;
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the fact that the consideration to be paid to Caprius stockholders would be all cash, which provides liquidity and certainty to them as the trading market for the Common Stock is relatively inactive;
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the fact that the Merger is not subject to a financing condition, the Special Committee’s understanding of the reputation and experience of Vintage, the prior experience of Vintage in funding us and the ability of Vintage to fully fund the payment of the Merger Consideration and the related fees and expenses;
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the fact that (i) we are permitted general solicitation of third party offers from November 10, 2010 to December 15, 2010, (ii) under certain circumstances the Special Committee or the Board could entertain unsolicited proposals from third parties, and (iii) we could terminate the Merger Agreement to enter into an agreement related to a Superior Proposal (as described in the section entitled “The Merger Agreement –Solicitation of Other Offers” beginning at page 51 of this proxy statement);
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the fact that we were permitted to conduct a “market check” through a general solicitation for a certain period of time following the entry into the Merger Agreement;
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the fact that the termination fee and expense reimbursement in the event that the Board accepted a Superior Proposal was capped at $100,000;
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the fact that the Special Committee had retained Hempstead, KPMG Corporate Finance and its own legal counsel, all of whom are unaffiliated with Caprius, Vintage or Merger Sub, to assist and advise the Special Committee, solely with respect to the unaffiliated stockholders’ interests in negotiations of the Merger Agreement with Vintage and Merger Sub and the market check process;
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the fact that the Merger and the Merger Agreement were approved by all of our unaffiliated directors who were not employees of the Company; and
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the potential risks and costs to us if the Merger does not close, including the likelihood that Vintage would continue to be the primary lender and might seek to assert any claims it may then have against us under the Vintage Loan Agreement, as well as diversion or potential effects on the relationships with our suppliers, vendors and other business partners, and possible other actions that could be taken by Vintage.
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The Special Committee further considered the general solicitation process following the entry into the Merger Agreement and the Special Committee’s understanding, as a result of the “go-shop” process, Caprius would be entitled to survey the market for a Superior Proposal.
In addition, the Special Committee was aware, and considered, that certain of our directors and executive officers may have an interest in the Merger that may be considered to be different from, or are in addition to, their interests as stockholders of Caprius, as described below under “– Interests of Our Directors and Executive Officers in the Merger.”
The foregoing discussion is not intended to be exhaustive, but summarizes the material factors considered by the Special Committee in making its determination and recommendation to the Board. In view of the wide variety of factors considered by the Special Committee and the complexity of these matters, the Special Committee did not find it practicable to quantify or otherwise assign relative weights to the foregoing factors. In addition, each of the members of the Special Committee may have assigned different weights to various factors. On balance, the Special Committee determined that the positive factors discussed above outweighed any negative factors.
In light of the foregoing considerations, the Special Committee determined that the proposed Merger at the proposed price of $0.065 per share was compelling and represented the maximum value reasonably available to the unaffiliated stockholders in light of the limited options and inherent uncertainties in attempting to execute a successful “stay the course” strategy, and the role of Vintage as the sole source of capital for Caprius for more than the preceding 13 months and its secured position in our principal assets.
The Special Committee believes that the process it followed in making its determination and recommendation with respect to the Merger Agreement was fair and proper because, among other things:
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the Special Committee consists solely of directors each of whom meets independence requirements of the SEC and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority;
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the Special Committee, as a result of having no significant holdings in the Company, did not have any financial interest in the outcome of its determination;
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the Special Committee retained and was advised by experienced and independent legal counsel with respect to the transaction process, the conduct of the “market check” and the negotiations with Vintage;
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the Special Committee retained Hempstead to render an opinion as to the fairness, from a financial point of view, of the Merger Consideration of $0.065 in cash per share to be received by the unaffiliated stockholders in the Merger;
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the Special Committee retained KPMG Corporate Finance to assist in the “market check” process during which they contacted 137 entities regarding the prospect of making an Acquisition Proposal; and
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the Special Committee acted diligently in discharging its responsibilities, meeting on three separate occasions in person and four times via telephone conference prior to execution of the Merger Agreement.
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Recommendation of the Board of Directors
At a meeting on November 10, 2010, following the recommendation of the Special Committee, the Board:
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approved the terms of the Merger Agreement, including the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, and declared the same to be advisable and substantively and procedurally fair to, and in the best interests of, Caprius and its unaffiliated stockholders;
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adopted the Merger Agreement, including the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement;
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directed that the Merger Agreement be submitted to the Caprius stockholders for their adoption at a special meeting; and
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recommended that you vote “FOR” the proposal to adopt the Merger Agreement.
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We have four directors on our Board, including Kenneth Leung and Roger Miller, who are not employees of the Company, and George Aaron and Dwight Morgan who are executive officers and employees of the Company but are not affiliated with Vintage.
The Caprius directors consulted with senior management and with outside legal counsel, reviewed a significant amount of information and considered the following material factors:
Positive Factors:
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the value of the cash consideration to be paid to our stockholders upon consummation of the Merger;
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the current and historical market prices of our Common Stock and the fact that the price of $0.065 per share represented a 157% premium over the trailing 30 day weighted average market price of our Common Stock for the period ended November 9, 2010. The closing price of Caprius Common Stock on November 10, 2010, the last trading day prior to our public announcement of the Merger Agreement, was $0.02 per share;
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the financial analyses and valuation factors reviewed by Hempstead with the Special Committee which the Special Committee adopted, and which were expressly adopted by the Board. These factors are set forth in more detail under the subheadings “Discounted Cash Flow Analysis”, “Comparable Company Analysis”, Comparable Transaction Analysis”, Premium Paid Analysis”, “Net Book Value Analysis”, and “Prior Purchases Review” under “– Opinion of Hempstead & Co., Incorporated, to the Special Committee”;
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a liquidation value analysis was not undertaken since, based on discussions with Hempstead and the Special Committee, the Board determined that a liquidation value analysis would not derive a value in excess of the going-concern value which was embodied in the factors discussed in the preceding bullet point and therefore was not warranted;
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the oral opinion of Hempstead to the Special Committee on November 10, 2010 (which was confirmed in writing by delivery of Hempstead’s written opinion dated the same date), as to the fairness, from a financial point of view, of the Merger Consideration of $0.065 in cash per share to be received by the unaffiliated stockholders of Caprius in the Merger, as of November 10, 2010 and based upon and subject to the procedures followed, assumptions made, qualifications and limitations on the review undertaken and other matters considered by Hempstead in preparing its opinion. A more detailed description of the opinion of Hempstead is set forth below under “– Opinion of Hempstead & Co. Incorporated to the Special Committee”;
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the process leading to the announcement of the Merger Agreement and during the solicitation period after the Merger Agreement was entered into, including the efforts to obtain the maximum value for Caprius stockholders, and the Special Committee’s understanding, as a result of such process, of the lack of interest of third parties in a transaction with Caprius;
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the fact that the Merger is not subject to a financing condition, the Special Committee’s understanding of the reputation and experience of Vintage, and the ability of Vintage to fully fund the payment of the Merger Consideration and the related fees and expenses;
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the fact that (i) we were permitted to undertake general solicitation of third party offers from November 10, 2010 to December 15, 2010, (ii) under certain circumstances the Special Committee or the Board could entertain unsolicited proposals from third parties, and (iii) we could terminate the Merger Agreement to enter into an agreement related to a Superior Proposal (as described in the section entitled “The Merger Agreement –Solicitation of Other Offers” beginning at page 51 of this proxy statement), thereby enabling the Board to comply with its fiduciary duties;
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the fact that the transaction does not require the approval of at least a majority in interest of the unaffiliated stockholders;
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the fact that we were permitted to conduct a “market check” through a general solicitation for a certain period of time following the entry into the Merger Agreement, and that the Merger Agreement may be terminated so that we can enter into an agreement related to a Superior Proposal;
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the fact that the Merger Consideration to be paid to the stockholders would be all cash at closing, which provides liquidity and certainty to them;
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the fact that the Special Committee had retained Hempstead, KPMG Corporate Finance and legal counsel, all of whom are unaffiliated with Caprius, Vintage or Merger Sub, to assist and advise the Special Committee, solely with respect to the unaffiliated stockholders’ interests, in negotiations of the Merger Agreement with Vintage and Merger Sub; and
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the fact that the Merger and the Merger Agreement were approved by all of the unaffiliated directors of Caprius who were not employees of the Company.
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the turnover of ownership and control of the Company to a third party; although based upon the Special Committee’s understanding of our business, historical and current financial performance, competitive and operating environment, operations, management strength and future prospects and uncertainties related to our business, particularly the continuing losses, the manufacturing and marketing difficulties and the large capital needs, there are questions as to the future viability without Vintage’s participation;
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the risk that another attractive acquisition may not be available to us if we had declined this transaction;
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the fact that Vintage as our principal source of funds since September 2009, holds a senior secured position as to all of our assets and of our subsidiaries, and the loan documents impose stringent affirmative and negative covenants on us, including prohibitions on mergers, consolidations or sale of all or a substantial part of our assets;
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the loss of the opportunity to realize future appreciation in the Company’s capital stock, however, if we did not enter into the Merger Agreement and Vintage foreclosed, the stockholder value could be reduced to zero; and
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the potential risks and costs to us if the Merger does not close, including the diversion of management and employee attention and potential effects on the relationships with our suppliers, vendors and other business partners, and possible other actions that could be taken by Vintage.
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In addition, the Board was aware of and considered that certain of our directors and executive officers may have an interest in the Merger that may be considered to be different from, or are in addition to, their interests as stockholders of Caprius, as described below under “– Interests of our Directors and Executive Officers in the Merger.”
The foregoing discussion is not intended to be exhaustive, but summarizes the material factors considered by the Board. In view of the wide variety of factors considered by the Board, and the complexity of these matters, the Board did not find it practicable to quantify or otherwise assign relative weights to the foregoing factors. In addition, individual members of the Board may have assigned different weights to various factors. On balance, the Board determined that the positive factors discussed above outweighed the negative factors discussed above and that the Merger Agreement and the Merger were advisable and substantively and procedurally fair to, and in the best interests of, us and the unaffiliated stockholders. The Board unanimously adopted and declared advisable the Merger Agreement and the Merger based upon the totality of the information presented to and considered by it.
The Caprius Board unanimously recommends that you vote “FOR” the proposal to adopt the Merger Agreement and “FOR” the proposal to adjourn the Special Meeting, if necessary or appropriate, to solicit additional proxies.
Opinion of Hempstead & Co. Incorporated to the Special Committee
Hempstead made an oral presentation to the Special Committee on November 10, 2010 and subsequently delivered its written opinion to the Special Committee. The opinion stated that, as of November 10, 2010, based upon and subject to the assumptions made, matters considered, procedures followed and limitations on Hempstead’s review as set forth in the opinion, the $0.065 per Common Stock share merger consideration to be received by the unaffiliated holders of Caprius Common Stock and Preferred Stock, on an as-converted basis, in the Merger is fair, from a financial point of view, to such stockholders.
The full text of Hempstead’s written opinion dated as of November 10, 2010, which sets forth the assumptions made, matters considered, procedures followed, and limitations on the review undertaken by Hempstead in rendering its opinion, is attached as Annex B to this proxy statement and is incorporated herein by reference. Hempstead’s opinion is not intended to be, and does not constitute, a recommendation to you as to how you should vote or act with respect to the Merger or any other matter relating thereto. The summary of the Hempstead opinion set forth in this proxy statement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the opinion. We urge you to read the opinion carefully and in its entirety.
Hempstead’s opinion is for the use and benefit of the Special Committee in connection with its consideration of the Merger. Hempstead’s opinion may not be used by any other person or for any other purpose without Hempstead’s prior written consent. Hempstead has consented to the Company’s use of its opinion in connection with this proxy statement. Hempstead’s opinion should not be construed as creating any fiduciary duty on its part to any party. Hempstead was not requested to opine as to, and its opinion does not in any manner address, the relative merits of the Merger as compared to any alternative business strategy that might exist for us, whether we should complete the Merger, and other alternatives to the Merger that might exist for us. Hempstead does not express any opinion as to the underlying valuation or future performance of the Caprius or the price at which Caprius’s securities might trade at any time in the future.
Hempstead’s analysis and opinion are necessarily based upon market, economic and other conditions, as they existed on, and could be evaluated as of, November 10, 2010. Accordingly, although subsequent developments may affect its opinion, Hempstead assumed no obligation to update, review or reaffirm its opinion to the Special Committee, us or any other person.
In arriving at its opinion, Hempstead took into account an assessment of general economic, market and financial conditions, as well as its experience in connection with similar transactions and securities valuations generally. In so doing, among other things, Hempstead:
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Reviewed an execution copy of the Merger Agreement dated as of November 10, 2010;
|
·
|
Reviewed publicly available financial information and other data with respect to Caprius that we deemed relevant, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2009, its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2010, its Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on January 28, 2010, July 7, 2010, and September 24, 2010, and the Schedule 13D filed by Vintage on January 29, 2010;
|
·
|
Reviewed non-public information and other data with respect to Caprius, including financial projections for the three year period ending September 30, 2011 (the “Projections”), and other internal financial information and management reports;
|
·
|
Reviewed Caprius’ current stockholder ownership;
|
·
|
Considered the historical financial results and present financial condition of Caprius;
|
·
|
Reviewed and compared the trading of, and the trading market for, Caprius Common Stock, and general market indices;
|
·
|
Reviewed and analyzed Caprius’ projected unlevered free cash flows derived from the Projections and prepared a discounted cash flow analysis;
|
·
|
Reviewed and analyzed certain financial characteristics of publicly-traded companies that were deemed to have characteristics comparable to Caprius;
|
·
|
Reviewed and analyzed certain financial characteristics of target companies in transactions where such target company was deemed to have characteristics comparable to that of Caprius;
|
·
|
Reviewed Vintage’s loan and warrant transactions with Caprius;
|
·
|
Reviewed the premiums and discounts implied by the Merger Consideration over Caprius’ stock price for various periods;
|
·
|
Reviewed Caprius’ net book value;
|
·
|
Reviewed and discussed with Caprius’ management and other Caprius representatives certain financial and operating information furnished by them, including financial analyses and the Projections with respect to Caprius’ business and operations; and
|
·
|
Performed such other analyses and examinations as were deemed appropriate.
|
In arriving at its opinion, with our consent, Hempstead relied upon and assumed, without assuming any responsibility for independent verification, the accuracy and completeness of all of the financial and other information that was supplied or otherwise made available to Hempstead. Hempstead further relied upon the assurances of Caprius management that they were not aware of any facts or circumstances that would make any such information inaccurate or misleading. With respect to the financial information and the Projections reviewed, Hempstead assumed that such information was reasonably prepared on a basis reflecting the best currently available estimates and judgments, and that such information provided a reasonable basis upon which it could make its analysis and form an opinion. The Projections were solely used in connection with the rendering of Hempstead’s fairness opinion. Stockholders should not place reliance upon such Projections, as they are not necessarily an indication of what our revenues and profit margins will be in the future. The Projections were prepared by Caprius’ management and are not to be interpreted as projections of future performance (or “guidance”) by Caprius. Hempstead did not evaluate the solvency or fair value of Caprius under any applicable foreign, state or federal laws relating to bankruptcy, insolvency or similar matters. Hempstead did not physically inspect Caprius’s properties and facilities and did not make or obtain any evaluations or appraisals of their assets and liabilities (including any contingent, derivative or off-balance-sheet assets and liabilities). Hempstead did not attempt to confirm whether Caprius had good title to its assets.
Hempstead assumed that the Merger will be consummated in a manner that complies in all respects with applicable foreign, federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations. Hempstead assumed, with our consent, that the final executed form of the Merger Agreement does not differ in any material respect from the drafts Hempstead reviewed and that the Merger will be consummated on the terms set forth in the Merger Agreement, without further amendments thereto, and without waiver by Caprius of conditions to any of its obligations thereunder or in the alternative that any such amendments or waivers thereto will not be detrimental to Caprius or its unaffiliated stockholders in any material respect.
In connection with rendering its opinion, Hempstead performed certain financial, comparative and other analyses as summarized below. Each of the analyses conducted by Hempstead was carried out to provide a different perspective on the Merger, and to enhance the total mix of information available. Hempstead did not form a conclusion as to whether any individual analysis, considered in isolation, supported or failed to support its opinion. Further, the summary of Hempstead’s analyses described below is not a complete description of the analyses underlying Hempstead’s opinion. The preparation of a fairness opinion is a complex process involving various determinations as to the most appropriate and relevant methods of financial analysis and the application of those methods to the particular circumstances and, therefore, a fairness opinion is not readily susceptible to partial analysis or summary description. In arriving at its opinion, Hempstead made qualitative judgments as to the relevance of each analysis and factors that it considered. Also, Hempstead may have given various analyses more or less weight than other analyses, and may have deemed various assumptions more or less probable than other assumptions, so that the range of valuations resulting from any particular analysis described above should not be taken to be Hempstead’s view of the value of Caprius’ assets. The estimates contained in Hempstead’s analyses and the ranges of valuations resulting from any particular analysis are not necessarily indicative of actual values or actual future results, which may be significantly more or less favorable than suggested by such analyses. Also, analyses relating to the value of businesses or assets neither purport to be appraisals nor do they necessarily reflect the prices at which businesses or assets may actually be sold. Accordingly, Hempstead’s analyses and estimates are inherently subject to substantial uncertainty. Hempstead believes that its analyses must be considered as a whole and that selecting portions of its analyses or the factors it considered, without considering all analyses and factors collectively, could create a misleading or incomplete view of the process underlying the analyses performed by Hempstead in connection with the preparation of its opinion.
The summaries of the financial reviews and analyses include information presented in tabular format. To fully understand Hempstead’s financial reviews and analyses, you must read the tables together with the accompanying text of each summary. The tables alone do not constitute a complete description of the financial analyses, including the methodologies and assumptions underlying the analyses, and if viewed in isolation could create a misleading or incomplete view of the financial analyses Hempstead performed.
The analyses performed were prepared solely as part of Hempstead’s analysis of the fairness of the $0.065 per share merger consideration to be received by our unaffiliated stockholders in the Merger, from a financial point of view, and were provided to the Special Committee in connection with the delivery of Hempstead’s opinion. Hempstead’s opinion was just one of the several factors the Special Committee took into account in making its determination to approve the Merger, including those described elsewhere in this proxy statement.
Stock Performance Review
In conducting its analysis, Hempstead reviewed the historical trading price of Caprius Common Stock. Prior to November 10, 2010, the stock price of Caprius generally traded in a range of $0.01 to $0.03 per share, as reflected below:
Caprius, Inc. (CAPI. PK) Daily Stock Price History |
|
Caprius, Inc. (CAPI. PK) Monthly Stock Price History
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date
|
|
Open
|
|
|
High
|
|
|
Low
|
|
|
Close |
|
|
Volume |
|
|
Adj Close
|
|
Date
|
|
Open
|
|
|
High
|
|
|
Low
|
|
|
Close |
|
|
Volume |
|
|
Adj Close
|
11/10/2010
|
|
$ |
0.02 |
|
|
$ |
0.02 |
|
|
$ |
0.02 |
|
|
$ |
0.02 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
$ |
0.02 |
|
|
11/1/2010
|
|
$ |
0.02 |
|
|
$ |
0.03 |
|
|
$ |
0.02 |
|
|
$ |
0.02 |
|
|
|
5,100 |
|
|
$ |
0.02 |
|
11/9/2010
|
|
|
0.02 |
|
|
|
0.02 |
|
|
|
0.02 |
|
|
|
0.02 |
|
|
|
1,000 |
|
|
|
0.02 |
|
|
10/1/2010
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
|
0.02 |
|
|
|
0.02 |
|
|
|
900 |
|
|
|
0.02 |
|
11/8/2010
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
9/1/2010
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
|
400 |
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
11/5/2010
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
|
40,000 |
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
8/2/2010
|
|
|
0.01 |
|
|
|
0.04 |
|
|
|
0.01 |
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
|
2,900 |
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
11/4/2010
|
|
|
0.02 |
|
|
|
0.02 |
|
|
|
0.02 |
|
|
|
0.02 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
0.02 |
|
|
7/1/2010
|
|
|
0.01 |
|
|
|
0.02 |
|
|
|
0.01 |
|
|
|
0.01 |
|
|
|
2,500 |
|
|
|
0.01 |
|
11/3/2010
|
|
|
0.02 |
|
|
|
0.02 |
|
|
|
0.02 |
|
|
|
0.02 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
0.02 |
|
|
6/1/2010
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
|
0.01 |
|
|
|
0.01 |
|
|
|
4,900 |
|
|
|
0.01 |
|
11/2/2010
|
|
|
0.02 |
|
|
|
0.02 |
|
|
|
0.02 |
|
|
|
0.02 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
0.02 |
|
|
5/3/2010
|
|
|
0.02 |
|
|
|
0.05 |
|
|
|
0.02 |
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
|
8,800 |
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
11/1/2010
|
|
|
0.02 |
|
|
|
0.02 |
|
|
|
0.02 |
|
|
|
0.02 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
0.02 |
|
|
4/1/2010
|
|
|
0.04 |
|
|
|
0.04 |
|
|
|
0.02 |
|
|
|
0.02 |
|
|
|
9,300 |
|
|
|
0.02 |
|
10/29/2010
|
|
|
0.02 |
|
|
|
0.02 |
|
|
|
0.02 |
|
|
|
0.02 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
0.02 |
|
|
3/1/2010
|
|
|
0.02 |
|
|
|
0.04 |
|
|
|
0.02 |
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
|
6,600 |
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
10/28/2010
|
|
|
0.02 |
|
|
|
0.02 |
|
|
|
0.02 |
|
|
|
0.02 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
0.02 |
|
|
2/1/2010
|
|
|
0.02 |
|
|
|
0.02 |
|
|
|
0.02 |
|
|
|
0.02 |
|
|
|
8,500 |
|
|
|
0.02 |
|
10/27/2010
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
|
0.02 |
|
|
|
0.02 |
|
|
|
12,000 |
|
|
|
0.02 |
|
|
1/4/2010
|
|
|
0.02 |
|
|
|
0.10 |
|
|
|
0.02 |
|
|
|
0.02 |
|
|
|
25,300 |
|
|
|
0.02 |
|
10/26/2010
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
12/1/2009
|
|
|
0.05 |
|
|
|
0.05 |
|
|
|
0.01 |
|
|
|
0.02 |
|
|
|
95,800 |
|
|
|
0.02 |
|
10/25/2010
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
|
5,800 |
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
11/2/2009
|
|
|
0.05 |
|
|
|
0.05 |
|
|
|
0.05 |
|
|
|
0.05 |
|
|
|
600 |
|
|
|
0.05 |
|
10/22/2010
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
10/1/2009
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
|
0.05 |
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
|
0.05 |
|
|
|
1,100 |
|
|
|
0.05 |
|
10/21/2010
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
|
1,500 |
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
9/1/2009
|
|
|
0.05 |
|
|
|
0.07 |
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
|
6,700 |
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
10/20/2010
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
8/3/2009
|
|
|
0.04 |
|
|
|
0.05 |
|
|
|
0.04 |
|
|
|
0.05 |
|
|
|
800 |
|
|
|
0.05 |
|
10/19/2010
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
7/1/2009
|
|
|
0.04 |
|
|
|
0.04 |
|
|
|
0.04 |
|
|
|
0.04 |
|
|
|
1,300 |
|
|
|
0.04 |
|
10/18/2010
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
6/1/2009
|
|
|
0.10 |
|
|
|
0.10 |
|
|
|
0.04 |
|
|
|
0.04 |
|
|
|
8,800 |
|
|
|
0.04 |
|
10/15/2010
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
5/1/2009
|
|
|
0.06 |
|
|
|
0.10 |
|
|
|
0.06 |
|
|
|
0.10 |
|
|
|
1,100 |
|
|
|
0.10 |
|
10/14/2010
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
4/1/2009
|
|
|
0.06 |
|
|
|
0.06 |
|
|
|
0.06 |
|
|
|
0.06 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
0.06 |
|
10/13/2010
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
3/2/2009
|
|
|
0.10 |
|
|
|
0.25 |
|
|
|
0.06 |
|
|
|
0.06 |
|
|
|
1,300 |
|
|
|
0.06 |
|
10/12/2010
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
2/2/2009
|
|
|
0.10 |
|
|
|
0.10 |
|
|
|
0.09 |
|
|
|
0.09 |
|
|
|
100 |
|
|
|
0.09 |
|
10/11/2010
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
1/2/2009
|
|
|
0.11 |
|
|
|
0.11 |
|
|
|
0.10 |
|
|
|
0.10 |
|
|
|
600 |
|
|
|
0.10 |
|
10/8/2010
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
0.03 |
|
|
12/1/2008
|
|
|
0.10 |
|
|
|
0.15 |
|
|
|
0.08 |
|
|
|
0.08 |
|
|
|
1,400 |
|
|
|
0.08 |
|
Source: Yahoo! Finance, Historical Prices
Valuation Overview
In arriving at its opinion as to fairness, from a financial point of view, Hempstead considered three primary valuation approaches to gain indicia relevant to the valuation of Caprius Common Stock; namely a market approach, an income approach and an asset-based approach.
Under the market approach, Hempstead reviewed Caprius’ (i) historical stock price, (ii) a comparable companies analysis based upon publicly-traded companies and (iii) a comparable transactions analysis. Under the income approach, Hempstead utilized discounted cash flow analysis, based upon management projections. Under the asset-based approach, Hempstead considered Caprius’ underlying net asset value, including intangible assets.
Comparable Company Analysis
In conducting a comparable company analysis (also referred to as “guideline company analysis”), Hempstead identified several companies involved in the same or similar line of business as Caprius utilizing Hoover’s Online database and other online searches. Primary search criteria were public companies classified under the primary SIC codes 4955 (Hazardous Waste Services) and 5047 (Medical and Hospital Equipment) and companies identified as being potential competitors to Caprius.
None of the comparable companies have characteristics identical to Caprius. An analysis of publicly traded comparable companies is not mathematical; rather it involves complex consideration and judgments concerning differences in financial and operating characteristics of the comparable companies and other factors that could affect the public trading of the comparable companies.
Companies identified by Hempstead as guideline companies were:
Biomedical Technology Solutions Holdings (OTCBB “BMTL”)
Cantel Medical Corp. (NYSE “CMN”)
MedClean Technologies, Inc. (OTCBB “MCLN”)
Sharps Compliance Corp. (NASDAQ “SMED”)
Stericycle, Inc. (NASDAQ “SRCL”)
Steris Corporation (NYSE “STE”)
After identifying public companies, Hempstead compared relevant financial data and calculated valuation multiples based upon the comparable companies’ implied market value of invested capital (“MVIC”) to recent measures of earnings before interest and taxes (“EBITDA”). Two of the identified companies, BMTL and MCLN, reported recent trailing twelve month revenues less than $3 million and negative trailing twelve month EBITDA. Of the companies identified, these firms were closest to Caprius in terms of these metrics. The implied MVIC, based on recent stock price, was calculated by Hempstead to be approximately $10.4 million for BMTL and $3.9 million for MCLN. By comparison, based on the proposed merger consideration, the implied MVIC for Caprius is $6.4 million. Due to negative EBITDA, the MVIC/EBITDA ratios calculated for BMTL and MCLN were not meaningful.
Two of the other companies identified, CMN and SMED, had recent twelve month revenues of $274 million and $39 million respectively. Hempstead calculated the MVIC/EBITDA to be 7.8x for CMN and 9.9x for SMED. The remaining companies SRCL and STE, were significantly larger than Caprius and the other guideline companies, each with recent twelve month revenues in excess of $1billion. Hempstead calculated the MVIC/EBITDA ratios to be 17.1x for SRCL and 12.6x for STE.
Due to its nominal revenues, negative EBITDA and stockholders’ equity, Hempstead determined that application of market derived multiples to these valuation metrics did not yield meaningful valuation indications. Therefore, Hempstead did not apply the guideline company method as primary valuation approach. Valuation data from identified guideline companies was utilized, however, in estimating exit multiples as part of Hempstead’s discounted cash flow analysis.
Comparable Transaction Analysis
A comparable transaction analysis involves a review of Merger, acquisition and asset purchase transactions involving target companies that are in related industries to Caprius. The comparable transaction analysis may provide a wide range of values due to the varying importance of an acquisition to a buyer (i.e., a strategic buyer willing to pay more than a financial buyer) in addition to the potential differences in the transaction process (i.e., competitiveness among potential buyers).
Information typically is not disclosed for transactions involving a private seller, even when the buyer is a public company, unless the acquisition is deemed to be “material” for the acquirer.
In searching for comparative transactions, Hempstead reviewed transaction rosters presented in Mergerstat Review 2010 published by FactSet Mergerstat LLC and Pratt’s Stats® online transaction database. Transactions posted by Mergerstat and Pratt’s Stats ® under various industry classifications were reviewed. Hempstead also reviewed the public filings and press releases of companies identified as guideline public companies for past acquisitions of comparable businesses.
While a number of transactions were identified, none of the target companies in the comparable transactions have characteristics identical to Caprius. Further, no relevant publicly disclosed valuation data was identified. Consequently, Hempstead did not rely upon a comparable transactions analysis as a valuation methodology in its fairness analysis.
Premiums Paid Analysis
During October 2010, through November 10, 2010, the closing stock price for Caprius Common Stock ranged from $0.02 to $0.03 per share. The Merger price of $0.065 per share implies a premium ranging from 225% (over $0.02) to 117% (over $0.03). Since Hempstead did not identify comparable transactions useable for valuation purposes, the premium implied by the merger was not directly compared to specific comparative transactions.
Discounted Cash Flow Analysis
The Income Approach to value is focused on the expected future economic returns. For purposes of its analysis, Hempstead applied a discounted cash flow methodology (DCF). Key components of this analysis are Caprius’ projected cash flows, and the discount factor utilized to translate projected cash flows to an indication of value.
Projection of Cash Flows
Caprius provided Hempstead a 3-year budget prepared by management in 2009. The budget forecast considerable revenue growth over a three-year indicated period, with a 400-unit potential for SteriMed system sales and fluid sales derived from the installed base. The third-year earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) was projected at approximately $10.0 million, with a gross profit margin of approximately 60% and EBITDA margin of approximately 40%. In assessing the management projection Hempstead noted that:
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The first year of the projection is indicated as 2009—the Company has historically underperformed its projections, as, financial and operational challenges hindered Caprius’ ability to execute its growth plan. Taking these factors into account Hempstead deemed it reasonable to assume that, on a going concern basis, should the Company receive the necessary capital, such projections (400 unit annual sales) would be feasible. However, based upon the past track record of Caprius, it is probable that this level of sales volume would occur over a longer period; therefore, Hempstead assumed that the 400-unit volume is achieved in Year 5 of a the projection horizon.
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Management projected third-year gross profit at 60% of sales, translating into an EBITDA margin of over 40%. Given the considerable uncertainty associated with future input costs, labor costs and contract manufacturing expenses, Hempstead adjusted the gross margin to approximately 50% at Year 5, with resultant indicated EBITDA of $7.0 million (for 400 units and fluid sales on the installed base).
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Hempstead assumed a 5-year “ramp-up” period reflecting sales growth toward a 400-unit peak. Hempstead did not forecast net cash flows for the interim period prior to the year-five EBITDA assumption of $7.0 million. Rather, Hempstead assumed that the present value of capital infusions required in the beginning of the five-year period would be offset by cash inflows from sales growth in the latter portion of the 5-year period.
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At the end of year-five, Hempstead assumed an exit value derived as a multiple of EBITDA. For purposes of this analysis, Hempstead utilized a range of 5-7x EBITDA. This reflects a discount to the public company multiples observed in Hempstead’s comparable companies analysis. The Company is (and will be at year-five) considerably smaller and less diversified than the observed public companies and, as such, a relatively higher-risk investment. Therefore, the estimated 5-year forward multiple was in Hempstead’s judgment reflective of this differential.
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Discount Rate
For purposes of discounting projected cash flows, Hempstead considered rates of return consistent with venture capital investments due to Caprius early stage relative to its projected potential. In addition to the empirical rate of return data, Hempstead also consider the following factors to be particularly relevant in estimating the appropriate discount rate range. Such risk factors included:
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On a stand-alone basis, the Company’s ability to operate as a going concern is questionable. The Company is highly leveraged and faces a potential default on its financial obligations.
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The Company has experienced manufacturing issues resulting in past business interruption. Although a temporary solution in Israel has been established, management will attempt to relocate manufacturing to the US to avoid the instability experienced in the past. This, however, creates additional uncertainty.
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The Company has a developed technology and numerous licenses to distribute its system and related consumables; however, widespread commercial acceptance has yet to be established.
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Based upon the preceding considerations, Hempstead applied a range of discount rates from 40% to 45% which, in its judgment, was reasonable range given the commercial and financial risks associated with Caprius.
The range of exit multiples (5-7x EBITDA) and discount rates (40-45%) resulted in a matrix of indicated per-share values for Company Common Stock which is summarized below:
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Per-Share Values
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@ Discount Rates
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Exit Multiple
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40%
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45%
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5
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$0.07
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$(0.00)
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6
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$0.16
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$0.07
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7
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$0.26
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$0.15
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In considering the relevance of the value indicated by the DCF analysis Hempstead noted that although there is substantial uncertainty associated with the Company’s projections, the development potential was a significant factor influencing Caprius value. Since the proposed Merger Consideration fell into what Hempstead considered to be a reasonable range of value, the DCF analysis was an important part of Hempstead’s overall valuation analysis.
Net Asset Value Analysis
In the asset-based approach, value is based upon the subject company’s underlying net asset value. An asset-based approach can take various forms, including value derivations based on book value or estimated liquidation value. This type of analysis can be particularly relevant in the analysis of an asset holding company, or when realization of the subject company’s underlying net asset value is a relevant consideration.
As of June 30, 2010, Caprius’ balance sheet indicated a substantially negative net asset value. The Company asset base was comprised primarily of inventories while the fixed assets were minimal due to outsourced manufacturing. Although not reflected on the Company’s balance sheet, intangible assets were considered as important contributors to Caprius’ value on a going concern basis. The Caprius intangible assets include developed product technology as well as federal and state licenses regarding the sale of its Steri-Med Systems and Steri-Cid disinfectant solution. Although there are significant sunk costs associated with the development of the Caprius intellectual property and intangible assets, it was Hempstead’s understanding that value would not be realizable for such intangibles in a liquidation scenario nor would intangible asset value be separable from Caprius as a going concern. Given the composition of the Company’s asset base and the indicated negative net asset value, Hempstead did not utilize net asset value as a component of its valuation analysis.
Conclusion
Based on the information and analyses set forth above, Hempstead delivered its written opinion to the Special Committee, which stated that, as of November 10, 2010, based upon and subject to the assumptions made, matters considered, procedures followed and limitations on its review as set forth in the opinion, the $0.065 per share Common Stock Merger Consideration to be received by our unaffiliated stockholders in the Merger is fair, from a financial point of view to such stockholders.
As part of its investment banking business, Hempstead regularly is engaged in the evaluation of businesses and their securities in connection with mergers, acquisitions, corporate restructurings, negotiated underwritings, private placements and for other purposes. The Special Committee determined to use the services of Hempstead because it is a recognized investment banking firm that has substantial experience in similar matters. Hempstead has received a fee of $30,000 for rendering a fairness opinion. Also, Caprius has agreed to indemnify Hempstead and related persons and entities for certain liabilities that may relate to, or arise out of, its engagement. Further, Hempstead has not previously provided, nor are there any pending agreements to provide, any other services to either Caprius, Vintage or Merger Sub.
In the ordinary course of business, Hempstead, and certain of Hempstead’s affiliates, as well as investment funds in which Hempstead or its affiliates may have financial interests, may acquire, hold or sell long or short positions, or trade or otherwise effect transactions in debt, equity, and other securities and financial instruments (including bank loans and other obligations) of, or investments in, Caprius, Vintage, Merger Sub or any other party that may be involved in the Merger and their respective affiliates.
Under Hempstead’s policies and procedures, its fairness committee did not approve or issue this opinion and was not required to do so. Further, Hempstead’s opinion does not express an opinion about the fairness of the amount or nature of the compensation, if any, to any of Caprius’ officers, directors or employees, or class of such persons, relative to the compensation to the Caprius stockholders.
Certain Effects of the Merger
If the Merger Agreement is approved by our stockholders, and the other conditions to the closing of the Merger are either satisfied or waived, Merger Sub will be merged with and into Caprius with Caprius continuing as the surviving corporation, and 100% of the equity interests of Caprius will be owned directly by Vintage.
Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, at the effective time of the Merger, the holders of (i) shares of Common Stock (other than any shares owned by Vintage or Merger Sub, by Caprius as treasury stock, or by any stockholders who have properly exercised appraisal rights with respect to such shares) will be entitled to receive $0.065 per share in cash, (ii) shares of Series E Preferred (other than shares owned by stockholders who have properly exercised appraisal rights with respect to such shares) will be entitled to receive $40.65 per share in cash, or $0.065 per share of Common Stock on an as-converted basis based upon its current conversion ratio of 625 shares of Common Stock per share of Series E Preferred, and (iii) shares of Series F Preferred (other than shares owned by stockholders who have properly exercised appraisal rights with respect to such shares) will be entitled to receive $6.50 per share in cash, or $0.065 per share of Common Stock on an as-converted basis based upon its current conversion ratio of 100 shares of Common Stock per share of Series F Preferred, in each case, without interest and less any applicable withholding taxes. In addition, the accrued dividends on the Series E Preferred and the Series F Preferred would be cancelled upon the Merger.
At the effective time of the Merger, the directors of Merger Sub will become the directors of the surviving corporation and the current officers of Caprius will become the officers of the surviving corporation. The certificate of incorporation and by-laws of Caprius as the surviving corporation will be remain the same as they were in effect immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger.
The shares of Caprius Common Stock are traded on the Pink OTC Market (commonly known as the “Pink Sheets”) under the ticker symbol “CAPI.PK.” As a result of the Merger, we will be a privately held corporation, and there will be no public market for our Common Stock. After the Merger, our Common Stock will cease to be quoted, and price quotations with respect to sales of shares of Common Stock in the public market will no longer be available. In addition, registration of our Common Stock under the Exchange Act will be terminated, which will terminate the requirement to furnish reports to stockholders and the SEC, and would make certain provisions of the Exchange Act, such as the short-swing trading provisions of Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act and the requirement of furnishing a proxy statement in connection with any stockholder meeting pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act, no longer applicable to the Company.
Following the Merger, 100% of our outstanding Common Stock will be beneficially owned by Vintage, and no Preferred Stock will be outstanding. If the Merger is completed, Vintage will be the sole beneficiary of our future earnings and growth, if any, and will operate Caprius as Vintage may desire without being subject to disclosure obligations and any stockholder approval. Similarly, Vintage will also bear the risks of ongoing operations, including the risks of any decrease in our value after the Merger.
In connection with the Merger, Vintage will receive benefits and be subject to obligations in connection with the Merger that are different from, or in addition to, the benefits and obligations of our stockholders generally. As a result of the Merger, Vintage will benefit in that Caprius will no longer have to bear the expense and regulatory burdens associated with being a public company, which should improve Caprius’ operating cash flow and net income. Although Caprius expects that as of the effective date of the Merger its net operating loss carry forward for tax purposes will be approximately $1.3 million, because of the change of control as a result of the Merger, there will be future limitations on the use of the loss carry forward. Because of these limitations, the availability of net operating loss carry forwards had no bearing upon Vintage’s decision to propose, or the structuring of, the transaction or upon the initial proposal of and the subsequent negotiations regarding the Merger Consideration. A detriment to Vintage is that its new equity interests in Caprius will not initially be, and may not subsequently be, registered under the federal securities laws and that such equity interests will be illiquid without any public trading market for such securities. Additional incremental benefits to our directors George Aaron and Dwight Morgan may include, among other things, continuing as employees and executive officers of Caprius and being compensated for such services, including Mr. Morgan under an amended employment agreement.
Purpose and Reasons of the Vintage Reporting Persons for the Merger
Under the SEC rules governing “going private” transactions, the members of the Vintage Reporting Persons are deemed to be engaged in a “going private” transaction and, therefore, are required to express their reasons for the Merger to Caprius’ unaffiliated stockholders, as defined in Rule 13e-3 of the Exchange Act. The Vintage Reporting Persons are making the statements included under this caption solely for the purpose of complying with the requirements of Rule 13e-3 and related rules under the Exchange Act.
The purpose for the Vintage Reporting Persons to engage in the Merger was to enable Vintage to acquire control of Caprius, in a transaction in which the unaffiliated stockholders will be cashed out in exchange for $0.065 per share of Common Stock, $40.65 per share of Series E Preferred, or $0.065 per share of Common Stock on an as-converted basis into Common Stock, and $6.50 per share of Series F Preferred, or $0.065 per share of Common Stock on an as-converted basis into Common Stock, so Vintage will bear the rewards and risks of the ownership of Caprius after shares of Caprius Common Stock cease to be publicly traded, including any increases in value of Caprius as a result of improvements to our operations or acquisitions of other businesses.
The Vintage Reporting Persons believe that as a privately-held entity, the Company will have greater flexibility to make decisions based upon longer-term considerations without concern about short-term price impact or about duties to stockholders other than the equity owners of Vintage. As a result of the Caprius Common Stock being privately held, Caprius will also enjoy certain additional efficiencies, such as reduction of the time devoted by its management and certain other employees to compliance with certain SEC reporting requirements.
The Vintage Reporting Persons also believe that the Merger Consideration provides Caprius stockholders the opportunity to liquidate their investment at a substantial premium to the market prices prior to the Vintage Proposal and to do so without having to incur brokerage fees or to face liquidity issues and market fluctuations. The Vintage Proposal was structured as a statutory cash merger on the belief that this structure presented the means for a prompt and orderly transfer of the share interests of unaffiliated stockholders in a single step. The Vintage Reporting Persons did not consider any alternatives, such as a liquidation or bankruptcy, for achieving these purposes because of the possible adverse affect such proceedings could have on the continuation of the various regulatory permits and licenses held by Caprius.
Position of the Vintage Reporting Persons Regarding the Fairness of the Merger
The Vintage Reporting Persons believe that the interests of the unaffiliated stockholders of Caprius were represented by the Special Committee, which negotiated the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement with the assistance of the Special Committee’s independent legal and financial advisors. The Vintage Reporting Persons attempted to negotiate a transaction that would be most favorable to them, and not to Caprius’ stockholders and, accordingly, did not negotiate the Merger Agreement with a goal of obtaining terms that were fair to such stockholders. None of the Vintage Reporting Persons participated in the deliberations of the Special Committee regarding, nor did any of them receive advice from the Special Committee’s independent legal or financial advisors as to, the substantive or procedural fairness of the Merger to the unaffiliated stockholders of Caprius. None of the Vintage Reporting Persons believes that it has or had any fiduciary duties to Caprius or the unaffiliated stockholders of Caprius, including with respect to the Merger or its proposed terms. The view of the Vintage Reporting Persons as to the fairness of the Merger should not be construed as a recommendation to any stockholder as to how such stockholder should vote on the proposal to adopt the Merger Agreement and approve the Merger.
The Vintage Reporting Persons believe that the following factors provide a reasonable basis for their position that the terms and conditions of the Merger are substantively and procedurally fair to the Company and its unaffiliated stockholders:
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Historical Financial Performance: They reviewed the Company’s historical financial performance for the three years ended September 30, 2009 and the nine months ended June 30, 2010, which showed substantial continuing losses, and considered the Company’s current and anticipated business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects, including the prospects of the Company if it were to remain as a public reporting company, and also the prospects in light of changing economic conditions, and its knowledge of the industry in which the Company is engaged, including anticipated reductions in capital programs by hospitals and clinics.
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Current Market Price: They considered the historical market prices and recent trading activity for the Common Stock, including that the price of $0.065 per share to be paid in the Merger to the unaffiliated stockholders represents a premium of 157% over the trailing 30-day weighted average trading price of our Common Stock for the period ended November 10, 2010.
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Cash Consideration and Liquidity: The Merger will provide immediate and certain liquidity, without brokerage commissions and other costs associated with market sales, for the unaffiliated stockholders whose ability, absent the Merger, to sell their shares of Common Stock would be adversely affected by the limited trading volume and low public float for such shares.
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Opportunity for Third Party Bids: The Merger Agreement specifically permitted the Company the opportunity to conduct a “market check” during the period from November 10, 2010 (the date of the Merger Agreement) through December 15, 2010. During the “market check” period, the Special Committee, through KPMG Corporate Finance, the investment advisor to the Special Committee, conducted a broad solicitation of interest, however, no solicited party submitted a competing proposal to acquire the Company.
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Opinion of Hempstead: Without adopting the opinion, the fact that the Special Committee received the opinion of Hempstead, its independent financial advisor, to the effect that as of November 10, 2010, and based upon and subject to the various considerations set forth in such opinion, the Merger Consideration to be received by unaffiliated holders of the Common Stock and Preferred Stock was fair from a financial point of view to such stockholders.
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Independent Advisors: To advise it in its negotiations, the Special Committee retained Hempstead and KPMG Corporate Finance as its own financial advisors and also retained its own legal advisors, each of which has extensive experience in transactions similar to the Merger, and none of which the Special Committee determined to have a relationship that would compromise its independence in the process.
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No Financing Contingency: The Merger is not conditioned on any financing being obtained by Vintage or Merger Sub, thus increasing the likelihood that the Merger will be consummated and the Merger Consideration will be paid to Caprius stockholders.
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Specific Performance: Caprius has the ability to specifically enforce the terms of the Merger Agreement.
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Change in Recommendation: The Merger Agreement allows the Board or the Special Committee to withdraw or change its recommendation that Caprius stockholders adopt the Merger Agreement, and to terminate the Merger Agreement, in certain circumstances.
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No Obligation to Recommend: The Special Committee had no obligation to recommend the adoption of the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, including the Merger, or any other transaction.
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Formation and Authority of Special Committee: In October 2010, after receipt of the Vintage Proposal, the Board formed a Special Committee which consisted solely of directors who are not, and have not been, officers or employees of the Company or Vintage, or their respective affiliates, and which was represented by its own legal counsel and its own experienced independent financial advisors. The role of the Special Committee was to negotiate with Vintage in an effort to enhance stockholder value.
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Negotiations: The Merger Agreement was the result of active negotiations by the Special Committee, together with its advisors and counsel. These negotiations resulted in, among other things, a 117% increase in the Merger Consideration from the initial Vintage Proposal.
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Vote Required: Approval of the Merger requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding Caprius voting shares. Although the Merger Agreement does not provide for a vote of a majority of the unaffiliated stockholders, Vintage has agreed to limit its exercise of the Vintage Warrant for purposes of the approval of the Merger and the Merger Agreement to not more than 40% of the voting power of our capital stock as of the record date, thereby requiring unaffiliated stockholders holding at least approximately 10.1% of the voting shares to affirmatively vote for approval of the Merger.
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Appraisal Rights: Company stockholders who do not vote in favor of the Merger and who comply with certain procedural requirements will be entitled, upon the effectiveness of the Merger, to exercise statutory appraisal rights under the DGCL, which allows such stockholders to receive the “fair value” of their shares either as determined by the Delaware Court of Chancery or by negotiation with the Company, and paid to them in cash.
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Plans for the Company after the Merger
Vintage expects that, following the Merger, Caprius’ operations will be conducted substantially as they are currently being conducted. Vintage has informed us that, except as otherwise described in this proxy statement, it has no current plans, proposals or negotiations which relate to or would result in (i) an extraordinary transaction, such as a merger, reorganization or liquidation, involving Caprius or any of our subsidiaries, (ii) any purchase, sale or other transfer of a material amount of the assets of Caprius or any of our subsidiaries, (iii) any change in our current Board or management or (iv) any other material change in Caprius’ business. Following the Merger, however, Vintage may initiate from time to time reviews of us and our assets, corporate structure, capitalization, operations, properties, management and personnel to determine what changes, if any, would be desirable, and will be free to make any changes that it deems advisable or appropriate.
Effect on the Company’s Business if the Merger is Not Completed
If the Merger Agreement is not adopted by the Caprius stockholders or if the Merger is not completed for any other reason, Caprius stockholders will not receive any payment for their shares in connection with the Merger and will continue as stockholders. Caprius will remain a public company, and shares of our Common Stock will continue to be listed and traded on the Pink Sheets and registered under the Exchange Act, and the shares of Series E Preferred and Series F Preferred will remain outstanding, and dividends will continue to accrue on the Series E Preferred and Series F Preferred. Accordingly, if the Merger is not consummated, there can be no assurance as to the effect of the risks and opportunities on the future value of your Caprius shares. If the Merger Agreement is not adopted by Caprius stockholders or if the Merger is not consummated for any other reason, there can be no assurance that Vintage will offer any other transaction to Caprius, or, if offered, such transaction would be acceptable to the Board, or that the business, prospects or results of operations of Caprius will not be adversely impacted or that Caprius will be able to meet its obligations under the Vintage Loan Agreement to avoid foreclosure or to obtain capital as needed at that time. Under specified circumstances, Caprius may be required to pay Vintage a termination fee and expenses as described under the section entitled “The Merger Agreement—Effects of Terminating the Merger Agreement,” beginning on page 55 of this proxy statement.
Financing
As part of the Merger Agreement, Vintage and Merger Sub represented and warranted to Caprius that Vintage and Merger Sub have, and at closing of the Merger will continue to have, all of the funds necessary to consummate the Merger on the terms and conditions in the Merger Agreement. Vintage and Merger Sub will pay $914,000 for the Company shares that Vintage and Merger Sub do not own. The payments will be funded with cash Vintage has on hand.
Treatment of Common Stock and Preferred Stock
The Merger Agreement provides that, at the effective time of the Merger, each share (other than shares held by us in treasury, shares held by Vintage or Merger Sub, and shares owned by stockholders who properly exercise appraisal rights with respect to such shares) of Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger will be automatically converted into the right to receive $0.065 in cash, without interest and less any applicable withholding taxes, and will be cancelled. At the effective time of the Merger, each share of Series E Preferred (other than shares of Series E Preferred owned by stockholders who have properly exercised appraisal rights with respect to such shares) will be converted into the right to receive $40.625 in cash, without interest and less any applicable withholding tax. The per share consideration for the Series E Preferred represents the common-equivalent consideration for such Series E Preferred based on its current conversion ratio of 625 shares of our common stock per share of our Series E Preferred and the per common share merger consideration of $0.065. At the effective time of the Merger, each share of Series F Preferred (other than shares of Series F Preferred owned by stockholders who have properly exercised appraisal rights with respect to such shares) will be converted into the right to receive $6.50 in cash, without interest and less any applicable withholding tax. The per share consideration for the Series F Preferred represents the common-equivalent consideration for such Series F Preferred based on its current conversion ratio of 100 shares of our Common Stock per share of our Series F Preferred and the per common share merger consideration of $0.065. In addition, any accrued dividends on the Series E Preferred and the Series F Preferred would be cancelled pursuant to the Merger.
Treatment of Stock Options and Warrants
At the effective time of the Merger, the vesting of all outstanding unvested stock options will be accelerated and such options will be fully vested and exercisable. Each outstanding stock option will then be cancelled in the Merger, and in consideration of such cancellation each holder thereof will be entitled to receive a cash payment equal to the excess (if any) of $0.065 over the per share exercise price of such stock option multiplied by the number of shares subject to such option. The exercise prices of these outstanding options are greater than $0.065 per share, other than options exercisable for 500,000 shares at an exercise price of $.05 per share.
At the effective time of the Merger, all outstanding warrants which by their terms would terminate upon the Merger will terminate and be cancelled and each holder thereof will be entitled to receive a cash payment equal to the excess (if any) of $0.065 over the per share exercise price of these warrants multiplied by the number of shares subject to such warrants. The exercise prices of these warrants are greater than $0.065 per share.
As a condition to closing the Merger, we were required to obtain the consent of the holders of warrants (other than the Vintage Warrant) issued under two series of warrant agreements that did not provide for termination upon the Merger to permit such termination. We have obtained the consent of the 11 holders of those warrants to amendments to their warrant agreements to provide for a call right in favor of Caprius to purchase all, and not less than all, of those warrants at a price of $0.0452 per share for the shares underlying those warrants. The call right is exercisable until July 31, 2011, and the closing of the Merger is deemed to be an exercise by us of the call right. An aggregate of 4,008,470 shares of Common Stock underlie those warrants.
Deregistration of Caprius Common Stock
If the Merger is completed, our Common Stock will no longer be listed or traded on the Pink OTC Market (commonly known as the “Pink Sheets”) and will be deregistered under the Exchange Act.
Interests of Our Directors and Executive Officers in the Merger
In considering the recommendation of our Board that you adopt the Merger, you should be aware that certain of our directors and executive officers may have interests in the transaction that are different from, or are in addition to, your interests as a stockholder. The Board and the Special Committee were aware of these interests and considered them, among other matters, in reaching the decision to approve and adopt the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, including the Merger, and to recommend that you vote in favor of adopting the Merger Agreement.
Compensation of Members of the Special Committee
Each member of the Special Committee will receive a fee of $25,000 for the performance of his duties as a member of the Special Committee, including his participation in meetings and conference calls of the Special Committee and with Vintage and the advisors of the Special Committee, review of documentation and consultation with the Board and management.
Arrangements with our Executive Officers
Dwight Morgan and George Aaron, our President/Chief Executive Officer and Vice President- International Sales, respectively, will continue in those positions after the Merger. Mr. Morgan’s Employment Agreement, dated October 16, 2009, will be amended upon the Merger. The “change of control” provision in Mr. Morgan’s Employment Agreement provides that neither a going-private transaction by Caprius nor a transaction involving Vintage would be deemed to constitute a “change of control” for purposes of a termination payment due to a change of control under that Agreement. The major changes to Mr. Morgan’s Employment Agreement will be providing for a bonus up to 50% of his base salary based upon the achievement of certain corporate and individual performance goals, granting options to him for the purchase of up to 5% of Caprius’ then outstanding common stock at an exercise price to be determined under a plan to be established, payment of reasonable relocation expenses in the event Caprius establishes its headquarters other than in the Detroit, Michigan area, and obtaining a key-man life insurance policy paid for by Caprius covering Mr. Morgan in an amount to be determined and for which he may name the beneficiary. His post-employment non-competition and non-solicitation provisions will remain in effect. Mr. Aaron is employed on an “at will” basis without any employment agreement, and he will not receive an employment agreement after the Merger. Neither Mr. Morgan nor Mr. Aaron will receive any severance or bonus payments by reason of the Merger. The stock options held by each of them will terminate upon the Merger, see “Treatment of Stock Options and Warrants” above.
Indemnification Under the Merger Agreement
The Merger Agreement provides that all rights to exculpation, indemnification and advancement of expenses existing on the date of the Merger Agreement in favor of current or former directors, officers or employees of Caprius and its subsidiaries under the provisions of their respective organizational documents or other agreements will survive the Merger and continue in full force and effect. For a period of six years after the effective time of the Merger, Vintage is required to cause the surviving corporation to honor all provisions for indemnification and advancement of expenses under the organizational documents of Caprius and its subsidiaries, as in effect immediately prior to the Merger, and under the indemnification agreements (as in effect on the date of the Merger Agreement) of Caprius and its subsidiaries with their respective directors and officers. The surviving corporation is also required to indemnify (and provide customary advancement of expenses to) the current directors and officers of Caprius and its subsidiaries to the fullest extent permitted by law with respect to any costs, expenses, judgments, fines, losses, claims, settlements, damages and liabilities incurred in connection with any actual or threatened action, proceeding or claim arising out of such person’s service as such director or officer or performed at the request of Caprius or any of its subsidiaries.
The Merger Agreement provides that as a condition to closing the Merger, Caprius will obtain and fully pay the premium for an extension of the directors’ and officers’ liability coverage under our existing directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies for a period of six years from and after the effective time of the Merger on terms that are no less advantageous than under our existing policies. This extension was obtained on November 15, 2010.
Certain Relationships between Vintage and Caprius
On September 16, 2009, Vintage, a privately owned company involved in equity and debt investment activities, and Caprius entered into a Securities Purchase and Sale Agreement, as amended by Amendment No. 1, dated as of September 8, 2010, Amendment No. 2, dated as of November 4, 2010, Amendment No. 3, dated as of November 18, 2010, Amendment No. 4, dated as of December 16, 2010, and Amendment No. 5, dated as of March 9, 2011 (collectively, the “Vintage Loan Agreement”), providing for advances to Caprius initially up to $3 million and subsequently increased to $6.7 million. As of February 28, 2011, Vintage had advanced approximately $5.5 million to Caprius, exclusive of an additional $1.97 million of capitalized obligations (including approximately $975,000 of interest) owed to Vintage. Our obligation to Vintage is evidenced by the Vintage Note, bearing interest at a default rate of 17% per annum. The maturity date of the Vintage Note initially was December 16, 2010. On December 16, 2010, the maturity date was extended to February 1, 2011. On January 31, 2011, the maturity date was further extended to the earlier of (i) April 30, 2011 or (ii) the termination of the Merger Agreement. The Vintage Loan Agreement is secured by a first lien on the assets of Caprius and its subsidiaries, including the intellectual property, and contains extensive affirmative and negative covenants with respect to Caprius’ business operations and transactions, such as prohibitions on mergers, consolidations, or sales of all or a substantial part of our assets.
At the time of the initial Vintage Loan Agreement, the parties entered into an Investment Monitoring Agreement providing for an Operating Committee composed of two persons designated by each party for the purpose of reviewing budgets, strategic planning, financial performance and similar matters, and that Committee has the right to make recommendations to our Board.
On January 22, 2010, as a post-closing obligation under the Vintage Loan Agreement, we issued a warrant to Vintage (the “Vintage Warrant”) for the purchase of a number of shares of Common Stock that would equal 40% of the outstanding Caprius Common Stock on a fully-diluted basis, at an exercise price of $0.01 per share, for a term of seven years. Based upon the capitalization as of February 28, 2011, the Vintage Warrant would be exercisable for 16,647,173 shares of Common Stock. In the Merger Agreement, Vintage agreed to limit its exercise of the Vintage Warrant for purposes of the approval of the Merger and the Merger Agreement to not more than 40% of the voting power of our capital stock as of the record date for the Special Meeting; however, it retained the right to exercise the Vintage Warrant, in whole or in part, for any purpose other than approval of the Merger and the Merger Agreement. On March 8, 2011, Vintage exercised the warrant for 9,371,243 shares of Common Stock. As part of the grant of the Vintage Warrant, Vintage obtained certain preemptive rights with respect to our securities and observer rights for meetings of our Board, pursuant to an Equity Rights Agreement, and we also agreed to register the shares of Common Stock underlying the Vintage Warrant under the Securities Act, pursuant to a Registration Rights Agreement.
As the primary lender, Vintage receives periodic financial and operational reports from Caprius as required under the Vintage Loan Agreement. Vintage also communicates regularly with Caprius management, both on a formal and informal basis, regarding the status of the Vintage loan and Caprius’ prospects and future business plans.
Fees and Expenses
Except as otherwise provided in the Merger Agreement, all fees and expenses incurred in connection with the Merger Agreement, the Merger and the other transactions contemplated thereby will be paid by the party incurring such fees or expenses, whether or not the Merger is consummated, except that the expenses incurred in connection with the filing, printing and mailing of this proxy statement and the solicitation of the approval of our stockholders, and all filing fees paid to the SEC, in each case in connection with the Merger, will be paid by us. Upon the occurrence of certain events providing grounds for termination of the Merger Agreement, a party may have to reimburse the other party’s expenses, see “The Merger Agreement-Fees and Expenses” on page 56 of this proxy statement.
The table below sets forth the estimated fees and expenses incurred by the Company in connection with the Merger.
|
|
|
|
Filing fees
|
|
$ |
65 |
|
Legal and accounting fees and expenses
|
|
|
112,500 |
|
Financial advisory fees and expenses
|
|
|
155,000 |
|
Special committee retainer and meeting fees
|
|
|
50,000 |
|
Printing, proxy solicitation and mailing costs
|
|
|
57,500 |
|
Miscellaneous
|
|
|
4,935 |
|
Total
|
|
$ |
380,000 |
|
Financial Projections
The Company does not, as a matter of course, provide financial guidance or publicly disclose projections of future revenues, earnings or other financial performance. However, in connection with the Merger proposal presented by Vintage, in November 2010, the Company’s management provided to Hempstead, a financial advisor to the Special Committee, a three-year budget projection for the three calendar years ending December 31, 2011 and other background and financial information. Company management had prepared the budget projections in July 2009 as part of the Company negotiating the loan facility with Vintage. The budget projections, which are set forth below, should not be regarded as an indication that the Company considered or now considers these projections to be a reliable prediction of future results.
These budget projections were prepared by Jonathan Joels, then our Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer, and Raymond Jackshies, then our Controller and now our Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer, and inputs from other members of Company management. Neither Vintage nor its representatives participated in the preparation of or had any responsibility as to the budget projections. They reflect management’s best available estimates and judgments at that time as to the Company’s expected future financial performance, taking into account historical performance, sales projections, the current economy and business trends, and the Company’s capital needs and strategic plans, and were not prepared with a view toward public disclosure or with a view of complying with any established guidelines for financial projections. Neither the Company’s registered public accountants nor any other registered public accounting firm has examined or compiled the budget projections and, accordingly, no registered public accountant expresses any opinion or any other form of assurance or association with respect thereto.
The budget projections are included in this proxy statement only because they made available, together with similar documents, by the Company on a confidential basis to Hempstead in connection with its financial analysis undertaken for purposes of rendering the opinion to the Special Committee described in “Opinion of Hempstead & Co. Incorporated to the Special Committee” beginning on page 22 of this proxy statement. The information in the budget projections is not fact, and readers of this proxy statement are cautioned not to place any reliance on the prospective information in the budget projection. These projections are by their nature forward-looking, and should be read with the section “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information” on page 40 of this proxy statement.
The budget projections are subjective in many respects, and although presented with numerical specificity, they reflect assumptions and estimates relating to the Company’s business, particularly, sales growth, availability of working capital and manufacturing capability. In fact, the Company did not meet the budget projections for its 2009 and 2010 fiscal years. While such estimates were reasonable at the time the projections were prepared, they were not intended as predictions and do not reflect the actual results.
The following are the budget projections described above for the 2009, 2010 and 2011 calendar years based upon increasing levels of unit sales each year during the period:
|
|
Calendar 2009
130 Units
|
|
|
Calendar 2010
270 Units
|
|
|
Calendar 2011
400 Units
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sales
|
|
|
7,544,964 |
|
|
|
15,850,444 |
|
|
|
25,215,103 |
|
Cost of Goods
|
|
|
4,458,102 |
|
|
|
6,926,377 |
|
|
|
10,232,609 |
|
Gross Profit
|
|
|
3,086,862 |
|
|
|
8,924,066 |
|
|
|
14,982,494 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sales & Marketing
|
|
|
1,254,230 |
|
|
|
1,805,076 |
|
|
|
2,886,091 |
|
R&D - Production Transplant
|
|
|
70,000 |
|
|
|
80,000 |
|
|
|
89,600 |
|
General & Administrative
|
|
|
1,078,320 |
|
|
|
1,293,984 |
|
|
|
1,552,781 |
|
Non Public Company Expenses
|
|
|
158,400 |
|
|
|
174,240 |
|
|
|
191,664 |
|
Total Expenses
|
|
|
2,560,950 |
|
|
|
3,353,300 |
|
|
|
4,720,136 |
|
Net Profit Before Interest, Taxes, Depn & Amort.
|
|
|
525,912 |
|
|
|
5,570,766 |
|
|
|
10,262,358 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Going Private Costs
|
|
|
350,000 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
Interest Expense
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
Net Profit Before Taxes, Depn & Amort.
|
|
|
175,912 |
|
|
|
5,570,766 |
|
|
|
10,262,358 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Taxes
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
|
0 |
|
Net Profit Before Depn & Amort
|
|
$ |
175,912 |
|
|
$ |
5,570,766 |
|
|
$ |
10,262,358 |
|
Appraisal Rights
Under Section 262 of the DGCL, Caprius stockholders are entitled to appraisal rights in connection with the Merger, provided that stockholders meet all of the conditions set forth in Section 262 of the DGCL. If the Merger is consummated, dissenting stockholders who follow the procedures described in Section 262 within the appropriate time periods will be entitled to have the value of their shares of stock determined by the Delaware Court of Chancery and to receive the “fair value” of such shares in cash as determined by the Delaware Court of Chancery, together with interest, if any, in lieu of the Merger Consideration. These rights are known as appraisal rights. If a stockholder wishes to exercise appraisal rights in connection with the Merger, the stockholder must not submit a proxy or otherwise vote in favor of the proposal to adopt the Merger Agreement, must continuously be the holder of record of such shares through the effective time of the Merger and must meet the conditions described in the section entitled “Appraisal Rights” beginning at page 57 of this proxy statement. The rules and procedures relating to appraisal rights are also described in such section. In addition, the text of Section 262 is attached hereto as Annex C.
Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences
The following discussion summarizes the material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the Merger to the holders of Caprius Common Stock and Preferred Stock whose shares will be converted to cash in the Merger. This discussion is based upon the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, which we refer to as the “Code,” the U.S. Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder and judicial and administrative rulings, all as in effect as of the date of this proxy statement and all of which are subject to change or varying interpretation, possibly with retroactive effect. Any such changes could affect the accuracy of the statements and conclusions set forth herein.
This discussion assumes that the holders of Caprius Common Stock and Preferred Stock hold their shares as capital assets within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code (generally, property held for investment). This discussion does not address all aspects of U.S. federal income taxation that may be relevant to a holder of Caprius Common Stock or Preferred Stock in light of such holder’s particular circumstances, nor does it discuss the special considerations applicable to holders of our Common Stock and Preferred Stock subject to special treatment under the U.S. federal income tax laws, such as, for example, financial institutions or broker-dealers, mutual funds, partnerships or other pass-through entities and their partners or members, tax-exempt organizations, insurance companies, dealers in securities or foreign currencies, traders in securities who elect mark-to-market method of accounting, controlled foreign corporations, passive foreign investment companies, U.S. expatriates, holders who acquired their Caprius Common Stock or Preferred Stock through the exercise of options or otherwise as compensation, holders who hold their Caprius Common Stock and Preferred Stock as part of a hedge, straddle, constructive sale or conversion transaction, U.S. holders whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar, and holders who exercise appraisal rights. This discussion does not address any aspect of foreign, state, local, alternative minimum, estate, gift or other tax law that may be applicable to a U.S. holder.
We intend this discussion to provide only a general summary of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the Merger to holders of Caprius Common Stock and Preferred Stock. We do not intend it to be a complete analysis or description of all potential U.S. federal income tax consequences of the Merger. The U.S. federal income tax laws are complex and subject to varying interpretation. Accordingly, the Internal Revenue Service may not agree with the tax consequences described in this proxy statement.
All holders should consult their own tax advisors to determine the particular tax consequences to them (including the application and effect of any state, local or foreign income and other tax laws) of the receipt of cash in exchange for shares of Caprius Common Stock and Preferred Stock pursuant to the Merger.
For purpose of this discussion, a “U.S. holder” means, a beneficial owner of the Common Stock or Preferred Stock that is:
·
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a citizen or individual resident of the United States;
|
·
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a corporation, or other entity taxable as a corporation, created or organized in or under the laws of the United States or any political subdivision thereof;
|
·
|
an estate the income of which is subject to United States federal income tax regardless of its source; or
|
·
|
a trust if, in general, the trust is subject to the supervision of a court within the United States, and one or more U.S. persons as described in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code have the authority to control all significant decisions of the trust.
|
A “non-U.S. holder” means a beneficial owner of Common Stock or Preferred Stock that is not a U.S. holder.
If a partnership (including for this purpose any entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) is a beneficial owner of the Common Stock or the Preferred Stock, the tax treatment of a partner in that partnership will generally depend on the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. Stockholders that are partnerships (as well as partners in these partnerships) are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of owning and disposing of such shares in the Merger.
Neither Vintage nor any of the other Vintage Reporting Persons will have any reportable tax consequences as a result of the Merger as Vintage will be retaining its equity interest in Caprius following the closing of the Merger, and will become its sole stockholder. Caprius also will not have any reportable tax consequences by reason of the exchange by stockholders of their Caprius capital stock upon the closing of the Merger. However, the Merger will have other tax consequences for Caprius, such as increasing the limit on the Company’s net operating loss carry forward.
Treatment of the Merger
The conversion of shares of Caprius Common Stock and Preferred Stock into cash pursuant to the Merger will be in part a taxable redemption and in part a taxable sale for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
A U.S. holder generally will recognize gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes equal to the difference, if any, between the amount of cash received pursuant to the Merger and such U.S. holder’s adjusted tax basis in the shares converted into cash pursuant to the Merger. Such gain or loss generally will be capital gain or loss, and will be long-term capital gain or loss if the holder’s holding period for such shares exceeds one year as of the date of the Merger. Long-term capital gains for certain non-corporate U.S. holders, including individuals, are generally eligible for a reduced rate of federal income taxation. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations. If a U.S. holder acquired different blocks of Caprius Common Stock and Preferred Stock at different times or different prices, such U.S. holder must determine its tax basis, holding period, and gain or loss separately with respect to each block of Caprius Common Stock and Preferred Stock.
Any gain realized by a non-U.S. holder upon the conversion of shares in the Merger generally will not be subject to United States federal income tax unless: (i) the gain is effectively connected with a trade or business of the non-U.S. holder in the United States (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, is attributable to a United States permanent establishment or fixed base of the non-U.S. holder), (ii) the non-U.S. holder is an individual who is present in the United States for 183 days or more in the taxable year of the Merger, and certain other conditions are met, or (iii) we are or have been a “United States real property holding corporation” for United States federal income tax purposes at any time during the shorter of the five-year period ending on the date of the Merger or the period that the non-U.S. holder held the shares, and the non-U.S. holder owns, or is treated as owning, more than 5% of our shares. We currently are not a “United States real property holding corporation.”
Net gain realized by a non-U.S. holder described in clause (i) of the preceding sentence will be subject to tax at generally applicable United States federal income tax rates. Any gains of a foreign corporation non-U.S. holder described in clause (i) of the preceding sentence may also be subject to an additional “branch profits tax” at a 30% rate, or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty. Gain realized by an individual non-U.S. holder described in clause (ii) of such sentence will be subject to a flat 30% tax, which may be offset by United States source capital losses, even though the individual is not considered a resident of the United States.
Information Reporting and Backup Withholding
A U.S. holder may, under certain circumstances, be subject to information reporting and backup withholding at the applicable rate (currently 28%) with respect to the cash received pursuant to the Merger, unless such holder properly establishes an exemption or provides its correct tax identification number and otherwise complies with the applicable requirements of the backup withholding rules.
A non-U.S. holder is required to certify its foreign status under penalties of perjury or otherwise establish an exemption in order to avoid information reporting and backup withholding on disposition proceeds where the transaction is effected by or through a United States office of a broker. United States information reporting and backup withholding generally will not apply to a payment of proceeds from a disposition of common stock where the transaction is effected outside the United States through a foreign office of a foreign broker. However, information reporting requirements, but not backup withholding, generally will apply to such a payment if the broker is (i) a U.S. person, (ii) a foreign person that derives 50% or more of its gross income for certain periods from the conduct of a trade or business in the United States, (iii) a controlled foreign corporation as defined in the Code or (iv) a foreign partnership with certain United States connections, unless the broker has documentary evidence in its records that the holder is a non-U.S. holder and certain conditions are met or the holder otherwise establishes an exemption.
Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules may be refunded or credited against the holder’s United States federal income tax liability, if any, provided that certain required information is furnished to the IRS in a timely manner. Holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding application of backup withholding in their particular circumstances and the availability of and procedure for obtaining an exemption from backup withholding under current United States Treasury Regulations.
This discussion is a general summary and does not purport to be a comprehensive analysis of description of all potential U.S. federal income tax consequences of the Merger. Each stockholder is urged to consult his, her or its own tax advisor as to the U.S. federal income tax consequences and as to any U.S. estate, gift, state, local, or non-U.S. tax consequences of the Merger.
Regulatory Approval
The Company is not aware of any material governmental or regulatory approval required for completion of the Merger, other than compliance with the relevant federal and state securities laws and Delaware corporate laws.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
This proxy statement and the documents to which we refer you to in this proxy statement include certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements, which are based on various assumptions and describe our future plans, strategies and expectations, are generally identified by our use of words such as “intend,” “plan,” “may,” “should,” “will,” “would,” “could,” “project,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “expect,” “continue,” “potential,” “opportunity” and similar expressions, whether in the negative or affirmative. We cannot guarantee that we will achieve these plans, intentions or expectations, including completing the Merger on the terms summarized in this proxy statement. All statements regarding our expected financial position, business and financing plans are forward-looking statements.
Except for historical information, matters discussed in this proxy statement are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and other factors include, without limitation:
·
|
the occurrence of any event, occurrence, fact, condition, change, development or effect that could give rise to the termination of the Merger Agreement;
|
·
|
the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against us and others following announcement of entering into the Merger Agreement or the filing of this proxy statement;
|
·
|
the inability to complete the Merger due to the failure to obtain the stockholder adoption thereof or the failure to satisfy other conditions to completion of the Merger;
|
·
|
the effect of the announcement of the proposed Merger on our relationships with customers, suppliers and other business partners;
|
·
|
the possibility that the proposed transaction may disrupt current plans and operations and potential difficulties in employee retention;
|
·
|
the amount of the costs, fees, expenses and charges related to the Merger;
|
·
|
the possibility that our operating results may fail to meet our financial projections; and
|
·
|
the possibility that our creditors may pursue their rights under their financing agreements and cause us to liquidate our assets.
|
The foregoing list and the risks reflected in our documents incorporated by reference in this proxy statement should not be construed to be exhaustive. We believe the forward-looking statements in this proxy statement are reasonable; however, there is no assurance that the actions, events or results of the forward-looking statements will occur or, if any of them do, what impact they will have on our results of operations or financial condition or on the Merger. In light of the significant uncertainties inherent in forward-looking statements contained herein, stockholders should not place undue reliance on them, which reflect management’s views only as of the date hereof. We cannot guarantee any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements.
All forward-looking statements included in this proxy statement speak only as of the date of this proxy statement and all forward-looking statements incorporated by reference into this proxy statement speak only as of the date of the document in which they were included. We expressly disclaim any obligation to release publicly any revisions or updates to any forward-looking statements, except to the extent required by law. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to us or any person acting on our behalf are qualified by the cautionary statements in this section.
All information contained in this proxy statement concerning Vintage, Merger Sub and their affiliates related to the Merger has been supplied by such entities and their affiliates, and has not been independently verified by us.
THE PARTIES TO THE MERGER
Caprius, Inc.
10 Forest Avenue
Paramus, New Jersey 07652
(201) 342-0900
Caprius, Inc. is a Delaware corporation organized in 1983 which since December 2002 has been engaged in the development, manufacture and distribution of its proprietary compact on-site medical waste processing systems. The product lines consist of the SteriMed and SteriMed Junior compact systems and the disinfection solution Ster-Cid. Reference to Caprius or the Company include operations of its subsidiaries M.C.M. Environmental Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and M.C.M. Environmental Technologies Ltd., an Israeli corporation.
Vintage Capital Group, LLC and Capac Co.
c/o Vintage Capital Group, LLC
11611 San Vicente Boulevard
Los Angeles, California 90049
(310) 979-9090
Vintage Capital Group, LLC (“Vintage”) is a Delaware limited liability company engaged in principal investment activities, including in operating business and early stage investments through equity investments, debt purchases, restructurings and turnarounds, debtor in possession financing and sale-leaseback transactions. Vintage, with a capital base exceeding $150 million, combines decades of investment, operating and management skills. Capac Co. (“Merger Sub”) is a newly-formed Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Vintage. Merger Sub was formed solely for the purpose of entering into the Merger Agreement and consummating the transactions contemplated thereby and has not carried on any business or activities to date, except activities incidental to its formation and activities undertaken in connection with the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby. As of March 11, 2011, the Record Date for the Special Meeting, Vintage owned 9,371,243 shares of Caprius Common Stock, equal to 40% of Caprius’ outstanding voting securities, excluding 7,275,930 shares of Common Stock underlying the Vintage Warrant. Vintage and Merger Sub are private companies.
The Fred C. Sands Children’s Trust, The Fred C. Sands Family Revocable Trust and Fred C. Sands
c/o Vintage Capital Group, LLC
11611 San Vicente Boulevard
Los Angeles, California 90049
(310) 979-9090
The Fred C. Sands Children’s Trust (the “Children’s Trust”) owns 15% of the membership interests of Vintage. The principal business of the Children’s Trust is to manage the assets of the Children’s Trust for the beneficiaries thereof.
The Fred C. Sands Family Revocable Trust (the “Family Trust”) owns 85% of the membership interests of Vintage. The principal business of the Family Trust is to manage the assets of the Family Trust on behalf of the beneficiaries thereof.
Fred C. Sands is the trustee of each of the Children’s Trust and the Family Trust and the manager of Vintage. The principal occupation of Mr. Sands is to serve as the Chairman of Vintage Real Estate, LLC, a firm specializing in the acquisition and redevelopment of under-performing regional malls and large shopping centers, the Chairman of Vintage Fund Management, LLC, a private investment fund investing in established lower middle-market businesses through structured growth equity investments, and manager of Vintage.
THE SPECIAL MEETING
Date, Time, Place and Purpose of the Special Meeting
This proxy statement is being furnished to our stockholders in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Caprius board of directors (which we also refer to as the “Board”) to be exercised at the Special Meeting to be held on April 21, 2011 at the offices of Carter Ledyard & Milburn LLP at 2 Wall Street (18th Floor), New York, N.Y., at 9:00 a.m., New York time.
The Special Meeting is being held for the following purposes:
|
1.
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|
To consider and vote on a proposal to adopt the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of November 10, 2010, by and among Caprius, Vintage and Merger Sub, as it may hereafter be amended from time to time.
|
|
2.
|
|
To consider and vote on a proposal to adjourn the Special Meeting to a later date or time, if necessary or appropriate, to solicit additional proxies in favor of the proposal to adopt the Merger Agreement if there are insufficient votes at the time of such adjournment to adopt the Merger Agreement.
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|
3.
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To consider and vote on such other business as may properly come before the Special Meeting or any adjournments or postponements of the Special Meeting.
|
A copy of the Merger Agreement is attached to this proxy statement as Annex A. Pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, Merger Sub will merge with and into Caprius, which we refer to as the “Merger.”
At the effective time of the Merger, with respect to the issued and outstanding Caprius capital stock (other than shares held by us in treasury, shares owned by Vintage or Merger Sub, and shares owned by stockholders who have properly exercised appraisal rights with respect to such shares),
(i) each share of Common Stock will be converted into the right to receive $0.065 in cash;
(ii) each share of Series E Preferred will be converted into the right to receive $40.625 in cash, which per share consideration represents the common-equivalent consideration for such Series E Preferred based on its current conversion ratio of 625 shares of our Common Stock and the per common share merger consideration of $0.065; and
(iii) each share of Series F Preferred will be converted into the right to receive $6.50 in cash, which per share consideration represents the common-equivalent consideration for such Series F Preferred based on its current conversion ratio of 100 shares of our Common Stock per shared and the per common share merger consideration of $0.065;
all of which will be without interest and less any applicable withholding tax.
Our Board’s Recommendation
The Caprius Board unanimously approved the Merger Agreement, including the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, and declared the same to be advisable and in the best interests of Caprius and its unaffiliated stockholders. The Board recommends that you vote “FOR” the proposal to adopt the Merger Agreement and “FOR” the proposal to adjourn the Special Meeting, if necessary, to solicit additional proxies if there are insufficient votes at the Special Meeting to adopt the Merger Agreement. A Special Committee of our Board, consisting of the Company’s two non-employee independent directors, has also unanimously approved the Merger Agreement and recommended that the Board approve and adopt the Merger Agreement.
Record Date, Notice and Quorum
We have fixed the close of business on March 11, 2011 as the Record Date for the Special Meeting. Only holders of record of our outstanding Common Stock and Preferred Stock on the Record Date are entitled to vote at the Special Meeting. On the Record Date, there were outstanding (i) 14,803,108 shares of Common Stock, (ii) 4,200 shares of Series E Preferred, having 625 votes per share on an as-converted basis and (iii) 60,000 shares of Series F Preferred, having 100 votes per share on an as-converted basis.
The presence in person or by proxy of the holders of shares of stock having a majority of the votes which could be cast by the holders of all outstanding shares of Common Stock and Preferred Stock entitled to vote at the Special Meeting shall be necessary and sufficient to constitute a quorum for the purpose of considering the proposals. Abstentions will be treated as present at the Special Meeting for purposes of determining the presence or absence of a quorum for the transaction of all business. In the event that a quorum is not present at the Special Meeting, we currently expect that the Special Meeting may be adjourned.
Required Vote
You may vote “FOR” or “AGAINST,” or you may “ABSTAIN” from voting on, the proposal to adopt the Merger Agreement.
Completion of the Merger requires adoption of the Merger Agreement by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority in voting power of the outstanding shares entitled to vote thereon. Vintage is the record owner of 9,371,243 shares of our Common Stock, equal to approximately 40% of the voting power of the outstanding shares entitled to vote at the Special Meeting. Vintage has informed us that it will vote its shares in favor of the proposal to adopt the Merger Agreement. The vote of a majority of unaffiliated stockholders is not required under Delaware law and is not required by the Merger Agreement. If you abstain, it will have the same effect as a vote “AGAINST” the adoption of the Merger Agreement.
Under the rules of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, banks, brokers and other custodians who hold shares in street name for customers have the authority to vote on “routine” proposals when they have not received instructions from beneficial owners. However, brokers are precluded from exercising their voting discretion with respect to approving non-routine matters such as the adoption of the Merger Agreement. As a result, absent specific instructions from the beneficial owner of such shares, brokers are not empowered to vote those shares, referred to generally as “broker non-votes.” We do not anticipate any “routine” matters to be voted upon at the Special Meeting. Therefore, “Broker non-votes” will be not be counted for the purpose of determining a quorum. Because approval of the proposal to adopt the Merger Agreement requires the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority in voting power of the outstanding shares of Common Stock and Preferred Stock, voting as a single class, any “broker non-votes” will have the same effect as a vote “AGAINST” the adoption of the Merger Agreement.
Revocability of Proxy
If you submit a proxy by telephone, Internet or by returning a signed and dated proxy card by mail, your shares will be voted at the Special Meeting as you indicate. If you sign your proxy card without indicating your vote, your shares will be voted “FOR” the adoption of the Merger Agreement and “FOR” the proposal to adjourn the Special Meeting, if necessary or appropriate, to solicit additional proxies, and in accordance with the recommendations of our Board on any other matters properly brought before the special meeting, or at any adjournments or postponements thereof, for a vote.
If you are a beneficial owner of shares held in street name and do not provide the nominee who holds your shares with specific voting instructions, the nominee will inform our inspector of election that it does not have the authority to vote on this matter with respect to your shares. When our inspector of election tabulates the votes for any particular matter, broker non-votes will be counted for purposes of determining whether a quorum is present, but will not otherwise be counted. ABSTENTIONS AND BROKER NON-VOTES WILL HAVE THE EFFECT OF A VOTE “AGAINST” THE PROPOSAL TO ADOPT THE MERGER AGREEMENT. Please provide voting instructions to the nominee that holds your shares by carefully following its instructions.
Proxies received at any time before the Special Meeting that have not been revoked or superseded before being voted will be voted at the Special Meeting. You have the right to change or revoke your proxy at any time before the vote is taken at the Special Meeting:
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|
if you hold your shares in your name as a stockholder of record, by notifying our Chief Financial Officer at the following address: Caprius, Inc., Attention: Chief Financial Officer, 10 Forest Avenue, Paramus, NJ 07652;
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·
|
by attending the Special Meeting and voting in person (your attendance at the Special Meeting will not, by itself, revoke your proxy; you must vote in person at the Special Meeting);
|
·
|
by submitting a later-dated proxy card;
|
·
|
if you submitted a proxy by telephone, by submitting a proxy again by telephone;
|
·
|
if you submitted a proxy by Internet, by submitting a proxy again by Internet; or
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if you have instructed a broker, bank or other nominee to vote your shares, by following the directions received from your broker, bank or other nominee to change those instructions.
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Persons Making the Solicitation
This proxy solicitation is being made and paid for by Caprius on behalf of the Board. Caprius will pay all expenses of this solicitation, including the cost of preparing and mailing this document. In addition to solicitation by use of the mails, proxies may be solicited by our directors, officers and employees in person or by telephone, telegram, electronic mail, facsimile transmission or other means of communication. Those persons will not be additionally compensated for solicitation activities, but may be reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses in connection with any solicitation. We also may reimburse custodians, nominees and fiduciaries for their expenses in sending proxies and proxy material to beneficial owners. We have retained Georgeson to assist with the solicitation of proxies and we will pay Georgeson’s fees and expenses.
We will also request brokers and other fiduciaries to forward proxy solicitation material to the beneficial owners of shares of our Common Stock and Preferred Stock that the brokers and fiduciaries hold of record. We will reimburse them for their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses.
Adjournments and Postponements
Although it is not currently expected, the Special Meeting may be adjourned for the purpose of soliciting additional proxies. Any signed proxies received by Caprius in which no voting instructions are provided on such matter will be voted “FOR” the proposal to adjourn the Special Meeting, if necessary or appropriate, to solicit additional proxies. Any adjournments of the Special Meeting for the purpose of soliciting additional proxies will allow Caprius stockholders who have already sent in their proxies to revoke them at any time prior to their use at the Special Meeting as adjourned. The Board may also postpone the Special Meeting in advance of the opening of the Special Meeting.
Transfer or Sale of Shares
If you held your shares of Common Stock and Preferred Stock on March 11, 2011, the Record Date for the Special Meeting, but sell or otherwise transfer your shares prior to the effective time of the Merger, you will not have the right to receive the Merger Consideration. The right to receive the Merger Consideration when the Merger becomes effective will pass to the person who as of the effective time of the Merger owns the shares of our Common Stock or Preferred Stock that you previously owned. The voting rights with respect to shares of Common Stock and Preferred Stock owned by you on the record date of the Special Meeting, but subsequently sold or transferred by you would depend upon any arrangements with the purchaser or transferee of such shares.
Securities Ownership of Directors and Executive Officers
As of the Record Date, certain of our directors and executive officers, as a group, directly or indirectly beneficially owned and were entitled to vote an aggregate of approximately 268,536 shares of Common Stock, representing approximately 1.1% of the voting power of our securities entitled to vote at the Special Meeting. They did not own any shares of Preferred Stock. These directors and executive officers have informed us that they intend to vote the shares of Common Stock that they own “FOR” the proposal to adopt the Merger Agreement and “FOR” the proposal to adjourn the Special Meeting, if necessary or appropriate, to solicit additional proxies if there are insufficient votes at the Special Meeting to adopt the Merger Agreement. The members of the Special Committee do not have significant share holdings. See “Securities Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management” on page 63 of this proxy statement.
Other Matters
Our Board does not know of any other business that will be presented at the Special Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof. If any other proposal comes up for a vote at the Special Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof in which your proxy has provided discretionary authority, the proxy holders will vote your shares of Common Stock and Preferred Stock in accordance with their best judgment.
Questions and Additional Information
If you have more questions about the Special Meeting or how to submit your proxy, or if you need additional copies of this proxy statement or the enclosed proxy card or voting instructions, please call our Chief Financial Officer at (201) 342-0900.
PROPOSAL NO. 1: THE MERGER
In this section: Caprius Inc. is also referred to as “Caprius,” “we” or “us”; the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of November 10, 2010, by and among Caprius, Vintage Capital Group, LLC (“Vintage”) and Capac Co. (“Merger Sub”), is referred to as the “Merger Agreement”; the board of directors of Caprius is referred to as the “Board”; and the special committee of the Board, comprised of independent non-employee directors to consider, examine, explore, review, analyze and negotiate the terms and conditions of a “going private transaction,” described in the section entitled “Special Factors – Background of the Merger” beginning on page 15 of this proxy statement, is referred to as the “Special Committee.”
THE MERGER AGREEMENT
The following is a summary of the material terms of the Merger Agreement. This summary does not purport to describe all the terms of the Merger Agreement and is qualified by reference to the Merger Agreement which is attached as Annex A to this proxy statement. We urge you to read the Merger Agreement carefully and in its entirety because it, and not this proxy statement, is the legal document that governs the Merger. We also urge you to obtain and review the Caprius public filings that are incorporated herein, see “Where You Can Find More Information” beginning on page 68 of this proxy statement.
The Merger Agreement and this summary have been included to provide you with information regarding the terms of the Merger Agreement. The terms of the Merger Agreement (such as the representations and warranties) are intended to govern the contractual rights and relationships, and allocate risks, among the parties in relation to the Merger and are solely for the benefit of the parties thereto.
The Merger Agreement contains representations and warranties that Caprius, Vintage and Merger Sub made to each other as of specific dates. The representations and warranties were negotiated among the parties with the principal purpose of setting forth their respective rights with respect to their obligations to complete the Merger and may be subject to important limitations and qualifications as set forth therein, including a contractual standard of materiality different from that generally applicable under United States federal securities laws.
General; The Merger
At the effective time of the Merger, upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Merger Agreement and in accordance with the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (which is referred to as the “DGCL”), Merger Sub will merge with and into Caprius and the separate corporate existence of Merger Sub will cease. Caprius will be the surviving corporation in the Merger. The certificate of incorporation and the by-laws of Caprius as currently in effect will continue in effect after the effective time of the Merger.
The directors of Merger Sub immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger will be the initial directors of the surviving corporation, until their successors are duly elected or appointed and qualified (in the manner provided in the certificate of incorporation and by-laws of the surviving corporation) or until their earlier death, resignation or removal. The officers of Caprius immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger (other than those who Vintage determines shall not remain as officers of the surviving corporation) will be the initial officers of the surviving corporation, until their successors are duly elected or appointed and qualified or until their earlier death, resignation or removal.
Completion and Effectiveness of the Merger
We intend to complete the Merger after all of the conditions to closing of the Merger contained in the Merger Agreement (described below under “The Merger Agreement–Conditions to Completion of the Merger”) are satisfied or waived, including the adoption of the Merger Agreement by the stockholders of Caprius. The Merger will become effective upon the filing of a Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware or such later time as provided in the Certificate of Merger and agreed to by Caprius and Vintage.
We currently plan to complete the Merger during the second quarter of calendar 2011, with June 30, 2011 as the outside date in the Merger Agreement. However, we cannot predict the exact timing because completion of the Merger is subject to certain conditions.
Consideration to be Received Pursuant to the Merger; Treatment of Equity Awards
The Merger Agreement provides that, as of the effective time of the Merger with respect to shares then outstanding:
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each share of Caprius Common Stock (other than shares held by Caprius in treasury, shares owned by Vintage or Merger Sub and shares owned by stockholders who have properly exercised appraisal rights with respect to such shares) will be converted into the right to receive $0.065 in cash without interest and less any applicable withholding tax, and will be automatically cancelled and retired and will cease to exist;
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each share of Series E Preferred (other than shares of Series E Preferred owned by stockholders who have properly exercised appraisal rights with respect to such shares) will be converted into the right to receive $40.625 in cash, without interest and less any applicable withholding tax, and will be automatically cancelled and retired and will cease to exist. The per share consideration for the Series E Preferred represents the common-equivalent consideration for such Series E Preferred based on its current conversion ratio of 625 shares of our common stock per share of our Series E Preferred and the per common share merger consideration of $0.065;
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each share of Series F Preferred (other than shares of Series F Preferred owned by stockholders who have properly exercised appraisal rights with respect to such shares) will be converted into the right to receive $6.50 in cash, without interest and less any applicable withholding tax, and will be automatically cancelled and retired and will cease to exist. The per share consideration for the Series F Preferred represents the common-equivalent consideration for such Series F Preferred based on its current conversion ratio of 100 shares of our common stock per share of our Series F Preferred and the per common share merger consideration of $0.065;
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each share of Caprius Common Stock and Preferred Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the effective time that is held by Caprius in treasury or held by Vintage or Merger Sub will be automatically cancelled and retired and will cease to exist, and no consideration will be delivered in exchange for it;
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each share of Caprius Common Stock and Preferred Stock, the holder of which has properly exercised (and has not withdrawn or lost) appraisal rights under Section 262 of the DGCL, shall be cancelled and will cease to exist, except that it shall thereafter represent those rights under the DGCL (if such stockholder withdraws or loses its rights of appraisal, then such share shall be converted into and represent only the right to receive the Merger Consideration, without interest and less any applicable withholding taxes); and
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each share of Common Stock of Merger Sub issued and outstanding immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger will be converted into one newly issued, fully paid and nonassessable share of Common Stock of the surviving corporation.
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Each certificate that immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger represented such shares of Common Stock and Preferred Stock shall, after the effective time of the Merger, only represent the right to receive the Merger Consideration.
Each option and warrant (other than the Vintage Warrant and warrants which by their terms would not terminate on the Merger) to acquire a share of Common Stock of Caprius, which is outstanding as of the effective time of the Merger, whether vested or unvested, will be terminated by its terms or cancelled in exchange for the right to receive a cash payment (without interest and less any applicable tax withholdings) equal to the product of:
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the number of shares of Common Stock subject to such option or warrant; and
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an amount that is equal to the excess, if any, of $0.065 over the exercise price per share of such option or warrant.
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As a condition to closing the Merger, we were required to obtain the consent of holders of warrants (other than the Vintage Warrant) issued under two series of warrant agreements that did not provide for termination on the Merger to permit such termination. We have obtained the consent of the 11 holders of those warrants to amendments to their warrant agreements to provide for a call right in favor of Caprius to purchase all, and not less than all, of those warrants at a price of $0.452 per share for the shares underlying those warrants. The call right is exercisable until July 31, 2011, and the closing of the Merger is deemed to be an exercise by us of the call right.
Payment for Caprius Common Stock and Preferred Stock in the Merger
Prior to the effective time of the Merger, Vintage will select an exchange agent approved by Caprius. At the effective time of the Merger, Vintage will deposit (or will cause to be deposited) with the exchange agent, in trust for the benefit of holders of Caprius Common Stock and Preferred Stock, cash sufficient to pay the amount owing under the Merger Agreement for all shares of Caprius Common Stock and Preferred Stock to be exchanged in the Merger.
As soon as practicable after the effective time of the Merger, the exchange agent will mail to each record holder of Common Stock and Preferred Stock a letter of transmittal and instructions for use in effecting the surrender of the holder’s shares of Common Stock and Preferred Stock in exchange for the Merger Consideration. You should not send in your certificates representing shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock until you receive the letter of transmittal. The letter of transmittal and instructions will tell you what to do if any of your certificates has been lost, stolen or destroyed. You will have to provide an affidavit to that fact and, if required by Vintage, post a bond in a customary amount as indemnity against any claim that may be made with respect to such lost, stolen or destroyed certificates.
The exchange agent will pay your Merger Consideration to you after you have surrendered your share certificates (or affidavits of loss in lieu thereof) and returned a duly executed letter of transmittal and any other documents as may reasonably be required by the paying agent. No interest will be paid or accrued in respect of cash payments of Merger Consideration. The surviving corporation and the paying agent may reduce the amount of any Merger Consideration paid to you by any applicable withholding taxes.
Representations and Warranties
Caprius made certain customary representations and warranties in the Merger Agreement to Vintage and Merger Sub that are subject in some cases to specified exceptions and qualifications. Our representations and warranties relate to, among other things:
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our corporate organization and valid existence, power to conduct business, qualification and good standing;
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ownership of our subsidiaries;
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our corporate authority to enter into and carry out the obligations under the Merger Agreement;
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our entry into the Merger Agreement will not conflict with any of our charter documents or existing agreements, and will not require consents except as stated therein;
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our reports and financial statements filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (referred to as the “SEC”);
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the absence of certain changes since June 30, 2010;
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our material contracts, employment matters and plans, indebtedness, intellectual property, litigation and similar items;
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compliance with applicable laws and regulations;
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the required vote of our stockholders to adopt the Merger Agreement and approve the Merger;
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transactions with our affiliates;
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the opinion of Hempstead; and
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the information filed with the SEC in connection with this proxy statement.
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Certain aspects of our representations and warranties contained in the Merger Agreement are qualified by the concept of “Company Material Adverse Effect.” For the purposes of the Merger Agreement, a “Company Material Adverse Effect” means a change or condition that is, or would reasonably be expected to be, materially adverse to (i) the business, assets, liabilities, condition (financial or otherwise), properties, results of operations, value or performance of Caprius and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (ii) the ability of Caprius to perform or observe its obligations under the Merger Agreement or to consummate the Merger or (iii) the legality, binding effect, validity or enforceability of the Merger Agreement; provided, however, that any adverse effect resulting from any circumstance, state of facts, event, change or effect (A) relating to changes in conditions in the United States or global economy generally or the United States or global capital, credit or financial markets generally or (B) resulting from an announcement of the Merger Agreement or transactions contemplated thereby would not be a Company Material Adverse Effect.
Vintage and Merger Sub each made certain representations and warranties in the Merger Agreement to Caprius that are subject, in some cases, to specified exceptions and qualifications. Vintage’s and Merger Sub’s representations and warranties relate to, among other things:
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their corporate organization and valid existence, power to conduct business, qualification and good standing;
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their corporate authority to enter into, and carry out their obligations under, the Merger Agreement;
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absence of a breach of Vintage’s or Merger Sub’s organizational documents or contracts, or of any laws, or the creation of any liens or payment obligations or conflicts as a result of the Merger;
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Vintage’s ownership of Merger Sub;
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the availability of sufficient funds to finance Vintage’s and Merger Sub’s obligations under the Merger Agreement;
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absence of brokers retained by Vintage or Merger Sub;
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the information to be filed with the SEC regarding Vintage and Merger Sub in connection with this proxy statement; and
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absence of agreements with Caprius’ management relating to the Merger Agreement and the Merger.
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The representations and warranties of Caprius, Vintage and Merger Sub contained in the Merger Agreement do not survive the effective time of the Merger.
Agreements Relating to Caprius’ Interim Operations
Caprius has agreed that, except as agreed to in writing by Vintage, as required by applicable law or as required by the Merger Agreement, subject to certain other exceptions, until the effective time of the Merger, Caprius and its subsidiaries will carry on their operations in the ordinary and usual course of business consistent with past practice and will use all reasonable best efforts to preserve intact their respective business organizations, keep available the services of their officers and key employees and preserve their relationships with such of their customers, suppliers and other persons with which they have significant business relationships as is reasonably necessary to preserve substantially intact their business organizations.
In addition, Caprius has agreed that, subject to certain exceptions, neither it nor any of its subsidiaries will, prior to the effective time of the Merger, do any of the following without the prior written consent of Vintage:
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amend or otherwise change its organizational documents;
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issue, sell, pledge, dispose of, grant or encumber or authorize the issuance, sale, pledge, disposition, grant or encumbrance of, any shares of its capital stock or other ownership interests, any other securities convertible into or exchangeable for such shares or ownership interests, or rights, options or warrants to acquire such shares (other than as to outstanding options or warrants) or ownership interests or take any action to cause to be exercisable any otherwise unexercisable option under any stock option plan;
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sell, pledge, dispose of, transfer, lease, guarantee or encumber, or authorize the sale, pledge, disposition, transfer, lease, license, guarantee or encumbrance, of any its material property or assets (including intellectual property), except pursuant to existing contracts or commitments or the sale or purchase of goods in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, or enter into any commitment or transaction outside of the ordinary course of business;
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declare, set aside or pay any dividend or make other distribution, except for dividends and distributions paid or made to us by any of our subsidiaries, or reclassify, combine, split, subdivide or redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire, any of our capital stock;
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acquire or agree to acquire, by merging or consolidating with, or by purchasing stock or assets of, any business, corporation, partnership, joint venture, association or other business organization, other than acquisitions of assets in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practices;
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incur, guarantee, assume, prepay or otherwise become liable for any indebtedness for borrowed money, issue or sell any debt securities, except for indebtedness to Vintage or any of its affiliates;
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terminate, cancel or request any material change in, or agree to any material change in, any material contract, other than in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practices;
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make or authorize any capital expenditure in excess of our budget, as disclosed to Vintage;
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pre-pay any long-term debt to Vintage and any of its affiliates, pay, discharge or satisfy any claims, liabilities or obligations except in the ordinary course of business, accelerate or delay collection of notes or accounts receivable, delay or accelerate payment of any account payable or vary our inventory practice in any material respect from our past practices;
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increase the compensation or other benefits of our directors, officers or employees, grant any rights to severance or termination pay, or adopt any collective bargaining, bonus, stock compensation plan, deferred compensation plan, agreement, trust, fund, policy or arrangement for the benefit of any directors, officers or employees, except to the extent required by applicable law or by contractual commitment or corporate policy;
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make any change in accounting policies or procedures, other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices or except as required by GAAP or a governmental entity, or write up, write down or write off the book value of any assets except for depreciation or amortization in accordance with GAAP consistently applied, or make any material tax election or settle or compromise any material liability for taxes;
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waive, release, assign, settle or compromise any material claims, or any material litigation or arbitration, or modify, amend or terminate, or waive, release or assign any material rights or claims with respect to any confidentiality or standstill agreement to which it is a party;
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enter into a new material line of business; or
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authorize or enter in any agreement or otherwise make any commitment to do any of the foregoing.
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Solicitation of Other Offers
Under the terms of the Merger Agreement, during the period from the date of the Merger Agreement though December 15, 2010, the Company, and its officers, directors, employees and other representatives, were permitted to initiate, solicit and encourage third parties to make an Acquisition Proposal (as defined below), including providing such third parties access to non-public information about the Company and engaging in discussions or negotiations with respect to Acquisition Proposals. KPMG Corporate Finance assisted the Special Committee with respect to the solicitation of acquisition proposals from third parties. During that period, KPMG Corporate Finance contacted 137 potential transaction partners at the request and on behalf of the Special Committee. Despite KPMG Corporate Finance’s broad solicitation of interest process, none of the contacted parties submitted a proposal to acquire the Company. The Special Committee met telephonically with its financial and legal advisors on a weekly basis during the “go-shop” period to discuss the status of the solicitation activities. The Special Committee also received regular updates regarding parties that had been contacted.
From December 15, 2010 (the “No-Shop Period Start Date”) through the earlier of the effective date of the Merger or termination of the Merger Agreement, neither the Company nor its subsidiaries or representatives (i) can solicit, initiate, knowingly facilitate, cooperate with or encourage any inquiries or other activities that would constitute, or could reasonably be expected to lead to, an Acquisition Proposal, or (ii) enter into any agreement or agreement in principle with respect to an Acquisition Proposal or requiring the Company to abandon, terminate or breach its obligations under the Merger Agreement or fail to consummate the Merger, other than with a third party from whom the Company received an Acquisition Proposal after the execution of the Merger Agreement and prior to the No-Shop Period Start Date, and prior to the No-Shop Period Start Date the Special Committee determined in good faith that which Acquisition Proposal (A) constituted or would reasonably be expected to result in a Superior Proposal (as defined below), and (B) had not been rejected or withdrawn as of the No-Shop Period Start Date (an “Excluded Party”). In addition to the provisions in the Merger Agreement, the Vintage Loan Agreement prohibits Caprius from merging, consolidating or selling all or a substantial part of our assets without Vintage’s consent.
However, if after the No-Shop Period Start Date and prior to obtaining stockholder approval of the Merger, the Company receives an unsolicited Acquisition Proposal from a third party and the Company has not breached its obligations not to solicit Acquisition Proposals from third parties, should the Board determine in good faith that failure to furnish information or to negotiate with any such third party would reasonably be expected to result in a breach of the directors’ fiduciary duties under applicable law, the Company or its representatives may furnish such information or engage in discussions or negotiations. Nevertheless, the Company is obligated to advise Vintage of such Acquisition Proposal and any material developments or negotiations with the third party which may make a Superior Proposal. Should a Superior Proposal be made, the Company has the obligation to negotiate with Vintage to enable Vintage to revise the terms of the Merger Agreement such that it would cause such Superior Proposal to no longer constitute a Superior Proposal.
In the event the Merger Agreement were to be terminated by reason of the Company’s entry into an agreement with respect to a Superior Proposal, the Company would have to pay a fee in the amount of $61,000 to Vintage. See “Effects of Terminating the Merger Agreement” below.
For purposes of the Merger Agreement, an “Acquisition Proposal” means any bona fide offer or proposal by a third party concerning any (a) merger, consolidation, business combination or similar transaction involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (b) sale, lease or other disposition, directly or indirectly, by merger, consolidation, business combination, share exchange, joint venture or otherwise of assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries representing 5% or more of the Company’s consolidated assets, (c) issuance, sale or other disposition of (including by way of merger, consolidation, business combination, share exchange or joint venture or similar transaction) securities (or options, rights or warrants to purchase, or securities convertible into or exchangeable for such securities) representing 5% or more of the voting power of the Company, (d) transaction in which any person or entity shall acquire beneficial ownership, or the right to acquire beneficial ownership, or any group shall have been formed which beneficially owns or has the right to acquire beneficial ownership, of 5% or more of the outstanding voting capital stock of the Company or (e) any combination of the foregoing, in each case other than the Merger.
For the purposes of the Merger Agreement a “Superior Proposal” means a bona fide written Acquisition Proposal made by a third party which was not solicited in violation of the Merger Agreement by the Company, its representative or any other affiliates, and which, in the good faith judgment of the Board or the Special Committee, taking into account, to the extent deemed appropriate by the Board or the Special Committee, as applicable, the various legal, financial and regulatory aspects of the proposal and the person or entity making such proposal (a) if accepted, is reasonably likely to be consummated, and (b) if consummated would, based upon the written advice of KPMG Corporate Finance, result in a transaction that is more favorable to the Company’s stockholders, from a financial point of view, than the transaction contemplated by the Merger Agreement.
Special Meeting of Caprius Stockholders; Recommendation of the Board
The Merger Agreement provides that Caprius will duly call and hold a meeting of its stockholders as soon as practicable after the proxy statement is cleared by the SEC for the sole purpose of seeking the stockholders’ adoption of the Merger Agreement. The Merger Agreement further provides that, except in certain limited circumstances described below, the Board must recommend the adoption of the Merger Agreement by Caprius stockholders, and use reasonable best efforts to effect the Merger.
At any time prior to adoption of the Merger Agreement by our stockholders, if the Board or the Special Committee determines in good faith, after consultation with outside counsel, that failure to act would be inconsistent with the Board’s exercise of its fiduciary duties to our stockholders under applicable law, then the Board (upon the recommendation of the Special Committee) may withdraw, modify or qualify its recommendation for our stockholders to adopt the Merger Agreement in a manner adverse to Vintage or approve or recommend any Superior Proposal.
Access to Information
Until the earlier of the effective time of the Merger or the termination of the Merger Agreement, on reasonable notice and subject to applicable law and certain other exceptions, we are required to afford to Vintage and its representatives reasonable access to our representatives, properties, contracts, books and records and reports, schedules or other documents filed or received by us.
Indemnification and Insurance of our Directors and Officers
The Merger Agreement provides that all rights to exculpation, indemnification and advancement of expenses existing on the date of the Merger Agreement in favor of, and all limitations on the personal liability of, each present or former director, officer, employee, fiduciary or agent of Caprius and its subsidiaries under the provisions of their respective organizational documents or other agreements, will survive the Merger and continue in full force and effect for a period of six years after the effective time of the Merger in accordance with the terms thereof, provided that in the event of any claim asserted either prior to the effective date of the Merger or within six years thereof, all rights to indemnification and advances with respect to such claim shall continue until disposition of such claim. In addition, the surviving corporation shall not amend, repeal or otherwise modify the provisions for indemnification or advances for expenses in any manner that would materially and adversely affect the rights of the persons mentioned in the preceding sentence with respect to actions occurring at or prior to the effective date of the Merger, other than as may be required by law.
The Merger Agreement provides that prior to the effective time of the Merger, Caprius will obtain and fully pay the premium for an extension of the directors’ and officers’ liability coverage under our existing directors’ and officers’ insurance policies of our existing fiduciary liability insurance policies for a period of six years from and after the effective time of the Merger on terms that are not materially less favorable on the whole to the indemnified persons than under our existing policies, provided that the aggregate premium cost for such insurance tail is not more than 225% of the current aggregate premium cost. This extension was obtained on November 15, 2010.
The Board members, including the Special Committee members, are parties to indemnification agreements with us. These agreements provide, among other things, that we shall (i) indemnify them against certain liabilities that may arise by reason of their status as members of the Board or the Special Committee, as applicable, and (ii) reimburse the expenses actually and reasonably incurred as a result of any proceeding against them by third parties or by or in right of the Company.
Filings; Other Actions
The Merger Agreement provides that each of Caprius and Vintage agrees to use reasonable best efforts to cooperate with each other in:
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causing the closing conditions (as described in further detail below under “— Conditions to Completion of the Merger”) to be satisfied;
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taking all other actions and doing all other things necessary, proper or advisable to consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement (including the Merger);
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obtaining any consents, licenses, permits, waivers and approvals from any governmental authority required in connection with the Merger;
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making all necessary filings with respect to the Merger and the Merger Agreement required under the Exchange Act or any other applicable law; and
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subject to applicable legal limitations and the instructions of any governmental entity, keeping each other appraised of the status of matters relating to the completion of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement (including promptly furnishing the other with copies of notices or other communications received with respect to such transactions).
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Conditions to Completion of the Merger
Conditions to Each Party’s Obligation to Effect the Merger.
Each party’s obligation to effect the Merger is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the following conditions:
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adoption of the Merger Agreement by Caprius stockholders at the Special Meeting to be called after Caprius files the requisite proxy materials with the SEC;
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the absence of any law, statute, rule, regulation, order, decree, ruling, judgment, injunction or arbitration award of any governmental entity which prohibits or prevents the consummation of the Merger; and
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all necessary consents, approvals and authorizations of any governmental entity having been obtained.
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Conditions to Caprius’ Obligation to Effect the Merger.
The obligation of Caprius to effect the Merger is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the following additional conditions:
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the representations and warranties of Vintage and Merger Sub contained in the Merger Agreement must be true and correct in all respects or all material respects, as applicable, as of November 10, 2010 and as of the effective time of the Merger as if made at such time (except that to the extent such representations and warranties speak as of a specified date, they need only be true and correct in all respects or all material respects, as applicable, as of such date);
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Vintage and Merger Sub must have performed in all material respects their respective obligations under the Merger Agreement required to be performed by them at or prior to the effective time of the Merger; and
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Caprius shall have received confirmation from its insurance agent or carrier that for six years after the date of the Merger, a directors and officers insurance policy shall be in place with at least the same coverage and containing terms and conditions comparable to the current policies.
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Conditions to Vintage’s and Merger Sub’s Obligation to Effect the Merger.
The obligation of Vintage and Merger Sub to effect the Merger is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the following additional conditions:
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the representations and warranties of Caprius contained in the Merger Agreement must be true and correct in all respects or all material respects, as applicable, as of November 10, 2010 and as of the effective time of the Merger as if made at such time (except that to the extent such representations and warranties speak as of a specified date, they need only be true and correct in all respects or all material respects, as applicable, as of such date);
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Caprius must have performed in all material respects its obligations under the Merger Agreement required to be performed by it at or prior to the effective time of the Merger;
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all stock options and warrants (other than Vintage’s warrant) to purchase Caprius Common Stock shall terminate upon consummation of the Merger in accordance with their terms, and Caprius shall obtain the consent of the requisite holders of warrants to provide for such termination; and
|
·
|
there must not have occurred and be continuing any Company Material Adverse Effect (as described under the section entitled “The Merger Agreement – Representations and Warranties” beginning on page _ of this proxy statement), or any event or development that would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
|
Termination of the Merger Agreement
The Merger Agreement may be terminated and the Merger abandoned at any time prior to the effective time of the Merger, whether prior to or after the adoption of the Merger Agreement by the Caprius stockholders:
|
·
|
by mutual written consent of Vintage and Caprius
|
|
·
|
by either Vintage or Caprius, if:
|
|
·
|
the Merger has not been consummated on or before June 30, 2011, subject to extension under certain conditions, provided that a party may not terminate the Merger Agreement if the Merger has not been consummated by June 30, 2011 principally due to its breach of any representation, covenant or warranty or failure to perform any obligations under the Merger Agreement required to be performed by it at or prior to the effective time of the Merger;
|
|
·
|
any governmental entity has issued an order, decree or ruling or taken any other action permanently restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, and such order, decree, ruling or other action or order shall have become final and non-appealable; or
|
|
·
|
the approval by Caprius stockholders required for consummation of the Merger shall not have been obtained by reason of the failure to obtain the required vote at the Special Meeting or any adjournment thereof.
|
Vintage also may terminate the Merger Agreement if:
|
·
|
Caprius has breached any material covenant or agreement contained in the Merger Agreement, or any of Caprius’ representations and warranties contained in the Merger Agreement was untrue as of November 10, 2010 or is not capable of being true as of the effective time of the Merger and such breach or inaccuracy shall not have been cured within five business days after Vintage gives written notice thereof; or
|
|
·
|
in the event that (i) the Special Committee or the Board shall change their recommendation; (ii) Caprius fails to comply with any of the limitations on solicitation of other offers, (iii) the Board fails upon Vintage’s or Merger Sub’s request to reconfirm its recommendation of the Merger and the Merger Agreement, (iv) Caprius enters into an agreement related to a Superior Proposal or (v) an person or group (other than Vintage, Merger Sub or their affiliates) becomes the beneficial owner of 15% or more of Caprius Common Stock.
|
Caprius may also terminate the Merger Agreement if:
|
·
|
Caprius enters into an agreement with respect to a Superior Proposal (as described in the section entitled “The Merger Agreement –Solicitation of Other Offers” beginning at page 51 of this proxy statement); or
|
|
·
|
Vintage or Merger Sub has breached any material covenant or agreement contained in the Merger Agreement, or any representation and warranty of Vintage or Merger Sub contained in the Merger Agreement shall have become untrue and is not cured within 5 business days after Caprius gives written notice thereof.
|
Effects of Terminating the Merger Agreement
In the event the Merger Agreement is terminated under certain circumstances, including by reason of Caprius’ entry into an agreement regarding or a Superior Proposal, a change in the Board’s recommendation that Caprius’ stockholders adopt the Merger Agreement and the Merger, a breach that is not cured by Caprius within 5 business days of notice thereof or the Merger Agreement is terminated because stockholder approval is not obtained, an Acquisition Proposal was announced prior to the stockholders’ meeting and Caprius consummates an Acquisition Proposal within 12 months after the Merger Agreement is terminated, the Company would have to pay a termination fee to Vintage in the amount of $61,000. In the event the Merger Agreement is terminated other by than reason of a breach by Vintage or Merger Sub, Caprius would reimburse Vintage’s fees, costs and expenses associated with the Merger Agreement in an amount not to exceed $100,000; provided that if Vintage is entitled to both a termination fee and an expense reimbursement, Caprius would be only obligated to pay the greater of the two amounts.
In the event that Caprius prevails in a claim for specific performance to enforce the terms and provisions of the Merger Agreement, Vintage would reimburse Caprius up to $50,000 for fees and costs incurred by Caprius in such action.
Limited Remedies
The maximum aggregate liability of Caprius is limited to the greater of the termination fee and expense reimbursement. We are not entitled to seek any damages or recovery of any kind against Vintage, Merger Sub, or any of their respective affiliates in connection with the Merger Agreement or the transactions contemplated thereby. However, each party is entitled to seek an injunction, specific performance or other equitable relief to prevent material breaches of the Merger Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms thereof.
Fees and Expenses
Except for the payment of termination fees or expense reimbursements, as described under “—Effects of Terminating the Merger Agreement,” all costs and expenses incurred in connection with the Merger Agreement and the Merger will be paid by the party incurring such expenses whether or not the Merger is consummated.
Amendment of the Merger Agreement and Extension and Waiver
At any time prior to the effective time of the Merger, the Merger Agreement may be amended by Caprius, Vintage and Merger Sub by a written instrument signed by each party in accordance with applicable law; provided, that any amendment after stockholder approval of the Merger at the Special Meeting may require further stockholder approval pursuant to applicable law.
Prior to the effective time of the Merger, any party to the Merger Agreement may, by written instrument signed by such party, (i) extend the time for the performance of any obligation or other act of another party, (ii) waive any inaccuracy in the representations and warranties of another party or (iii) waive compliance with any covenant or agreement of another party or condition to its own obligations; provided, that after stockholder approval of the Merger at the Special Meeting further stockholder approval may be required with respect to any such extension or waiver pursuant to applicable law.
General Provisions
The Merger Agreement is to be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to any choice or conflict of law provision or rule that would cause the application of the laws of any other jurisdiction.
The general provisions section of the Merger Agreement also contains additional provisions regarding the non-survival of representations and warranties, notices, assignment, severability, parties in interest, third-party beneficiaries, waiver of jury trial, enforcement of the Merger Agreement, interpretation and construction of the Merger Agreement and counterparts.
Our Board recommends that you vote “FOR” the proposal to adopt the Merger Agreement. Properly executed proxies will be voted “FOR” the proposal to adopt the Merger Agreement, unless otherwise noted on the proxies.
APPRAISAL RIGHTS
Under Delaware law, the holders of Caprius Common Stock and Preferred Stock are entitled to appraisal rights in connection with the Merger, provided that stockholders meet all of the conditions set forth in Section 262 of the DGCL. If the Merger is consummated, dissenting stockholders who follow the procedures described below within the appropriate time periods will be entitled to have the value of their shares of stock determined by the Delaware Court of Chancery and to receive the “fair value” of such shares in cash as determined by the Delaware Court of Chancery, together with interest, if any, from the effective time of Merger, in lieu of the consideration that such stockholder would otherwise be entitled to receive pursuant to the Merger Agreement. These rights are known as appraisal rights. If a stockholder wishes to exercise appraisal rights in connection with the Merger, the stockholder must not vote in favor of adoption of the Merger Agreement, must continuously be the holder of record of such shares through the effective time of the Merger, and must meet the conditions described below. A stockholder’s vote in favor of the adoption of the Merger Agreement will constitute a waiver of such stockholder’s appraisal rights.
Section 262 of the DGCL, which contains the conditions necessary to secure appraisal rights, is set forth in full in Annex C to this proxy statement. The following discussion is not a complete statement of the law pertaining to appraisal rights under the DGCL and is qualified in its entirety by the full text of Section 262 which is attached to this proxy statement as Annex C. The following summary does not constitute any legal or other advice nor does it constitute a recommendation that stockholders exercise their appraisal rights under Section 262. Failure to follow the procedures set forth in Section 262 precisely could result in the loss of appraisal rights.
Under Section 262, where a merger agreement is to be submitted for adoption at a meeting of stockholders, the corporation, not less than 20 days prior to the meeting, must notify each of its stockholders entitled to appraisal rights that appraisal rights are available and include in the notice a copy of Section 262. This proxy statement shall constitute the notice, and the full text of Section 262 is attached to this proxy statement as Annex C. Any holder of Common Stock or Preferred Stock of Caprius who wishes to exercise appraisal rights, or who wishes to preserve such holder's right to do so, should review the following discussion and Annex C carefully because failure to timely and properly comply with the procedures specified will result in the loss of appraisal rights. Moreover, because of the complexity of the procedures for exercising the right to seek appraisal of shares, Caprius believes that if a stockholder considers exercising such rights, such stockholder should seek the advice of legal counsel.
Stockholders who desire to exercise their appraisal rights must satisfy all of the conditions of Section 262. A written demand for appraisal of shares must be filed with Caprius before the vote on the proposal to adopt the Merger Agreement at the Special Meeting. This written demand for appraisal of shares must be in addition to and separate from a vote against the proposal to adopt the Merger Agreement. The demand must reasonably inform Caprius of the identity of the holder as well as the intention of the holder to demand an appraisal of the "fair value" of the shares held by the holder. Stockholders electing to exercise their appraisal rights must not vote for the proposal to adopt the Merger Agreement. However, any proxy or such vote against the proposal to adopt the Merger Agreement, abstention from voting or failure to vote on the proposal to adopt the Merger Agreement will not in and of itself constitute a demand for appraisal within the meaning of Section 262. A stockholder's failure to make the written demand prior to the taking of the vote on the adoption of the Merger Agreement at the Special Meeting will constitute a waiver of appraisal rights.
Only a holder of record of shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock of Caprius is entitled to demand an appraisal of the shares registered in that holder's name. A demand for appraisal must be executed by or on behalf of the stockholder of record, fully and correctly, as such stockholder’s name appears on the share certificate. If the shares are owned of record in a fiduciary capacity, such as by a trustee, guardian or custodian, execution of the demand should be made in that capacity. If the shares are owned by or on behalf of more than one person, as in a joint tenancy or tenancy in common, such demand must be executed by or on behalf of all joint owners. An authorized agent, including an agent for two or more joint owners, may execute the demand for appraisal for a stockholder of record; however, the agent must identify the record owner and expressly disclose the fact that, in exercising the demand, he is acting as agent for the record owner. If the shares are held in "street name" by a broker, bank or nominee, the broker, bank or nominee may exercise appraisal rights with respect to the shares held for one or more beneficial owners while not exercising the rights with respect to the shares held for other beneficial owners; in such case, however, the written demand should set forth the number of shares as to which appraisal is sought and where no number of shares is expressly mentioned the demand will be presumed to cover all shares of stock of Caprius held in the name of the record owner. Stockholders who hold their shares in brokerage accounts or other nominee forms and who wish to exercise appraisal rights are urged to consult with their brokers to determine the appropriate procedures for the making of a demand for appraisal by such a nominee.
A Caprius stockholder who elects to exercise appraisal rights should mail or deliver his written demand to Caprius at its address at 10 Forest Avenue, Paramus, New Jersey 07652, Attention: Chief Financial Officer. The written demand for appraisal should specify the stockholder’s name and mailing address, and that the stockholder is thereby demanding appraisal of his or her stock. Within ten days after the effective time of the Merger, Caprius must provide notice of the effective time of the Merger to all of its stockholders who have complied with Section 262 and have not voted for the proposal to adopt the Merger Agreement.
Within 120 days after the effective time of the Merger, any stockholder who has satisfied the requirements of Section 262 may deliver to Caprius a written demand for a statement listing the aggregate number of shares not voted in favor of the Merger and with respect to which demands for appraisal have been received and the aggregate number of holders of such shares.
Within 120 days after the effective time of the Merger (but not thereafter), either Caprius or any stockholder who has complied with the required conditions of Section 262 and who is otherwise entitled to appraisal rights may commence an appraisal proceeding by filing a petition in the Delaware Court of Chancery demanding a determination of the value of such stockholder’s Caprius shares. Caprius has no present intention to commence an appraisal proceeding by filing such a petition if demand for appraisal is made.
Upon the filing of any such petition by a stockholder in accordance with Section 262, service of a copy thereof must be made upon Caprius, which must, within 20 days after service, file in the office of the Register in Chancery in which the petition was filed, a duly verified list containing the names and addresses of all stockholders who have demanded payment for their shares and with whom agreements as to the value of their shares have not been reached by Caprius. If a petition is filed by Caprius to commence an appraisal proceeding, the petition must be accompanied by the verified list. The Register in Chancery, if so ordered by the court, will give notice of the time and place fixed for the hearing of a petition commencing an appraisal proceeding by registered or certified mail to Caprius and to the stockholders shown on the list at the addresses therein stated, and notice will also be given by publishing a notice at least one week before the day of the hearing in a newspaper of general circulation published in the City of Wilmington, Delaware, or such publication as the court deems advisable. The forms of the notices by mail and by publication must be approved by the court, and the costs thereof will be borne by Caprius.
If an appraisal proceeding is commenced in a timely fashion, at the hearing on the petition commencing such proceeding, the court will determine which stockholders have complied with Section 262 and have become entitled to appraisal rights. After the Court determines the stockholders entitled to an appraisal, through an appraisal proceeding the Court will determine the fair value of the shares owned by these stockholders, exclusive of any element of value arising from the accomplishment or expectation of the Merger, together with interest, if any, to be paid upon the amount determined to be the fair value. Unless the Court in its discretion determines otherwise for good cause shown, interest from the effective date of the merger through the date of payment of the judgment shall be compounded quarterly and shall accrue at 5% over the Federal Reserve discount rate (including any surcharge) as established from time to time during the period between the effective date of the merger and the date of payment of the judgment.
In determining fair value, the Delaware Court of Chancery will take into account all relevant factors. In Weinberger v. UOP, Inc., the Supreme Court of Delaware discussed the factors that could be considered in determining fair value in an appraisal proceeding, stating that "proof of value by any techniques or methods that are generally considered acceptable in the financial community and otherwise admissible in court" should be considered, and that "fair price obviously requires consideration of all relevant factors involving the value of a company." The Delaware Supreme Court stated that, in making this determination of fair value, the court must consider market value, asset value, dividends, earnings prospects, the nature of the enterprise and any other facts that could be ascertained as of the date of the merger that throw any light on future prospects of the merged corporation. Section 262 provides that fair value is to be "exclusive of any element of value arising from the accomplishment or expectation of the merger." In Cede & Co. v. Technicolor, Inc., the Delaware Supreme Court stated that such exclusion is a "narrow exclusion [that] does not encompass known elements of value," but which rather applies only to the speculative elements of value arising from such accomplishment or expectation. In Weinberger, the Supreme Court of Delaware also stated that "elements of future value, including the nature of the enterprise, which are known or susceptible of proof as of the date of the merger and not the product of speculation, may be considered."
Caprius stockholders considering seeking appraisal of their shares should note that the fair value of their shares determined under Section 262 could be more, the same or less than the Merger Consideration they would receive pursuant to the Merger Agreement if they did not seek appraisal of their shares and that an investment banking opinion as to fairness from a financial point of view is not necessarily an opinion as to fair value under Section 262. Although Caprius believes that the Merger Consideration is fair, no representation is made as to the outcome of the appraisal of fair value as determined by the Delaware Court of Chancery, and stockholders should recognize that such an appraisal could result in a determination of a value higher or lower than, or the same as, the Merger Consideration. Neither Vintage nor Caprius anticipates offering more than the applicable Merger Consideration to any stockholder of Caprius exercising appraisal rights, and reserves the right to assert, in any appraisal proceeding, that for purposes of Section 262, the "fair value" of a share of Common Stock or Preferred Stock of Caprius is less than the applicable Merger Consideration. The Delaware courts have stated that the methods which are generally considered acceptable in the financial community and otherwise admissible in court may be considered in the appraisal proceedings. In addition, the Delaware courts have decided that the statutory appraisal remedy, depending on factual circumstances, may or may not be a dissenting stockholder's exclusive remedy.
The costs of the appraisal proceeding may be determined by the court and taxed against the parties as the court deems equitable under the circumstances. Upon application of a dissenting stockholder, the court may order that all or a portion of the expenses incurred by any dissenting stockholder in connection with the appraisal proceeding, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and the fees and expenses of experts, be charged pro rata against the value of all shares entitled to appraisal. In the absence of a determination or assessment, each party bears his own expenses.
Any stockholder who has duly demanded appraisal in compliance with Section 262 will not, after the effective time of the Merger, be entitled to vote for any purpose the shares subject to demand or to receive payment of dividends or other distributions on such shares, except for dividends or distributions payable to stockholders of record at a date prior to the effective time of the Merger.
At any time within 60 days after the effective time of the Merger, any stockholder who has not commenced an appraisal proceeding or joined such proceeding as a named party will have the right to withdraw his demand for appraisal and to accept the terms offered in the Merger Agreement. If no appraisal proceeding is commenced within 120 days after the effective time of the Merger, stockholders’ rights to appraisal (if available) will cease. Inasmuch as Caprius has no obligation to commence an appraisal proceeding, any stockholder who desires that a proceeding be commenced is advised to file a petition on a timely basis. No petition timely filed in the court demanding appraisal may be dismissed as to any stockholder without the approval of the court, which approval may be conditioned upon such terms as the court deems just.
Failure by any Caprius stockholder to comply fully with the procedures described above and set forth in Annex C to this proxy statement may result in the loss of a stockholder’s appraisal rights. In view of the complexity of Section 262, stockholders who may wish to dissent from the Merger and pursue appraisal rights should consult their legal advisors.
PROPOSAL NO. 2: ADJOURNMENT OF THE SPECIAL MEETING
Proposal to Adjourn the Special Meeting
We are asking Caprius stockholders to vote on a proposal to adjourn the Special Meeting to solicit additional proxies, if necessary or appropriate, if there are insufficient votes at the Special Meeting to adopt the Merger Agreement. Even though a quorum may be present at the Special Meeting, it is possible that we may not have received sufficient votes to adopt the Merger Agreement by the time of the special meeting. In that event, we would need to adjourn the Special Meeting in order to solicit additional proxies. The adjournment proposal relates only to an adjournment of the Special Meeting for purposes of soliciting additional proxies to obtain stockholder adoption of the Merger Agreement. Any other adjournment of the Special Meeting (e.g., an adjournment required because of the absence of a quorum) would be voted upon pursuant to the discretionary authority granted by the proxy.
Vintage holds approximately 40% of the voting power of the outstanding shares of Caprius stock. Although it is likely that other Caprius stockholders holding an additional 10.1% of the voting power of the outstanding shares of Caprius stock will vote to approve the Merger, there is no assurance that Caprius will receive the approval of more than 50% of the outstanding shares. Vintage does not have any agreements or understandings with third parties regarding voting at the Special Meeting.
The approval of the proposal to adjourn the Special Meeting requires the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority in voting power of the shares present in person or by proxy at the Special Meeting and entitled to vote thereon. The failure to vote will have no effect on the approval of the adjournment proposal.
Our Board recommends that you vote “FOR” the proposal to adjourn the Special Meeting for the purpose of soliciting additional proxies. Properly executed proxies will be voted “FOR” the adjournment proposal, unless otherwise noted on the proxies.
MARKET PRICE OF CAPRIUS COMMON STOCK
Our Common Stock has been quoted on the Pink Sheets (OTCQB) using the “CAPI.PK” symbol since prior to October 1, 2008. The following table shows the high and low closing prices for each fiscal quarter from October 1, 2008 through December 31, 2010, and the months of January, February and March (through March 9) 2011, which were obtained from the Pink OTC Markets Inc. and reflect inter-dealer prices, without retail mark-up, mark-down or commission, and may not represent actual transactions.
Periods
|
|
High
|
|
|
Low
|
|
Fiscal Year Ended September 31, 2009
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
December 31, 2008
|
|
$ |
0.23 |
|
|
$ |
0.08 |
|
March 31, 2009
|
|
|
0.25 |
|
|
|
0.06 |
|
June 30, 2009
|
|
|
0.10 |
|
|
|
0.04 |
|
September 30, 2009
|
|
|
0.07 |
|
|
|
0.02 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2010
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
December 31, 2009
|
|
|
0.05 |
|
|
|
0.01 |
|
March 31, 2010
|
|
|
0.10 |
|
|
|
0.02 |
|
June 30, 2010
|
|
|
0.05 |
|
|
|
0.01 |
|
September 30, 2010
|
|
|
0.04 |
|
|
|
0.01 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fiscal Year Ending September 30, 2011
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Quarter ended December 31, 2010
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Month of January 2011
|
|
|
0.06 |
|
|
|
0.02 |
|
Month of February 2011
|
|
|
0.06 |
|
|
|
0.05 |
|
Month of March 2011 (through March 9)
|
|
|
0.06 |
|
|
|
0.06 |
|
The above quotations represent prices between dealers, do not include retail markups, markdowns or commissions and may not represent actual transactions. As of March 11, 2011, there were approximately 450 record holders of our Common Stock, two record holders of our Series E Preferred and seven record holders of our Series F Preferred. We have not paid any dividends on our Common Stock.
SUMMARIZED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Set forth below is summarized financial data for Caprius as of September 30, 2010, September 30, 2009 and September 30, 2008 and the fiscal years then ended and as of December 31, 2010 and December 31, 3009 and the fiscal quarters then ended. The financial data for September 30, 2010, September 30, 2009 and September 30, 2008 and the years then ended has been derived from the audited financial statements contained in our Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2010 (the “2010 Form 10-K”), and the financial information for December 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009 and the quarters then ended has been derived from the unaudited financial statements contained in our Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2010 (the “December 2010 Form 10-Q”). This data should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and other financial information contained in the 2010 Form 10-K and the December 2010 Form 10-Q, including the notes thereto, incorporated by reference into this proxy statement. More comprehensive financial information is included in the 2010 Form 10-K and the December 2010 Form 10-Q, including management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations, and other documents we file with the SEC, and the following summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the 2010 Form 10-K and the December 2010 Form 10-Q, and other documents and all of the financial information and notes contained in those documents. See “Where You Can Find More Information.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
1,425,730 |
|
|
$ |
1,380,685 |
|
|
$ |
3,045,326 |
|
|
$ |
1,457,642 |
|
|
$ |
1,260,414 |
|
|
|
|
338,172 |
|
|
|
699,323 |
|
|
|
130,624 |
|
|
|
123,012 |
|
|
|
613,575 |
|
|
|
$ |
1,762,902 |
|
|
$ |
2,080,008 |
|
|
$ |
3,175,950 |
|
|
$ |
1,580,654 |
|
|
$ |
1,873,989 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
6,394,834 |
|
|
$ |
3,616,388 |
|
|
$ |
2,144,312 |
|
|
$ |
7,772,936 |
|
|
$ |
4,145,978 |
|
|
|
|
1,118,946 |
|
|
|
933,248 |
|
|
|
456,790 |
|
|
|
1,571,633 |
|
|
|
1,060,344 |
|
|
|
|
7,513,780 |
|
|
$ |
4,549,636 |
|
|
$ |
2,601,102 |
|
|
$ |
9,344,569 |
|
|
$ |
5,206,322 |
|
Total stockholders’ equity
|
|
|
(5,750,878 |
) |
|
|
(2,469,628 |
) |
|
|
574,848 |
|
|
|
(7,763,915 |
) |
|
|
(3,332,333 |
) |
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
|
|
$ |
1,762,902 |
|
|
$ |
2,080,008 |
|
|
$ |
3,175,950 |
|
|
$ |
1,580,654 |
|
|
$ |
1,873,989 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Quarter ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
1,167,289 |
|
|
$ |
1,239,865 |
|
|
$ |
2,664,404 |
|
|
$ |
481,846 |
|
|
$ |
695,564 |
|
|
|
|
3,652,337 |
|
|
|
4,126,164 |
|
|
|
6,440,396 |
|
|
|
1,407,116 |
|
|
|
1,446,320 |
|
|
|
|
(2,485,048 |
) |
|
|
(2,886,299 |
) |
|
|
(3,249,673 |
) |
|
|
(925,270 |
) |
|
|
(750,756 |
) |
|
|
|
(3,434,765 |
) |
|
|
(3,368,283 |
) |
|
|
(5,596,611 |
) |
|
|
(2,036,544 |
) |
|
|
(921,738 |
) |
|
|
$ |
(0.17 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.64 |
) |
|
$ |
(1.51 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.09 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.17 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted average shares outstanding
|
|
|
20,347,112 |
|
|
|
5,284,714 |
|
|
|
4,421,608 |
|
|
|
22,201,426 |
|
|
|
5,431,865 |
|
The book value of the Company at December 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009 was $(7,763,915) and $(3,332,333), respectively.
SECURITIES OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The table below sets forth certain information known to us regarding beneficial ownership of our outstanding Common Stock, Series E Preferred and Series F Preferred at March 11, 2011 of (i) each beneficial owner of more than five percent of the outstanding Common Stock, Series E Preferred and Series F Preferred, (ii) each of our directors, and (iii) all of our officers and directors as a group. Unless otherwise indicated, the address of the below-listed persons is our address, 10 Forest Avenue, Paramus, NJ 07652.
We have determined beneficial ownership in accordance with the rules of the SEC. Except as indicated by the footnotes below, we believe, based on the information furnished to us, that the persons and entities named in the table below have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of our Common Stock that they beneficially own.
Name and Address of
Beneficial Owner
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Percent of outstanding shares (1)
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Vintage Capital Group, LLC (2)
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16,647,173
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40.0%
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Dwight Morgan (3)
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890,000
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3.7%
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George Aaron (4)
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696,812
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2.9%
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Raymond Jackshies (5)
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66,213
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*
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Kenneth Leung (6)
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20,000
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*
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Roger Miller (7)
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56,724
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*
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Knight Equity Markets, L.P. (8)
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1,022,741
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4.4%
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Dolphin Offshore Partners LP (9)
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3,250,000
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13.9%
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Vision Opportunity Master Fund Ltd. (10)
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750,000
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3.2%
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Great Point Partners (11)
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4,710,000
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20.1%
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All Executive Officers and Directors as a Group (5 persons) (12)
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1,729,749
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7.0%
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(1) Calculated on the basis of 14,803,108 shares of Common Stock, 4,200 shares of Series E Preferred (convertible into 2,625,000 shares of Common Stock) and 60,000 shares of Series F Preferred (convertible into 6,000,000 shares of Common Stock), or an aggregate of 23,428,108 shares. Any additional shares of Common Stock a holder has the right to acquire within 60 days of March 11, 2011 by exercise of stock options or warrants are deemed to be outstanding for the purpose of calculating that holder’s percentage beneficial ownership, but are not deemed to be outstanding and to be beneficially owned for the purpose of calculating the percentage ownership of any other person.
(2) Includes 7,275,930 shares underlying the Vintage Warrant (assuming the conversion of all outstanding Preferred Stock and the exercise of all outstanding options and warrants, other than the Vintage Warrant, for shares of Common Stock). Vintage agreed in the Merger Agreement to limit its exercise of the Vintage Warrant for purposes of the approval of the Merger and the Merger Agreement to not more than 40% of the voting power of our capital stock as of the Record Date for the Special Meeting. Address is 11611 San Vicente Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90049.
(3) Includes 890,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of options granted with exercise prices from $.20 to $1.10 per share.
(4) Includes 465,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of options granted with exercise prices from $.40 to $3.00 per share.
(5) Includes 66,213 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of options granted with exercise prices from $.05 to $1.10 per share.
(6) Includes 20,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of options granted with an exercise price of $.53 per share.
(7) Includes 20,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of options granted with an exercise price of $.55 per share.
(8) As reported in Amendment No. 3 to Schedule 13G, filed on February 17, 2011. Address is 545 Washington Boulevard, Jersey City, NJ 07310.
(9) Includes, (i) 2,250,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of 3,600 shares of Series E Preferred, representing 85.7% of the outstanding Series E Preferred, and (ii) 1,000,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of 10,000 shares of Series F Preferred, representing 16.7% of the outstanding Series F Preferred, and does not include 1,525,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of outstanding warrants with exercise prices from $0.50 to $0.80 per share. Address is 129 East 17th Street, New York, NY 10003.
(10) Includes 375,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of 600 shares of Series E Preferred, representing 14.3% of the outstanding Series E Preferred, and does not include 375,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of outstanding warrants with an exercise price of $0.50 per share. Address is 20 West 55th Street, New York, NY 10019.
(11) Includes 4,710,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of 47,100 shares of Series F Preferred, representing 78.5% of the outstanding Series F Preferred, and does not include 1,884,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of outstanding warrants with an exercise price of $0.80 per share. Address is 165 Mason Street, Greenwich, CT 06830.
(12) Includes as aggregate of 1,461,213 shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of options.
* Less than 1%
Neither the Company nor any of its directors or executive officers has had any transactions in the Company’s Common Stock or Preferred Stock within the past 60 days, other than with respect to the Company as contemplated by the Merger Agreement.
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS
In considering the recommendation of our Board that you adopt the Merger Agreement, you should be aware that certain of our directors and executive officers may have interests in the transaction that are different from, or are in addition to, your interests as a stockholder. The Board and the Special Committee were aware of these interests and considered them, among other matters, in reaching the decision to approve and adopt the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, including the Merger, and to recommend that you vote in favor of adopting the Merger Agreement.
Arrangements with our Executive Officers
Dwight Morgan and George Aaron, who are Caprius directors and also serve as our President/Chief Executive Officer and Vice President-International Sales, respectively, are currently expected to continue in those positions after the Merger. Mr. Morgan’s Employment Agreement, dated October 16, 2009, which would continue in effect after the Merger, contains a “change of control” provision under certain extraordinary corporate transactions, but the “change of control” definition therein expressly excepts a “going private” transaction by Caprius or a transaction between Caprius and Vintage. The stock options held by Mr. Morgan and Mr. Aaron will terminate upon the Merger, see “Special Factors-Treatment of Stock Options and Warrants” on page 32 of this proxy statement.
Compensation of Members of the Special Committee
Each member of the Special Committee will receive a fee of $25,000 for the performance of his duties as a member of the Special Committee, including his participation in meetings and conferences calls of the Special Committee and with Vintage and their respective advisors, review of documentation and consultation with the Board and management.
Indemnification Under the Merger Agreement
The Merger Agreement provides that all rights to exculpation, indemnification and advancement of expenses existing on the date of the Merger Agreement in favor of current or former directors, officers or employees of Caprius and its subsidiaries under the provisions of their respective organizational documents or other agreements will survive the Merger and continue in full force and effect. For a period of six years after the effective time of the Merger, Vintage is required to cause the surviving corporation to honor all provisions for indemnification and advancement of expenses under the organizational documents of Caprius and its subsidiaries, as in effect immediately prior to the Merger, and under the indemnification agreements (in effect on the date of the Merger Agreement) of Caprius and its subsidiaries with their respective directors and officers. The surviving corporation is also required to indemnify (and provide customary advancement of expenses to) the current directors and officers of Caprius and its subsidiaries to the fullest extent permitted by law with respect to any costs, expenses, judgments, fines, losses, claims, settlements, damages and liabilities incurred in connection with any actual or threatened action, proceeding or claim arising out of such person’s service as such director or officer or performed at the request of Caprius or any of its subsidiaries.
The Merger Agreement provides that prior to the effective time of the Merger, Caprius will obtain and fully pay the premium for an extension of the directors’ and officers’ liability coverage under our existing directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies for a period of six years from and after the effective time of the Merger on terms that are no less advantageous than under our existing policies. This extension was obtained on November 15, 2010. See “The Merger Agreement-Indemnification and Insurance of our Directors and Officers” at page 53 of this proxy statement.
Certain Relationships between Vintage and Caprius
On September 16, 2009, Vintage, a privately owned company involved in equity and debt investment activities, and Caprius entered into the Vintage Loan Agreement, as amended by Amendment No. 1, dated as of September 8, 2010, Amendment No. 2, dated as of November 4, 2010, Amendment No. 3, dated as of November 18, 2010, Amendment No. 4, dated as of December 16, 2010, and Amendment No. 5, dated as of March 9, 2011, providing for advances to Caprius initially up to $3 million and subsequently increased to up to $6.7 million, evidenced by a Senior Secured Promissory Note (the “Vintage Note”). The Vintage Note bears interest at a default rate of 17% per annum, on a PIK basis. The Vintage Note was initially due on December 16, 2010, and the maturity date was extended to February 1, 2011. On December 16, 2010, the maturity of the Vintage Note was further extended to the earlier of (i) April 30, 2011 or (ii) the termination of the Merger Agreement. As of February 28, 2011, Vintage had advanced approximately $5.5 million to Caprius, exclusive of an additional $1.97 million of capitalized obligations (including approximately $975,000 of interest) owed to Vintage. The Vintage Loan Agreement is secured by a first lien on the assets of Caprius and its subsidiaries, including the intellectual property, and contains extensive affirmative and negative covenants with respect to the Caprius’ business operations and transactions, including a prohibition on us or any of our subsidiaries being acquired, merging, consolidating or amalgamating with any entity, or permitting any entity to acquire all or a substantial part of our assets.
At the time of the initial Vintage Loan Agreement, we also entered into an Investment Monitoring Agreement with Vintage providing for an Operating Committee composed of two persons designated by each party for the purpose of reviewing budgets, strategic planning, financial performance and similar matters, and that committee has the right to make recommendations to the Caprius Board.
As the primary lender, Vintage receives periodic financial and operational reports from Caprius as required under the Vintage Loan Agreement. Vintage also communicates regularly with Caprius management, both on a formal and informal basis, regarding the status of the Vintage loan and Caprius’ prospects and future business plans.
Purchases by Vintage
On January 22, 2010, as a post-closing obligation under the Vintage Loan Agreement, Caprius issued the Vintage Warrant to Vintage for the purchase of up to 40% of the outstanding Caprius Common Stock on a fully-diluted basis, at an exercise price of $0.01 per share, for a term of seven years. Based upon its capitalization as of February 28, 2011, the Vintage Warrant would be exercisable for 16,647,173 shares of Common Stock. In the Merger Agreement, Vintage agreed to limit its exercise of the Vintage Warrant for purposes of the approval of the Merger and the Merger Agreement to not more than 40% of the voting power of our capital stock as of the Record Date for the Special Meeting (or 9,371,243 shares); however, Vintage retained the right to exercise the Vintage Warrant, in whole or in part, for any purpose other than approval of the Merger and the Merger Agreement. As part of the grant of the Vintage Warrant, Vintage obtained certain preemptive rights with respect to our securities and observer rights for meetings of our Board, pursuant to an Equity Rights Agreement, and certain rights to register the shares of Common Stock underlying the Vintage Warrant under the Securities Act, pursuant to a Registration Rights Agreement.
On March 8, 2011, Vintage exercised the Vintage Warrant for 9,371,243 shares of Common Stock.
SUBMISSION OF STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS
We will hold our 2011 annual meeting of stockholders only if the Merger is not consummated because, if the Merger is consummated, we will no longer be a publicly-held company following such consummation. If the Merger is not consummated, we will publicly notify you of the expected date that we plan to print and mail our 2011 annual meeting proxy materials at the time we establish a date for such meeting. In such case, any stockholder wishing to have a proposal considered for inclusion in our 2011 annual meeting proxy solicitation materials must set forth such proposal in writing and file it with the Chief Financial Officer of Caprius at 10 Forest Avenue, Paramus, NJ 07652 not later than July 31, 2011. Proposals received after such date would be considered untimely and would not be included in our annual meeting proxy solicitation materials (in the event that the Merger is not consummated). If we hold our 2011 annual meeting of stockholders, our Board will review any timely submitted stockholder proposals which are filed as required and will determine whether such proposals meet applicable criteria for inclusion in our 2011 annual meeting proxy solicitation materials.
OTHER MATTERS
We currently know of no other business that will be presented for consideration at the Special Meeting. Nevertheless, the enclosed proxy confers discretionary authority to vote with respect to matters described in Rule 14a-4(c) under the Exchange Act. If any of these matters are presented at the Special Meeting, then the proxy agents named in the enclosed proxy card will vote in accordance with their judgment.
HOUSEHOLDING OF SPECIAL MEETING MATERIALS
Some banks, brokerages and other custodian record holders may be participating in the practice of “householding” proxy statements and annual reports. This means that only one copy of this proxy statement may have been sent to multiple stockholders in your household. We will promptly deliver a separate copy of this proxy statement to you if you call or write to us at the following address or telephone number: Caprius, Inc., Attention: Chief Financial Officer, 10 Forest Avenue, Paramus, NJ 07652 (201) 342-0900. If you want to receive separate copies of this proxy statement, you should contact your bank, broker or other custodian record holder, or you may contact us at the above address and telephone number.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We file annual, quarterly and current reports and proxy statements with the SEC. You may read and copy any reports, proxy statements or other information that we file with the SEC at the SEC’s public reference room located at 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference rooms. You also may obtain copies of this information by mail from the Public Reference Section of the SEC, 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549, at prescribed rates. Our public filings are also available to the public from document retrieval services and the Internet website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov and on our website at www.Caprius.com under “SEC Filings.” The information provided on our website is not part of this proxy statement, and therefore is not incorporated by reference herein.
Any person, including any beneficial owner, to whom this proxy statement is delivered, may request copies of reports, proxy statements or other information concerning us, without charge, by written or telephonic request directed to us at Caprius, Inc., Attention: Chief Financial Officer, 10 Forest Avenue, Paramus, NJ 07652 (201) 342-0900. If you would like to request such documents, please do so by April 18, 2011, in order to receive them before the Special Meeting.
We are “incorporating by reference” information into this proxy statement, meaning that we are disclosing important information to you by referring you to another document filed separately with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this proxy statement, except to the extent that the information is superseded by information in this proxy statement.
The following documents contain important information about us and our financial condition and operating results that we filed with the SEC, and are hereby incorporated by reference:
1)
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Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2010, filed with the SEC on December 17, 2010;
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2)
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Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 2010, filed with the SEC on February 14, 2011; and
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3)
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Current Reports on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on November 8, 2010, two on November 12, 2010, November 19, 2010, February 4, 2011 and March 11, 2011.
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Because the Merger is a “going-private” transaction, Caprius, Vintage and Vintage’s affiliates have filed a Rule 13E-3 Transaction Statement or Schedule 13E-3 with the SEC. This proxy statement does not contain all of the information set forth in the Schedule 13E-3. Copies of the Schedule 13E-3 are available upon request from Caprius or from the SEC, as described above.
No persons have been authorized to give any information or to make any representations other than those contained in this proxy statement and, if given or made, such information or representations must not be relied upon as having been authorized by us or any other person. This proxy statement is dated March 14, 2011. You should not assume that the information contained in this proxy statement is accurate as of any date other than that date, and the mailing of this proxy statement to stockholders shall not create any implication to the contrary.