On
November 10, 2005, EMCORE Corporation ("EMCORE" or the "Company") entered
into
an Exchange Agreement (the "Agreement") with Alexandra Global Master Fund
Ltd.
("Alexandra") to exchange $14,425,000 aggregate principal amount of the
Company’s outstanding Convertible Subordinated Notes due May 15, 2006 (the
“Existing 2006 Notes”) for $16,580,460 aggregate principal amount of newly
issued Convertible Senior Subordinated Notes due May 15, 2011 (the “New 2011
Notes”). The
terms
of the New 2011 Notes are identical in all material respects
to EMCORE’s existing 5% Convertible Senior Subordinated Notes due May 15,
2011, which were issued by the Company on February 24, 2004 (the "Existing
2011
Notes"). The New 2011 Notes are ranked pari passu with the
Existing 2011 Notes.
The
New
2011 Notes will be convertible at any time prior to maturity, unless previously
redeemed or repurchased by EMCORE, into the shares of the Company's common
stock, no par value ("Common Stock"), at the conversion rate of 124.0695
shares
of Common Stock per $1,000 principal amount. The effective conversion rate
is $8.06 per share of common stock. As a result of this transaction,
EMCORE will recognize a non-cash loss in the first quarter of fiscal 2006
related to the early extinguishment of debt equal to $2,155,460.
The
Existing 2006 Notes to be exchanged by Alexandra represent approximately
91.4%
of the $15,775,000 total amount of Existing 2006 Notes outstanding. EMCORE
intends to redeem for cash the remaining $1,350,000 of Existing 2006 Notes
on or
before the May 15, 2006 maturity date.
This
transaction with Alexandra is expected to close on or about November 16,
2005. A copy of the Agreement, as well as the applicable Note and
Indenture Agreement, will be filed as exhibits to the Company's Annual
Report on
Form 10-K for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2005.
The
information set forth in this Item 1.01 also is incorporated
by reference under Items 2.03 and 3.02, below.
Item
2.03. Creation
of a
Direct Financial Obligation.
See
Item
1.01, “Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement,” above.
EMCORE
will pay interest on the New 2011 Notes semi-annually in cash on May 15
and
November 15 of each year. Interest will begin to accrue on the closing
date of the exchange.
Events
of
default under the Indenture that may accelerate the payment obligations
under
the New 2011 Notes include: failure to pay principal or premium when due,
failure to pay interest if such failure continues for 30 days, failure
to
perform any other covenant required of EMCORE if such failure continues
for 60
days after notice is given in accordance with the Indenture Agreement,
failure
to pay the purchase price of any note when due, failure to provide timely
notice
of a change of control, or certain events in bankruptcy, insolvency or
reorganization of EMCORE.
Item
3.02. Unregistered
Sales
of Equity Securities.
See
Item
1.01, “Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement,” above.
The
exchange of the Existing 2006 Notes for the New 2011 Notes was made to
an
“accredited investor,” as that term is defined under Rule 501 under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The offer and
sale was made pursuant to Rule 506 of Regulation D under the Securities
Act, and
without registration under the Securities Act, in reliance on the exemption
provided thereby. EMCORE relied upon the representations, warranties, and
agreements of Alexandra, including its agreement with respect to restrictions
on
resale, in support of the satisfaction of the conditions of such
exemption.