UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C.
20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to
Section 13 or 15(d) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): December 12, 2023
ECHOSTAR CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| Nevada |
001-33807 |
26-1232727 |
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation) |
(Commission
File Number) |
(I.R.S Employer
Identification Number) |
100 Inverness Terrace E., Englewood, Colorado 80112
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
(303) 706-4000
(Registrant’s telephone number, including
area code)
Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended
to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
x Written
communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of
the Act:
| Title of each class |
Trading Symbol |
Name
of each exchange on which registered |
| Class A Common Stock, $0.001 par value |
SATS |
The NASDAQ Stock Market L.L.C. |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405
of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging
growth company ¨
If an emerging
growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any
new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨
Item 5.04 Temporary Suspension of Trading Under Registrant’s Employee Benefit Plans.
On December 12, 2023, EchoStar Corporation (“EchoStar”)
sent a notice (the “Notice”) to its directors and executive officers informing them that they will be prohibited from engaging
in transactions in EchoStar equity securities during an upcoming blackout period applicable to the EchoStar 401(k) Plan (the “Plan”).
The blackout period for the Plan is being implemented in connection with the anticipated closing of the previously announced merger (the
“Merger”) pursuant to the Amended and Restated Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of October 2, 2023 (the “Merger
Agreement”), by and among EchoStar, EAV Corp., a Nevada corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of EchoStar (“Merger Sub”)
and DISH Network Corporation, a Nevada corporation (“DISH”), pursuant to which EchoStar will acquire DISH by means of the
merger of Merger Sub with and into DISH, with DISH surviving the Merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of EchoStar. Pursuant to the Merger,
(i) each outstanding share of DISH Class A Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “DISH Common Stock”) and
DISH Class C Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share will be converted into the right to receive a number of shares of EchoStar Class A
Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share (“EchoStar Class A Common Stock”), equal to 0.350877 (the “Exchange Ratio”)
and (ii) each share of DISH Class B Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, outstanding immediately prior to the Effective
Time will be converted into the right to receive a number of shares of EchoStar Class B Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share,
equal to the Exchange Ratio.
To prepare for the closing of the Merger and the conversion process
for the DISH Common Stock held in the Plan, participants in the Plan have been advised that there will be a blackout period (the “Blackout
Period”) under the Plan that is expected to begin as of market close (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on the business day
immediately preceding the closing of the Merger, which is expected to occur as early as the week of December 11, 2023 and as late
as December 29, 2023. The Blackout Period is expected to end approximately two to five business days after it begins.
During the Blackout Period, any and all transactions into or out of
DISH Common Stock will be restricted and participants in the Plan will not be able to direct or diversify the assets held in their account
in DISH Common Stock or obtain a loan or withdrawal from balances invested in DISH Common Stock or take a full distribution from the Plan
account that has a balance in DISH Common Stock.
The Notice informs the directors and executive officers of EchoStar
that, pursuant to Section 306 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and Rule 104 of the SEC’s Regulation BTR, they will be
prohibited, during the Blackout Period, from engaging in transactions in EchoStar equity securities acquired in connection with their
service to EchoStar and its subsidiaries. A copy of the Notice, which includes the information specified in Rule 104(b) of Regulation
BTR, is attached to this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference.
Before and during the Blackout Period and for a period of two years
after the end date thereof, inquiries concerning the Blackout Period, including the beginning and ending dates of the trading restrictions,
may be directed without charge to:
EchoStar Corporation
100 Inverness Terrace East
Englewood, Colorado 80112
Attention: Dean Manson, Chief Legal Officer
Telephone: (303) 706-4000
Forward-Looking Statements
This document contains forward-looking statements within the meaning
of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, the accuracy of which are necessarily subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions
as to future events that may not prove to be accurate. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees but are subject to a variety
of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond EchoStar’s and DISH’s control, which could cause actual results to differ
materially from those contemplated in these forward-looking statements. Existing and prospective investors are cautioned not to place
undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. Factors that could cause actual results to
differ materially from those expressed or implied include the factors discussed under the section entitled “Risk Factors”
of EchoStar’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, filed with the SEC, and under the
section entitled “Risk Factors” of DISH’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31,
2022 and the parties’ subsequent reports, filed with the SEC. EchoStar and DISH undertake no obligation to update or supplement
any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as required by law. These
factors include, without limitation: the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination
of the Amended Merger Agreement between EchoStar and DISH; the effect of the announcement of the proposed transaction on the ability of
EchoStar and DISH to operate their respective businesses and retain and hire key personnel and to maintain favorable business relationships;
the timing of the proposed transaction; the ability to satisfy closing conditions to the completion of the proposed transaction; EchoStar’s
and DISH’s ability to achieve the anticipated benefits from the proposed transaction; other risks related to the completion of the
proposed transaction and actions related thereto; risk factors related to the current economic and business environment; significant transaction
costs and/or unknown liabilities; risk factors related to pandemics or other health crises; risk factors related to funding strategies,
indebtedness levels and capital structure; and risk factors related to the market price for EchoStar’s and DISH’s respective
common stock.
These risks, as well as other risks related to the proposed transaction,
are included in the registration statement on Form S-4 that includes as a prospectus a joint information statement of the type contemplated
by Rule 14c-2 of the Exchange Act, and has been filed with the SEC in connection with the proposed transaction. While the list of
factors presented here is, and the list of factors to be presented in the registration statement on Form S-4 and the joint information
statement are, considered representative, no such list should be considered to be a complete statement of all potential risks and uncertainties.
For additional information about other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking
statements, please refer to EchoStar’s and DISH’s respective periodic reports and other filings with the SEC, including the
risk factors identified in each of EchoStar’s and DISH’s most recent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Annual Reports
on Form 10-K. The forward-looking statements included in this communication are made only as of the date hereof. Neither EchoStar
nor DISH undertakes any obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances, except as required
by law.
No Offer or Solicitation
This communication is
not intended to and shall not constitute an offer to buy or sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy or sell any securities, or a solicitation
of any vote or approval, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would
be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offering of securities shall
be made, except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act.
Additional Information
about the Transaction and Where to Find It
In connection with the
proposed transaction, EchoStar and DISH have prepared a joint information statement for their respective stockholders containing the information
with respect to the proposed transaction contemplated by Rule 14c-2 of the Exchange Act and describing the proposed transaction.
EchoStar has filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-4 that includes the joint information statement, which registration
statement has been declared effective by the SEC. Each of EchoStar and DISH have filed and may in the future file other relevant documents
with the SEC regarding the proposed transaction. This document is not a substitute for the registration statement, the joint information
statement or any other document that EchoStar or DISH may file with the SEC. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE REGISTRATION
STATEMENT, THE JOINT INFORMATION STATEMENT AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS THAT MAY BE FILED WITH THE SEC, AS WELL AS ANY AMENDMENTS
OR SUPPLEMENTS TO THESE DOCUMENTS, CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY IF AND WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN OR WILL CONTAIN
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION. Investors and security holders may obtain free copies of the registration statement
and the joint information statement and other documents containing important information about EchoStar, DISH and the proposed transaction,
once such documents are filed with the SEC through the website maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov. Copies of the
documents filed with the SEC by EchoStar will be available free of charge on its website at https://ir.echostar.com/. Copies
of the documents filed with the SEC by DISH will be available free of charge on its website at https://ir.dish.com/.
* * *
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly
authorized.
| |
ECHOSTAR CORPORATION |
| |
|
|
| December 12, 2023 |
By: |
/s/ Dean A. Manson |
| |
|
Dean A. Manson |
| |
|
Chief Legal Officer and Secretary |
Exhibit 99.1
December 12, 2023
To: All Executive Officers and Directors of EchoStar Corporation
Re: Blackout Period – Stock Trading Restrictions
As you are aware, the previously announced merger
(the “Merger”) pursuant to the Amended and Restated Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of October 2, 2023 (the “Merger
Agreement”), by and among EchoStar Corporation (“EchoStar”), EAV Corp., a Nevada corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary
of EchoStar (“Merger Sub”) and DISH Network Corporation (“DISH”), pursuant to which EchoStar will acquire DISH
by means of the merger of Merger Sub with and into DISH, with DISH surviving the Merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of EchoStar is expected
to close soon. This notice is intended to alert you to prohibitions on your trading in equity securities of EchoStar during a “blackout
period” that will be imposed in connection with the completion of the Merger.
These equity trading prohibitions are imposed on
directors and executive officers because participant transactions in the EchoStar 401(k) Plan (the “Plan”) will be restricted
in order to accommodate the administration of the conversion process for DISH Class A Common Stock (“DISH Common Stock”)
held in the Plan, which is an investment option under the Plan, into EchoStar Class A Common Stock in accordance with the Merger
Agreement.
During the blackout period, any and all transactions
into or out of DISH Common Stock will be restricted and participants in the Plan will not be able to direct or diversify the assets held
in their account in DISH Common Stock or obtain a loan or withdrawal from balances invested in DISH Common Stock or take a full distribution
from the Plan account that has a balance in DISH Common Stock.
During the blackout period, whether or not you
participate in the Plan, pursuant to Section 306(a) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and Regulation BTR under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, you will be prohibited from, directly or indirectly, purchasing, selling or otherwise acquiring or transferring
any shares of EchoStar Common Stock, including any derivative securities such as stock options (the “EchoStar Securities”)
that you acquired or previously acquired in connection with your service or employment as a director or executive office of EchoStar This
trading restriction includes indirect trading where you have a pecuniary interest in the transaction (such as transactions by family members,
partnerships, corporations or trusts in which you have a pecuniary interest).
The blackout period is currently expected to begin
as of market close (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on the business day immediately preceding the closing of the Merger, which
is expected to occur as early as the week of December 11, 2023 and as late as December 29, 2023. The Blackout Period is expected
to end approximately two to five business days after it begins. We will notify you in advance if the expected end of the blackout period
changes, unless it is not practicable to provide such advance notice.
There are limited exceptions to the restrictions
of 306(a) and Regulation BTR for certain transactions in EchoStar Securities, including bona fide gifts, transactions involving EchoStar
Securities that were not acquired in connection with your service or employment as a director of officer (which you must be able to prove)
and transactions pursuant to a plan intended to comply with the affirmative defense conditions of Rule 10b5-1, provided that such
10b5-1 plan was not entered into or modified during the blackout period and you were unaware of the actual or approximate beginning or
ending dates of the blackout period at the time of the transaction. Because these exemptions are narrow, proposed transactions should
be discussed with Dean Manson, Chief Legal Officer, before you or your family members take any action concerning EchoStar Securities during
this period.
Please note that the trading restrictions implemented
because of the blackout period are in addition to other trading restrictions under EchoStar’s Insider Trading Policy.
Before and during the blackout period and for a
period of two years after the end date thereof, inquiries concerning the blackout period, including the beginning and ending dates of
the trading restrictions, may be directed without charge to:
EchoStar Corporation
100 Inverness Terrace East
Englewood, Colorado 80112
Attention: Dean Manson, Chief Legal Officer
Telephone: (303) 706-4000
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
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