HILLSBORO, Ore., July 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- FEI Company
(Nasdaq: FEIC) announced today that on July 21, 2005 its board of directors
adopted a shareholders' rights plan. The plan is designed to assure
shareholders fair value in the event of a future unsolicited business
combination or similar transaction involving the company. The plan was not
adopted in response to any attempts to acquire the company, and the company is
not aware of any such efforts.
Under the plan, FEI will issue a dividend of one right for each share of
common stock of the company held by shareholders of record as of the close of
business on August 12, 2005. The rights will initially trade with FEI's
common stock. Each right will initially entitle shareholders to purchase a
fractional share of the company's preferred stock for an exercise price of
$120. However, the rights are not immediately exercisable and will generally
become exercisable if a person or group acquires beneficial ownership of 20%
or more of FEI's outstanding common stock or commences a tender or exchange
offer upon consummation of which such person or group would beneficially own
20% or more of FEI's common stock, or in the case of Philips or its
affiliates, 30% or more of FEI's outstanding common stock. The rights will
become exercisable by holders, other than the unsolicited third party
acquirer, for shares of FEI or of the third party acquirer having a value of
twice the rights' then-current exercise price. The rights are redeemable by
FEI for $0.001 per right and will expire on August 12, 2015.
Further details of the plan are outlined in a letter that will be mailed
to shareholders as of the record date.
About FEI
FEI's Tools for Nanotech(TM), featuring focused ion- and electron-beam
technologies, deliver 3D characterization, analysis and modification
capabilities with resolution down to the sub-Angstrom level. With R&D centers
in North America and Europe, and sales and service operations in more the 40
countries around the world, FEI is bringing the nanoscale within the grasp of
leading researchers and manufacturers and helping to turn some of the biggest
ideas of this century into reality. More information can be found on the FEI
website at: www.feicompany.com.
SOURCE FEI Company
07/27/2005
CONTACT: Fletcher Chamberlin, Investor Relations of FEI Company,
+1-503-726-7710, or fchamberlin@feico.com
Web site: http://www.feicompany.com
(FEIC)
07/27/2005 16:30 EDT http://www.prnewswire.com