Schedule 13D

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

SCHEDULE 13D

(Rule 13d-101)

Information to be Included in Statements Filed Pursuant to

Rule 13d-1(a) and Amendments Thereto Filed Pursuant to Rule 13d-2(a)

 

 

 

 

 

Sorrento Networks Corporation


(Name of Issuer)

 

 

Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share


(Title of Class of Securities)

 

 

83586Q209


(CUSIP Number)

 

 

Zhone Technologies, Inc.

7001 Oakport Street

Oakland, CA 94621

(510) 777-7000

Attn: Kirk Misaka

 

with a copy to:

 

Latham & Watkins LLP

12636 High Bluff Drive, Suite 300

San Diego, CA 92130

(858) 523-5400

Attn: Craig M. Garner, Esq.


(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications)

 

 

April 22, 2004


(Date of Event which Requires Filing of this Statement)

 

If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G to report the acquisition that is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and is filing this schedule because of Rule 13d-1(e), 13d-1(f) or 13d-1(g), check the following box.  ¨

 

*   The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person’s initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

 

The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be “filed” for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes).

 

(Page 1 of 6 Pages)


SCHEDULE 13D

CUSIP No. 83586Q209      

Page 2 of 6

 


  1.  

Name of Reporting Person I.R.S. Identification No. of above person (entities only)

 

            Zhone Technologies, Inc.; I.R.S. ID # 22-3509099

   

  2.  

Check the Appropriate Box if a Member of a Group*

(a)  ¨

(b)  ¨

   

  3.  

SEC Use Only

 

   

  4.  

Source of Funds*

 

            OO

   

  5.  

Check Box if Disclosure of Legal Proceedings Is Required Pursuant to Items 2(d) or 2(e)

 

  ¨

  6.  

Citizenship or Place of Organization

 

            Delaware, United States of America

   

NUMBER OF

SHARES

BENEFICIALLY

OWNED BY

EACH

REPORTING

PERSON

WITH

 

  7.    Sole Voting Power

 

                0


  8.    Shared Voting Power

 

                1,171,980 shares of common stock (1)


  9.    Sole Dispositive Power

 

                0


10.    Shared Dispositive Power

 

                0


11.  

Aggregate Amount Beneficially Owned by Each Reporting Person

 

            1,171,980 shares of common stock (1)

   

12.  

Check Box if the Aggregate Amount in Row (11) Excludes Certain Shares*

 

 

¨

 


13.  

Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row (11)

 

            6.6% (2)

   

14.  

Type of Reporting Person

 

            CO

   

 

(1) Beneficial ownership of the common stock referred to herein is being reported hereunder solely because Zhone Technologies, Inc. may be deemed to beneficially own such shares as a result of the Voting Agreement described in Item 4 below. Neither the filing of this Schedule 13D nor any of its contents shall be deemed to constitute an admission by Zhone Technologies, Inc. that it is the beneficial owner of any of the common stock referred to herein for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or for any other purpose, and such beneficial ownership is expressly disclaimed.

 

(2) The calculation of the foregoing percentage is based on (a) 16,743,320 shares of Sorrento Networks Corporation common stock outstanding as of April 22, 2004, as set forth in the Merger Agreement (as described in Item 4 below), plus (b) 1,147,318 shares issuable upon exercise or conversion of securities exercisable for or convertible into Sorrento Networks Corporation common stock that are subject to the Voting Agreement.

 


Item 1. Security and Issuer.

 

This statement on Schedule 13D relates to shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Company Common Stock”), of Sorrento Networks Corporation (the “Company”), whose principal executive offices are located at 9990 Mesa Rim Road, San Diego, California 92121. The telephone number of the Company is (858) 558-3960.

 

Item 2. Identity and Background.

 

The Reporting Person filing this statement is Zhone Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Zhone”), whose principal offices are located at 7001 Oakport Street, Oakland, California 94621. The telephone number of Zhone is (510) 777-7000. Zhone creates network products supporting voice, data, video and entertainment services.

 

The names, citizenship, business addresses, present principal occupation or employment and the name, principal business address of any corporation or other organization in which such employment is conducted, of the directors and executive officers of Zhone are set forth in Schedule A hereto and incorporated herein by this reference.

 

Neither Zhone, nor, to its knowledge, any person listed in Schedule A, has during the past five years been (1) convicted in a criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations or similar misdemeanors) or (2) a party to a civil proceeding of a judicial or administrative body of competent jurisdiction and as a result of such proceeding was or is subject to a judgment, decree or final order enjoining future violations of, or prohibiting or mandating activities subject to, federal or state securities laws or finding any violation with respect to such laws.

 

Item 3. Source and Amount of Funds or Other Consideration.

 

As described in Item 4, the Company Common Stock to which this statement relates has not been purchased by Zhone. As an inducement for Zhone to enter into the Merger Agreement described in Item 4 and in consideration thereof, certain stockholders of the Company identified in Item 4 entered into a voting agreement dated as of April 22, 2004 (the “Voting Agreement”), with respect to an aggregate of 1,171,980 shares of Company Common Stock (the “Shares”).

 

Zhone has not paid, and does not expect to pay, additional consideration in connection with the execution and delivery of the Voting Agreement. For a description of the Voting Agreement, see Item 4 below, which description is incorporated herein by reference in response to this Item 3. The Voting Agreement is filed herewith as Exhibit 2, by reference to its filing as Exhibit 99.3 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Zhone on April 23, 2004.

 

Item 4. Purpose of Transaction.

 

On April 22, 2004, Zhone entered into a definitive Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”) with the Company and Selene Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Zhone (“Merger Sub”). The Merger Agreement was approved by the board of directors of each of Zhone, Merger Sub and the Company. Pursuant to the Merger Agreement and subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein, Merger Sub will merge with and into the Company, with the Company surviving as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Zhone (the “Merger”). At the effective time of the Merger, each outstanding share of Company Common Stock will be exchanged for 0.9 of a share of Zhone’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Zhone Common Stock”), and each option, warrant and other security exercisable or convertible into shares of Company Common Stock will be assumed by Zhone and become exercisable or convertible into shares of Zhone Common Stock, with appropriate adjustments to reflect the Merger. The Merger, which is structured to qualify as a tax-free reorganization, is subject to the approval of the stockholders of both Zhone and the Company and other customary closing conditions. Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Merger Agreement.

 

Page 3 of 6


Concurrently with the execution of the Merger Agreement, Zhone entered into a Voting Agreement with the following persons (collectively, the “Company Stockholders”) who beneficially own an aggregate of 1,171, 980 shares, or approximately 6.6% of the Company Common Stock outstanding as of the date of the Merger Agreement: Phillip W. Arneson, Joe R. Armstrong, Donne F. Fisher, Robert L. Hibbard, Gary M. Parsons, Larry J. Matthews, Don Herzog and Tom Schilling.

 

Pursuant to the Voting Agreement, each Company Stockholder has agreed to vote all of the shares of Company Common Stock beneficially owned by such Company Stockholder (1) in favor of the Merger, the adoption by the Company of the Merger Agreement and the approval of the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement and (2) against (a) any Alternative Transaction or (b) any Frustrating Transaction. The Voting Agreement terminates upon the earlier of (1) the effective time of the Merger or (2) the date upon which the Merger Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 7.1 thereof.

 

The Voting Agreement also provides, among other things, that each Company Stockholder will not: (1) except as otherwise set forth therein, sell, transfer, pledge, assign or otherwise dispose of, or enter into any contract, option or other arrangement (including any profit-sharing arrangement) or understanding with respect to the sale, transfer, pledge, assignment or other disposition of, any of the Company Common Stock held by such Company Stockholder, (2) enter into any voting arrangement, whether by proxy, voting agreement, voting trust, power-of-attorney or otherwise with respect to any of the Company Common Stock held by such Company Stockholder, (3) take any other action that would in any way restrict, limit or interfere with the performance of his obligations under the Voting Agreement or the transactions contemplated thereby, or take any action that would make his representations or warranties under the Voting Agreement untrue or incorrect in any material respect and (4) until the Merger is consummated or the Voting Agreement is terminated, permit any of his representatives to (a) solicit, initiate or encourage (including by way of furnishing nonpublic information), or take any other action designed to, or which could reasonably be expected to facilitate an Acquisition Proposal with respect to the Company, or the making, submission or announcement of any such Acquisition Proposal with respect to the Company or (b) participate or engage in any discussions or negotiations regarding, or furnish to any person any nonpublic information with respect to, or take any other action to facilitate any inquiries or the making of any proposal that constitutes or could reasonably be expected to lead to, any Acquisition Proposal with respect to the Company or (c) engage in any discussions with any person with respect to any Acquisition Proposal with respect to the Company, except to notify such person as to the existence of the Voting Agreement. Each Company Stockholder and each of his affiliates shall immediately cease and cause to be terminated any existing discussions or negotiations with any persons (other than Zhone) conducted before the date of the Voting Agreement with respect to any of the foregoing.

 

In connection with the Voting Agreement, each Company Stockholder also delivered to Zhone an irrevocable proxy with respect to the securities held by such Company Stockholder, allowing Zhone’s designee to vote in favor of the Merger, the adoption by the Company of the Merger Agreement and the approval of all of the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement and against any Alternative Transaction or Frustrating Transaction.

 

References to, and descriptions of the Merger Agreement and Voting Agreement in this Item 4 are qualified in their entirety by this reference to the Merger Agreement and the Voting Agreement, which are filed as Exhibits to this Schedule 13D and which are incorporated by reference in this Item 4 in their entirety where such reference and descriptions appear.

 

Item 5. Interest in Securities of the Issuer.

 

(a)-(b) The number of shares of Company Common Stock subject to the Voting Agreement is 1,171,980 (representing approximately 6.6% of the voting power of (1) 16,743,320 shares of Company Common Stock outstanding as of April 22, 2004, as set forth in the Merger Agreement, plus (2) 1,147,318 shares issuable upon exercise or conversion of securities exercisable for or convertible into Company Common Stock that are subject to the Voting Agreement).

 

Page 4 of 6


     By virtue of the Voting Agreement, Zhone may be deemed to share with the Company Stockholders the power to vote the Shares, but only as to the matters specified in the Voting Agreement. Except as stated in the preceding sentence, Zhone does not have the power to vote or to direct the vote of the Company Common Stock, nor does it have the sole or shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of the Company Common Stock.

 

     To the knowledge of Zhone, no shares of Company Common Stock are beneficially owned by any of the persons named in Schedule A.

 

(c) Except for the Merger Agreement and the Voting Agreement, and the transactions contemplated by those agreements, neither Zhone, nor to Zhone’s knowledge, any of the persons listed on Schedule A, has effected any transaction relating to the Company Common Stock during the past 60 days.

 

(d)-(e) Not applicable.

 

Item 6. Contracts, Arrangements, Understandings or Relationships with Respect to Securities of the Issuer.

 

The information set forth, or incorporated by reference, in Items 3 through 5 of this statement is hereby incorporated by reference in this Item 6. To Zhone’s knowledge, except as otherwise described in this Schedule 13D, there are no contracts, arrangements, understandings or relationships among the persons named in Item 2 above or listed in Schedule A hereto, and between any such persons and any other person, with respect to any securities of the Company, including but not limited to, transfer or voting of any of the securities of the Company, joint ventures, loan or option arrangements, puts or calls, guarantees or profits, division of profits or loss, or the giving or withholding of proxies, or a pledge or contingency the occurrence of which would give another person voting power over the securities of the Company.

 

Item 7. Material to be Filed as Exhibits.

 

EXHIBIT NO.

  

DESCRIPTION


1.    Agreement and Plan of Merger by and among Zhone Technologies, Inc., Selene Acquisition Corp. and Sorrento Networks Corporation, dated as of April 22, 2004.*
2.    Voting Agreement by and among Zhone Technologies, Inc. and certain individual stockholders of Sorrento Networks Corporation, dated as of April 22, 2004.*

 

* Incorporated by reference to exhibits filed with Zhone Technologies, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 23, 2004.

 

 

Page 5 of 6


SIGNATURE

 

After reasonable inquiry and to the best of its knowledge and belief, the undersigned certifies that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.

 

       

ZHONE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Date: April 28, 2004

      By:  

/s/    Kirk Misaka

             
               

Kirk Misaka

Chief Financial Officer

 

Page 6 of 6


EXHIBIT INDEX

 

EXHIBIT NO.

  

DESCRIPTION


1.    Agreement and Plan of Merger by and among Zhone Technologies, Inc., Selene Acquisition Corp. and Sorrento Networks Corporation, dated as of April 22, 2004.*
2.    Voting Agreement by and among Zhone Technologies, Inc. and certain individual stockholders of Sorrento Networks Corporation, dated as of April 22, 2004.*

 

* Incorporated by reference to exhibits filed with Zhone Technologies, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 23, 2004.


SCHEDULE A

 

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS OF ZHONE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

 

The executive officers and directors of Zhone Technologies, Inc. are set forth below. Unless otherwise indicated, each individual’s business address is c/o Zhone Technologies, Inc., 7001 Oakport Street, Oakland, California 94621, and the phone number is (510) 777-7000. Each person is a citizen of the United States.

 

Name and Business Address

  

Present Principal Occupation


Morteza Ejabat    Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Zhone Technologies, Inc.
Jeanette Symons    Chief Technology Officer and Vice President, Engineering of Zhone Technologies, Inc.
Kirk Misaka    Chief Financial Officer, Vice President, Finance and Corporate Treasurer of Zhone Technologies, Inc.
Adam Clammer
    c/o KKR
    2800 Sand Hill Road
    Menlo Park, California 94025
   Director of Kohlberg, Kravis Roberts & Co., L.L.C.
Michael M. Connors    Director of The Connors Foundation
James G. Coulter
    301 Commerce Street, Ste. 2200
    Fort Worth, Texas 76102
   Partner of Texas Pacific Group
Robert K. Dahl    Partner of Riviera Ventures LLP
James H. Greene Jr.
    c/o KKR
    2800 Sand Hill Road
    Menlo Park, California 94025
   Member of KKR & Co., L.L.C., the general partner of Kohlberg, Kravis Roberts & Co., L.L.C.
C. Richard Kramlich
    1119 St. Paul Street
    Baltimore, Maryland 21202
   General Partner of New Enterprise Associates
Barton Y. Shigemura
    c/o Yotta Yotta, Inc.
    6020 104th Street Northwest
    Edmonton, AB T6H5S4
   President and Chief Executive Officer of Yotta Yotta Inc.
James Timmins
    5 Palo Alto Square, 9th Floor
    Palo Alto, California 94306
   General Partner and Managing Director of NIF Ventures