Business Context and Reporting Period
This Form 8-K Current Report was filed by Applied Materials, Inc. on April 1, 2005. The report discloses a temporary suspension of trading under the company's Employee Savings and Retirement Plan (401(k) Plan) and associated trading restrictions for directors and executive officers.
Key Financial Metrics
The filing text does not provide a clear value for revenue, profit, cash flow, margins, debt, or liquidity. This report focuses exclusively on administrative and compliance matters regarding the 401(k) Plan.
Material Changes
There are no material changes to financial performance reported. The material event is the implementation of a 401(k) blackout period effective from the close of the market on April 18, 2005, ending during the week of April 24, 2005. This suspension is necessary to convert the Applied Materials, Inc. Common Stock Fund to real-time trading.
Guidance, Outlook, and Risks
- Trading Restrictions: During the blackout period, participants cannot exchange account balances into or out of the Applied Stock Fund, change contribution directions, or request new loans/distributions from the fund.
- Executive Restrictions: Pursuant to Section 306(a)(1) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and SEC Regulation BTR, directors and executive officers are prohibited from selling, purchasing, or acquiring shares of Applied common stock during the blackout period, subject to certain exceptions.
- Information Access: Security holders may obtain specific blackout dates by contacting Corporate Legal Services at Applied Materials, Inc. for a period of two years following the blackout end date.
Investor Verification Checklist
- Confirm the exact ending date of the 401(k) blackout period by contacting Fidelity Investments or Applied Materials Corporate Legal Services.
- Verify compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley trading restrictions for any insider transactions planned during the blackout window.
- Review the attached Exhibit 99.1 for the full text of the special trading restriction notice.